aluminum jacks

96capriceMGR · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:40 pm Post subject: aluminum jacks

I know I am not the only one who drives to the track on street rubber and then swaps. I am tired of the $20 cheap heavy steel units that bend if used on less than level ground. I want a decent aluminum midsized unit, in street trim the car is 4100lbs without me so a 3000lbs would be sufficient.

I naturally looked at Craftsman, but the reviews on their own website are terrible so I figured I would ask.

Basically the inlaws and wife all pool together and buy me one nice present for christmas rather than little crap I don't want anyway.

I am not worried about absolute lightest, or super quick lifts or anything, just want a reliable jack that wont cause a trip to the chiropractor after every raceday.

af2 · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:51 pm Post subject:

I have 2 years and about 3 jacks on the Kragens! Dust! what a POS*

Edit: 3 jacks not 30! Embarassed

Knarley Darley · Member Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 1247 540238.26 points

Funny I finally treated myself to one this year when I started racing again. I was tired of dragging the heavy 2 ton out of my shop that is all grungy everytime. Costco is where I got mine and it will jack up a tire on my enclosed trailer with the car in it in case I get a flat on the road. It is not the lightest, but still only 1/3rd the weight of my other one and rated at 3 tons. I think it was 169 bucks.

96capriceMGR · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 11:40 pm Post subject:

I have a 7000lbs craftsman for the garage and I swear 7000lbs is the weight not the rating.

I have been using cheap narrow small floor jacks and the small saddles are bending the frame and since the pits at one place are gravel the narrow jack doesn't always sit well and midlift the car fell once bending the jack a little. Tired of the little ones but not tired of them enough to carry the BIG one.

Wife has decided she wants to race and wants to help with tires and such so I want something she can get out of the trunk, any aluminum one will fit the bill there. I just want one that will last at least a few seasons. Read too many stories of failures.

af2 · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 11:50 pm Post subject:

There is a company in Nevada. I will get the info tomorrow for you.

Big Dave · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 3:37 am Post subject:

Problem with most of these is the hydraulic cylinders not the frame of the jack. Most take a slow boat from China and are susceptible to corrosion of the ram, and dirt. Because the seals are ceramic they loose their seal in about a year or less due to the rams rusting.

To my knowledge no one sells a hard chromed cylinder any more, so I consider floor jacks to now be expendable (new one is about a hundred at my corner tool store, laundry and Chinese food, and it cost me $270 to get my old New Britain 3 Ton repaired (with a new cylinder welded into the old steel frame) so I don't bother any more.

Big Dave

MufflerBearings69 · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 2:17 pm Post subject:

I've got little to contribute but to add that both of the craftsman ones my buddies have owned failed pretty fast...

Not sure where to get a decent jack period.

Knarley Darley · Member Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 1247 540238.26 points

Just a note to add the one I use in my shop (the heavy one thats grungy) is also a Costco and it is 5 years old or so maybe older, and it gets used ALOT. It is just now starting to leak a little.