In praise of a good jack

[djoptix]

A jack's a jack, isn't it? No.

From when I was a nipper I was helping my dad change tyres with the included jack on a Renault 4. Then we got the trolley jack and that was a big improvement. This was a 2 tonne hydraulic jack, and when I was old enough to warrant it, I bought my own Halfords 2 tonne jack and have had it ever since. Done loads and loads of work with it, no complaints. But a few weeks ago I received a nice message:

 

From the picture, it wasn't obvious that it was really much different to my 2t one. I just said I'd have it because it was free - I didn't think I needed it. But I went to pick it up and friends, having one of these has been a revelation.

It's much bigger than the 2t jack. Not stupidly massive, but bigger in every dimension. Bigger base means a much more solid footprint. Bigger front wheels aren't troubled by stones/stuff in the way. Wider track means it doesn't bend sideways if the car decides to shift to one side. Long handle means easy, quicker lifting. And best of all, significantly longer reach on the arm means that rather than faffing around with jacking on sills, you can just sling it under a subframe and away you go.

Buy a big jack. You won't regret it.

[reb]

One of the first things I bought when I moved out and finally had my own storage was a big jack. Very much worth it to be able to quickly jack up a 205 in the middle of the subframe.

I actually carried it about in the back of various Volvos for a while until I got sick of it rolling around once I had a fast one.

[RayMK]

My limited experience of using a trolley jack was that its lifting range was insufficient and apart from being too heavy it tended to need a smooth, firm surface otherwise it was just a complete pain.  Not sure where it is now.  We tend not to throw things away but I have not seen it for years.  I have two sturdy ramps, a collection of scissor jacks and lots of wooden blocks to spread the load on rusty cars.  The only bottle jack I've got has never been used to lift anything (insufficient lifting range) but has come in handy for straightening bodywork now and then.  However, I agree with you that a decent long arm trolley jack on a good surface is the best for use in a  garage.  It is too late for me to buy one of those aluminium trolley jacks which have a decent arm.  I'm too old and feeble to do much on cars these days.   I remember the standard jack that came with 2cvs/Dyanes.  One hell of a length because the suspension travel is so gorgeously French and ridiculous.

[Eavb]

I've got lazy, now I pretty much use my chain hoist to pick up one end of whatever car I'm working on, with a mini (which they usually are) you can just put a strop through the rear side window apertures or around the front subframe, easy peasy then 😆

[High Jetter]

Bigger the better, jacks for HGV's are good, but trains have jacks too.

[MAF260]

I've used various trolley jacks over the years and was happy for a long time with one I bought from Costco about 20 years ago. I then needed a low profile jack for the fleet I owned at the time and was recommended this:

https://www.halfords.com/great-offers/deals-and-offers/halfords-advanced-2-tonne-low-profile-trolley-jack-260523.html

It's been a godsend and now my go-to jack, with quick lift, magnetic tray (useful for wheel nuts etc.), decent lift height and 'quiet' wheels.

It's on offer right now, 20% off!

[sierraman]

I prefer to use a car boot sourced rust covered 1ton trolley jack that pisses fluid out everywhere and rises about 2 inch shorter than what you’d need. I don’t bother with axle stands as it’s all a myth, I find it’s much easier to use some old damp house bricks to hold the car up when I’m furiously hammering away underneath. 

[Rightnider]

I would say this is applicable to almost every tool. 
 

Ten years ago (albeit coinciding with better economy) I decided for myself to always get a good quality product of every tool I needed. If I needed it once, chances are I’ll probably need it again. It’s turned out to be cheaper, since I don’t have to buy a cheap one, and then buy a proper replacement when the cheaper breaks. 

[somewhatfoolish]

  On 28/10/2024 at 17:26, sierraman said:

I prefer to use a car boot sourced rust covered 1ton trolley jack that pisses fluid out everywhere and rises about 2 inch shorter than what you’d need. I don’t bother with axle stands as it’s all a myth, I find it’s much easier to use some old damp house bricks to hold the car up when I’m furiously hammering away underneath. 

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Have you considered submitting scripts for the BBC's "Casualty"; 25 years ago a car falling off a jack and killing or maiming someone was more or less an annual event?

[comfortablynumb]

  On 27/10/2024 at 23:50, High Jetter said:

Bigger the better, jacks for HGV's are good, but trains have jacks too.

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I bought a jack a couple of years ago thinking it was the same as one I'd already got, assuming I could make one from two if it didn't work.

It did work.

Its also 4 foot long, and lifts to approximately three foot!

It was so big when I actually saw it, I didn't think it'd fit in the car.

Fortunately someone else was collecting stuff at the same time, and gave me a hand with lifting it, I couldn't do it alone.

Its a truck one, well worth the £60 I paid .

 

Edited October 28, 2024 by comfortablynumb
Spelllllling

[stuboy]

i have a low profile jack in the mondeo and a 3 ton one in the galaxy, id like a lightweight 2.5 tonne one, but they dont seem to be much lighter than my low profile one..

[Mally]

Theses are good, or a tenner less if you don't need low profile.

https://www.sgs-engineering.com/tjl2-2-tonne-low-profile-trolley-jack?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw7Py4BhCbARIsAMMx-_JHqtqOiZs_qNunzNgv2qcvWm-89u2ny0tZlRt5-p9E8Lm7jkc9MioaAnauEALw_wcB

The 3 ton are magnificent if you have a good floor and never need to pick it up

[wesacosa]

I have a Clarke low saddle quick lift. Its brilliant but bloody heavy 

 

[High Jetter]

I don't know what a rail carriage weighs, but seeing on lifted by 4 hydraulic jacks which, I think, could be moved, was impressive. Maybe workshop on the underground.

[camryv6]

  On 27/10/2024 at 23:01, reb said:

One of the first things I bought when I moved out and finally had my own storage was a big jack. Very much worth it to be able to quickly jack up a 205 in the middle of the subframe.

I actually carried it about in the back of various Volvos for a while until I got sick of it rolling around once I had a fast one.

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It is amazing how much damage a 2 ton jack can do in the back of a car !!

[Asimo]

I’ve had a couple of those Halfords trolley jacks, neither has lasted more than a few years before the seals failed and they both went for scrap. Apart from their short life, I found them very heavy (no smooth concrete here), and they have the disadvantage of pushing the car sideways if they can’t roll, which they won’t if they aren’t on smooth concrete.

So eBay hydraulic bottle jacks for me. They won’t last and they don’t fit under everything, but at £20 for two they will do for now.

[Marshall2810]

  On 28/10/2024 at 20:50, stuboy said:

i have a low profile jack in the mondeo and a 3 ton one in the galaxy, id like a lightweight 2.5 tonne one, but they dont seem to be much lighter than my low profile one..

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I've got the same halfords one and it's been supurb 

[artdjones]

I've had this for about 35 years. My friend's father bought it a few years before retiring from his one man in an unheated lockup mechanic's business. When he stopped I got offered it for £25. I think his son was a bit miffed. If I had the slightest idea what make it was I'd strip it down and reseal it. It was metallic blue in 1990, but the name sticker had become illegible.

[N19]

  On 28/10/2024 at 17:32, somewhatfoolish said:

Have you considered submitting scripts for the BBC's "Casualty"; 25 years ago a car falling off a jack and killing or maiming someone was more or less an annual event?

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Back in 1988, they were doing "frayed handbrake cable, car on ramps whilst apprentice goes underneath to weld..."

... followed by "other apprentice reverses Morris Minor, knocking car off the ramps and squashing first apprentice. Second apprentice then holds the car up on an axle stand whilst the first is pulled out".

I suppose a -K reg Minor was a grotty old car of the time.

[maxxo]

excuse the terrible pic it’s the only one I’ve got of mine

had it Christ about 6 or so years now, I recall it being quite cheap

first time I used it the bolt came out and pissed all it’s oil everywhere, so I filled it back up and it’s been absolutely fine since

its quite battered now but for the few times a year it gets used it’s perfect for my needs

i seem to recall paying£20 for it brand new 

[catsinthewelder]

I bought a cheap 1.5T which didn't last long so replaced it with a 3T from Screwfix, back in the days they posted everything out.  The postman wasn't happy!  Still got it but leave it at work as it's too big for home.  Just got a nice little 2T with swivelling bits that a customer didn't want.

[big_al_granvia]

  On 28/10/2024 at 21:16, High Jetter said:

I don't know what a rail carriage weighs, but seeing on lifted by 4 hydraulic jacks which, I think, could be moved, was impressive. Maybe workshop on the underground.

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about 40 tons for a coach 100 for a loco. at bo'ness we have a set in the diesel shed and a set in the kettle dome. both can be locked off so no reliance on hydraulic fluid . also a 40 ton overhead crane for boiler lifts. Very handy kit

[Marina door handles]

I started out using a wobbly scissor jack and house bricks as axle stands when I got my first car (fortunately minis were pretty light!). Currently my biggest jack is a high lift 2.5 ton Halfords special which is a tad wobbly (yes I do now have proper axle stands). I keep thinking about an upgrade but the money keeps going on car parts and other things....

[EyesWeldedShut]

  On 30/10/2024 at 00:50, maxxo said:

excuse the terrible pic it’s the only one I’ve got of mine

had it Christ about 6 or so years now, I recall it being quite cheap

first time I used it the bolt came out and pissed all it’s oil everywhere, so I filled it back up and it’s been absolutely fine since

its quite battered now but for the few times a year it gets used it’s perfect for my needs

i seem to recall paying£20 for it brand new 

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I got one of those - the wheels keep falling off and I also had the oil deleting itself problem. Reach is limited but, for quick stuff it's great. 
Low profile 3 tonne thing  is super for getting the car high enough off the ground in one sitting but is a hernia job to carry from the shed.
Double bottle jacks and 5/7 tonne axle stands left over from proper horsebox are the weapon of choice on the 4 tonner.

[Jack D]

I bought this old girl about 5 years ago.  It’s terrific, I don’t have a flat surface for it to roll nicely on but it’s big enough that it doesn’t really matter.  It’ll just drag the car sideways through the arc of the lift.  I think it cost me £20 with the chain puller in the picture.  I believe it’s from the 1950s 

[Zelandeth]

This is the one I remember impressing me the most unexpectedly.

The factory toolkit jack from my Merc TN camper.  You literally didn't know when it started to lift the van.  Simple design, but located really securely under the axles.

Something that weighs maybe 5kg and is that compact being able to lift this brick with ease definitely surprised me.  Only downside was that being a screw type it wasn't the fastest thing ever.

A decent bottle jack is something I really do need to add to the toolkit one day.

[GMcD]

Had a low profile sgs  2.5 ton that blew it's seal as soon as the warranty expired.

Bought a Halfords 2 ton low profile with the pedal that seems decent but time will tell.

My backup trolley jack is an old rac beater I've had for twenty years that is basic as it comes yet seemingly indestructible. Here it is on a patented rail system holding up a 2zz (beside the shite sgs trolley) 

[w00dy]

I had a cheapo orange Halfords one for years then inherited a better black one and made do. This year I spent a decent wedge on an alloy low profile 2 tonne and it's been a big upgrade. Heavy, but not ridiculous with great clearance and high lifting. Ditched the stupid handles that get in the way and just carry it by the front axle. The big fat alloy handle makes a pretty decent breaker bar too.