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View Full Version : Floor Jack Advice


huskyfan23
07-11-2004, 07:30 PM
My el-cheapo ($50) floor jack crapped out on me. Lasted a whole 3 months! I've decided to buy a good one and need to know some reputable brands. Anybody have any recommendations?

00XLS
07-11-2004, 07:51 PM
I have a Craftsman professional 3 1/2 ton that came with matching jackstands. I have it for over 2 years w/o probs. Good buy too, I think I paid under $200 for everything, it also has the one pump feature. One pump up to what I'm lifting.

Heath
07-11-2004, 08:07 PM
I just got a 3 ton with stands, a rolling stool, chalk blocks, mechanics apron, jumper cables and a lug wrench from Sears for $100... Don't know if its still on sale or not, but its worth a try... Oh yeah, its a craftsman brand too...

X~FACTOR
07-11-2004, 08:24 PM
$99 at Sears including both jack stands. With no load, it will go from the floor to the tallest height in just one pump. :cool:

But Heath's sounds like a better deal. :)

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14432&stc=1

Heath
07-11-2004, 08:28 PM
Ohhh, is that a 3.5 ton??? Had I seen that I might have been swayed... I do like that stool though, so far it even holds my fat ass up!!! LOL...

huskyfan23
07-11-2004, 08:30 PM
I just got a 3 ton with stands, a rolling stool, chalk blocks, mechanics apron, jumper cables and a lug wrench from Sears for $100... Don't know if its still on sale or not, but its worth a try... Oh yeah, its a craftsman brand too...
I guess Craftsman is the brand! What are the warranties on these things? I doubt it's lifetime.. but you never know.

Heath
07-11-2004, 08:32 PM
Here is mine...

http://content.sears.com/data/product_images/009/50185/00950185000-dlv.jpg

Heath
07-11-2004, 08:35 PM
I think its a year on this kind of stuf... Not positive though...

huskyfan23
07-11-2004, 08:35 PM
Both those look like excellent deals. That little stool is cool, I think I'll go on down some time this week and see what they've got. Thanks!

00XLS
07-11-2004, 10:03 PM
Thats a nice deal there, come to think of it I didn't pay over $100 for mine, the 3 1/2 ton. same one as x-factor

kalel33
07-11-2004, 10:07 PM
Is the goodyear a good jack?

Heath
07-11-2004, 10:08 PM
They're all craftsman...

sonik
07-11-2004, 10:13 PM
I have the 3.5 ton Craftsman and stands too. Although lately I've been using a much smaller one when I just need to raise one tire. Looks like the set is $150 at Sears now, $100 ($20 off) for the 3 ton and stands, and $150 for the 3 ton, stands, and accessories.

glfredrick
07-11-2004, 10:15 PM
Check out Sam's Club if you have one around. They sell a nice jack labeled Michelin (like the tires) for $59 that has the fast pump, large frame, and it goes up pretty high. I am getting one this week... Best I have seen for the money.

I am then going to cut down my old Harbor Freight orange one and make it into a tranny/t-case jack by replacing the legs with 2x2 tubing, 4 swivel steel castors, and by extending the entire thing until it is about 3 feet long. It won't lift as much, but it will reach from about 6" minimum height to about 3.5 feet on maximum stroke and should easily handle trannys. It will end up looking about like this one that I found for sale for about $300:

http://www.explorerforum.com/data/500/15014Tranny_Jack.gif

Heath
07-11-2004, 11:06 PM
When I looked at www.sears.com it said the one I have is $150 also, but in the store it was cheaper...

'96explorereddiebauer
07-11-2004, 11:09 PM
I got a Michelin 3.5 ton floor jack from Sam's club along with Goodyear's 3-ton jack stands. The jack was $60 and the jack stands were $25. Not a bad deal at all.

V8BoatBuilder
07-11-2004, 11:54 PM
Heath, watch out for those stamped metal wheel chaulks - I have a crushed one in my garage from my Mountaineer. Luckily, noone was hurt, but they're absolute trash and a saftey hazard. Use a block of wood.

EBInterceptor
07-12-2004, 12:09 AM
I looked into this before myself, and heard the Michelin was a good one. As some people have said, "It 'owns'" other jack's they've owned or used. I'm thinking of throwin' down some cash for it. Now that I'm outgrowing my friend's garage, we're going to have to start doing more major at my place.

glfredrick
07-12-2004, 11:56 AM
My kid actually has one at the car place where he mechanics - they use it for those times when a hoist isn't appropriate - and it has both held up and worked well, so this week, it is off to Sam's for me. I especially like that it goes about 4" higher than most other jacks of its size. With 4x4's that is a plus. My regular jack is always running out of steam just about the time I get my tires off the ground.

rfuree11
07-12-2004, 12:26 PM
i have the same one as x~factor(craftsman professional 3.5 ton). i got it a few years ago and it was $130 without stands (it was the best one they had). i liked the fact that it had a huge head on top for lifting the car (bigger contact area=less pressure=less chance of crumpling something while jacking). its worked great and was one of my best investments

spta97
07-12-2004, 03:36 PM
I've got the Sears 3 1/2 with jack stands too. Great deal - HEAVY BOX!!! Make sure you have someone to help you, it wasn't much fun moving that myself. Another thing to note is the jack stands have thin legs so they can dig into asphalt. They are pleanty sturdy, but I've had luck putting a small piece of wood under them to protect my driveway after my friend sunk them in :hammer:

Here's a question. Has anyone seen a rubber piece that fits inside the cup on a jack? I remember seeing one once but I can't find it. It's meant to protect parts from chipping on the car and jack cup.

X~FACTOR
07-12-2004, 07:22 PM
Has anyone seen a rubber piece that fits inside the cup on a jack? I remember seeing one once but I can't find it. It's meant to protect parts from chipping on the car and jack cup.
You would have to order that from their web site. Not too many Sears stores carry them.

sonik
07-13-2004, 05:46 AM
Has anyone seen a rubber piece that fits inside the cup on a jack? I remember seeing one once but I can't find it. It's meant to protect parts from chipping on the car and jack cup.

I put a 1/2" thin 4x4 with the corners cut off on mine.

slag
07-13-2004, 08:20 AM
I have a Craftsman professional 3 1/2 ton that came with matching jackstands. I have it for over 2 years w/o probs. Good buy too, I think I paid under $200 for everything, it also has the one pump feature. One pump up to what I'm lifting.


I'm on my 2nd craftsman 3 1/2 ton "professional" jack, the yellow and black ones, and its starting to crap out on me. They last about 8-10 months and then fail it seems.

spta97
07-13-2004, 08:42 AM
You would have to order that from their web site. Not too many Sears stores carry them.

Any idea what it's called? I tried searching on their site for combinations of "Hydraulic jack rubber cup" and couldn't find it.