Question about Floor Jack and Jack Stands

NIN20 · 10-11-2008, 11:03 PM

I'm looking to buy a floor jack and a set of jack stands. Im looking for some good quality equipment, but i also dont want to break the bank. My questions are. Where to buy and some quality companies. Also how much weight should they be rated for(I have a 2000 XJ)

Thanks for all the help
-Eli

jumbojeepman · 10-12-2008, 01:05 AM

It's getting hard to find a good quality floor jack, at any price. Any readily available (FLAPS, Wal-mart) seem to be cheap Chinese junk. My old jack (bought at a FLAPS) lasted 10 years, and never let down until you turned the handle. I've had to go out and buy one recently, and I had to take 2 back because one didn't work out of the box, and the other would slowly release pressure over the period of an hour or two, unsatisfactory in my book (You shouldn't only hold up a car with one anyway, that's what the jack stands are for, but a lot of times you want to hold up an engine or tranny for a couple of hours while another component is removed.) You want a full size one (2 1/2 ton, with a permanently attached handle) though, not the size you can stick in your trunk (these are only good for changing a tire on the side of the road, provided you aren't on dirt, or they will tip over.)

Jack stands are easier, you want about 2-3 tons capacity, get ones with that have locks that click in place, not the ones with pins you have to slide in place. You have to balance height with weight capacity, the ones with more capacity tend to have higher minimum heights. Probably OK for a Jeep, but I work on other, lower, cars so that's an issue for me.

06camarodude · 10-12-2008, 02:38 AM

jumbojeepman is right about jack stands, you want the ones with the lever to unlock them, not the pins. Jacks, however, aren't that hard to get. You really don't want to go too cheap on a jack or jack stands, but you can get a deal. I've got a pair of Craftsman hydraulic floor jacks in my garage, we have been using them both for over 10 years, and we have never had a problem with either one. Craftsman tools are great, IMO, and the best deal for the money. Their hand tools carry a lifetime replacement warranty, and you can find just about any tool you'd need in a Sears store.

Besides Craftsman, the only other tools I can recommend are Mac Tools and Snap-On Tools. You'd have to find someone that sells those, though, they are usually sold by a franchise owner from a tool truck to automotive businesses. . .

NIN20 · 10-12-2008, 04:14 PM

Thank you both

**numchuck** · 10-12-2008, 10:14 PM

Go to OReilly Auto Parts. They carry some nice tools from AC Delco / GM Goodwrench.

**RikRotorhead** · 10-12-2008, 10:24 PM

I bought a pair of 3 ton stands and a pair of 6 ton stands at Harbor Freight (similar to the one pictured above except orange and white).
The 3 ton are not tall enough for some jobs, and the 6 ton are too tall for smaller cars.
The advantage of the 6 ton is with the added height it gives you more room to work under the vehicle. The 3 ton stands come in handy for putting under axles, etc... to hold them in place.
Get both.
I got a good American made floor jack from Costco.

rgingerelli99tj · 10-12-2008, 10:38 PM

Snap-on Jack stands are great. I have a pair, they were a little expensive but worth it (they are garunteed...for life).

Exparrot · 10-13-2008, 10:00 PM

I found some that I thought would work, when I was stock height. After only 2.5" total lift, I'm out of the range that work well.

Problem was solved by a couple of concrete blocks underneath each jack stand when I'm working on them. Adds about 6" to the total, and with a wider footprint under the jack stands, I feel better when using them.