Low profile heavy duty floor jack recommendations?
 

I'm looking for a jack with a 4" minimum lift height with greater than 3.5ton lift capacity. I usually buy Craftsman, but their jacks don't seem to last.

I've been looking since my jack of 10yrs went out... best I could find is a 3 ton with a 4" min alum/steel jack. PRO380044 is the model.

I wanted a 3.5 ton too to use on the Tahoe and Sierra but I guess 3 ton will have to dol

My local Costco had this Alcan XL35R for $99.95, pretty hard to argue IMO.
http://arcanusa.com/Images/Lifting/PPXL35R.jpg

http://arcanusa.com/lifting.html#

That's a great deal right there. :thumbsup:

Here is the same one for $159 plus shipping, sold by Northern Tool, if you don't have a Costco in the area.

http://www.amazon.com/Arcan-Quick-Li...I2W8KAH9SNKMYI

I have been pretty happy with my Craftsman Pro floor jack

http://s.shld.net/is/image/Sears/00950168000
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-4-ton...&blockType=G14

Just wait for a sale, and a coupon and they are a pretty good deal. Think I got mine for around $100 + tax

I will only add to this that if you can afford it -- get a jack that will lift 30". The low lift height you're asking for is easily overcome by driving up on a very small ramp to get some clearance under the car for the jack. Race Ramps are very handy -- and the aluminum ramps I bought from Pit Pal work just perfect for this...


Now --- HEIGHT while working under the car is far more "critical" IMHO. 24" is bare minimum. So that means you've got to get the bottom of the chassis at least that high.... and use 12 ton jack stack stands because they'll extend enough for a comfortable working height.

Most of these cheap ass jacks will only have a lifting height of 17" --- and that's just not anywhere near enough. That's tire changing height and that's it. INVEST in a great floor jack and jack stands and the hours and frustration you'll save yourself will pay back in spades. :cheers:

I took Weld's advice last year and bought this jack in the picture.

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n...6/IMG_4643.jpg

It does pay off. Gets things up to a comfortable working level.

HEEP

HEEP, what jack is that? where did you pick it up?

HEEPs jack brings up an important feature in my next jack purchase, reach. A lot of them have a low platform but will only reach partly under the car then the rest of it bangs the rocker. That makes the low part useless if it wont reach the frame/rearend/crossmember.


Jeff-

Here is a link.

http://www.ohiopowertool.com/P-666-n...FYg7MgodJhsA5A

It is well worth every penny I paid for it. It will reach a HEEP that is lifted 4" running 35" tires by the rocker panels. Lift height is 32"

Problem I see at this point, I do not see it on the NORCO web site. Might want to buy if you can at the link supplied.

HEEP

I have 2 of these Omega 29023s
http://media.toolking.com/catalog/pr.../2/9/29023.jpg

I picked up the Arcan from Costco a few months back and really like it do far. They rave about it on the garage forum.

I ended up getting this one - 23 3/4" lift:
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-l...ump-68050.html

A friend of mine has this one - 29" hieght:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/...ACHyd1_pg1.htm

The harbor frieght one is 129 and the AC hydraulics Is 549 -- the harbor frieght has served me well so far.

I have that AC Hydraulics one. I've had it for years, when they were a bit cheaper. Heavy SOB, but it would actually get under the low car that I've had (except for a C6, so I drove it up onto 2x10's for a little extra clearance before jacking). It's not cheap, but a great jack!

I bought one of the low profile HF ones....it works fine....but sometimes the height is an issue....I jack it up, put it on jackstands,,,,drop the jack, then put a block of wood on the jack and lift it up more....it s PITA sometimes if I need the car high.

The reach is not great either.....its the lowest jack I could find....but once you sink it under the car, sometimes you can only jack the handle 5-6 inches for awhile before the car body moves up enough for you to have more throw on the handle

There is a HF coupon ($99 for this jack)
in Motor Trend I saw at the doctors

Thanks for all the great feedback! I have been using the Alcan XL35R at the TechShop the past few weeks and I love it. Great hydraulics, nice low pro design, and the bump pad a is major paint saver ;-) Bummer I can't find it at a local Costco. Buying online will cost ~$90 in freight. Anyone seen this jack in their local NorCal Costco?

Cheers!

I was wondering the same thing.

That thing weighs more than a Sherman Tank.

It's a man tool :D

In the link and through other sites, I have found this type of Norco jack, but it looks like the models are either 32" lift height with 1.5 ton capacity or lower lift height with 3 ton capacity. Which model is the one you recommend? I would actually want a bigger range with a higher capacity.
Thanks

I use an ac hydraulic for day to day use, by far the best jack i have used, rubber o rings on the wheels for silent rolling. I use a Cheap offshore generic tool store jack when i need to get a car several feet off the ground or loft my dually up.

I ended up with the 1.5T with the higher lift. I was after the height. I have a standard 2T that handles other lifting duties.
Amazingly, the 2T was bought at Sears 28 years ago and is the best jack in the world. It has never leaked. Crap, did I say that out loud?:( Better check it when I get home.

HEEP

Alcans 3.50 ton jack is now rated at 3.25 ton due to new safety specifications for 3.50 ton jacks. Alcan said the jack did not meet the new specifications required to be rated at 3.50 tons so they now call it the 3.25 ton. Just bought one at Costco $99.00:yes:
model #XL325R

I'm gonna pick one of these up I think. Just called and most bay area stores are carrying it. :thumbsup: