When buying a Jack...

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
If you have a Costco membership you should really check them out. Last time I was there they had a great and sturdy-looking aluminum low-profile jack. Was very lightweight.

Arcan ALJ3T, at Costco for $160 or so. I picked this one up a couple months ago, because it had all the specs I was looking for. 3 ton capacity, very low min saddle height (as ZV said, IMPORTANT), high lift, and aluminum construction (I think it's about 60 lbs). The saddle is very large with a rubber pad, if you were concerned about that. It looks like a very high quality tool, and seems very sturdy. I've only used it a couple times since I got it, but haven't had any problems. I was also considering the HF aluminum one, but I like being able to return it to Costco without problems if it does go bad.

My only complaint is that it raises slowly compared to my old jack, but that's not a huge deal to me. I had to replace my old steel jack because since lowering the Trans Am and the Prelude, it no longer fits underneath.

Edit: Link

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: yelo333

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: woodie1
Beside the normal features, one important feature I look for is the height when fully collapsed. Some cars sit low to the ground normally plus when a car has a flat tire it can be hard to get a floor jack under it.

I cannot stress this one enough...

ZV <--Has 2 nice Craftsman jacks that won't fit under his 951. :|

I'm not planning on carrying a 100lb jack around with me, so I won't be using it for any flats. All the jacks I've looked at have fit pretty easily under my car. It's not lowered, and I have no plans to do so. But I'll still keep this in mind.

ZV, how old are your jacks? Do they fit into my USA-is-good; Chinese is junk hypothesis?

The 951, unfortunately, is a low car without me having to lower it. Still, they both fit fine under my Volvo, so you shouldn't have issues with more typical family sedans.

Neither of my Sears jacks is over 10 years old, the newer one is only 3. Haven't had a lick of trouble with either, but I always seem to have good luck with my tools.

ZV

 

[alkemyst]

For normal cars / trucks that HF jack is probably fine. Sears has great combos with stands and a creeper from time to time.

My car has about 5" of ground clearance MAX...I need something around 4" to get under the skirts. For me a low profile jack is needed.

On the other end, you want height if you are doing anything but oil changes and tire replacements. Many jacks top out at 16"...not enough room. Getting 20-22" is a big difference in things like clutch jobs and rear end swaps.

HF has a really nice aluminum jack I want to get (always out of stock) for around $140 on sale.

I have a coupe Sears jacks now and stands...a 2.5 ton jack I can throw in my truck and a 4 ton super jack that weight like half what my car does , but lifts it high.

 

[yelo333]

Thanks for all the input!

From rereading all of your responses, it sounds as if my fears about having a smallish saddle are unfounded. I'll still try to find a nice big one from a broken jack, but I guess it isn't that big a deal.

Since everyone has had such great success with Sears jacks, I've decided to stick with the 3 ton sears jack I linked in the OP, and not go the HF route.

Min. Height is 5 1/2", max is 19". That seems reasonably close to what you recommended, alkemyst. (considering I don't need low profile)

 

[alkemyst]

Saddle is more or less dependent on what you are jacking...you will find a small saddle works better than a large and vice versa. Best is a pro jack with changeable saddles, but they are usually expensive and you still need to buy the saddles then.

Sears is a good jack...I'd join the craftsman club and wait for it to be on sale.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: yelo333
Thanks for all the input!

From rereading all of your responses, it sounds as if my fears about having a smallish saddle are unfounded. I'll still try to find a nice big one from a broken jack, but I guess it isn't that big a deal.

Since everyone has had such great success with Sears jacks, I've decided to stick with the 3 ton sears jack I linked in the OP, and not go the HF route.

Min. Height is 5 1/2", max is 19". That seems reasonably close to what you recommended, alkemyst. (considering I don't need low profile)

That is the same one I have. It's good, but it is heavy. If this one ever fails I'll grab a lightweight, low profile jack.

 

[yelo333]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
Saddle is more or less dependent on what you are jacking...you will find a small saddle works better than a large and vice versa. Best is a pro jack with changeable saddles, but they are usually expensive and you still need to buy the saddles then.

Sears is a good jack...I'd join the craftsman club and wait for it to be on sale.

Joined, thanks.

I was able to use a 10% off coupon, so I got it for $72. Have you seen it for significantly less than this?