Foor Jack + Jack Stands | Need recommendation.

[PrelateBishop]

Having recently purchased my 4Runner, it is as good of an excuse as any to buy a new floor jack and some jacks stands. If nothing else I'd like to be able to do my own tire rotations and be able to give the undercarriage a good cleaning (that sounds suggestive; but I digress). If, perhaps by some miracle, the jack could fit underneath my 2005 CTS-V as well, that'd be just dandy (not holding my breath).

Some additional details about my truck are:

1. I've got a Revtek #430 3" lift.
2. She's wearing 265/75R16 shoes as opposed to the stock 265/70R16 size.

My initial thought was to buy a jack and stands from Harbor Freight, but more interested in the collective feedback.

 

[denverunner]

harbor freight jackstands have served me well.....

 

[theizzardking]

yeah harbor freight is just dandy for these sort of tools, just don't buy your airtools,electrical tools and hand tools there if you use them fairly regularly and even that stuff is ok if you only need to use it every so often, but that Chicago stuff and other brands they carry don;t hold up to long in a true shop setting.

this one doesn't look bad

2 Ton Low Profile Floor Service Jack

 

[PrelateBishop]

harbor freight jackstands have served me well.....

Care to elaborate if you bought them in either the 3, 6, or 12 ton variety?

Seeing as they're $14.99, $44.99, and $99.99 presently (08/31/2010), it makes a bit of a difference to my wallet. If I could get away with the 3 ton model, that would be just super.

 

[PrelateBishop]

yeah harbor freight is just dandy for these sort of tools, just don't buy your airtools,electrical tools and hand tools there if you use them fairly regularly and even that stuff is ok if you only need to use it every so often, but that Chicago stuff and other brands they carry don;t hold up to long in a true shop setting.

this one doesn't look bad

2 Ton Low Profile Floor Service Jack

I swear I came this close >< to buying that exact model yesterday. The specs state it has a Height Range = 2-7/8" min. - 20-1/16" max. Just want to be certain that 20-1/16" gives the reach I need to get the truck off of the ground. Guess I could go measure.

 

[Jed]

I got a really nice floor jack/jack stands combo deal from Sears. The floor jack has extra height (it's designed for SUVs/trucks), but has a low enough profile for a sports car. It also has a cool feature where the arm lifts up to the frame in just one pump.

 

[Jed]

...If I could get away with the 3 ton model, that would be just super.

3 tons is 6,000 pounds. The 4Runner weighs a little over 4,000 pounds. And when you consider the fact that you'll never lift your entire 4Runner using one floor jack, then a 3-ton jack is way more than you'll ever need for a 4Runner.

 

[theizzardking]

yeah good call, it's tough to find a jack with the clearance to get under your other ride and the height to get your 4runner up in the air, better measure, i picked that one out because of the high reviews, low profile design and weight rating, you should see if that will get the truck in the air if not you should pass, sometimes i stick a 4x4 or 4x6 block under my floor jack (craftsman) to get extra height if needed but it would be best to avoid that.

also did you see the harbor freight hi-lift, lol wonder how well those work...
p.s. never use a high lift to actually work on your truck they are very dangerous tools and should only be used in emergencies.

 

[denverunner]

Care to elaborate if you bought them in either the 3, 6, or 12 ton variety?

Seeing as they're $14.99, $44.99, and $99.99 presently (08/31/2010), it makes a bit of a difference to my wallet. If I could get away with the 3 ton model, that would be just super.

They all seem to be constructed with the same level of quality. I have the 3 ton stands and they were $20 when I bought 'em. Personally, I wouldn't opt for the aluminum stands.

My 4r is stock, but the stands adjust high enough to keep the wheels off the ground. I just use the bottlejack to raise/lower.

 

[Nelsonmd]

I got a really nice floor jack/jack stands combo deal from Sears. The floor jack has extra height (it's designed for SUVs/trucks), but has a low enough profile for a sports car. It also has a cool feature where the arm lifts up to the frame in just one pump.

I have a Husky jack from Home depot that sounds identical (probably made by the same company). It's probably been under around 20 different cars so far, and performed perfectly on all of them.

 

[PrelateBishop]

3 tons is 6,000 pounds. The 4Runner weighs a little over 4,000 pounds. And when you consider the fact that you'll never lift your entire 4Runner using one floor jack, then a 3-ton jack is way more than you'll ever need for a 4Runner.

Ah science...your approach makes too much sense. If I would've stopped and thought about it I would've figured that out too. Thanks for being the voice of reason.

I got a really nice floor jack/jack stands combo deal from Sears. The floor jack has extra height (it's designed for SUVs/trucks), but has a low enough profile for a sports car. It also has a cool feature where the arm lifts up to the frame in just one pump.

Looking at the Sears site, they don't list the height range for their jack(s). You'd think they would've figured that out. :wtf:


I did run into the garage and took a measurement from the suggested stock jacking point on the front. It sits at 14.5" and the stock bottle jack still gets it off of the ground. It would appear the 3 ton stands, having a max height of 16¾", would provide me with 1¼" of off-the-ground support. Me thinks that is plenty for rotating tires.

 

[brian2sun]

My HF 3000 lb. aluminum floor jack is pretty cool. I can carry it easily in one hand too! It doesn't come close to reaching my frame, but I can change tires with it if I put it under the axle (or the lower control arms for the front).
http://www.harborfreight.com/3000-lb-capacity-aluminum-racing-jack-67408.html

 

[theizzardking]

doesn't the lower CA have 3 little dimples for keeping your jack centered anyway? that's where i always jack from to change tires.....

why don;t you take the stock jack from your truck and measure the height on that and just do the math to see if the new jack will clear that and a few inches?

 

[yukonrider]

The best choice for floor jacks by far... is the Arcan XL35R

It has a full length handle that you can use to move the jack around on its nicely moving rolers. The handle then has a padded part so it wont scratch anything if it comes up and hits your car. You can also raise and lower the jack by turning the handle at any time, and it move up almost effortlessly, and down very controllable.

It is low enough that I can slide it under my girlfriends little car, but then it gets tall enough that it can lift one whole side of my 4runner from the frame rail, with a lift, big tires and no sway bars, clear off the ground.

It has a big jack-car area, with a rubber pad that can be removed for things like tranny mounts or what have you. Also has a grease zerk for the main lift hinge. Nothing is cheap on this bad boy..

The best part?


Its $92 from Costco!

 

[brian2sun]

I agree, my Dad has that jack and it's great.

 

[rusm]

You'll need the 6-ton models, the three ton aren't tall enough for a lifted truck and are barely adequate for a stock one. HF jack works good, I think they have a model that is a 3-ton that goes a little higher than the 2-ton.

 

[legokcen]

.....give the undercarriage a good cleaning (that sounds suggestive; but I digress). ....

The correct term is "give the undercarriage a bit of the How's your Gather?" I love that movie!

I've got normal one for the cars we have but the larger 6 ton are perfect for the 4Runner. The smaller ones barely let me take the wheels off.

 

[brian2sun]

The correct term is "give the undercarriage a bit of the How's your Father?" I love that movie!

I've got normal one for the cars we have but the larger 6 ton are perfect for the 4Runner. The smaller ones barely let me take the wheels off.

(corrected it for ya) Haha, I love all 3 of those movies!

 

[Jed]

You'll need the 6-ton models, the three ton aren't tall enough for a lifted truck and are barely adequate for a stock one. HF jack works good, I think they have a model that is a 3-ton that goes a little higher than the 2-ton.

They do make long-reach floor jacks specifically for SUV/trucks. I have a 3-ton that can easily lift my front tires 12 inches off the ground even when they are at full droop.

 

[TeamAllen]

I just purchased a new floor jack last week. My Craftsman aluminum jack stopped working and they are not rebuildable. I did a lot of research and chose this one.
OTC 2 Ton Aluminum Racing Jack 1532

There was the ultimate jack, if you have the $
Brunnhoelzl Pit Equipment