[mbmmca]

My car is currently stuck on 1 jack stand. We started with front tires on the ground and were going to lift the rear end. Unfortunately the jack quit (20yrs old) before we could get both sides up. Driver side 1" off the ground, passenger side on a fully extended jack stand. I am going to buy a new jack today. I am looking at two.

1. Craftsman 4 ton short frame at Sears, 129.99
2. Central Hydraulics HD 2.5 ton long frame Harbor Freight, 169.99

What is the general preference? Should I look at something else? I need to get this car either balanced or back on the ground. Help?

 

[blk/gld 68]

the craftsman jack i was looking at was the 1 1/2 ton alum/steel model #950240 it has foam padded handle, magnetic tool tray,with side handles.
it was only 120.00 very worthy!

 

[fishin4info]

In the mean time you may be able to use a scissor jack from your daily driver to allow you to get a jack stand under the one side. I am also looking for a good recommendation for a jack. I currently have a 3-1/2 ton craftsman and am dissapointed in it. It will not slowly lower the car. When I slightly turn the handle to lower the car it releases all the pressure at once and slams the car down on the ground. I have also had a generic brand that was rated for 2-1/4 tons but the axles for the wheels bent the first time I lifted the front end of the camaro. You would think that a jack rated for 2-1/4 ton could lift at least the front end of probably a 3,200 pound car.

 

[eville]

If you can wait a week, I can tell you what I think about this one:
Torin Aluminum Jack — 2 Ton, Model# T81510
http://www2.northerntool.com/product-1/200313357.htm

 

[mbmmca]

How safe is this thing? My concern is that if the car gets leaned (by us or kids) on or bumped (2 dogs, 100lb ea) that it may come down. Eville-let me know what you think. Fishin4info, which craftsman do you have? I looked at 4 of them today, along with a generic (Pro Series). Taking hubby to look later.

 

[angelglo]

i myself have the costco aluminum. it comes with a life time warrantte.

angel

 

[Vintage 68]

i myself have the costco aluminum. it comes with a life time warrantte.

angel

Your's or their's Angel...

John

ps: we'll be over in the city tonight at Buca de Beppo's for my daughters birthday - thanks for keep things safe :thumbsup:

 

[eville]

I had a costco jack once. Thing lasted about 3 years. Then it started bleeding off. I replaced it with a crafstman. There's still something to be said about going to SEARS I suppose.

 

[Mike68RS]

Just remember, whatever jack you end up buying, NEVER go under a car without jackstands, which I'm happy to see you used.

Mike

 

[robert68]

Had the costco alum jack, tried it, returned it. It would not allow you to control the rate of descent. Bought the Sears alum 1.5ton very happy.

 

[buzzworth]

the craftsman jack i was looking at was the 1 1/2 ton alum/steel model #950240 it has foam padded handle, magnetic tool tray,with side handles.
it was only 120.00 very worthy!

I've got one of these and am quite happy with it. I've never needed anything heavier and the lift has been high enough for my use. It is just the right size to use in the steel tray on my lift, too.

SS

 

[fishin4info]

Fishin4info, which craftsman do you have?

I have a 3-1/2 Ton Craftsman it was black and yellow but not one of the High Lift ones. I probably bought it 4 years ago. I do not see it on the craftsman website, they seem to have a 3 ton and jump to the 4 ton so they probably do not carry that exact model anymore.

I have a friend who is on his third craftsman professional high lift jack that they advertise for SUV's. He has taken two back under warranty and they gave him new ones. His would raise up when pumped but would not lift any load. He is now a firm believer in always using jack stands, since the first one slowly lowered his vehicle to the ground when he had a tire off, could have been much worse. I was with him when he exchanged the first bad jack and they just put a clearance sticker on it for $8 off and put it with all the other clearance items even though we told them it wouldn't work. I now think twice when I look at the clearance rack at sears.

Anybody have any luck with any brand of aluminum jacks? I am just gun shy about buying a jack only rated for 2 to 2.5 Tons.

 

[angelglo]

john,

what time will you be there? buca's gives hugh servings. you can smell the garlic from blocks away. anyway, i am working tonight at 9. maybe we can meet up.

angel

 

[Neil B]

I have the Craftsman 2-ton aluminum jack and I love it. It's plenty beefy to lift the entire front or rear of the car from the middle of the k-member or diff. The light weight and swivel casters makes it really easy to move around.

 

[novaderrik]

i'm on my second Craftsman jack, and i'm never getting another one.
when it gets cold outside- like, say, below 40 degrees- they don't want to lift worth a crap. the first on i got- 3 ton capacity gray thing- made it a little over a year (yup- they have a one year warranty) before it went whacky and takes about 300 pumps to lift a car. the fluid is full and the air is bled as stated in the instruction manual.
the second one- a 3.5 ton black and yellow thing- is one of those "one pump" deals that takes one pump to get to the bottom of the car. that part works great- just that when it hits the car, it won't switch over to "normal" mode and actually lift anything heavier than a 200 pound person. it does that at random times, at whatever temperature it wants to do it at. and, yes, it started about 13 months after i got it. at least the jackstands i got with both jacks work good- when i can get anything on them, that is.

 

[Sid69Z's]

Almost 20 years ago when I researched floor jacks (before the internet), I checked with a lot of tire shops & auto repair shops to find out what they were using. I would say 99% of them used Walker jacks exclusivly and you wouldn't be able to "give" them any other jack.

So I went to my local auto parts store to buy one and found out they had been bought out by Lincoln. Same jack, same color just different name. So, $180 later I had one and still use it today. It has never given me a minutes trouble and I now know why all the shops use them.....it works, always!

I don't know if they still make them or the price, or if the quality is still there, but if I needed another one, that's the first one I would look for.

And yes....always use jack stands, stable wood blocks or something solid under the car!!!!!

 

[pdq67]

I have a medium Craftsman, an older, cheap Chinese HFT orange painted one AND two newer Pepboys little ones that I got on sale for like $16 or $17 each!!

I think they each came with a jackstand in the box too??

Best money I ever spent for changing tires and oil and working on my stuff!!

pdq67

 

[clill]

I have a craftsman that has worked for years but it is heavy. I also got one of the aluminum lightweight jacks from Harbor freight with the single front roller that will go under a 3 1/2" frame. It has been working great for probably 4 years and is very easy to handle. I think they are about 150.00

 

[zuma]

I have an older model Hein Werner, It has served me well for over 15 years, I have had to replace a few things such as caster bearings and a front wheel. As stated before, use the jack only to lift and lower the car, not work under it, always use jack stands. Here is a link of the new model; http://www.jackxchange.com/products/HW93642.cfm

 

[mbmmca]

We picked up a Craftsman 3 ton last night....Don't know yet if I am happy with it. The saddle is smaller than our older one, (4" instead of 8") But we will see. Thanks for your input. I have bookmarked this in case I decide to try something else. We may try to fix the old one as well. Looks like power unit went bad.