Help me decide on a floor jack

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johnnyusa

johnnyusa

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I want to buy a 2-3 ton floor jack to replace a gifted one. I want to lift the front of my 1965 Signet and then use jack stands. I'll do tires and such and also use it 2-3 a year. Trouble is I don't like to buy unsafe jacks but I don't want to spend a butt load of dough. Is there a decent suggestion for my needs that I won't regret? Most are made in China so I'm ok with that inspire of the high price of USA made. I'm not a daily mechanic swapping rear ends and the like. Thanks for any suggestions.
 
I have had about three high dollar floorJack's. All of them probably can be rebuilt, if i could find parts. Bottom line.... non of them work.
I have also bought two floorjacks from harbor freight. One small aluminum jack to throw in the pickup and take to the races, and a three ton steel for the shop. Both work perfectly, and together were less than any of my name brand jack's, money wise.
Off of my experience, i wouldnt buy a jack any place else.
(That opinion does NOT apply to HF winches, they're garbage!)
And I'm still using a few of their recall stands too.
 
Cheap price + decent quality + low usage = Harbor Freight. I've had one for years, it works just fine. If I was to do it again, I'd get the aluminum low profile version. Mine is heavy as hell.
 
I bought this about 10 years ago from Harbor Freight. Light and has served me well. Very similar ones on Amazon cheaper yet.

20240406_141622.jpg
 
johnnyusa said:
I want to buy a 2-3 ton floor jack to replace a gifted one. I want to lift the front of my 1965 Signet and then use jack stands. I'll do tires and such and also use it 2-3 a year. Trouble is I don't like to buy unsafe jacks but I don't want to spend a butt load of dough. Is there a decent suggestion for my needs that I won't regret? Most are made in China so I'm ok with that inspire of the high price of USA made. I'm not a daily mechanic swapping rear ends and the like. Thanks for any suggestions.
Click to expand...
Here's my suggestion.

3 ton Low-Profile Aluminum Racing Floor Jack with RAPID PUMP
 
This really helps, thanks. Seems one pays more for aluminum and that benefits putting it in the trunk. I might just opt for old heavy steel and stay put.
 
I have one of the 2.5T HF jacks and have had good luck with it. I wish HF would make one with an easily-removable saddle like my old Astro had. There was a standard throat on those that would take accessories like the HF door holder. The Astro finally died after 40+ years and I was counting on it to help me hang the doors on my coupe. It did last long enough to rebuild the hinges on my convertible. I used to get the Astros 3 for $100 when I was a tool dealer. Sold dozens of them. The jacks I got from Snap-On wouldn’t last six months and I took a lot of them back. The old Hein Werners were pretty good at one time.
 
I’ve had this one for about 5 years so far it’s been good.

JEGS 80077: 3-Ton Aluminum Floor Jack [6,000 lbs. Capacity] - JEGS

Buy a 3 ton aluminum floor jack with a lifting capacity of 6,000 lbs. Ideal for cars with a low ride height, JEGS 3 ton floor jack is constructed of light, durable aluminum with a minimum saddle height of 3 1/2 inches that can be raised to 15 3/4 inches. Shop for heavy-duty 3 ton floor jacks...
www.jegs.com www.jegs.com
 
If you're gonna keep it in the trunk for emergencies, get the lightest smallest one hf sells.
If it's just gonna be used in the shop, a nice big steel one is what i would buy.
(My aluminum one had a removable two piece handle, and a handle on the body. Can be stowed pretty compact).
 
I bought one of those old red HEAVY 3 ton floor jacks from Harbor Freight before we moved out here in the country. We moved out here in 2002, but it's older than that. I've abused the heck out of it. Left it out in the weather. So much so that now it's pink. Guess what? It still works. I also got one of their smaller aluminum light weight floor jacks and have it in Vixen's trunk. The latest one I bought is a 3 ton Daytona jack from Harbor Freight. I got the high lift jack, because my 75 Ford truck sits up pretty high. It works very well. Some of the guys around here always piss all over Harbor Freight stuff, but I promise you they've not darkened the door in one in a while. They've stepped up their game a lot.
This is the latest one I got.
www.harborfreight.com

3 Ton Long-Reach Low-Profile Professional Floor Jack with RAPID PUMP, Green

Amazing deals on this 3T Long-Reach Lp Pro Floor Jack, Green at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
www.harborfreight.com www.harborfreight.com
 
Here is the real deal, air lift jack.

Keep an eye out for them on Facebook Marketplace. Saw this one close by here in Florida, had to have it.

Worth every penny, and will still be worth what I paid for it when the time comes to sell it.

20240312_180058.jpg


Great Investment

Lift one end up > then jack stands, then go lift the other end up at the same time.

Just Great

☆☆☆☆☆
 
33IMP said:
I have had about three high dollar floorJack's. All of them probably can be rebuilt, if i could find parts. Bottom line.... non of them work.
I have also bought two floorjacks from harbor freight. One small aluminum jack to throw in the pickup and take to the races, and a three ton steel for the shop. Both work perfectly, and together were less than any of my name brand jack's, money wise.
Off of my experience, i wouldnt buy a jack any place else.
(That opinion does NOT apply to HF winches, they're garbage!)
And I'm still using a few of their recall stands too.
Click to expand...
There's a couple I've used.
Here's one:

Hydraulic parts supply
Sawyer, Kansas

A number of threads at Garage Journal about rebuilding.
A couple on a common US made floor jack

Walker 93632 Jack Rebuild

Well, My buddy asked for his vent cap back (mine broke off) and the jack was starting to leak down so a PM was sent to Hiball for a Walker 93632 kit and vent cap. It came in yesterday (thanks Steve...) so I thought this would be a good Saturday morning project. I don't know if you guys would...
www.garagejournal.com www.garagejournal.com

Lincoln 93642 C rebuild & questions

I've read the Walker 93462 thread and the FAQ. I should have reread them before I headed to the garage this morning, as in the time since reading, I forgot some important details. In fact, I was thinking of adding onto the Walker thread but its gone in so many different directions it seemed...
www.garagejournal.com www.garagejournal.com
and on a variety of overseas floor jacks

Overseas Jack Rebuild Help Tutorial.

Well after numerous requests ive decided to put together a tutorial that will assist you do it yourselfers resurect/maintain your Taiwan Jack. This tutorial will cover the Main version of these jacks and i will try to include any variances that you might encounter. Again your jack might be...
www.garagejournal.com www.garagejournal.com
 
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I was introduced to the air bumper jack in HS auto shop.
Since then I've always wanted one.
Finally, about 12 years ago, I accidentally stumbled onto one at a place I was buying other things at.
It had been stored outside for at least a decade but still worked.
(I have never seen one that didn't work.)
For $100, I couldn't lose.
It's like having half of a lift.
As luck would have it, I found another one right across the street from my shop about 2 years later for $125.
Exact same model Gray brand.

You have to be creative if using them on cars that have valance panels below the bumpers.
Some come with adapters, but they are steel and can scratch or even crease bumpers.
I made rubber cushioned adapters from gm slot bumper jacks. They work great.
I also made pinch weld adapters, so I can lift one side of more modern cars.
(Gotta be careful not to tip it over, though!)

However, the cheapest I've seen one for sale locally in the last 5 years has been over $500!
 
I'll also advocate for the HF "low profile" 3 ton steel jack.

It's low enough to get under Mopar lower control arms.
All of us should be aware of how valuable that feature is!

I bought mine in 2010. It's so old, it "only" rated for 2 1/2 tons.

After about 5 years, it did start bleeding down if left supporting weight over night.
Still lifts and hold great for hours plus.
...and it has a dual pump cylinder, so it lifts rapidly.
 
If my 1978 Sears 1 1/2 ton floor jack dies before I do, I'll probably try and rebuild it. I've considered buying the HF 3 ton aluminum in the link above, just to carry with me on road trips with the car trailer. Old faithful I talked about above weighs 600 lbs.....or feels like it to my 66 year old joints. Seems like it's a lot further to the tailgate from the ground than it was when I got that jack at 21! :BangHead:
 
Main reason I asked about a new one is I don't know what brand or tonnage this gifted one is that works but often leaks. I'd try and fix if it's worth it. Anyone got a clue?

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George Jets said:
Here is the real deal, air lift jack.

Keep an eye out for them on Facebook Marketplace. Saw this one close by here in Florida, had to have it.

Worth every penny, and will still be worth what I paid for it when the time comes to sell it.

View attachment 1716232592

Great Investment

Lift one end up > then jack stands, then go lift the other end up at the same time.

Just Great

☆☆☆☆☆
Click to expand...
That’s what we used when I was a mechanic fixing UHaul trucks. They work perfect.
 
My go to was always a 1-1/2 ton Craftsman jack they were well built and were about $100 and once they leaked I bought a new one. I still have one now but I rebuild it if it starts leaking.
 
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