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aeromech
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 16954
Location: San Diego, California
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 Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:47 pm Post subject: Best and baddest floor jack for Christmas (for myself) |
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Guys,
I've been looking around most of the day at different floor jacks to get myself for Christmas. I use one almost every day so I want a good one. I'm no fan for cheap Chinese crap so please keep that in mind. I want one that is light weight, low profile, and high lift. That's a tall order. Of the ones I've seen I haven't been able to meet all my specs so the first spec to drop out would be light weight. Most of the ones I'm looking at weight around 100 pounds. I can deal with that. I do work on cars that need a low jack to be able to slide under and I'd like to have one that goes at least up as high as my current failing jack of about 20.25 inches. My price range is around $250 and I've seen some on Amazon with free shipping which is a huge bonus. So, let me now turn it over to you guys. Please offer me your suggestions. TIA.
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bugsy95
Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2009
Posts: 275
Location: chicago
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:19 pm Post subject: ddd |
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| How about a sears craftsman floor jack.Dave 1973 BUS |
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aeromech
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 16954
Location: San Diego, California
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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I could be wrong Dave but isn't most of Sears stuff just Chinese crap these days?
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Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound |
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curtis4085
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2011
Posts: 4806
Location: Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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I have no real opinion here as I am super jack newbie but when you find it or Santa brings it please do let me know as Im in the market for one as well.
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Brionp
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Joined: March 18, 2009
Posts: 457
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Gary, I'm not sure if they make them any more but I bought a Snap On 2+1/2 floor jack way back when. Not only have I been using it for 25 years. All of the neighbors have also. Its Big and Red and Bad Ass and Made in the U.S.A. It probably has a good warranty too.
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OB Bus
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Joined: February 09, 2003
Posts: 2535
Location: Ocean Beach in Beautiful BLUE California
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aeromech
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 16954
Location: San Diego, California
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks guys but remember that even though it's Snap-on or Costco I need to know the max lift. I don't want one that's less than 20". Can you measure yours Brion and Larry?
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound |
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RatCamper
Samba Member
Joined: November 13, 2008
Posts: 3305
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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I've been wondering what the feasability of using one of those big ratcheting recovery jacks on a bay is. As it is my trolley jack struggles to lift the bay very high, and well... I won't even consider the OE suicide jack as an option.
the trouble with trolley jacks is the lateral movement. You need a perfect rolling surface and to ensure the castors are pointing the right way first. Also making sure the teeth on the top have something to grip on so it doesn't just slide instead of dragging itself along and leaving you in a world of hurt.
My trolley jack has been useful but the shortcomings of the basic design concern me greatly.
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bugger101
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Joined: September 04, 2010
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Location: orlando
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aeromech
Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006
Posts: 16954
Location: San Diego, California
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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One of the big problems with Northern is the shipping cost whereas Amazon has free shipping on some jacks.
_________________
Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound |
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Brionp
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2009
Posts: 457
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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The Snap On goes to 23 inches. I'm not sure they are made in the US anymore. And they retail now for about $565. Back when I bought mine they would go on sale once or twice a year. I paid about $250 for mine. I just was at a site that had this on it: For a USA made jack, take a look at Weaver, Hein Warner and Milwaukee. Maybe it will help.
http://www.hyjacks.com/wichjac.htm
Last edited by Brionp on Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:34 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Criswell
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Joined: July 30, 2003
Posts: 202
Location: Sunbury Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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Craftsman may or may not be chinese made, but the warranty should be about the sameas snap on/MAC/Matco or any of the other "tool truck" brands, and you dont have to chase down a tool truck to get it warrantied.
A LOT of snap on's stuff is other brand name stuff repackaged anyways. For example: I think all their timing lights are Equus.
Im pretty sure the hydraulic cylinders are only made in a handful of places on earth, just like the actual screens for flat panel TV's and computer monitors.
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rollinvegas
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Joined: July 10, 2011
Posts: 19
Location: Las Vegas
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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not to get political, but the Chinese make some of the best products on earth. It is the American business men that order the cheap Chinese crap. I have lived and done business in China for years and they give Americans the exact quality that they order and pay for. 
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levi20AE
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Joined: June 24, 2005
Posts: 485
Location: Las Vegas, NV
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:21 pm Post subject: |
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I'm on my second aluminum craftsman jack in the four years. They used to sell a seal kit that you could take apparat the jack and replace the o-rings when it got worn out. They no longer sell the kit due to liability but will sell you a replacement "power unit" which is just the entire cylinder as a sealed unto for damn near the cost of the jack. I use mine at least once a week so it gets heavy use and I do abuse it by jacking up things beyond its limit ocassionally.
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Malokin Martin
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Joined: August 19, 2007
Posts: 3099
Location: E-burg
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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| RatCamper wrote: |
| .....Also making sure the teeth on the top have something to grip on so it doesn't just slide instead of dragging itself along and leaving you in a world of hurt..... |
Piece of 2X4 on top of the jack. Locks it right in. Done and done.
Last edited by Malokin Martin on Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:29 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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420GOAT
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2006
Posts: 3343
Location: Wilmington, CA on a nice quiet street but still in the 'hood
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Criswell wrote: |
Craftsman may or may not be chinese made, but the warranty should be about the sameas snap on/MAC/Matco or any of the other "tool truck" brands, and you dont have to chase down a tool truck to get it warrantied.
A LOT of snap on's stuff is other brand name stuff repackaged anyways. For example: I think all their timing lights are Equus.
Im pretty sure the hydraulic cylinders are only made in a handful of places on earth, just like the actual screens for flat panel TV's and computer monitors. |
the craftsman ones are not warrantied any more. they do suck an fail after a year. i'd search for an old snap on like Brian or search the CL for a heavy duty one.
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Soul Built
Pimpin' Aint Easy
Joined: August 28, 2004
Posts: 1636
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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| 420GOAT wrote: |
| Criswell wrote: |
Craftsman may or may not be chinese made, but the warranty should be about the sameas snap on/MAC/Matco or any of the other "tool truck" brands, and you dont have to chase down a tool truck to get it warrantied.
A LOT of snap on's stuff is other brand name stuff repackaged anyways. For example: I think all their timing lights are Equus.
Im pretty sure the hydraulic cylinders are only made in a handful of places on earth, just like the actual screens for flat panel TV's and computer monitors. |
the craftsman ones are not warrantied any more. they do suck and fail after a year. |
Very true. I got one and I loved it until it started puking oil out of the front. |
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Desertbusman
Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2005
Posts: 14655
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:33 am Post subject: |
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| rollinvegas wrote: |
| not to get political, but the Chinese make some of the best products on earth. It is the American business men that order the cheap Chinese crap. I have lived and done business in China for years and they give Americans the exact quality that they order and pay for. |
You nailed it right on the head. The Chinese build exactly what gets ordered, inspected, approved and paid for.
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bigbore
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Joined: December 19, 2003
Posts: 3297
Location: Wasilla Alaska
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:36 am Post subject: |
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I tell you what I have had this piece of shit Allied Costco jack used in my auto shop daily for over 20 years and just this year the spring that holds the handle up broke  what a pile  anyone know where I can get a new spring it has to be just for that it is propose made. seriously it has been one great jack and that has been the only thing that has broken on it.
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Mal evolent
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Joined: March 31, 2009
Posts: 2912
Location: San Antonio, Nuevo Mexico
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| Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 6:45 am Post subject: |
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the Chinese copy the shape of any thing designed by Americans and made there, but not the materials.
you buy a jack designed with spring steel flat straps, they make a copy with mild steel.
you buy a jack designed with Grade 8 bolts, they make a copy with Grade 2.
the company which makes an initial run of 10,000 jacks may get what they specify. after that...
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