A floor jack is commonly known as a car jack and it is a mechanical device used to lift a part of a car from the ground so you can gain access to the elements beneath the car. Yes, it truly sounds like a simple tool which is almost irrelevant, but it isn’t! Did you know that you should keep a car jack in your car at all times? In a case you must replace a flat tire, you won’t be able to do that without a floor jack. The Best Floor Jack is the one that will meet all your requirements and work perfectly with a vehicle you own.
As we have mentioned, having a car jack is mandatory, but now we must explain all the reasons why this is the situation. Obviously, most of you believe that replacing a flat tire is the only purpose of a floor jack, but this isn’t the case. As a matter of fact, there are countless applications these small devices have to offer.
When you want to replace brake pads, you must use a floor jack. It will allow you to lift one wheel off the ground so you can remove it and replace brake pads. Without it, this task will be impossible. Keep in mind that a garage will charge you a huge amount of money does complete this simple task, which takes less than 10 minutes.
Once again, when you must complete some task regarding transmission, you will have to lift your car. This means that you need a floor jack once again. The same applies to suspension. Without a floor jack you simply don’t have access, nor can you replace any components regarding the suspension.
When it comes to this factor, you must know that a car jack will help you with maintaining your car. This is especially important when it comes to oil exchange, oil filter replacement or etc. The only other alternatives are massive car jacks which will lift the entire car (they may cost up to $20.000) or a car canal, which is obsolete and nobody uses it anymore.
This isn’t the primary purpose of car jacks, but still, many users use them for that. In general, they will use a car jack to compress a spring which allows for them to remove it. We must add that this is dangerous and should be left to professionals.
All you should know regarding this section is that a floor jack allows you to lift a part or a side of a car in order to gain access to the bottom components, due to reparation, replacement or maintenance. They must be kept in a car and they are essential for any garage. Of course, purchasing the first car jack you see on the market isn’t a wise task, which will be explained further below.
As we have just mentioned, choosing the first floor jack you see isn’t always a great choice. Here are a lot of factors which must be taken into consideration. Not only that they are important for the functionality of a car jack, but they also have a huge effect on the overall safety. And yes, using floor jacks is dangerous, so you must be careful and must choose a floor jack which is just right for the job. Here are the main factors you must take into consideration.
Why is this factor important? Well, if you a car which has a low ground clearance and a massive floor jack, you won’t be able to use it. Most sports cars are close to the ground so you need a low profile floor jack in order to lift them off the ground. On the other hand, SUVs and similar vehicles have a high ground clearance, so they can be paired with massive floor jacks. Always keep in mind that this factor must be checked before you purchase a floor jack. Also, measure the ground clearance from the place which is predicted for a floor jack. You must know that you cannot lift a vehicle from any spot you prefer. Usually, each one has special points behind the front and in front of rear wheels. Those spots are reinforced specifically due to this reason.
Every single floor jack has the weight load limit or better said the maximum load it can lift. On some, it is 1 ton (1ton=2000 pounds). Others can lift 2, some 3 tons and some, industrial ones up to 5 tones. In most cases, an average driver won’t need more than 3-4 tons of weight load the floor jack has to offer. This refers to massive trucks and SUVs. For ordinary cars, even 1-2 ton weight load will meet all the requirements. Always, literally always pay attention not to use a floor jack for lifting a vehicle which is heavier than the specified weight load. The floor jack can crack and may injure you or damage a car!
Build quality doesn’t actually refer to the types of materials a manufacturer used. It actually refers to the smaller components, to the piston or lifting mechanism quality. Some of them are made to be used as commercial floor jacks, while others are developed to be used occasionally. Now, if you are planning to use it every single day, the best build quality is the best choice. On the other hand, if you are planning to use it occasionally, for your own needs, then an average build quality will be just fine. Pay attention to the bolts, nuts, handle and wheels. If they look like they can withstand heavy-duty usages, the floor jack is definitely a high-quality one.
Here we have one interesting factor. It refers to the number of times you must press the lever in order to lift a car. On some floor jacks, this number is very low, only 5-7 times are enough. Others require much more, so they literally require more time than others. The matter cannot be generalized, but you can always choose the one which requires the shortest amount of time in order to lift a car. This factor also depends on the type of a floor jack, something we will explain later on.
Now we are talking about the main materials which have been used in floor jack construction. Although the situation looks complicated it is actually very simple. Basically, you have two materials, steel, and aluminum. It is up to you which one you want to choose. Steel floor jacks are made for heavy-duty applications. They can withstand a higher level of pressure, they are more resistant and they are strong in general. But, they are heavier and they are almost obsolete. Aluminum models are different. They are lightweight, highly portable and they can be used easily. On the other hand, they can still meet most of your expectations. Most new models are capable of meeting even professional requirements.
There are three types of floor jacks and now we will explain each type.
It isn’t difficult to explain why this is the Best 3 ton floor jack on the list. It weighs only 56 pounds, but it is capable of meeting even the most demanding requirements. The floor jack is modern, sophisticated and the attention to details is on the highest level. As such we have fast rising action, reinforced lifting arm and dual piston system. In addition, pistons are protected from dust and contamination, so we believe that this floor jack will stay fully operation for many decades to come.
In essence, the entire floor jack is strong and durable. It is made from aluminum, but from a special type of the metal, so it is stronger than equivalent models. It also offers prevention of over-extension thanks to added valves, which means that it is safer to use. We also liked the 1-year warranty and the reinforced frame. When it comes to profile, it is low, but not as some other models. You will use this floor jack for most cars you have in mind and it will work perfectly.
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Now we have a bit different floor jack compared to the first model here on the list. In the lack of a better word, we must say that they are completely different. Yes, the weight load is also 3 tons, but the profile is much lower and this unit is made of steel. Due to this fact, we will recommend it to professionals and for those who are planning to use it every single day. The unit is heavy-duty floor jack made by one of the best brands in the business. It isn’t designed to look nice or too lightweight, but rather to stay usable even under heavy load.
Lifting is quick and using the floor jack is simple. It is actually one of the rare models which comes with these advantages. You definitely won’t make a mistake if you choose this unit. After all, it is made of steel for professionals. When it comes to profile, the manufacturer claims that it features ultra-low profile, meaning that it is lower than most, similar models.
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This floor jack can lift anything which is up to 2 tons heavy for 14.5 inches. It is also made from steel, which guarantees strength and durability. In addition, it also features low profile, but it is interesting that the lifting capability is better than some other models have. Other facts you will have to know is that it features overload protection, it has great wheels and main elements are reinforced. In addition, this floor jack is a desirable model, due to the fact it can meet requi8rements of most users and it is generally affordable.
When it comes to attention to the details, the unit is better than most other models have to offer. It is well-made, looks great and it offers everything you are going to need. Primarily, it is designed for home-based usages, but it won’t be impossible to use it for commercial operations. Other than that, we must add that it is safe to use, it comes in a great package and it has a high satisfaction rate among current owners.
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What if you are looking for a floor jack for your truck or an SUV? In that case scenario, you are going to need this model. First and foremost, it has a weight load support of 3 tons. Then, it can lift a car up to 21 inches and it is made to withstand all of that. Even the swivel casters are durable, strong and made to meet the toughest requirements. The profile is 6-inches low, meaning that this isn’t great for sports cars, but after all, it is designed for massive vehicles.
As you can see, it comes with extended height. It is made from high-quality materials and it is capable for various usages. A handle is removable for easy storage and the entire floor jack is easy to use and easy to move.
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We saved the most interesting model for the end. The weight load of this floor jack is actually 3.5 tons, higher than any other models on the list. The only reason why we rated it as 5th is the fact most users don’t need this amount of weight load. Most cards (total weight) is under 2 tons, so you can imagine how powerful this floor jack actually is. Furthermore, it is made from steel, it is a durable and heavy-duty item.
Other facts you should know about it is that valves and pistons are heavy-duty units as well. It comes with overload protection and has specific wheels which make it extremely easy to use. Of course, this is a massive and heavy floor jack, so it isn’t easy to move it around a garage. An interesting addition is bypass protection, which prevents pumping when the floor jack is lifter to the max.
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A floor jack can be something that will save you on the road, so every single driver must have one. All of these models are suitable for ordinary people, except the last floor jack. On the other side, they can be used for professional or commercial applications as well. We have tested them in the real world and rated them accordingly. Now it is up to you to decide which the Best Floor Jack is or better said the most suitable for your requirements. Remember that all 5 models are well-made, they come with all the features you are going to need and all of them are safe. After all, this is the most important factor. You will be able to use them for many years to come and you will always lift your vehicle as easy as possible.
Are you interested in having a car or motorcycle lift as well? Check out our best car lift and motorcycle lift table reviews.
Last update on 2024-12-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
