What do you use to raise your car to work on it?

[cf99]

Looking for ideas. I need to start doing more work myself. Ramps seem like the easiest but you need a lot of space for 4 ramps (most seem kinda steep though). What lift height is the minimum I'd want to be able to work comfortably, including a creeper? Jack stands, bottle jacks, what else might I consider.

[uibalnme]

a 2-ton floor jack, and 2 jack stands. That's the minimum that I'd have to work on any car(under 2-tons).

[Yuko]

+1 on jack stands. For a while, I used the in-car jack and later upgraded to a 2-ton floor jack. Opt for the bigger and higher lift jack; there are many times I wish I did. Also gave up on the creeper and just lay on the floor.

[cf99]

Are floor jacks something you can safely buy it from Harbor Freight and expect it will last? Something like this, with 18-1/4" lift: http://www.harborfreight.com/automot...ack-92782.html

How about jack stands? Any differences in quality/safety where you would avoid something from Harbor Freight and go with some name brand?

[uibalnme]

HF floor jacks are good enough for occasional work. The last one I had was over 10 years old before it blew a seal. Lucky the jack had only lifted up 4 inches before it let go. No harm, no foul. I just bought a new 3-ton HF floor jack. It's a new design, and works smoother, and better than the old one ever did.

[JohnGD]

Most of the time a lumber ramp is convenient for me and cheap too. It does take up some space but not all bad. And they don't have to be as long as the ones in the link below:

http://www.mustangworld.com/ourpics/...amps/index.htm

For jobs needing the wheels to come off I use 3-ton stands and a heavy-duty 3-ton floor jack from harbor Freight. It's a cheap jack without the speed lift where you pump once and the pad goes up against the jack point. I bought it after my Crapsman 3-ton blew a seal and drop the front end while lifting. The newer Crapsman jacks, like the U-series transmissions, are pretty much junk. That's why never go under a car without supporting it on stands.

[JohnGD]

Some of these HF jacks/stands are probably the same ones rebranded in parts stores. The 2000 lb is good for a corner, but is marginal for the front end of a FWD car. My HF 3-ton was probably the old design because my 2-ton Torin is smoother.

I also have a $10-15 (can't remember) Torin 2-ton from Pep Boys for many years. It's a decent floor jack for the price. I'd be willing to go with Torin based on this experience.

If you want better quality I'd suggest getting an OTC 1526 floor jack online. I was looking at the OTC but I needed a jack quickly so went with HF. OTC used to have jack/stand combos. The 1526 alone is about $172+ online (Google). They used to have a few different ones in the 3-ton range but get one that rises to the jack point quickly with one pump. After a few years I'd buy a $10 seal kit and keep it around just in case. Change the jack oil every 2-3 years.

http://www.otctools.com/newcatalog/p...s/519509_1.pdf

Originally Posted by cf99

Are floor jacks something you can safely buy it from Harbor Freight and expect it will last? Something like this, with 18-1/4" lift: http://www.harborfreight.com/automot...ack-92782.html

How about jack stands? Any differences in quality/safety where you would avoid something from Harbor Freight and go with some name brand?

[fenixus]

I use 3-ton jack stands from HFT:
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-h...nds-38846.html



and a 2-ton compact jack Central Hydraulics from HFT:
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-c...ack-66725.html



Lift: 4-1/2" to 15-5/8", it beats the Duralast (Autozone) and Torin compact jack from Pep Boys, and I tried all of them when completing my toolset 2 years ago. neither Duralast nor Torin compact jacks allowed me to raise the rear end off ground enough to use 3 ton jack stands. HFT jack does the trick just enough.

does the trick for me. sometimes I use a scissor jack if I only want to do some simple stuff behind the wheel. but then I also always use (depending on end of car I work on) wither parking brake or parking gear in transmission and Blitz wheel chocks from autozone (p/n 11930, have 2 pairs of them).

[SilverSoarer]

Mack Truck 3 ton jack stands (2 for $20 at Wal*Mart)

Torin Big Red Aluminum 3-ton Racing Jack ($99 at Costco) - has a wide rubber saddle (6" circumference) but heavy @ 60 lbs

[Chris Crash]

I use a HF jack. That thing's awesome. Some HF tools are junk, but some are solid. These jacks are one of those things. Everything I buy at HF, I spend the couple extra bucks and get the warranty. They've flat out said that "you can run it over with a truck and we will exchange it", so that warranty is pretty good even with a crappy tool.

[cf99]

These 2-piece ramps are kinda interesting. Lets you move the ramp portion out of the way after the wheels are lifted so you have access from the side:
http://www.kcautoacc.com/Race-Ramps-...-2_p_1339.html

Is 8" lift enough (I'd just be using them for fluid changes)? The weight capacity is only 1500 lbs per ramp but I guess that's enough. A bit pricey, but $100/hour labor costs and marked-up parts/fluids and shop fees...probably break even after the 2nd tranny fluid change. Another option would be make them out of wood, since they show a drawing of all the dimensions and how the interlock works.

[LynchburgCSI]

Originally Posted by fenixus

I use 3-ton jack stands from HFT:
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-h...nds-38846.html



and a 2-ton compact jack Central Hydraulics from HFT:
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-c...ack-66725.html



Lift: 4-1/2" to 15-5/8", it beats the Duralast (Autozone) and Torin compact jack from Pep Boys, and I tried all of them when completing my toolset 2 years ago. neither Duralast nor Torin compact jacks allowed me to raise the rear end off ground enough to use 3 ton jack stands. HFT jack does the trick just enough.

does the trick for me. sometimes I use a scissor jack if I only want to do some simple stuff behind the wheel. but then I also always use (depending on end of car I work on) wither parking brake or parking gear in transmission and Blitz wheel chocks from autozone (p/n 11930, have 2 pairs of them).

Look at what I have!




I LOVE the jack stands, but I wouldn't use them on my truck. Just for car work. My next pair will be a heavier set. The jack is CRAP. But it works for $19.99. I'd get something nicer from harbor freight in the 60-100 range next time though.

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by LynchburgCSI

Look at what I have!




I LOVE the jack stands, but I wouldn't use them on my truck. Just for car work. My next pair will be a heavier set. The jack is CRAP. But it works for $19.99. I'd get something nicer from harbor freight in the 60-100 range next time though.

haha same set

I actually like that jack, it fits the trunk nicely (mind I don't have a garage) and it does the job for me where neither Duralast nor Torin could.

[LynchburgCSI]

It's a nice travel jack, i'll give it that. It's starting to wear though. It's jammed in the up position before. FRUSTRATION. I want something that will last more than 2 years though. GREAT first jack though.

[fenixus]

I took a warranty extension for that jack. if ever anything happens to it, I bring it to store and get a new one ... unless extra warranty expires before anything happens to it LOL

jamming in up position huh? not a funny "feature". still better than Crapsman compact jacks blowing seals when jacking up (or holding car up)...