Quality low clearance jack recomendations?

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7055

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I'm looking for a quality jack that will work with relatively low clearance cars. My Dad has had one probably since before I was born and it sinks down under the weight of just the engine not the whole car so I have to jack it up occasionally. Also had some other quirks and problems with it. We both have been using it religiously lately despite the fact I think it's worn out so since the holidays are coming up I'm looking for some recommendations. My Dad works on an E-type Jag and me an SRT-4 so I need something that will fit under a low clearance car, is good quality, and a good price. I don't know where to shop on the internet though.

Also I'm going to be dropping the transmission in my car and I've heard it's much easier with a transmission jack. What is a transmission jack and how is it different from a car jack?
 
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Originally Posted By: 7055
Also I'm going to be dropping the transmission in my car and I've heard it's much easier with a transmission jack. What is a transmission jack and how is it different from a car jack?


a transmission jack is just a special hydraulic jack that has a cradle apparatus on it that allows you to safely hold onto and strap down the transmission so that it can be lowered and raised or moved around in any direction with out fear of it shifting or falling off the jack while you maneuver it into place under the vehicle.
really useful little tool you'll wonder why you never had one before once you use one.
 
Originally Posted By: eoghan


a transmission jack is just a special hydraulic jack that has a cradle apparatus ..


They aren't necessarily hydraulic. I have a scissor type which works fine. Not as fast as hydraulic, but cheaper, smaller and easier to store when not using.
 
Originally Posted By: The Critic
How low do you need?

My Hein-Werner 2-ton "True Blue" jack has been fantastic:

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/hwa-hw93642.html


I need more lower clearance and also alot of length. Lift height would be good too. The front end of my car in only 5 or 6 inches off the ground and the frame is really far back so it needs to be really long.
 
I can get my 3-ton HW jack under a 1994 Pontiac Grand Am GT just fine.

How much height are you looking for?

What vehicle? What point are you trying to reach underneath?

You can always try online/local used listings. It's possible to find a 4-ton Lincoln jack (~187#) from the good 'ol days.
 
I answered all those questions above :) Any normal jack isn't going to do it, looking for something exceptionally low and long

Only two I've found are this dk13hlq which is really nice but expensive. It'll lift 29 inches and support 1.3 tons and is 37" long, the best I've found.

http://www.drivewerks.com/catalog/tools/AC-Hydraulic3.htm

Then there is this one which isn't as nice but it's less than half the price. I don't think it'll reach quite as far back under my car and it only lifts to 20" but still not bad.

http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-4086-omega-29023.aspx
 
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I have a floor jack that will get my Cavalier off the floor. The trouble is, I am not about do more than change a tire with nothing but a jack. The Cavalier has a limited area to support it. There isn't any room left for a jackstand. I would like to find a short bottle jack that would fit under the Cavalier and leave room for a jackstand. This is not something I can justify spending what it would take to get one that would take a lifetime of daily use. On the other hand, I don't want a piece of junk that will fail after a half dozen uses.

I tried welding up a jack stand thinking an old Tee post would be sturdy. I have one long piece with a shorter piece as a cross bar. I used a 3/4'' all thread for an upright. Welded a nut to a piece of pipe to make it adjustable. I can slip it in between the floor jack and the tire. It works fine for stuff like a brake job where all I need is the tire off the floor, but no way will I put any of my body under the car up on that. thing.
 
Does anybody know what the longest low profile jack made is? Because that's what it is going to take.

I need a jack that will maintain a low profile over about a 4 foot span so I can slip it under the front of my car and reach the frame.
 
I have a Hein Werner 3 ton and I lift my SRT4 at the pinch welds then put the jack stands (be sure to use jack stands) at the unibody support rails/"frame". Mine is lowered also so I drive up on a couple of pieces of scrap 2x6 to get the clearance for the jack.
 
Originally Posted By: TurboLuver
I have a Hein Werner 3 ton and I lift my SRT4 at the pinch welds then put the jack stands (be sure to use jack stands) at the unibody support rails/"frame". Mine is lowered also so I drive up on a couple of pieces of scrap 2x6 to get the clearance for the jack.


+1 same here

No wood in my case ... I Use old Rotors :) And I just park my front on them lol :) ( kinda steps ... rotor and step up HUB area )
 
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That is what I'm trying to avoid is having to drive on ramps or something first. I want it to reach the front frame part of my srt-4 without any ramps. There is no jack that can do this because the reach isn't long enough so now I'm looking for a jack that is low enough to fit completely underneath the car so that I won't have to reach it from the front. Something maybe like this.

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/in+your+garage/jacks+%26+stands/2-ton+floor+jack.do?search=basic&keyword=jack&sortby=newArrivals&page=1

It's 5.3 inches tall with the handle down and SRTs have 6.1" ground clearance. So maybe I could slide it under then have a little bit of room to get it jacking. Not sure if it would work or not.
 
Here ya go, just start saving your money!

http://www.jackxchange.com/products/71240B.cfm

Maybe check the rest of the site for something cheaper

71240B.jpg
 
Wow I thought I had already found the longest most accessible jacks available.

That jack would actually work just about perfect. You'd think for the money it would have a greater lift height then 19.5" though.

But dang, that's a jack! atleast I can dream about it.
 
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Anybody know what it means by air/hyd jack? Does it require air pressure or something? I just want a pump the handle hydraulic jack.
 
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