39 replies to this topic

[Alberto]

I use a low profile aluminum jack from Sears. Have had it 5 years now and use it often on my Miata and RX7. Great jack. I think I got it on sale for about $150 or so.

[Rob Gibson]

We have the HF "Aluminum racing 1.5 ton jack" coming up on 2 years. Maybe we are just lucky it still works fine Downside is it can't lift that high...but we just get the car on the stands then use a 4x4 block and repeat. Other thing is if your not careful releasing the pressure it will drop your car like a rock!!! But I'll put up with these for the $48 I paid All for USA but I had to buy Toyo tires...the USA jack will have to wait!

4 years for us. We use it sparingly, only at the track and mainly for enduro pit stops. It's the lightest jack I've ever seen so it's easy to take over the wall with you and very maneuverable with one hand.

We have a heavy steel jack for the shop and the mid-range HF AL for our main track jack.

That's $300 for 3 jacks. I guess I could have spent that on one jack of decent quality, but then it would be either too heavy for pitstops or wouldn't lift high enough or both.

[Sphinx]

I'm considering one of these two jacks, one from Costco, the other is from HF. I think the HF one might be better simply because it's chassis is longer. Any first hand experiences with either?

http://www.amazon.co..._pr_product_top (sold at costco) (27.5" length)

http://www.harborfre...pump-68050.html (34" length) (Will this one be long enough to grab the front subframe before it hits the pump portion of the jack?)

Is there an aluminum one that is as long (and doesn't cost a zillion dollars)?

[joe varble]

don't know if you notice, that hf rapid pump is 93.3 lbs.

[Sphinx]

don't know if you notice, that hf rapid pump is 93.3 lbs.

The Arcan one is 101. That's why I was asking about aluminum alternatives.

[Brandon]

I'm considering one of these two jacks, one from Costco, the other is from HF. I think the HF one might be better simply because it's chassis is longer. Any first hand experiences with either?

http://www.amazon.co..._pr_product_top (sold at costco) (27.5" length)

http://www.harborfre...pump-68050.html (34" length) (Will this one be long enough to grab the front subframe before it hits the pump portion of the jack?)

Is there an aluminum one that is as long (and doesn't cost a zillion dollars)?

Haven't checked either of the above links but I'd gather you won't hit the subframe with either considering this one (http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/B000RFUETA) is nearly 46" long and I still "scrunch" the bumper lip a bit getting to it.

But it works as expected! Jack up the front, place stands; jack up the rear, place stands. Done! No more fighting with the walls in my narrow single-car garage!
Now, you'll get a workout too with it - 100+ pounds worth of jack to haul around the car but it does the job...

Regarding the price - I 'got lucky' with an automatically renewed Amazon Prime membership (forgot to cancel it so it's good for 12 months) which got me free 2-day shipping on a hoss of a package!
Can't beat that with a HF jack!

Best of luck!

[Sphinx]

Haven't checked either of the above links but I'd gather you won't hit the subframe with either considering this one (http://www.amazon.co...e/dp/B000RFUETA) is nearly 46" long and I still "scrunch" the bumper lip a bit getting to it.

But it works as expected! Jack up the front, place stands; jack up the rear, place stands. Done! No more fighting with the walls in my narrow single-car garage!
Now, you'll get a workout too with it - 100+ pounds worth of jack to haul around the car but it does the job...

Regarding the price - I 'got lucky' with an automatically renewed Amazon Prime membership (forgot to cancel it so it's good for 12 months) which got me free 2-day shipping on a hoss of a package!
Can't beat that with a HF jack!

Best of luck!

What did you pay? Northern Tool sells it for $300.

[Brandon]

@Amazon for $300 - not via one of their 'alternate seller' storefronts.

We don't have NT up here in Jersey so I didn't have much choice but to go online to get it.
I tried ordering it from a 'local' (CT is within an hours drive) tool source but they didn't have it in stock and it would have been a typical 7-10 days for for them to get it.

Instant gratification is always a plus in my book.

[CruzanTom]

This Aluminum one from Sears is on sale for $280 and is only 57 lbs. I have it and it lifts my 4200 lb CTS-V easily.

http://bit.ly/N78ICE

[Zauskycop]

I must be REALLY lucky..my HF 2 ton is 8 years old!! Use it constantly

[Jim Boemler]

I've had the same experience. Works great, light, and lifts the car just enough. Had mine almost ten years.

[Sphinx]

I went and saw the HF one up close. The distance on my NA from the rear of the subframe to the end of the chin spoiler is about 30". The HF one is 20" to the area where it rises. So, I'd have to drive it up onto wooden boards. They have it on sale for $130 right now through the end of the month (and you can't use a coupon, read the fine print ).

The Sears one is not a low profile and wouldn't help me at all. And I have the craftsman aluminum one from about 8 years ago that's been junk for the last 5 years, ready for recyling. Not sure it is worth rebuilding since it doesn't even fit under my car.

The Omega one seems promising but at a cost of over double the HF for more convenience. And we don't know it's long term reliability.

Any other options?

[Brandon]

The cost of the Omega one was definitely a factor (I had been 'looking' at it for 12-18 months now) and having to fight with getting our M3 (E92) up on jackstands I finally decided I'd had enough and bought it.
It fits under the F/R of the Miata and the Bimmer making all regular maintenance that much more easy.

Just so happened to have that lapsed-cancellation of Amazon Prime to make it a done-deal from my perspective.
Now the wife's, that's another one entirely...

[Muda]

I buy Harbor Freight returns for $20-40 delivered. Fill 'em, bleed 'em they work just fine. Did have to put a bolt on one once.

[Sphinx]

I buy Harbor Freight returns for $20-40 delivered. Fill 'em, bleed 'em they work just fine. Did have to put a bolt on one once.

How? You have a link?

[Muda]

Here's one but it needs work to the handle:
http://www.ebay.com/...=item46055690a0

Here's one that appears to be fine:
http://www.ebay.com/...=item5894bc1d8e

Here's another: http://www.ebay.com/...=item5894c01a4d

You've got to be careful and verify which model you're buying and that it is the capacity and weight you want.
Good luck!

[dstevens]

Here's one but it needs work to the handle:
http://www.ebay.com/...=item46055690a0

Here's one that appears to be fine:
http://www.ebay.com/...=item5894bc1d8e

Here's another: http://www.ebay.com/...=item5894c01a4d

You've got to be careful and verify which model you're buying and that it is the capacity and weight you want.
Good luck!

I've dealt with that kat. It got resolved but never again. I didn't bother to leave feed back. Caveat emptor, he's real hit and miss.

[Killian]

You guys are of course buying the 2 year warranty with the HF jacks? Even if they don't lift as fast as they did when new, you can take them back.

[Jim Boemler]

That would be a little like returning a cup because it didn't hold as much water as it did when new.

[dstevens]

OK, I buy a 16 oz cup. Why would it not hold the same amount? I ain't getting the analogy.

I wouldn't feel sorry for HF. They make a ton of dough on the extended warranties. I seldom buy them though and I'd bet a small percentage use them and the margins are huge. As Omar says, "it's all in the game, yo."

There's a used 6 pump Warrior Brunnhoezl on evilBay, 499 but local pickup in Jersey (what exit?)
http://www.ebay.com/...r#ht_1973wt_939

And the small HF/Pittsburgh is on sale for 79 this month.