Best jack and jack stands for low cars?

[TridenT]

Thoughts?

Been looking at the Arcan XL2T as a possible option. Only downside is that it is a 2-ton and I like the headroom of a 3-ton jack. Thoughts? I need long reach with a low profile.

Also looking at jacks. Preferably ones with flat rubbery-ish pads on top rather than Y/V at the top.

 

[Zivic]

that arcan is plenty jack.. 2 ton is MORE than enough especially when you are talking low pro.

 

[TridenT]

that arcan is plenty jack.. 2 ton is MORE than enough especially when you are talking low pro.

I understand but I've had some difficulty with 1.5-2 ton jacks with my car. Sometimes they start getting a bit unhappy. My car weighs about 3700lbs wet. I'm not lifting lowered and emptied out miatas. I get that I'm lifting 'one side' usually but I'm usually lifting the car at an angle. So, sometimes it's lifting a bit more than you might think. (And, yes, it's unsafe. I know. I have no options here.)

 

[jlee]

I understand but I've had some difficulty with 1.5-2 ton jacks with my car. Sometimes they start getting a bit unhappy. My car weighs about 3700lbs wet. I'm not lifting lowered and emptied out miatas. I get that I'm lifting 'one side' usually but I'm usually lifting the car at an angle. So, sometimes it's lifting a bit more than you might think. (And, yes, it's unsafe. I know. I have no options here.)

No matter what angle you come up with, you're never going to lift 2 tons when you're working with a 3700lb car.

 

[Zorba]

I got this one for my Legacy, it can get all the way to the front jack point, which is between the oil pan and transmission. Has no problem lifting the entire front end of a Legacy or Forester.

http://www.harborfreight.com/automo...vy-duty-floor-jack-with-rapid-pump-61253.html

 

[ra1nman]

I got this one for my Legacy, it can get all the way to the front jack point, which is between the oil pan and transmission. Has no problem lifting the entire front end of a Legacy or Forester.

http://www.harborfreight.com/automo...vy-duty-floor-jack-with-rapid-pump-61253.html

I have that same jack myself. I have an 08' g35 and need to drive up on 2x4's to get to the front lift point. The jack and stands from HF have been solid for the past 3 years.

 

[repoman0]

I use the XL2T. Works great, my car is around 3500lbs but I still have to put the front wheels on a couple stacked 2x8s before I can get to the front center jack point. The rear center jack point is accessible without the 2x8s. I like how smooth the release is ... my previous autozone jack was pretty much only capable of dropping the car.

As for stands, I've been putting off buying a set of 4 of these:

https://www.amazon.com/ESCO-10498-J...rd_wg=BGD1E&psc=1&refRID=V1MNY0WAR1YCM1S6ZJYR

 

[TridenT]

I use the XL2T. Works great, my car is around 3500lbs but I still have to put the front wheels on a couple stacked 2x8s before I can get to the front center jack point. The rear center jack point is accessible without the 2x8s. I like how smooth the release is ... my previous autozone jack was pretty much only capable of dropping the car.

As for stands, I've been putting off buying a set of 4 of these:

https://www.amazon.com/ESCO-10498-J...rd_wg=BGD1E&psc=1&refRID=V1MNY0WAR1YCM1S6ZJYR

I was going to buy 4 of those. Coastal was selling them for $32 each. Now they're around $42-47 (I forget) each. I should've bought when I could have. Now I might buy 2 anyway.

What car do you have that even with the XL2T it doesn't reach? I'm worried it won't reach on my car either then. I wish I could just try and return it but there's no place around here that carries it, I think.

Also, with it weighing nearly 100lbs, this is somewhat of a deal breaker. I actually do have to move this jack up a hill and lift it into a storage locker so that people won't steal it. That's what happened to my last jack and stands. People came in and stole my shit then hit my car when they were stealing shit. Super lame.

 

[repoman0]

It's an 05 M3, lowered about 0.5-1 inch. I'm planning on replacing the KW coilovers the PO installed with something closer to stock, but I still don't think it would reach. The problem is the "hump" close to the handle -- the jack point is too far under the car, so the effective height of the jack is the height of that hump because the whole thing needs to go under the bumper. If you're jacking the car from the side on the frame rails, then you won't have problems. My 2x8 under the tires approach is a slight annoyance but only adds like a minute to the process.

For me the low profile jack is still worth it -- before, even on my other (slightly higher) car, I had to use the stock trunk jack to lift it a couple inches, then use my normal jack to lift it further on the frame rail, remove the stock jack, and finally place the jack stand and drop it. Repeat for the other side. Such a pain

It is indeed really heavy though, would not want to lift it off the floor regularly. That said, any decent jack is probably really heavy.

 

[jlee]

I was going to buy 4 of those. Coastal was selling them for $32 each. Now they're around $42-47 (I forget) each. I should've bought when I could have. Now I might buy 2 anyway.

What car do you have that even with the XL2T it doesn't reach? I'm worried it won't reach on my car either then. I wish I could just try and return it but there's no place around here that carries it, I think.

Also, with it weighing nearly 100lbs, this is somewhat of a deal breaker. I actually do have to move this jack up a hill and lift it into a storage locker so that people won't steal it. That's what happened to my last jack and stands. People came in and stole my shit then hit my car when they were stealing shit. Super lame.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-aluminum-racing-floor-jack-with-rapidpump-62248.html

 

[TridenT]

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-aluminum-racing-floor-jack-with-rapidpump-62248.html

For that price, I'd rather go with the Arcan. $170 is a lot for a HF jack.

I'm either getting something that requires no ramps or bullshit to lift my car or I'm getting a cheap ass jack and rolling the car onto 2x4s.

 

[jlee]

For that price, I'd rather go with the Arcan. $170 is a lot for a HF jack.

I'm either getting something that requires no ramps or bullshit to lift my car or I'm getting a cheap ass jack and rolling the car onto 2x4s.

You'll happily pay $235 for a 2 ton jack that weighs 97lbs while complaining that it's heavy (to the point of being a dealbreaker) and doesn't have enough headroom, but don't want to pay $170 for a 3 ton jack that weighs 55lbs?

Okay then! Add $100 and you can get a non-HF model. Or, $200 for a 2 ton aluminum Arcan.

What minimum jack height do you need?

 

[Meghan54]

I bought this jack almost a decade ago and have been nothing but pleased with it.

https://www.amazon.com/OTC-1532-Cap...=UTF8&qid=1492764251&sr=1-2&keywords=otc+jack


Actually, I bought it as this package set:

https://www.amazon.com/OTC-1533-Alu...=UTF8&qid=1492764251&sr=1-4&keywords=otc+jack

 

[Elganja]

my harbor freight aluminum one has been going strong for 5+ years now... i personally would not bother with a steel one. the weight difference is insane

 

[iwajabitw]

I usually use a 3 ton floor jack on most of my vehicles. The exception is the GT500 that's sits 5 1/4 inches off the ground at the front air damp. Had to by 2 scissor jacks so that I can lift the front end evenly. The Rocker panels sit lower than the frame pinch for jacking the car up. I don't have to do this often, mostly to clean the brakes and shocks up for shows. At 3800lbs the Husky jacks from HD haven't been a problem. I built some race ramps out of 2x12's for oil changes and undercarriage cleaning. There big and heavy but work great.

 

[TridenT]

For those wondering, I bought the 3-ton low profile jack from HF. It was $80 after coupons. Got a pair of cheap stands for $20. About 20" lift. Which should be sufficient. I don't care if I have to roll the car onto 2x4s to get the clearance at this point. The 100lb Arcan jack is just a deal breaker since it's basically too heavy to lift without possibly injuring my back. And many reviews said the jack got damaged during shipping, which is a big fear of mine. This one is already something like 70lbs and is a PITA to move but that's 1-2 minutes out of my day. Good farmers walk-ish exercise and lower risk of back snapping.

I've decided that if I do want true convenience, I'm just gonna buy some race ramps and use those. I've been lusting after them for years and can justify it. I'll probably buy them after I move.

 

[Fenixgoon]

while i generally don't recommend harbor freight, their 1.5ton low profile jack has continually been rated highly, and can be had on super sale for like $70. i own one and am satisfied. the only thing i would add in is a jack pad, while is like $30. saves your pinch welds.

 

[Zorba]

while i generally don't recommend harbor freight, their 1.5ton low profile jack has continually been rated highly, and can be had on super sale for like $70. i own one and am satisfied. the only thing i would add in is a jack pad, while is like $30. saves your pinch welds.

I'd never get under a car on a HF jack (or any other jack for that matter), but in my home environment I've been very happy with the jack. Other HF tools, not as much, but the jack impressed me for the price.

 

[jlee]

I'd never get under a car on a HF jack (or any other jack for that matter), but in my home environment I've been very happy with the jack. Other HF tools, not as much, but the jack impressed me for the price.

Their hammers are great.

I've had good luck with a lot of HF tools. There are some that suck, but they really are an incredible value in many cases.

 

[shortylickens]

I'd never get under a car on a HF jack (or any other jack for that matter), but in my home environment I've been very happy with the jack. Other HF tools, not as much, but the jack impressed me for the price.

You shouldnt do that regardless of brand. Trust your life to jack stands, not a jack.

 

[Fenixgoon]

I'd never get under a car on a HF jack (or any other jack for that matter), but in my home environment I've been very happy with the jack. Other HF tools, not as much, but the jack impressed me for the price.

i'd never get under a car with any jack holding it up. always use jack stands.

 

[96Firebird]

I've had my HF 2.5 ton low-profile jack for probably 5 years now, still going strong. I have a hard time getting under my lowered Trans Am in the front because of the air dam underneath, but I can go to the sides and get the front end up.

I bought my dad the 3 ton one for Christmas, and I'm pretty sure its the same as mine, just re-labeled for 1000lbs more.

 

[Zorba]

i'd never get under a car with any jack holding it up. always use jack stands.

Yeah, I'd never get under any car on any jack, so it's a moot point.

 

[TridenT]

Used it today. I currently am working in a carport that's on a pretty bad slope. So, it's always sketchy but the HF jack and stands are doing well so far.

That doesn't solve my unending madness about working on my car (gotta love convertibles, special editions, and all their quirks!).

I will eventually take a hack saw to the jack stands and make them fit inside the little slots they need to. (BMW stuff) I have a BMW jack pad but it makes me feel so uneasy to use that with the jack stands...