Floor jacks
 

Today (Saturday) marks the second consecutive weekend I've spent beneath my car. Unfortunately, I've had to use the services of TRE for a floor jack.

I already have tools at home, just no means to put the car in the air. With that, I was wondering what sort of floor jacks you guys have or recommend.

I'm not looking for something terribly flash like a NASCAR type aluminum jack that costs $1K. Just a reliable jack that won't break the P-car bank.

Thanks
SmileWavy

Try Harbor Freight. Not the greatest, but for a P-car OK. Pick up some jack stands if you do not already have them. Never get under a car with a jack alone. I lost a friend years ago that way.

I have a couple of jacks from Costco. They are pretty good but heavy. They come with a repair kit of O-rings & clips (at least mine did) in case you have to repair them sometime. They had aluminum jacks there the last time I noticed. Seems to me they were aroung $80 or $90. I've had my old heavy ones (Lars ?, Larson ?) for probably 15 years. I'd like to have one of Wayne's fancy high lift jacks some day.

I got one of the cheap light Al jacks from Harbor Freight along with some stands. Light because I haul it to the track. I wouldn't depend on it to hold up the car while I was underneath it, but getting it up to get the stands underneath, sure. I think it was under $100 for jack and stands.

Well, according to Wayne Dempsey (Pelican CEO) who stopped by TRE today, you guys almost lost a dd74 today from the Pelican board if my car slipped off the jack it was on. Yeah, I know, stupid as hell. I'm never going to do that again.

Thanks, Todd. I'm going to look into that now. Saw your steed today. I hope you don't mind that I borrowed your wheels and tires. :D

Lesson learned, I presume?

Interesting little added tip: As extra "insurance", take any removed wheel and shove that under the car as well. If worried about "rash", cover the wheel with an old towel and a piece of plywood.

I always put my car on wheel ramps if I can; I hate jack stands and floor jacks. It's the primary reason I don't do all the work on my own car (instead I have Alex at Pre-Tech do it - plug).

I changed the rear springs on my 914 when I had one a while back and while it sure felt like an acomplishment it also felt incredibly dangerous. So from then on I do stuff on my car but if I have to get "under" it I really evaluate what I'm doing and if it would be better if I didn't.

Now, I know for most of you 'do it yourself' types that won't fly and I still do a lot myself but my time underneath a car is pretty well limited.

Working through college a long time ago I was a general mechanic and I've been working on my own things for as long as I could hold a wrench. So, basically I wish I had a garage big enough for a lift.

I have a pair of 12 ton jack stands from Sears, plus 4 4 ton jack stands from Pep Boys. The 12 tons hold up the rear... I use an aluminum 4 1/2 ton floor jack from Sears. Car gets put on stands, and sometimes I will also use the floor jack in addition to the jacks.

Dave

Lots of people die every year from vehicles falling off of jacks and crushing them. I nearly lost a foot 2 years ago from it. You NEVER get under a car that is only supported by a jack; that is almost the definition of Darwinism.

I was not even working under the car when it fell off the jack and pinched my foot. Another thing to remember:

The jack does not need to fail in order for the car to fall on you!

More likely the vehicle just slips off. Not the jack's fault. They're only designed for lifting and lowering. That's what happened to me.

Any floor jack w/ enough capacity is fine, since you are only using it to lift and lower the car. (Use jack stands). They sell Chinese floor jacks at every FLAPS and Sears, etc. Wayne sells good ones, but you get what you pay for and vice-versa.

I have had many people tell me I am paranoid when I do that

Same here - Costco (Price Club), about 15 yrs. ago.
4 Ton steel floor jack + second set of jack stands. <$125 total.
'Saw that aluminum jack last month - nice, but no need.
We all go unconscious now/then. :(
Next time go with a basic support system.

I have the half aluminum/half steel 3000 lb. jack from Craftsman. I paid something like $80 for it. I needed it because it was the only jack I could find for a reasonable price that would fit under my 951. (My 4000 lb. Craftsman jack was too tall in the down position.)

Here's the one I have. Very high quality. I had to wait until it was on sale.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Mechanics+Tools&pid=00950240000&ver tical=TOOL&subcat=Lift+Equipment&BV_UseBVCookie=Ye s

Re: Floor jacks
 

I have a low clearance AC floor jack model DK13HLQ, cost me $350.00 delivered a couple of years ago, which is the only one that will get under a lowered 911 AND my wife's stock height 540i with the Sport package.

One source is The Ultimate Garage and the place I ordered mine, Automotive Specialty Equipment who also sell lots of other interesting equipment most of us would like to have.

I also have a pair of jack stands and rhino ramps for supporting the vehicle when I am underneath it, depending on which give me a better access to what I'm working on.

No recommendations of jacks, but when the targa is in the air, I slip the ramps under the wheels. Breaking a BIG RUSTED bolt loose on the underside of a car once, I started pulling the car off of a jackstand.

Don't forget that our host sells the awesome AC Hydraulic jacks. That will be my next jack.

I've got one of those $100 aluminum jacks and it's OK, although the handle keeps coming off and it doesn't hold pressure. If you prefer decent tools, I wouldn't bother.

Hey, I did not know that. Here's the link, Pelican's AC Jack url.

Highly recommended equipment, I have one of their engine hoists as well.

Ah ha... you beat me to it!