I need a new floor jack

[Paul G]

Harbor Freight has this 3 ton racing jack on sale right now.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-Ton-Lightweight-Aluminum-Racing-Jack-with-Rapid-Pump-68052.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiOTE2MzA1NjQiLCJza3UiOiI2ODA1MiIsImlzIjoiMTY5Ljk5IiwicHJvZHVjdF9p%0D%0AZCI6IjgwNDkifQ%3D%3D%0D%0A&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3912b&utm_source=1703

The reviews in that link love it or hate it? So no help there. It weighs 55#, seems heavy for a racing jack?

[cdr]

this is a great jack
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/ACD9/34700/N0768.oap?ck=Search_N0768_-1_484&pt=N0768&ppt=C0373

[A383Wing]

stay away from the Harbor Freight jacks....they are junk

I'm still using the aluminum fast rise pump jack that I got at Costco maybe 5 years ago...still woking

Bryan

[Indygenerallee]

Could not disagree more, I have that exact jack and use it all the time and never had a problem with it.

[Paul G]

this is a great jack
http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/ACD9/34700/N0768.oap?ck=Search_N0768_-1_484&pt=N0768&ppt=C0373

I missed the boat on that one. It was on sale a couple weeks ago and I let it pass.

I have a broke down Craftsmen Racing jack that has ben a royal POS since the day I got it. First one leaked badly, Sears exchanged it. Now a few years later this one bleeds down under load, and now the universal joint snapped on it. A real POS. Time for a new one. 

[Silver R/T]

I have a craftsman set, had it for years.
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-ton-floor-jack-stands-and/p-00950188000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

[cdr]

the one i posted we have used them at our shop for years used & abused ,they have held up much better than i thought they would,lasting 3,4 years commercial use

[daveco]

This one from Northern tool is an excellent jack:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200345429_200345429

[68X426]

My Harbor jack has worked perfectly for 4 years. I'd say it's hit-and-miss with Harbor. You would have to buy their warranty, thereby not actually saving anything. Everyone I know that have Craftsman jacks blew out, so what can you do?

Yeah I think 55# is heavy. But then you can put it in the trunk and use it for ballast at the drag races.

[daveco]

The key to making a Harbor Freight hydraulic anything last, is to drain the factory fill "hydraulicy fluid-like" and refill with a known quality hydraulic fluid.
I think the chinese factories dispose of their toxic waste by shipping it to the U.S. in cheap hydraulic equipment.

[Troy]

Do any of these have a slow release? Every heavy duty jack I've had is very touchy and will drop a car immediately by barely turning the handle. I've gotten to the point of using bottle jacks to put my cars up on stands so they don't slam back down.

Troy

[41husk]

I think I have had that Harbor frieght jack for abou 4 years now.  I got it for $79-$89    I keep it under the back seat of the truck and use it 4 or 5 times a year.  It has worked great.  I have a heavy duty floor jack in the garage and I agree with Troy it scares the crap out of me sometimes

[hemigeno]

I've gotten to the point of using bottle jacks to put my cars up on stands so they don't slam back down.

Even my Craftsman "Professional"    bottle jack has started to puke fluid at the seam between the bottle and its cast base when under a load.  It leaves a nasty puddle behind, and I know that sooner or later it'll leave me stranded on the side of the road by not being able to extend enough or by letting go unexpectedly.  Neither is palatable.

Are Craftsman jacks returnable under their hand-tools lifetime guarantee, or am I now the proud owner of a nice Chinese paperweight?

[Old Moparz]

I had a Craftsman floor jack for years until it was swiped out of my garage before I finished building it. I'm pretty sure the auto glass repair guys who did the windshield in my wife's car left with it when nobody was looking. It worked fine the time I had it, like 15 years or so, so I bought another one that I still use without issues. It's been another 15 years with this one now, & will let the car down slowly & not drop it. I thought about getting the aluminum one because of the weight, but I hate replacing things that aren't broken.

[72Charger-SE]

I have this same one...  I've used it to lift the Charger, my 1999 Silverado, my Toyota Prius, several of our motor homes for tire changes and repairs, as well as lifting my motorcycle.  This is the BEST purchase I made for my shop!  I am going to get another one...  seems 2 is more efficient than 1 with all the lifting I am accustomed to doing...

This one from Northern tool is an excellent jack:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200345429_200345429

[kab69440]

But then you can put it in the trunk and use it for ballast at the drag races.

Oooooooooohhh...  So, THAT's why they call 'em "racing jacks"!!

[bull]

Could not disagree more, I have that exact jack and use it all the time and never had a problem with it.

I've had my HF US General floor jack for 6-7 years now and it works great. I can lift one whole side of my 4,500 lb. Durango off the ground with it and rotate the tires. I love it.

[TXcharger70]

Could not disagree more, I have that exact jack and use it all the time and never had a problem with it.

I've had my HF US General floor jack for 6-7 years now and it works great. I can lift one whole side of my 4,500 lb. Durango off the ground with it and rotate the tires. I love it.

I agree I have had the same harbor freight US general jack for 3 years and have no complaints

[FJ5WING]

the Northern Tool piece looks pretty nice but not for $65.00 worth of shipping.

[Charger RT]

I have 2 jacks both snap on (lincoln painted red) both heavy one is a two ton the other 2.5. one is 30 years old one is 20. I resealed both 5 years ago and both have been and will continue to be work horses. Each of them cost a good buck when I bought them new but I can say I have always had a good dependable jack. At work we have gone through a few jacks in the 10 years I have been there. All were junk compared to what I have. One of the other mechanics that does alot of side work got tired of junk jacks he has had and bought an old broke lincoln like mine and rebuilt it (painted it snap on red) he has 250.00 into it but it should still be working 20 years from now. You get what you pay for.
Tim

[Paul G]

I bought the 3 ton jack in the first post. Been using it for two weekends now. So far so good. Actually very smooth to roll around on the floor and very controlable when lowering the car. So far I really like it. Only negative is the amount of pumps it takes to get the car all the way up. But it is a 3 ton.

[41husk]

If your happy were happy   Enjoy!

[1969chargerrtse]

The key to making a Harbor Freight hydraulic anything last, is to drain the factory fill "hydraulicy fluid-like" and refill with a known quality hydraulic fluid.
I think the chinese factories dispose of their toxic waste by shipping it to the U.S. in cheap hydraulic equipment.

Wow, interesting.  I'll have to do that with mine.

[bakerhillpins]

So besides lift weight what are other good "features" to shop for with these things?  Lift height? Unit length? Pump angle?

[odcics2]

My old Sears jack was bought in 1973 and still works great. Never one problem....

Have you considered a used one off c'list?   'Old school' jacks are pretty bullet proof...