Floor jack capacity

[Boonieman]

Just wondering what some of you guys were using to jack your trucks up with. My poor ole 2 1/2 ton rated jack will barely lift one front wheel off the ground, and it feels like it wants to blow it's cookies at that. I looked at the heavy-duty 3-ton Craftsman and it looked fairly well made, but I don't know anybody whose had any experience with that model. I don't want to be dragging the jack out from under the seat, and I didn't want to use the old bottle jacks either.

 

[BarryG]

I had the same problem with my old jack. The 21/2 ton rating must have been a joke. It was all it could do to lift one wheel much less the whole front end. Went to costco and picked up a 31/2 ton for relatively cheap. And what a difference. I was going to go craftsman but the the one from costco was much less and seemed just as well built. Time will tell I suppose. Seems that since I bought craftsman seems to be on sale every other week with jack stands included. Oh well

 

[WebCrush]

I had the same problem with my 2. 5 ton jack. I'll keep it in the cab for quick tire changes but nothing else.



I actually just went to sears last week and go the 3. 5 ton jack with the free jackstands for $110.

 

[dan_gilson]

I did the costco thing too. It is an "SUV" floor jack. It was under $75.



The next time I go there I will probably pick up a 2nd. I have a sloped drive and it puts a lot of extra strain on a jack to pick up both sides of the front (low side) at once.



Just a thought...

 

[R-N-R]

I picked up a Penske 3 ton 1 stroke - high lift with 2 jack stands for about $80 from K-Mart last year. However it never quite worked correctly... .



3 weeks ago I replaced it with a Craftsman 3. 5 ton with 2 jack stands on sale for $89 at Sears.

 

[Boonieman]

Good deal!! From the sound of it I'd be pretty safe getting the Craftsman... . with the floor jacks. I hadn't seen that one on sale, but I'm sure gonna find out about it. Thanks!

 

[rfcom]

Speaking of jacks ...

I got my tires rotated last weekend and saw that they jacked up the entire rear by putting the jack under the differential housing. I didn't like that. Is it OK to do that or should each side be jacked under the axle tubes? I would think lifting the front like that is asking for a bent housing.



Jim

 

[dan_gilson]

I have done this for the rear end. The housing is pretty thick. It is not safe though to work on it that way. The truck will become off balence when you start removing tires.



The shop that I trust always uses two floor jacks (one for each side). The only time I use just jacks is when I know I will not be going under. If I have to put a part of me under, jack stands get used.



The front diff might OK but it is a lot lighter. It is also off center and tends to only lift the near side tire. It is also a lot weaker in terms of the axle tubing. I typically use the suspension points to lift from. I have not had any problems. You really want to be careful about not lowering too fast on the front. A really bad bounce could ruin your day.

 

[Boondocker]

jack

The old 2. 5-ton jack just doesn't cut it. It's at it's limit in terms of both weight and lift height. To jack up the rear, the end of the jack handle is still under the truck - very awkward.



I just bought a 3. 5-ton jack at Sam's Club for $60. I gave it a quick test when I took it out of the box. Put it in position, gave it a few quick pumps with the 6-ft handle and the tire was already off the ground!



Having the right tool for the job is a joy.



Neil

 

[rweis]

I got the one at Sam's club, a Michelin brand I think. 3 1/2 ton, added 6 ton jack stands (2) and LOVE it!.



Zero prob, easy



Bob Weis

 

[illflem]

I use this one http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42820

Like the fact that it's long so you aren't pumping the handle while under the truck. Lifts one whole side of my truck 31" no problem. You won't be putting it behind your seat though. Hard to tell from the picture but it's at least four feet long.

 

[Chipstien]

A 2. 5 ton bottle jack won't lift one tire of the truck? Have you guys checked the oil in them recently. This is hard to swallow. I could maybe understand if it is a 2. 5 ton floor jack. Also, what is wrong with the factory jack. For as often as a person gets a flat the factory jack does the job and does it well... . just takes a little longer. In 12 years of driving I have had exactly 2 flat while driving. Both recent too. Iwas shocked at how well the factory jack worked with 35's.



However at home I have a 3. 5 ton floor jack for doing the maintenance on the rigs.

 

[Chipstien]

Well duh... . I should have read the title to the thread.

 

[SOOT]

I use a 6 ton bottle jack from Wal-Mart, small and light yet strong enough to pick up the whole front end at one time.

 

[Boonieman]

I went ahead and got the Craftsman 3 ton floor jack (with jackstands) today. I tested out the jack and it works just fine. I rotate my own tires, have the air tools etc. so I use it fairly often.

I also had a leftover gift card from Christmas... . otherwise I probably would have price-shopped a little more closely. I am normally pretty "cheap", and have been using wood to block up my truck, so the jack stands will be a handy addition.

 

[stg2500]

I have the Craftsman 3 ton and have been real happy with it. No problem lifting the front of the Big Dodge.