Floor Jack | FerrariChat

Floor Jack

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Futureman, Jul 13, 2007.

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  1. Futureman

    Futureman Formula 3

    May 16, 2007
    2,024
    For those of us poor souls who are not fortunate enough to have a lift, what recommendations can someone give me for a good quality low profile jack. I have an old crappy Harbor Freight jack that was fine for the daily beaters, but it just won't work with the 328. Griot's has one for $400, which looks pretty nice. Any other recommendations? The Griot's jack seems pretty steep at 4 large. Is it really worth that, or are there equally good lower cost alternatives?
     
  2. h00kem

    h00kem Guest

    Dec 15, 2004
    734
    Texas
    I just bought one at Sears for $30...low profile and seems to fit under my car as needed. I figure with Sear's warranty i can always exchange it as needed. They also have a nice racing jack but the load capacity is severely limited.
     
  3. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,053
    USA
    I have the older version of the Griot's $400 jack....it is really nice. The new one seems even better. Yeah, a lot of dough, but when you amortize all the years of use you will get out of it, the extra couple hundred dollars is nothing.
     
  4. Futureman

    Futureman Formula 3

    May 16, 2007
    2,024
    I mentioned going to Sears to my wife and she put the immediate halt on that idea. "You'll get a Crapsman and then I'll have to listen to you piss and moan about how Crapsman is crap until you finally just get what you really want." I hate it when she's right....sometimes.
     
  5. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,053
    USA
    BTW, I have heard folks using the $100 aluminum racing jacks from Costco, Shuck's, AutoZone, etc. They seem to work well according to the users...
     
  6. h00kem

    h00kem Guest

    Dec 15, 2004
    734
    Texas
    Yea, I agree about Sears but because of their very liberal return policy I trade stuff that quits working or fails when I need to. Just traded a couple of screw drivers that were about 30 years old in on new ones...no questions asked. I figure for $30 bucks compared to the $400 mentioned above I have a jack and $370 bucks in my pocket!

    ps: the Sears jack is better quality than the harbor freight by my comparison.
     
  7. Dom

    Dom F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Nov 5, 2002
    8,489
  8. Futureman

    Futureman Formula 3

    May 16, 2007
    2,024
    Thanks for the inputs. I've seen those Torin jacks on Northern Tool's website. They also have some ultra low profile jacks as well.
     
  9. BT

    BT F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Mar 21, 2005
    15,291
    FL / GA
    Full Name:
    Bill Tracy
    True, the Costco one is rated for 3000#. And the red definitely looks good!
    BT
     
  10. synchro

    synchro F1 Veteran

    Feb 14, 2005
    9,294
    CHNDLR
    Full Name:
    Scott
    Several others have used this low profile HF jack so I got one too. Works great and slides under most any car.
    http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91039
     
  11. JV's89

    JV's89 F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 18, 2006
    7,340
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    John
    I bought an aluminum (4000lbs.) jack at costco last week for 99 bucks. It's by far the best one I've owned.
     
  12. Brapbrapbrap

    Brapbrapbrap Karting

    Sep 23, 2006
    146
    Houston
    Full Name:
    Hal
    I bought the Sears one. It's junk. It didn't last very long at all.

    The hydraulic seals in the cylinder gave up the ghost. And all I own is Porsche's and Ferrari's.

    I like this one.

    www.atdtools.com

    ATD-7325

    Hal
     
  13. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,053
    USA
    Hal, that one does look nice, and even with shipping, appears to be about 2/3 the price of the Griot's I have. Seems longer which would give a bit more reach....but looks like it needs a rubber pad...but you can source those for $10. http://www.toolrage.com/prodView.asp?idproduct=3732
     
  14. Wingnut

    Wingnut Karting

    Feb 11, 2005
    161
    Corolla, NC
    My Lincoln 2-ton has lifted many cars over the last few years, including the Mondial.
    I saw the model in use at a local service station and was impressed.
     
  15. potxoli

    potxoli Formula 3

    Mar 22, 2007
    1,716
    Washington DC
    Full Name:
    Eric B.
    I bought the aluminum race jack Harborfreight has for $100 (they have a bigger $140 version too). It is nicely built and does the job. It is low profile so I have no trouble lifting the car.
     
  16. Impactco

    Impactco Formula 3

    Jan 29, 2006
    1,615
    #18 Impactco, Jul 13, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I have the same one. Decent quality. The pad is at 3" lowered and lifts to 15". This is the only one that would fit under my 308QV. $84.99 and rated for 3000 lbs.

    Here's a selection of their aluminum units:

    http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=aluminum+jack&Submit=Go
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  17. Futureman

    Futureman Formula 3

    May 16, 2007
    2,024
    That's more like it. I don't have any faith in Sears, and my current Harbor Freight makes Sears look like Snap-On. Thanks for the lead.
     
  18. blackforestauto

    blackforestauto Karting

    Jul 6, 2007
    185
    Cleveland, Ohio
    Full Name:
    Bob
    Since you seem to be more quality conscious than price sensitive, I'd submit these are worth a look...best I've seen. Steve is a straight-up guy, too, well known in the German car community. No financial interest or affiliation, etc.

    http://www.ultimategarage.com/ach-overview.html
     
  19. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,053
    USA
    Those look very nice from the Ultimate Garage. Here's the Griot's mentioned that started this thread:

    http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?L1=L1_3000&L2=L2_3030&SKU=77739

    I have the original version, this new one looks even better...the lifting pad is flat, rather than dished on the older one....most of the other feathers are the same. The handle design changed slightly....
     
  20. jonesdds

    jonesdds Formula 3

    Aug 31, 2006
    2,163
    SB,CA & Park City UT
    Full Name:
    Jeff
    I have the Costco one for $99 and know problems at all but used only 5-6 times. Very large bulky design, looks and works well made, better than the comparably priced Sear's unit. One problem, though, which I expected. Not low profile enough to fit under the 328 so I drive up on a few 1x8's, then no problem. I assume the Sear's unit is the same. Harbor freight unit looks like a nice find, I want a second and may get that unit myself.

    Jeff
     
  21. Beta Scorpion

    Beta Scorpion Formula 3

    Jun 22, 2006
    1,379
    #23 Beta Scorpion, Jul 16, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    I like the AC Jack because not only is it only about 3 inches high, it has a slender arm that remains low, rather than ramping upward like jack in the previous picture. This allows the jack to fit farther under the car if required.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  22. UConn Husky

    UConn Husky F1 Rookie

    Nov 11, 2006
    4,425
    CT
    Full Name:
    Jay
    Say you want to jack up the rear of a 355; jack lifts at the rear jacking point which is approximately under the back end of the door - where do the jack stands go then since the jack is lifting from the jacking point? I heard on the 355 you don't want to lift from the rear subframe because it's not strong enough, is this true? What I did is lift the rear using two jacks, one at each side of the subframe which seems somewhat strong. BUT then my jack stands were too tall to fit under the jacking points. So my second question related to this thread, does anyone have 'short' jack stands?

    Also I use the Craftsman race jack, works fine (4 yrs now).
     
  23. FasterIsBetter

    FasterIsBetter F1 Veteran

    Jul 22, 2004
    5,856
    NoNJ/Jupiter FL
    Full Name:
    Steve W.
    I have the same HF aluminum jack. I take it to the track and it works just fine. Only difference is that I paid $79 for it. You have to watch their circulars for their "sale" price on various items. In the garage at home, I use a Sears Craftsman 3 ton jack when I'm not using my Snap-On scissor lift. I've had it for years and it's good quality.
     

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