Floor jack questions

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Jimmy9190

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I have had a lot of tool-related questions lately. I need a new floor jack. The curb weight of my truck is just over 3900 pounds. I can get a 2 ton jack from AAP for $23.00 on sale. Does anyone here know if that jack will lift my truck OK or should I really step up to the 2.5 ton for $59.95? I won't use it much, maybe 10 times a year total, and will only jack it up long enough to set my jack stands under it.

As always, all help is greatly appreciated.
 
I'm assuming it will be fine to LIFT it only. I'm sure it's actually rated for a little more, but they downrate a little lower so it's safer for whomever uses it.
 
I think my floor jack is a 3 ton model. I get tired of dragging it around, it feels like it weighs 3 tons. Anyone buy one of those lightweight aluminum models? I'd be tempted to go with the smallest needed since the jack will not take up so much room and won't weigh so much. Just make sure you don't plan to buy a bigger vehicle. Also check for max lift height to be sure it will get the vehicle high enough for you.
 
Thanks guys. I don't plan on buying a larger truck any time in the future. I like my Dakota very much. The 2 ton jack at AAP lifts about 15", same as the old jack I have that is now broken. I built a spacer jig out of 2x4's and 2x2's to set the jack on to give about another 5" of increased lifting height. The $23 jack is the same size as my broken jack so it will probably fit the spacer. With my old jack it lifts a few inches and then just leaks back down and drops the truck. I refilled the oil and there are no leaks but still no luck. I was using my truck's scissor jack up until now and never lifted my Dakota with the broken floor jack. I'm just trying to make it easier to lift it for tire rotations and brake inspections. When I change my oil I just use Rhino Ramps.
 
Thanks again. I think I will try the $23 2 ton model from AAP and if it doesn't work, I can always exchange it and pay the difference for the stronger one.
 
Originally Posted By: Tempest
You will regret not buying the larger jack. Trust me.


Yeah I hate those little floor jacks with the dinky size pads; I've got to have a 5"-6" diameter pad.
 
Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
I have had a lot of tool-related questions lately. I need a new floor jack. The curb weight of my truck is just over 3900 pounds. I can get a 2 ton jack from AAP for $23.00 on sale. Does anyone here know if that jack will lift my truck OK or should I really step up to the 2.5 ton for $59.95? I won't use it much, maybe 10 times a year total, and will only jack it up long enough to set my jack stands under it.

As always, all help is greatly appreciated.

A good floor service jack is well worth the intial investment. Especially, if your going to use it often.

Do not under any circumtances waste your money on those cheapo jacks. They are unsafe, slow to lift, and once it breaks, (and it will), they are not repairable.

I have a U.S.A. made Lincoln 2 ton, (formerly Walker, now sold under the Hein Werner name), that I bought 10 years ago and its still going strong, one of the best $240 I ever spent. Its a little on the heavy side, but super strong and has a two speed pump.

http://www.jackxchange.com/products/HW93642.cfm

Here is good site for info on floor jacks:

http://www.hyjacks.com/H2.HTM
 
Buy the 2&1/2 ton. Cheap jacks usually have a very limited lifetime due to the pump quality. I learned the hard way. The most expensive jack in the long run is the jack you need to replace 2 or 3 times and there is always the safety issue to consider.
 
Thanks again. The more I think about it the more I am leaning toward the 2.5 ton from AAP. It's the Torin brand probably made in China but I think it will do better and last longer than my old cheapie jack. It has a higher lift, something like 19 & 3/4 inches which will lift my truck to the right height to position the jack stands get the tire/wheel off easily. It has a larger saddle pad too. That old cheapie jack did OK lifting small cars and my old Jeep Comanche which was about 1500 pounds lighter than my Dakota. I still use it for supporting the suspension or the wheel parts when I have done shocks and brake work. It just won't lift the entire corner of the truck.

Thanks for the web sites Rock. Interesting reading.
 
Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
Thanks again. The more I think about it the more I am leaning toward the 2.5 ton from AAP. It's the Torin brand probably made in China

A floor jack is probably the most important tool in the shop, don't cheap out.
The AAP and similar jacks are garbage and will fail eventually, hopefully not when you're under the vehicle.
frown.gif


If you must buy a China made jack get the 2-1/4 ton Norco, Its only $100 more than the AAP jack but much better made. (Actually, it looks like a close copy of the Lincoln/Hein Werner jack).
http://www.hyjacks.net/Norco_2004_10.jpg

In fact, I'd spend the extra $23 and get the Double Piston-fast pump version, maximum height in 6 strokes, (especially handy with the high ride height vehicles such as your truck, I guarantee you won't regret it.

http://www.hyjacks.net/Norco_2007_07.jpg
 
Well, here's an update. I went to Harbor Freight to pick up an electric impact wrench today. I got that, a flip socket set and this jack:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94629

This is a great jack. As some here would say it's very robust. I tried it out when I got home and it works great. It took just a few pumps to get the saddle to the frame and then only about 6 pumps of the handle to raise the truck high enough to easily remove the wheel. With the electric impact wrench I had all 6 lug nuts off in 30 seconds. From start to finish it took a little more than a minute to lift the truck and remove the wheel. This jack is heavy and solid, and was a good price at $59.99. It's a 3 ton jack and was just a few bucks more in price as a much smaller 2.5 ton at AAP. This and the impact wrench should make it real easy and quick to rotate my tires tomorrow. So far I am very well pleased with both of my new toys.
 
Sorry Rock, the Norco is a great jack but is way out of my price range. I think for the use I will get out of it this one from HF will do fine.
 
For the cars I've been using a Sears scissor jack for years, works fine if it's greased. I;ve been looking at some of the higher rated US made scissor jacks designer to level trailers as a replacement.

For a floor jack I've been using a Sears 'SUV model; it was on sale for soemthing like $60, is a 3 ton jack, and the pad is small enough to fit between stuff on the axle on my son's F150 and on my Dodge 2500. Works fine, doesn't seem that much heavier than some of the tires, and it makes enough racket rollong on the driveway that I prefer to carry it than roll it.
 
Originally Posted By: Footpounds
Just don't buy the steel floor jack from Craftsman (the high lift model for trucks & SUVs). Geez, what a piece of c**p!


Hmm, I've been pleased with mine
 
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