What Jack to Get?

[Southbayglad]

I have several of the Harbor Freight floor jacks and they are really nice. If space and weight aren't a concern, get the 3 ton. If you need to save space and weight get the 2 ton and a couple hunks of pressure treated 4"X4". I don't trust bottle jacks.

I was looking at those the other day and they are on sale. Would any of the ones you have work with 37 in tires and 2 in lift?

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[PyrPatriot]

I was looking at those the other day and they are on sale. Would any of the ones you have work with 37 in tires and 2 in lift?

The 4ton ones go up to 24”. How high is the lowest jack point on your JT?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The problem with any jack with a small footprint is that unless you absolutely are on flat ground AND block the other wheels, the vehicle can shift/move/roll and that jack tilt. Even the one that is a so-called "Built-in jackstand" isn't a great base on soft ground and could sink into soft ground if the vehicle is on ground that's less than level and the wheels are not solidly blocked.
Believe me, in my years as a mechanic with a whole lot of contacts and friends and others in the hobby or business, I've seen and heard of some pretty nasty stuff.
If that base is small, it can sink in, it can tilt, the vehicle can move or shift.
The one pictured may work in emergencies, but I also wonder- gee, the lift point is on the SIDE, meaning the pressure is on the SIDE of the piece under the axle or other part of the vehicle, that's a lot of sideways stress. It's an ok concept, but..........since the lift point is off to the side of the jackstand piece, how well does it work, really? how strong is the stand itself? Can't see the part that locks it in the pic, looks like a piece of strap steel, not a casting or something heavy.
The advantage - larger base than a bottle jack - and it's got a cradle on the top where a bottle jack has a tiny circle to slip off the vehicle. I only use bottle jacks on solid surfaces like concrete and for LOW lifting and where I am never under and never at risk.

Interesting topic as I was talking with my friend Ron in Omaha a few days ago about jack and hoist accidents as he was explaining about his 4 post lift and a fun experience he had with it when a friend of his had a car on it.............a stick he thought was in neutral when he was checking out a starter. And my wife told me of a woman she knew who sent her 4 year old daughter to go get daddy to come in for supper. Daddy wouldn't respond. He couldn't. Jack slipped, his little girl found him in driveway under car with piece of car through his face.
Don't think "how high can I lift" think - how SAFE will it lift. And will I live to Jeep another day if I use this on my gravel driveway lifting under an uneven spot on the bottom of the Jeep.

 

[arosen1997]

The problem with any jack with a small footprint is that unless you absolutely are on flat ground AND block the other wheels, the vehicle can shift/move/roll and that jack tilt. Even the one that is a so-called "Built-in jackstand" isn't a great base on soft ground and could sink into soft ground if the vehicle is on ground that's less than level and the wheels are not solidly blocked.
Believe me, in my years as a mechanic with a whole lot of contacts and friends and others in the hobby or business, I've seen and heard of some pretty nasty stuff.
If that base is small, it can sink in, it can tilt, the vehicle can move or shift.
The one pictured may work in emergencies, but I also wonder- gee, the lift point is on the SIDE, meaning the pressure is on the SIDE of the piece under the axle or other part of the vehicle, that's a lot of sideways stress. It's an ok concept, but..........since the lift point is off to the side of the jackstand piece, how well does it work, really? how strong is the stand itself? Can't see the part that locks it in the pic, looks like a piece of strap steel, not a casting or something heavy.
The advantage - larger base than a bottle jack - and it's got a cradle on the top where a bottle jack has a tiny circle to slip off the vehicle. I only use bottle jacks on solid surfaces like concrete and for LOW lifting and where I am never under and never at risk.

Interesting topic as I was talking with my friend Ron in Omaha a few days ago about jack and hoist accidents as he was explaining about his 4 post lift and a fun experience he had with it when a friend of his had a car on it.............a stick he thought was in neutral when he was checking out a starter. And my wife told me of a woman she knew who sent her 4 year old daughter to go get daddy to come in for supper. Daddy wouldn't respond. He couldn't. Jack slipped, his little girl found him in driveway under car with piece of car through his face.
Don't think "how high can I lift" think - how SAFE will it lift. And will I live to Jeep another day if I use this on my gravel driveway lifting under an uneven spot on the bottom of the Jeep.

Invest in a 12x12x1/4 inch steel plate to stick under your bottle jack.
I've bottle jacked wheels of vehicles many times the weight and size of a JT on terrain where you should have no business jacking a wheel up.
As long as you use a jack plate and apply the parking breaks you shouldn't have any issues raising one wheel off the ground.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Invest in a 12x12x1/4 inch steel plate to stick under your bottle jack.
I've bottle jacked wheels of vehicles many times the weight and size of a JT on terrain where you should have no business jacking a wheel up.
As long as you use a jack plate and apply the parking breaks you shouldn't have any issues raising one wheel off the ground.

LOL - that's great if you are lifting the front - but if you are lifting the rear there are no front parking brakes. You still need blocks, such as 4x4s or similar to keep the wheels from moving and the vehicle from rolling.
Further, yes, that tiny bottle jack top pad can easily slide off an rounded axle tube - I'd never put a bottle jack under an axle tube, only under a spot that is flat or can't slip off that small bottle jack pad. It's round, it's rounded and not intended to hold anything from slipping.
Further, I'd weld pieces onto the plate to prevent the jack from slipping on the steel plate so that the jack is surrounded when it's on the plate - YES, I have seen that happen. (actually, it was when trying to level a camper - the jack slid. I've also jacked tractors, combines, wagons, trucks, trailers, and other fun stuff in muddy and plowed fields, on side hills and other places as well. I will use a bottle jack under the axle of a large Oscar Mayer hair truck while the boss breaks loose the lug nuts so we can change the rear inside dual. Why was I always the one to have to slide under that bloody (literally) truck and jack it up???)

 

[arosen1997]

LOL - that's great if you are lifting the front - but if you are lifting the rear there are no front parking brakes. You still need blocks, such as 4x4s or similar to keep the wheels from moving and the vehicle from rolling.
Further, yes, that tiny bottle jack top pad can easily slide off an rounded axle tube - I'd never put a bottle jack under an axle tube, only under a spot that is flat or can't slip off that small bottle jack pad. It's round, it's rounded and not intended to hold anything from slipping.
Further, I'd weld pieces onto the plate to prevent the jack from slipping on the steel plate so that the jack is surrounded when it's on the plate - YES, I have seen that happen. (actually, it was when trying to level a camper - the jack slid. I've also jacked tractors, combines, wagons, trucks, trailers, and other fun stuff in muddy and plowed fields, on side hills and other places as well. I will use a bottle jack under the axle of a large Oscar Mayer hair truck while the boss breaks loose the lug nuts so we can change the rear inside dual. Why was I always the one to have to slide under that bloody (literally) truck and jack it up???)

Assuming you're in terrain where you're worried about shifting you should already have the T-Case in 4wd. There should not be enough backlash in the gears for the front to move enough to be an issue, and your other rear wheel should still be on the ground. If you are in 2wd, roll back and forth just enough to throw it into 4wd. If you're still worried put someone light in the cab to hold the breaks.
If you're worried about the pad slipping then get a bottle jack that's got one of these little guys in the pad:

Place it so it lines up with the axle tube.
I've done well over 100 offroad, rough terrain tire replacements in just the last 2 years. I used a 12 ton bottle jack and 12x12 steel jack plate. I've done hard dirt, soft sand, sides of hills, loose gravel, large rocks, mud, you name it. If there's a shitty terrain to jack a tire in, uncle sam has made sure I've had to replace tires in it. Never had a jack move, never had a vehicle shift. If you take the time to ensure that your brakes are set, whether you place some chocks down, have it in 4 and locked anyways, or have someone holding the brakes, then line up your jack, level out your surface within reason, you're going to be fine, I'll stand by that.

 

[Southbayglad]

The 4ton ones go up to 24”. How high is the lowest jack point on your JT?

Looks like my lowest point is 19 inches

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Assuming you're in terrain where you're worried about shifting you should already have the T-Case in 4wd. There should not be enough backlash in the gears for the front to move enough to be an issue, and your other rear wheel should still be on the ground. If you are in 2wd, roll back and forth just enough to throw it into 4wd. If you're still worried put someone light in the cab to hold the breaks.
If you're worried about the pad slipping then get a bottle jack that's got one of these little guys in the pad:

Place it so it lines up with the axle tube.
I've done well over 100 offroad, rough terrain tire replacements in just the last 2 years. I used a 12 ton bottle jack and 12x12 steel jack plate. I've done hard dirt, soft sand, sides of hills, loose gravel, large rocks, mud, you name it. If there's a shitty terrain to jack a tire in, uncle sam has made sure I've had to replace tires in it. Never had a jack move, never had a vehicle shift. If you take the time to ensure that your brakes are set, whether you place some chocks down, have it in 4 and locked anyways, or have someone holding the brakes, then line up your jack, level out your surface within reason, you're going to be fine, I'll stand by that.

They also make pieces for the top to cradle an axle tube - or a person can do as I've done with a piece of pipe and steel strap bent in a slight u shape. Doesn't take much assuming you aren't trying to jack at a 30 degree angle or something silly.
You can buy them, or make them - these are great!! There are several types, styles, sizes, and so on. This ain't gonna slip. It makes a bottle jack safe for under an axle tube.
Bottle jack
Plate for under jack
Cradle for axle IF you are lifting by axle (easiest way to swap a tire as you aren't waiting for the spring sag to stop)
Ways to block wheels - a couple of short pieces of 4x4 works great and you can also use those for UNDER the jack to gain some height if you are in uneven ground. They are light, easy to move and carry and so what if you lose them or leave them somewhere.
There - you've just made it safe to use a bottle jack and made it more versatile.

For those wanting to make hi-lift (farm/handy-man jacks) safer and more stable - there's these things, not cheap, but can be used on several types of jacks from the hi-lift to bottle jacks, to bumper jacks to whatever.. https://safejacks.com/collections/bottle-jack-accessories/products/universal-bottle-jack-stabilizer

 

[mazeppa]

Full disclosure..I have a full shop with a 2 post lift BUT I also have the one listed above for when I Overland with my truck camper as it allows me to comfortably and safely get under the truck if needed because it is also a jack stand.

Thanks for the advise, I may give them a try, sometime I don't trust the Amazon reviews (positive or negative). Very curious how well these are actually constructed.

 

[goneJEEPcrazy]

I have floor jacks, bottle jacks, and jack stands, there is no perfect do-al- jack, like any tool each has a specific usage depending on location and application.


I'v seen these on Amazon they look handy and considered purchasing a couple but maybe the quality is suspect.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ULZGFU/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

I've had a pair of those for about 6 or 7 years now. Used them many many times on several lifted F150's even a couple MINI's and Audi's. I would buy them again. However, I also have a pair of 6ton (I think) HD jack stands, two floor Jacks, and assorted smaller jacks. These pump jack stands are not a solve-all, there will be times when you need a floor jack still.

 

[mazeppa]

I've had a pair of those for about 6 or 7 years now. Used them many many times on several lifted F150's even a couple MINI's and Audi's. I would buy them again. However, I also have a pair of 6ton (I think) HD jack stands, two floor Jacks, and assorted smaller jacks. These pump jack stands are not a solve-all, there will be times when you need a floor jack still.

Thank you also for verifying the quality.

I was interested in these because sometimes when wanting to use jack stands the most convenient jack point is where you want to put a jack stand. I think a pair of these would be handy for certain situations, I also have different jacking equipment to choose from wish I had a 2-post lift (just what i need, more tools).

 

[goneJEEPcrazy]

Thank you also for verifying the quality.

I was interested in these because sometimes when wanting to use jack stands the most convenient jack point is where you want to put a jack stand. I think a pair of these would be handy for certain situations, I also have different jacking equipment to choose from wish I had a 2-post lift (just what i need, more tools).

Your reply pretty much verbatim describes why I bought them.

 

[NFRs2000NYC]

If you are looking for a jack for the home garage (not trail repair), this is the best investment I've ever made.

https://www.proeagle.com/collections/all/products/big-wheel-jack-the-beast

It aint cheap, but it's worth every penny, and it's a lifetime tool. I cant recommend it highly enough.

 

[Blade1668]

Great thread here. Best Jack to have. All of them, floor jack safest, bottle compact storage. Things I have missed since I moved AL. Due to them "growing legs" floor jack and transmission adapter, 5 ton jackstands. I had 2 cheap floor jacks fail but not like "how" a bottle jack will fail. To muddy the water more...... 2 2x10x24 treated boards advantage a floor, bottle or factory jack can set on them. It will give you 3 1/2 in of solid lift. Overlander's can use to level up there vehicle at camp too. Contractor's in Iraq was using modified floor jacks wheels removed and a flat plate on them, fast, solid dependable jack work changing for changing tire fast. Works in sand, rocky areas snow or on pavement that matter. "hard packed" I'm not a bottle jack fan, I've got a few, I trust my Hi-Lift jacks more but they have a place. A few of them to fail some of them dramatically but within their design aka not overloaded. They spread the weight out over a small area, that is a big problem with new vehicles, I've read that Jeep is using thinner but stronger metal in frame some thing to consider too
NFRs2000NYC that's a very interesting jack I was thinking about doing that to one.

 

[PyrPatriot]

Best Jack to have. All of them

Tough to do if you don't have a garage. What about for apartment dwellers with just a carport? Is it worth lugging a floor jack down to the car

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