New Aluminum Jack

[hotrodpc]

Anyone ever used one of these cheap aluminum jacks from HF??? My heavy dinosaur 3 ton floor jack has had it so it was time for a new one. I happen to be at HF today looking at a wagon and seen this one on sale for $59.99. Then with my 20% off coupon I got it for $48. It worked out to be half price of regular $99 price. It looks like any heavy floor jack, but when you pick it up or move it, WOW, its feather lite. Only 24 lbs. And with my bad back, I have a feeling I am gonna love this thing, IF the quality is there. I don't know, never used this kind before. Anyone else???

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

[BernieB]

No, never used one, but I've looked at 'em at HF. Ended up getting the 3 ton jack though, for about $80.

I hate the scissor jack that came with my truck (why it came with one I have no clue, since the truck has no spare and no place to mount one) so I wanted something big enough to lift it even with a load in the back. I figure even without a spare if a front tire goes I can swap it with a rear and limp to a service station. The aluminum one was only rated at 3,000 lbs and I didn't feel comfortable with that, considering I've carried loads heavier than that in my truck. Also, the lift was only 15" vs 20" for the 3 ton, and I needed that extra lift.

You're right about the weight though. Getting the 3 ton put away in the sidebox on the truck is a PITA since it's 94 lbs vs 24 lbs for the aluminum.

[hotrodpc]

Yep, my dad's 1 ton is the same. He carries a 5 ton bottle jack, and figures with a flat on the front, he can swap a rear to the front. He has had 1 flat in that truck, and it happen to be the left rear outer, so he noticed right away, and limped it home, then to a tire shop next day and they fixed. He has had the truck since Jan 94 and only 1 flat, I'd say is pretty dang good, so he has never had to use the jack. My 93 E350, I have had since 97 and I have never had a flat in it.

[hotrodpc]

Oh yeah, and I am guessing my 3 ton to be about 90lbs or so. And I have to carry that thing to the backyard from the front yard out the garage since its all grass. I just think this lightweight thing is going to be very good for me. I just hope its decent quality. My 3 ton is one of those cheap type jacks too and I have had it since 87. It kinda wacked now, my fault. ******* on a slant and tipped a car off of it and bent the frame a bit. Not bad, but still bent. I may take it apart, put the pieces in a vice, tighten it down to straighten the arms and then all should be good again.

[hotrodpc]

, my fault, I was j a c k i n g on a slant.

[BernieB]

I've only had one flat on the GMC, right rear inner, but didn't have any load in the truck so drove directly to the local tire shop. They wanted to plug it but I said "no way - put a patch". They grumbled a bit but put the patch for the same price as the plug.

I keep a pair of 4 ton jackstands in the sideboxes, so if I ever do find myself in the position of having to swap a rear to the front I won't have to rely on that cheap scissor jack, I can just use the 3 ton and the stands.

One of these days I've got to get a rim and a spare for that truck though. Not sure where I'll carry it, probably against the wall in the utility back, but that's gonna be "fun" to get to if I have a load in the truck. Might have to figure a way to mount it underneath. The truck, according to the RPO codes, had a frame mount spare when it was manufactured, but I think the place that mounted the utility body on it removed the mount to reinforce the frame for the 8 ton pintle hook.

[436'd skylark]

Good luck lifting anything heavy. my buddy has one, won't lift his 3/4 ton dodge..

[BernieB]

Originally Posted by 436'd skylark

Good luck lifting anything heavy. my buddy has one, won't lift his 3/4 ton dodge..

Which jack? The aluminum 1.5 ton or the steel 3 ton?

I've already used the 3 ton to lift the whole rear of the g/f's Dakota up onto stands, no problem at all.

[hotrodpc]

Man !!! Are you doggin on my new jack??? I do notice its only a 3000 lb jack. Its a 1 1/2 ton jack. But I'd still expect it to lift up either the rear end of a truck, or the front end. The whole truck weighs 4000 lbs, so I'd expect it be able to lift the front end up with both tires off the ground. If it doesn't, its going back. I probably will not use the jack for my E350 Box Van. Although that would be a test right now. The truck is loaded with 5 full pallets of printers, so if it can lift the rear end, the box, and the freight inside, I'd say it'll work for me. Just kidding by the way, I do appreciate the input. I will give this thing a try to see what it will do, and if not satisfied, its going back. Thanks for the info.

[436'd skylark]

I'm talking about the alluminum jack. It would at first, but you had to basically hang off the handle, now it won't at all.