I am in the market for a floor jack and stands, what are people recommending these days? I have seen the Torin and Craftsman jacks but not very well versed in what is and isnt good these days.

Thanks

/Anders

 

I'm lowered and use the A/C Delco floor jack and stands. In order to get the car high enough, it takes a while. I recommend going with a low profile craftsman version with a lift heigth of around 20". The range from about 100 to 200, unless you can find one at the Pawn Shop. Good Luck.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/s_10153_1...&sbv=Craftsman

 

The craftsman floor jack is made in China...you can get the same jack in two or three ton capacity at Costco for $99. If you go to Harbor Freight and look and the build and design, you can't tell much difference. Most of the floor jacks being sold under various brand names are either Chinese or Taiwanese made.

There is one manufacturer in the US, but their jacks typically run $2-350. Some of the guys say the Chinese made ones are not up to snuff, but I was at American Tire and saw they had three of the Costco jacks there which they said they used daily for the past year and they held up to industrial type use. I bought the low profile Costco jack in the 2 ton capacity and it's very nicely made....fast lift in four to five pumps, and works great.

 

AC Hydraulic... they make great jacks.

 

You want as much of it to be alloy as possible....if you look close a lot of them only have few alloy pieces.....you want as few strokes as possible to full extension...the better ones will usually advertise how many (ie: 3 pumps or4 pumps) I looked at the costco one a while back and while it wasn't all alloy (fairly heavy) it was priced right and you can't beat the warranty....

 

Lincoln Industrial low profile floor jack- used it at least 4 times a week for the last 2 1/2 years. Costly- however you get what you pay for- if your just using it once every few months an otc or astro pneumatic is o.k.- lincoln makes jack stands too. Reman. floor jacks are readily avail and are a bargain.

 

I just bought one of these this fall. Worked fine for wheel swap. Seems well made and price seemed a good value. Ranger makes it..... no affiliation etc...... under $200

http://www.etoolcart.com/index.asp?P...OD&ProdID=7974

 

I use the craftsman. My car is lowered, so to get it under the car I have to drive up on a 2x4 then it fits perfectly.
It works fine and Ive had it for years now.

 

I have, and really really like, this one from AC Hydraulics:



http://www.drivewerks.com/catalog/sh...ACHyd1_pg1.htm

It fits under a lowered car, yet has amazing lift. BTW, I didn't buy from the folks in the link, it's just the link that came up in Google. I've had mine for many years, at least 6 or 7.

Jeff

 

Jeff: I do believe the lift you're using is of much better quality than the lighter weight aluminum alloy ones we're seeing at Sears and other outlets. They are all almost universally made in either Taiwan or China and branded by any number of different outlets. I have no doubt that your lift will outlive the one I bought from Costco, but for what little work I do on the car, I couldn't justify the price differential. Besides, the lift is just to get it up to the point where you can put jackstands under it. What made up my mind was seeing the very same hydraulic lift at the Tire Store where they had three of them that they'd been using daily at an industrial level for over a year. I figured the daily rough usage like that would be an indicator of the quality and longevity of the product....so I bought the Costco brand.