what kind of jacks are you guys using now?

[aznpoopy]

i realize this is an old topic but it's been a while since it's been brought up.

my craftsman jack that i've used for the past year finally died on me (while trying to get the car down no less). i had to run to sears and buy a 50 dollar jack so i could get the car down before it got dark. i've been looking at replacement jacks and there are alot of options. the 50 dollar jack doesn't jack up high enough for me to do any kind of serious work under the car, but i plan on keeping it to supplement the regular jack i'll be getting. raising lowered cars is a pain; mine isn't even lowered that much...

anyway, i was curious what kind of jacks people are using now. in particular height at rest, maximum height and length of the jack. it needs to be pretty long so i can slide it to the diff and xmember on my s14. ease of use and weight are always factors of course. any suggestions?

[the head]

i use a crafstman high lift SUV jack so i can get my big jackstands under the car

[West]

I can hardly fit my 1.5 ton craftsman jack under the car. I had to remove the wheels it was on in order to get the front. I think its time I get a slim style jack. My fav is the sorta new Craftsman Aluminum Racing jack.

[sykikchimp]

this is the Jack I use..

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47246

Works well, and has an auto bleed valve. After about 2 months of use it started creaking really loud when you put a load on it, but it still works fine. It's kind of difficult to lower the car slowly as well b/c small turns of the handle make big changes in the speed of the release. The 3.5" saddle height, and lightweight (trackside portability) were the biggest selling points for me though. Not to mention the 129.00 price tag.

The AC Hydraulics DK13HLQ is my dream shop jack..
http://www.ultimategarage.com/acjacks.html (halfway down the page.)

[AAA240SX]

Wait...Craftsman has that "If it breaks we replace" shpeel.

I broke mine changing the brakes on a Frontier and took it to sears. They replaced it with a new one (same model), no questions asked...hmm...

[skatanic28]

i use one of those cheap ones you can get at autozone for like 30 or 40 bucks. its low enough that i can get it under the crossmember and diff. its a pain to crank though and cant lift too high.

kinda on topic....where do you guys put stands?
i cut up some 2x4 and slotted it so it looks like the stock emerg. jack, then place that on the stand and lower the emerg. jack points onto it. anyone just use the frame rails for the stands?

[aznpoopy]

Wait...Craftsman has that "If it breaks we replace" shpeel.

I broke mine changing the brakes on a Frontier and took it to sears. They replaced it with a new one (same model), no questions asked...hmm...

i bought mine used from a good friend of mine. 4 heavy duty jackstands + the jack = $60 bucks. you think sears will still replace mine?

i've heard ALOT of good things about the harbor freight jack. my concern is that it doesn't look like it goes nearly far enough under the car to jack by the cross member. it looks as if i'd have to jack 1 corner at a time.

[TheTicTac]

i bought mine used from a good friend of mine. 4 heavy duty jackstands + the jack = $60 bucks. you think sears will still replace mine?

i've heard ALOT of good things about the harbor freight jack. my concern is that it doesn't look like it goes nearly far enough under the car to jack by the cross member. it looks as if i'd have to jack 1 corner at a time.


If it says craftsman on it they will replace it, unless it's a torque wrench.

[TheTimanator]

this is the Jack I use..

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47246
hmmm, haven't seen that one. There is a harbor freight down the street from me. I should go check it out.

Normally I use a lift at the shop my uncle works at. At home I've been using ramps for changing oil etc... but I'd like to have a jack as well..

[goodjuan]

arcan

3 1/2 ton

4" lowest(lower if you remove the swiveling plate) -> 21" highest

dual pump

69 dollars!

Costco

This is a garage jack. The tradeoff with this low price is the jack is damn heavy...but like i said i just keep it in my garage. At around 90 lbs i wouldn't want to lug it to the track. But that's your deal. get it!! Hurry!

[t0ekn3e]

i got the craftsman alumium jack

[MakotoS13]

i use a craftsman at home and have a two post lift at my disposal at work along with a few gigantor jacks... yes, i am spoiled... hehe

[crioten]

I can hardly fit my 1.5 ton craftsman jack under the car. I had to remove the wheels it was on in order to get the front. I think its time I get a slim style jack. My fav is the sorta new Craftsman Aluminum Racing jack.

i have that one, and its really nice....except that it really isnt low enough for me to slide it under the stock little black front lip and place it under the front crossmember (it fits in there fine, but gives you no room to "jack")

[crioten]

If it says craftsman on it they will replace it, unless it's a torque wrench.


errrrr, wrong....i work at sears hardware and the only things that have lifetime warranties are all craftsman hand tools (this is all wrenches and screw drivers...basically anything that doesnt have moving parts...pretty much) actually the warranty is kinda weird...

but just go ask if they will replace it and most of the time we will do it anyway lol

and torque wrenches have a lifetime warranty, just like regular ratchets...the only part that isnt warrantied on it is the calibration

just clearing things up :)

[Grandpa]

My jack:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/jbragelman/jack/jack_rear_profile.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/jbragelman/jack/jack_front_profile.jpg

It 0wns me. Sears credit card 0wns j00. All my points went to the jack. I paid $0 for it.

-john

[crioten]

but i only paid a $1 for mine, no bullshit :)


arent discounts that you make up great, hahaha

[aznpoopy]

man... i was hoping i could get a new jack free. oh well. i guess i'll try anyway (not like i haven't dumped enough money into that store).

is that the craftsman aluminum jack? how do you get it under the cross member?

[TurDz]

I've been hearing about more and more Craftsman jacks dying out on them. Mine also did..it just would hold the weight anymore. And we were only a few days over the 1 yr limited warranty....grrr..makes me feel like they make it last for a little over a year.

[aznpoopy]

I've been hearing about more and more Craftsman jacks dying out on them. Mine also did..it just would hold the weight anymore. And we were only a few days over the 1 yr limited warranty....grrr..makes me feel like they make it last for a little over a year.

my gf just called sears, they offered to replace it as long as we could prove we bought it from them (which we can't). they also said there's no time limit on the replacement... i.e. it's not limited to a year. based on that; i think i'm going to buy this jack:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00950143000&subcat=Lift+Equipment

its cheap and it lifts up to 21 inches. i like having alot of room under the car. i was thinking of the harbor freight or crapsman lightweight jack but they don't lift high enough for my taste. plus i already have another tiny hydraulic jack (goes to 16 inches or so). the hf lifts up to only 17.5 and the craftsman aluminum to 17 or so. not high enough to warrant 120 bucks.

[sykikchimp]

that jack sucks for our cars.. 6" minimum height is gonna be a PAIN.

The race jacks are aawesome because they all have ultra low minimum heights.

The HF jack will not reach the subframe or crossmember without the car being elevated on 2x4's or what not. You not gonna find a jack that will for under $250.

The craftsman jack, and the HF jack are almost identical as far as specs go. The HF jack is a lot lower priced.

[aznpoopy]

ill hold off on buying it just yet. i need to take a look at my stands and measure how high i like to set them. im still skeptical as to whether or not the harbor freight jack can raise my car high enough though...

thanks for your input!

[Pudula]

My jack:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/jbragelman/jack/jack_rear_profile.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v121/jbragelman/jack/jack_front_profile.jpg

It 0wns me. Sears credit card 0wns j00. All my points went to the jack. I paid $0 for it.

-john
I have an Alltrade Aluminum Jack that looks the same as this (steamroller front and everything, minus the red) but it has two pumps for rapid lifting. It was 130 at Costco.

[TheTicTac]

errrrr, wrong....i work at sears hardware and the only things that have lifetime warranties are all craftsman hand tools (this is all wrenches and screw drivers...basically anything that doesnt have moving parts...pretty much) actually the warranty is kinda weird...

but just go ask if they will replace it and most of the time we will do it anyway lol

and torque wrenches have a lifetime warranty, just like regular ratchets...the only part that isnt warrantied on it is the calibration

just clearing things up :)

Really? I took my torque wrench to sears to get a replacement and they didn't give it to me. My wrench dosen't lock anymore because the handle broke and I even talked to a manager and he said no. Even snap on is tight on torque wrench replacements.

[crioten]

Really? I took my torque wrench to sears to get a replacement and they didn't give it to me. My wrench dosen't lock anymore because the handle broke and I even talked to a manager and he said no. Even snap on is tight on torque wrench replacements.

thats bullshit, they should have given you a new one, or at least fixed what was wrong with it...and they know that too...

i see sears pulling all kinds of shit to its customers, and i hate it b/c i work the service desk.....just say something like "this is going to your supperiors" and then they will do something for you (sears execs go way out of their way for customers...not the idiots that manage the places)

[Bryan Smith]

I gotz that new chromed out blingin' jack and matching jack stands from autozone. Reprezent!

Actually, using craftsman + matching jack stands came in a set for $25 during their xmas sales.

[S14DB]

Check your oil levels. I've had jacks go on me from leaking oil out while being tossed in the trunk. $2 worth in oil can save a $100 jack.

[thx247]

I learned long ago that having crappy tools sucks. I am going to get the big bad jack asap.

[S14DB]

3"-18"

http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/144943_lg.jpg
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=4006970&storeId=6970&langId=-1&productId=861757&storeId=6970&langId=%2D1&cm_ven=Paid%2520Inclusion&cm_cat=Performics&cm_pla=Froogle&cm_ite=Froogle

[Salty_X]

Scissor jack --> Old Craftsman jack...

I'm thinking about getting this one (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00950240000&subcat=Lift+Equipment) soon though. :coold:

[thx247]

3"-18"

http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/144943_lg.jpg
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=4006970&storeId=6970&langId=-1&productId=861757&storeId=6970&langId=%2D1&cm_ven=Paid%2520Inclusion&cm_cat=Performics&cm_pla=Froogle&cm_ite=Froogle


Dude isnt that the same jack that you can buy at autozone for like...99 bucks?

It has the same specs and everything. For 500 bucks you could get a kick ass shop jack that changes your tires for you

[S14DB]

Dude isnt that the same jack that you can buy at autozone for like...99 bucks?

It has the same specs and everything. For 500 bucks you could get a kick ass shop jack that changes your tires for you
um... no. I can have the car in the air in 3 pumps and drop it before you even unload the springs. It's fully rebuildable and has lasted.

[michael1284]

i work at costco and that aluminum jack they have now is pretty good, also if it ever breaks you can just return it to costco and get a full refund. its the best return policy around

[goodjuan]

i work at costco and that aluminum jack they have now is pretty good, also if it ever breaks you can just return it to costco and get a full refund. its the best return policy around

I was wondering if you get many returns for the 3 1/2 ton i mentioned?

I don't anticipate any problems with it, i was just wondering how they're holding up with other people.

[doogie240]

Craftsman has their 2 and a quarter ton jack on sale for $20 right now!! Killer deal and a good jack...I just picked 2 up myself ;)

Here's the link:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00950523000&subcat=Lift+Equipment