Floor jack question?

[Roadking]

Thanks for the help everyone.
Takeaway from this thread…even if you don’t know jack…use jack stands. Never trust just the jack!
After shopping around a few places, I ended up buying an Arcan XL325R from Costco. Looks pretty heavy duty, weighs a lot (about 100lbs.), but it rolls around really easy (even on my pitted garage floor), big wide wheels in the front, sturdy casters on the back. The only issue was the sign at Costco said 3.5 ton and I didn't really read the box too closely, after I unpacked it, I noticed the both the box and the jack say 3.25 tons. No big issue...but what the heck!
I'll let you know the good, the bad and the ugly after I use it a few times.
Thanks again!

 

[MidwestT4R]

I went digging around to see a picture of your new jack and stumbled on a blog (yes, some guy blogged about his (and your) jack). In it he said he called Arcan to find out why they stopped selling the 3.5 ton jack and now have a 3.25 ton jack.

Their response, according to the blogger, is that the 3.25 ton jack is exactly the same as their 3.5 ton jack. That some new rating guidelines forced them to relabel it as a 3.25 ton jack, but they still felt it was a 3.5 ton jack.

He also had some nice comments about how easily you could get parts to repair it if you ever needed to.

Here's the link.

Best Floor Jack Ever, Arcan XL35R from Costco

 

[nevada]

we also have an Arcan LL35.
its a good jack, but has a terrible squeak when you pump the handle.
apparently its a known issue, and there is a fix for it. and i believe the newer ones dont have this problem.

 

[ridefast]

You still have to pull the skid plate to get the filter off. The drain plug is the easy part.

Oops u guys have the v8. I have the v6, my filter is on top. Is your filter accessible from the wheel well, like the 3ed gens?

 

[Dawg4Runner]

Thanks for the help everyone.
Takeaway from this thread…even if you don’t know jack…use jack stands. Never trust just the jack!
After shopping around a few places, I ended up buying an Arcan XL325R from Costco. Looks pretty heavy duty, weighs a lot (about 100lbs.), but it rolls around really easy (even on my pitted garage floor), big wide wheels in the front, sturdy casters on the back. The only issue was the sign at Costco said 3.5 ton and I didn't really read the box too closely, after I unpacked it, I noticed the both the box and the jack say 3.25 tons. No big issue...but what the heck!
I'll let you know the good, the bad and the ugly after I use it a few times.
Thanks again!

The Arcan XL35R jacks from Costco are by far the best floor jack out there for the money. I got 2 of them a couple years ago just because the price was so good. The lift range is low enough to get under the Viper and max height is high enough (21 3/8") for the 4Runner. The double pistons also make for fast lifting. IMO stay away from the light weight aluminum race jacks for your 4Runner. I also have a couple of Torin Aluminum Race Jacks which are fine for sport/compact cars but they feel like they'll gonna crumble under the weight of a 4Runner. They're light weight and are made to take to the track and service race cars. For the garage, stick with steel jacks.

 

[JB.]

Another Costco Arcan owner here.

Goin' strong for 7 years with lots of use.

 

[KBToys]

I looked at that jack from harbor freight and figured for same price I just got the bigger one.

Heavy Duty 3 Ton Floor Jack with Rapid Pump

It is a lot heavier than that one but it works great

 

[AdamsAutoAdvice]

Blog!

I went digging around to see a picture of your new jack and stumbled on a blog (yes, some guy blogged about his (and your) jack).

Best Floor Jack Ever, Arcan XL35R from Costco

I blogged about it because it's an awesome floor jack!

 

[dangros]

no more 3.5ton jacks at costco?

Went to Costco this weekend and they now sell only the 2.5 ton arkan. It's part aluminum so at least it's lighter. Will 2.5 Ton be enough? Seems most have 3.5. Also, it's max height is only 18". Does that work on a standard 4th gen?

 

[wkeryder4]

I don't know how you guys are getting the job done with anything less than a 2ton. I've been using a craftsman 2ton since I got the truck but the taller the truck gets the more difficult & concerned I get. I currently am using a few 8x12 boards stacked to get the jack high enough and even then it barely gets the wheels off the ground at full extension. I can tell it is really struggling and some of the noises it makes are pretty sketchy. I'm probably going to upgrade to a 3 ton Arcan or just wait until I get some sliders so I can use the hi-lift and not have to worry about it anymore.

 

[Climb14er]

Please tell me all of you use a jack stand along with your jack to work on your vehicle. No matter what I'm doing I use the jack to get it in the air and a stand to hold it there. NEVER EVER trust the jack to hold the car up for prolong periods of time.

I usually use one-six ton jack stand, sometimes two, when I'm lifting each side of the 4Runner... WITH the three ton jack underneath as well.

PLUS... I use a set of rubber tire blocks on one of the front wheels for additional safety.

When you're home alone working on a vehicle in the garage, sometimes door closed... you've got to take safety precautions.

Cell phone within hand's reach as well.

 

[MikeInNH]

I've bought a few hand tools from Harbor freight....and I'll never by from them again. Yes I got a lifetime guarantee....but after the 3rd time replacing a ratchet...I decided enough is enough. I'm wasting my time. Hopefully their floor jack is better then their hand tools.

 

[nevada]

Went to Costco this weekend and they now sell only the 2.5 ton arkan. It's part aluminum so at least it's lighter. Will 2.5 Ton be enough? Seems most have 3.5. Also, it's max height is only 18". Does that work on a standard 4th gen?

2.5 is plenty. that is capable of picking the entire 4runner off the ground.
the only question is if it lifts high enough. if not, you can always use a block.

I have a 1.25T jack here at work, it lifts everything but the Cummins 4x4 trucks. it does the 2wd Cummins just fine, but the extra weight from the front end is just a bit too much with that heavy engine.

 

[trickbiker121]

I just jacked the front of the 4runner for the first time and I think I jacked it up on a wrong place. I jacked it up at this round bump. I also bent one side of the round bump. Is this the wrong place if so where is the correct place relative to this bump. Thanks in advance.

 

[HokieRunner]

I just jacked the front of the 4runner for the first time and I think I jacked it up on a wrong place. I jacked it up at this round bump. I also bent one side of the round bump. Is this the wrong place if so where is the correct place relative to this bump. Thanks in advance.

It looks like you jacked up on the skid plate. You definitely do not want to do that with the stock skids. Use the frame rail or crossmembers. When in doubt reference the owner's manual. Good luck!

 

[trickbiker121]

It looks like you jacked up on the skid plate. You definitely do not want to do that with the stock skids. Use the frame rail or crossmembers. When in doubt reference the owner's manual. Good luck!

Thanks for your reply. I read somewhere on this forum that it was OK to jack on the skid plate. Guess it was 3rd gen and doesn't work with 4th gen. Next time when I jack the car I will definently use the cross member for the front. Also I was unable to find jack points in the manual. Thanks again for your help.

 

[HokieRunner]

Thanks for your reply. I read somewhere on this forum that it was OK to jack on the skid plate. Guess it was 3rd gen and doesn't work with 4th gen. Next time when I jack the car I will definently use the cross member for the front. Also I was unable to find jack points in the manual. Thanks again for your help.

No problem! There very well could be an ok spot on the skids to jack from. But they're such thin metal I wouldn't trust it. One other decent lift point I've used is the front lower control arms. Good to use for various different circumstances ie. Only working on the front left wheel..

 

[trickbiker121]

Just found the thread that mentioned that jack point it was in 4th gen not 3rd gen . Alot of people had success with it guess I did not align it properly. I will use the frame rails in the future.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/66750-where-best-floor-jack-points-our-4runner.html

 

[JB.]

Just found the thread that mentioned that jack point it was in 4th gen not 3rd gen . Alot of people had success with it guess I did not align it properly. I will use the frame rails in the future.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/66750-where-best-floor-jack-points-our-4runner.html

Congratulations on using that spot as a lift point. Seriously.

You now have no reason not to take advantage of such an utterly convenient lift point in the future. The "damage" is done.

Btw, the spot is very strong. There's a beefy piece that bridges the gap between the skid plate and front cross member.

 

[kevinpt]

I just jacked the front of the 4runner for the first time and I think I jacked it up on a wrong place. I jacked it up at this round bump. I also bent one side of the round bump. Is this the wrong place if so where is the correct place relative to this bump. Thanks in advance.

i used a jack on that spot before with no problem. i put a 2x4 between it and my shop jack and had no problems. i did put it on stands right after to prevent damage as i would not feel save keeping it on the front skid