TheSamba.com :: View topic - Hydraulic Jack purchase (max height lift)

Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:27 am

Researching the purchase of a hydraulic jack to use for my 66 bus and 67 beetle. Looking for suggestions on what size is necessary to lift easily, quickly and efficiently? What should be the minimum, max height i can get. Would 15 inch max height work, or should I go higher for my stock height bus? Thanks.

Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:52 am

c'mon man......37 hits and not one of you guys has a hydraulic jack? If so, what size height?

Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:14 pm

I use a 2 1/4 ton jack, though in the past I have used scissor jacks, bottle jacks and anything else that would work. VW's are light, so the weight isn't a concern for most jacks.

I would recommend a regular rolling floor jack that also has a short lever on it, for working in tight areas.

Any of these would work:
http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/floor-jacks.html

Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:30 pm

I picked this one up 5 years ago from O'Reilly Auto. Travel is from 7.5" to 21". More than enough range for bus repairs. If you have a lowered VW then look at those aluminum jacks from HF. I had one of those for my 63 Bus and it worked like a CHAMP!

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/ACD9/3411...ck+-+floor

Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:14 pm

Gina wrote: Researching the purchase of a hydraulic jack to use for my 66 bus and 67 beetle. Looking for suggestions on what size is necessary to lift easily, quickly and efficiently? What should be the minimum, max height i can get. Would 15 inch max height work, or should I go higher for my stock height bus? Thanks.

Picked this bad boy a couple of years ago at "Costco" for a mere hunert dollars! :razz:

Low profile enough to get under 4.5 inches and lifts up to 22" :!: :-P

I also have 2 of thems aluminum 40 pounders, one in the Dormy and the other one in the Bug. They were both around $60 each. Yes, they are cheap china crap but I don't use them constantly as they are the vehicle's jack for the rare change of a flat or some such. 8)

Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:16 pm

I want one of those red ones from Costco.

Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:27 pm

I've been eyeing this one. Very similar to the red Costco one but 2 ton and lifts to 23-3/4. Bring a 20% off coupon and it's about 100 when on sale.

http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle...68050.html

Wed Apr 25, 2012 4:22 pm

Unless the HF jacks in general have vastly improved in quality, consider them disposable. They can also fail catastrophically. I have had three of the old, big and heavy 3-ton floor jacks. The first one experienced instant hydraulic failure which resulted in a dropped vehicle. Luckily, I do not ever work on the bus under just a jack. But the first failure occurred when the bus was in the air and awaiting jackstands. One side was supported and I was running around to the other side when it fell. The second happened when I was taking out an engine. It collapsed and the engine fell off. Again no real damage. The only reason I have a third is that my kids got it for me when the second one gave up the ghost. It is now leaking and I am avidly following this thread for a possible replacement. I looked at the local Costco and they don't carry jacks at all.

Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:16 pm

lifts easily, quickly and efficiently...

you didn't mention cost or application ie travel with for use on the road..

Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:29 pm

I have one of those mighty Arcans pictured. Tough to beat. Just heavy to move around on your own. BUY ONE!! Problem solved. Good luck with your projects!

Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:44 pm

Now THAT'S what I'm talking about. Good information there. It appears that a range above 15 inches would be best. Good direction. I have three broken VW jacks and 1 shithole regular car jack that does give enough height, so a new hydraulic is gonna be badass to own. Tired of borrowing. Thanks guys.

Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:11 pm

Fix your jackpoints and use the stock bilstein. It fits nicely under the front seats and will not mess up your middle seat kick panel when you brake hard.
Keep any old floor jack in the garage for maintenance.

Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:27 am

Gina wrote: Now THAT'S what I'm talking about. Good information there. It appears that a range above 15 inches would be best. Good direction. I have three broken VW jacks and 1 shithole regular car jack that does give enough height, so a new hydraulic is gonna be badass to own. Tired of borrowing. Thanks guys.

FTR, I gots 4 floor jacks! The heavy duty juans are for garage work, the other 2 (the aluminum ones) are the vehicles' jacks as already stated. Matter'O'factly just yesterday the Bug decided to quit cranking, so I pulled out the floor jack, quick lift and under I went to stick the forkin starter with a screwdriver! :x

Needless to say, I will install a "relay" on it! :twisted:

But I digress... What I really want to say is that one could NEVER have "enough" tools! Every time I find a good deal on whatever tool and I have the money, I just buy it! Or better yet, as you say "tired of borrowing", when I find myself in need of a tool, buying it is the best solution. that way I'll have it next time I need it! :P

Oh, and I also have juan of thems "ATV" jacks which are excellent for pulling out the engines as well as a steady platform to work on them! 8)

Thu Apr 26, 2012 11:52 am

joe cool wrote: Fix your jackpoints and use the stock bilstein. It fits nicely under the front seats and will not mess up your middle seat kick panel when you brake hard. Keep any old floor jack in the garage for maintenance.

With all due respect, I'm not alone in saying that I wouldn't use jack points on a bus even after new ones and all the adjoining metal were properly welded in.

Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:34 pm

cru62 wrote: Unless the HF jacks in general have vastly improved in quality, consider them disposable. They can also fail catastrophically. I have had three of the old, big and heavy 3-ton floor jacks. The first one experienced instant hydraulic failure which resulted in a dropped vehicle. Luckily, I do not ever work on the bus under just a jack. But the first failure occurred when the bus was in the air and awaiting jackstands. One side was supported and I was running around to the other side when it fell. The second happened when I was taking out an engine. It collapsed and the engine fell off. Again no real damage. The only reason I have a third is that my kids got it for me when the second one gave up the ghost. It is now leaking and I am avidly following this thread for a possible replacement. I looked at the local Costco and they don't carry jacks at all.
Dam thats nice to know as I just went out and bought a 3 tonner and a motorcycle floor jack from hf.....havnt used them yet and not sure I want to now.

Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:16 pm

pyrOman wrote:

I have the same two jacks pyrO

Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:14 pm

If you run across a Walker, Lincoln, or Hein-Warner jack at your local pawn shop, CL, or whatever, they are professional grade. The rebuild kits are easily sourced or you can just have a shop rebuild them.

The VW shop in my neighborhood just had 2 sent out for repair (after 20 +/- years of service) and the rebuild shop charged 125 a jack. Good as new.

I have used cheap jacks until I found a Walker recently, and the difference is night and day. Hope this helps.

-Rob

Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:41 pm

HF has a 90 day return policy if unused. Just sayin...

quartermilecamel wrote: cru62 wrote: Unless the HF jacks in general have vastly improved in quality, consider them disposable. They can also fail catastrophically. I have had three of the old, big and heavy 3-ton floor jacks. The first one experienced instant hydraulic failure which resulted in a dropped vehicle. Luckily, I do not ever work on the bus under just a jack. But the first failure occurred when the bus was in the air and awaiting jackstands. One side was supported and I was running around to the other side when it fell. The second happened when I was taking out an engine. It collapsed and the engine fell off. Again no real damage. The only reason I have a third is that my kids got it for me when the second one gave up the ghost. It is now leaking and I am avidly following this thread for a possible replacement. I looked at the local Costco and they don't carry jacks at all.
Dam thats nice to know as I just went out and bought a 3 tonner and a motorcycle floor jack from hf.....havnt used them yet and not sure I want to now.

Sat Apr 28, 2012 4:00 pm

I'm pressing "Like", thanks for the advice kombisutra.

Also thanks pyrOman for the name "low profile jack" in the photo. I've needed one for a low project for a while and now I can find it. This looks resonable @ $130.but I don't usually like HF :cry:
http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle...68050.html

kombisutra wrote: joe cool wrote: Fix your jackpoints and use the stock bilstein. It fits nicely under the front seats and will not mess up your middle seat kick panel when you brake hard. Keep any old floor jack in the garage for maintenance.

With all due respect, I'm not alone in saying that I wouldn't use jack points on a bus even after new ones and all the adjoining metal were properly welded in.

Sat Apr 28, 2012 10:02 pm

I don't get it, what are you afraid of? If you're changing out a rear tire I would definitely block the opposite front tire, preferably both. I would never get under a bus supported only by the stock jack. But to change a flat by the side of the road, it works fine for me. I don't want to carry a floor jack every trip to the supermarket.

Linda Grunthaner wrote: I'm pressing "Like", thanks for the advice kombisutra.

kombisutra wrote: joe cool wrote: Fix your jackpoints and use the stock bilstein. It fits nicely under the front seats and will not mess up your middle seat kick panel when you brake hard. Keep any old floor jack in the garage for maintenance.

With all due respect, I'm not alone in saying that I wouldn't use jack points on a bus even after new ones and all the adjoining metal were properly welded in.