Need new floor jack

[Joe R.]

My Carquest floor jack droops over time. It also is not very controllable when letting the car down. I have an aluminum racing jack from Harbor Freight that is much better at letting me control the rate of descent. But it can't raise the car as high as the Carquest model. So, can you guys recommend a better floor jack? I don't need heavy weight capacity because the Corvette is all I lift with it.

Thanks,
Joe

[Peter J.]

Re: Need new floor jack

Joe,
I have two Craftsman aluminum floor jacks and am satisfied with the
performance. I bought them several years ago. They go on sale every couple of months and take $50.00 off.

[Gary C.]

Re: Need new floor jack

Joe, have a couple of Snap On jacks that I've had for years. Suspect they're Werner or some other hi quality jack manufacturer. About every 5 years have to put a seal kit it. One of my son's gave me a jack from Sam's one year. It's held up better than the old Snap On jacks. Anymore you can get good quality import from a big box store such as Sam's, Costco, Sears, etc. That's where I'd look for a jack that meet your specs. Gary....

[Tom B.]

Re: Need new floor jack

I bought my floor jack from Sam's a long time ago, maybe 20 years. I don't remember. It's heavy steel and cast iron but has been flawless and never needed any repair. I use it for the Corvettes and my truck and have no problem lifting as high as I need to install jack stands.

Tom

[Joel T.]

Re: Need new floor jack

My Carquest floor jack droops over time. It also is not very controllable when letting the car down. I have an aluminum racing jack from Harbor Freight that is much better at letting me control the rate of descent. But it can't raise the car as high as the Carquest model. So, can you guys recommend a better floor jack? I don't need heavy weight capacity because the Corvette is all I lift with it.

Thanks,
Joe

Joe;

I've have had a Sears floor jack for years with no issues... About two years ago, I purchased a "Quik Lift" which requires a floor jack with a lower starting height than the Sears was able to achieve. I managed to find a very nice jack at Northern Tool which has the lower starting height as well as a higher maximum height... I've had this new one over a year and am very satisfied with it.

Northern Tool runs some nice sales from time to time..

Just another option to consider...

Joel

[Larry M.]

Re: Need new floor jack

Joe:

Recommend the Hein-Warner #93642. This is a 2 Ton, low profile, all steel jack that has been around for YEARS, and was previously manufacturered by Lincoln and before that by Walker. Still made in the USA. Cost about $300. Repair parts are readily available, although this jack should last you 20 years without issues. I purchased one about 10 years ago, and it is an excellent and reliable floor jack.

My other floor jack is an old, 1-1/2 Ton Blackhawk that was made by Applied Power (makers of Porta-Power) back in the late 1960's. Built like a fort, with very controllable lift action. I rebuild it every 20 years or so and it just keeps working. No longer available, but the HW#93642 I recommended above is almost as good. You won't be disappointed with the HW.

The Sears all aluminum floor jack is also quite good, if you are looking for a light-weight jack that is well made and is reliable. I think the Sears one is around $150 on sale.

Larry

[Tom L.]

Re: Need new floor jack

I'm a teacher and teach an auto class, we are fortunate enough to have professional quality tools to work with. Tool chopices are based primarily on 2 things; safety and longevity. With the purchase of my own jack I should have known better...

My colleges say I don't know "jack". Unfortunately, after I bought my vette I bought a 1.5 ton "China" jack. After trying to put it on jack-stands the first time it scared me so badly that I re-boxed it and returned it. Simply put, it was awful.

I used quality tools at work and should have done the same in my own shop. After all, a 1.5 ton jack will lift a vette, right??? Safely, NO. Good tools are overbuilt. They last the life of the user and keep them safe.

Not that I'm an expert but I bought a higher quality Sears jack (Craftsman Professional 3 ton Aluminum Floor Jack, this is the link) and I feel safe. It is not all aluminum and cost $300 but it is well worth it. Ask my wife.

Good luck!!!

[Cathy S.]

Re: Need new floor jack

It seems I have to purchase a new floor jack about ever 3 to 5 years. I just purchased a new jack from Costco for about $100. Works great.


Greg

[Jim T.]

Re: Need new floor jack

Joe like others I have bought my floor jacks from Sears, first one over 30 years ago and another about 15 years ago. Bought my son one also from Sears like my second one.

[John G.]

Re: Need new floor jack

Joe:

Recommend the Hein-Warner #93642. This is a 2 Ton, low profile, all steel jack that has been around for YEARS, and was previously manufacturered by Lincoln and before that by Walker. Still made in the USA. Cost about $300. Repair parts are readily available, although this jack should last you 20 years without issues. I purchased one about 10 years ago, and it is an excellent and reliable floor jack.

My other floor jack is an old, 1-1/2 Ton Blackhawk that was made by Applied Power (makers of Porta-Power) back in the late 1960's. Built like a fort, with very controllable lift action. I rebuild it every 20 years or so and it just keeps working. No longer available, but the HW#93642 I recommended above is almost as good. You won't be disappointed with the HW.

The Sears all aluminum floor jack is also quite good, if you are looking for a light-weight jack that is well made and is reliable. I think the Sears one is around $150 on sale.

Larry

+1 on the Hein-Werner. Mine is now 30 years old - still works like a champ. .. Not one problem in all that time. The main thing I like about the HW is the lifting height of 22-23 inches. The only drawback is that with all steel/cast iron construction these things are HEAVY. Lift one of these baby's into the trunk of a car, and.................you'll know! .. ..

[Paul J.]

Re: Need new floor jack

Our main jack is a Harbour Freight (Central Hydraulics) 3 ton floor jack. It's been in use almost every day for the last 10 years, and is only now starting to show signs of needing a seal kit. It is a heavy, heavy jack and although you'll never find me under a car without blocks I would feel comfortable with just this jack. I don't remember what I paid for it and I have'nt looked at the prices lately, but I remember seeing these on sale a while back for around $75.

Most of us in this forum are old enough to remember when everything made in China was cheap junk. That's not completely true anymore. Some of it's pretty good, especially for the price. Some of it's still junk. Don't forget that a lot of the engineering is done in other countries and that they're using our old manufacturing techniques that were killed by the EPA.

Paul

[James W.]

Re: Need new floor jack

Our main jack is a Harbour Freight (Central Hydraulics) 3 ton floor jack. It's been in use almost every day for the last 10 years, and is only now starting to show signs of needing a seal kit. It is a heavy, heavy jack and although you'll never find me under a car without blocks I would feel comfortable with just this jack. I don't remember what I paid for it and I have'nt looked at the prices lately, but I remember seeing these on sale a while back for around $75.

Most of us in this forum are old enough to remember when everything made in China was cheap junk. That's not completely true anymore. Some of it's pretty good, especially for the price. Some of it's still junk. Don't forget that a lot of the engineering is done in other countries and that they're using our old manufacturing techniques that were killed by the EPA.

Paul

Just bought a Harbor Freight all aluminum race jack for $59 using a coupon in Car and Driver (also saw it in Corvette Fever and Road and Track). Normal price is $99. It is feather light, handle easily comes apart into two sections and removes from the body of the jack. It's low enough to get under my C5 and C4, small enugh to carry, if I need to.

Jim

[Jeff A.]

Re: Need new floor jack

Don't forget that a lot of the engineering is done in other countries and that they're using our old manufacturing techniques that were killed by the EPA.
Paul

Not necessarily a bad thing. Remember what the air in Bejing looked like prior to the Olympics a few years ago (a direct byproduct of those "old manufacturing technques")? I don't think we would want that either.
Jeff

[Paul J.]

Re: Need new floor jack

Not necessarily a bad thing. Remember what the air in Bejing looked like prior to the Olympics a few years ago (a direct byproduct of those "old manufacturing technques")? I don't think we would want that either.
Jeff

Jeff:

Stationary air emission sources (factories) account for less than a third of the total concentrations of HC and VOC's (which cause smog). Our main problem is mobile sources like your Vettes. China's problem comes from thier uncontrolled coal-fired power plants.

We've gone through at least three unnecessary periods in this Country since the 1990's where the EPA promugated new Air Quality rules when our manufacturing base did not have the technology to carry them out. The result was poor quality products and higher prices. While this has moderated with the more expensive reformulation of solvents and compounds, it allowed China and other countries to surpass us on price and quality of many mass produced goods.

They've shot us with our own rifle, Jeff.

Paul

[Gerry P.]

Re: Need new floor jack

I purchased a 3 ton Sears jack on sale for around $100 back some 10 yrs or so and have always been satisfied with it although it doesn't get heavy use. I used it recently to support the engine when I took out the tranny on my '57. I was surprised to discover it had sagged approx 1" during the month it was supporting the engine before reinstalling the tranny. Fortunately, nothing was damaged. Even though I still think it is a good jack, I would warn others to be careful about using them for support over long periods.
Gerry