Floor jack and jack stands... Suggestions?
 

I know that it seems like a somewhat strange question to ask: "Do you have any suggestions for a floor jack with a pair of stands," but whenever I get underneath the car, my life is at stake.

My last set was a 2 ton (4000 lbs) jack, with a matching pair of stands. I had to give it up, as it was mostly my father's, when I moved away from home.

Now, before anyone says, "Get a lift!" Uhhhh, nope. Sorry. I wish I had the funds for that!

I was just wondering if there are any brands to stay away from, or if anyone knows of any kind of sales/specials on some quality equipment. I need some soon.

craftsman, snap-on, or mac.

i bought a set of 3ton jack stands with a jack and it came with a stool on wheels, jumper cables, wheel chocks, a t-bar and i believe thats it. It was $10 more for the whole kit versus the jack by itself. It was a sale at sears. Everything mentioned is craftsman.

those are a good deal.

I will definitely second craftsman stuff. But I also bought my jack at Sam's. It's a 3.5 ton jack, and actually doesn't fit under the car real well. I solve that by parking the car on boards. It's a very, very heavy jack and has worked great. Possibly it wouldn't last long enough in a shop, but as often as I use it (once every couple of weeks) it's been great.

I have four 3-ton stands I bought in pairs at Wal-Mart. They're anlso very substantial, but they have a notched perch on them, and honestly I wish more often than not that they were flat. If I ever find any that big with a flat perch, I'm buying them.

Anyway, so I don't screw around. I get stuff that's 'rated' way higher than what I need. Those 3-ton stands have a much wider footprint than the 2-ton guys.

I just got a 2.5 ton aluminum jack from pep boys for xmas. Light, big, low, worked really well when I used it yesterday.

I have looked at the aluminum ones and they look very good. The thing I want is for it to go under the car without me having to park on boards. Some of them will go up to full height with only a couple pumps on the handle. :)

I just got a 2 ton Craftsman all aluminum jack from my wife and son for my B-day, and it is schweeet!! 42.5 pounds and slides under the SVX with no fuss ! :D

My personal feelings are that the best you can afford at the moment is the way to go. I plan to pass on my old Craftsman 2-ton to whichever of my sons has a garage of his own first, this after 20+ years of reliable service. Jack stands are so cheap, why scrimp over $5-10?

Glenn

Re: Floor jack and jack stands... Suggestions?
 

I have the following jack & jack stand set and like it very much. It is from Northern Tool & Equipment. It is 2 ton rated and chromed and comes in a flimsy plastic carrying case. It is not all that expensive.


http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...ssearch=144888

Good Luck.


PS: The jack easily fits under the SVX.

I just looked on sears.com, and found a 4500 lbs. floor jack w/ two 4500 lbs. jack stands for $55 total. Craftsman brand. Not bad at all! Thanks guys. :D

nice price, you can always go the other way around: make a hole in the garage's floor where you can work underneath the car very easily.... :D

I've got the same jack Nick and I second your recommendation. $59, 3.5 ton rating and very beefy (side rails, caster mounts, and lifting arm). I needed something to lift my full size truck, which weighs 3.5 tons, and this handles it nicely.

Todd

http://www.hyjacks.com/

http://www.hyjacks.com/n_71550z.jpg

People

Where exactly do you jack the car with a work-shop style jack? Like when you want to lift the front end off the ground to put the stands under?
(and the back for that matter)

where to jack for stands
 

I second that question