[MasterShake]

I'm planning to due a tune-up next weekend, and my crappy little crossroads jack from walmart doesn't fit under the front of my car since I lowered it (neuspeed sports). So I've been in the market for a new floorjack for a few weeks and thought I'd post a review of the one I finally chose.

THE SHOPPING STORY:

The main things I was looking for in a jack were low minimum lift height, decent lift range, and portability (because I live in an apartment and don't have a garage). I'll only be lifting my 5th gen, so 1.5-ton jack is sufficient for me. I wanted something fairly nice, but I wasn't looking to spend over $200.

After doing a little research, I visited a few places (Sears, Northern Tool, Lowes, Home Depot, AutoZone, PepBoys, NAPA, Advance Auto, and O'Reilly Auto) to check out their floor jacks. Most places had jacks with good lift ranges that were steel and too heavy for my situation, and/or aluminum jacks that wouldn't lift high enough for me to get a stand under my rear side jack point.

Craftsman's 2-ton aluminum floor jack seemed really nice. Silky smooth anodized and brushed aluminum parts, plus a magnetic parts tray and a rear handle that made carrying the jack REALLY easy. Lift from 3.75 to 18.5 inches, around 45 lbs. It is a beautiful jack and I'm a big fan of craftsman, but the online reviews at sears.com turned me off this jack in a hurry. It seems to have major hydraulic system flaws and it failed on
everyone within a couple years.

I was tempted by Craftsman's 4-ton low profile high lift steel jack. Lift range is 3 15/16" to 21". I'd have to make sure I always had some boards to drive up onto, but that's not a deal breaker. It looked like pretty
good quality, but one online reviewer said the rear castors were too small for asphalt. That was enough to deter me from paying $150 to lug around a 105 lb jack.

Some 3rd geners turned me onto a Torin 3-ton low profile service jack, (model T8331 that comes with aluminum jackstands. Lift range is 3.3 to 17.7 inches, and the jack+stands combo is only $90. If I had a garage I might have gone for this jack, which weighs 97lbs with the aluminum stands, but it's got cheesy checkered flag stickers on it that make it look like a jack for 5-year-olds. Despite the lame stickers it seems like an awesome value, but not best for my needs. Update: I just saw a black version of this jack, without stands, for under $70 at WalMart.

3rd genner CADster pointed me to a NAPA low profile floor jack (model NLE7916402) which has been very dependable for him. 2.75" to 19.625" lift range! Unfortunately I couldn't find the deal he got, and I can't pay the regular retail price ($244). Plus it's 90 lbs.

So...long story long, I eventually settled on a Torin Aluminum 1.5 ton double pump race jack, model T81509. It's normally $170 by itself at Northern Tool, but they've got the combo with aluminum stands on sale for $150 now.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...3355_200313355

THE REVIEW:

My scale says it's 43lbs. It looks pretty good and it does what I need it to. I'm not sure I'm always going to have boards/whatever around to drive up onto, so I'm pretty happy that I got a jack that will slip under my car standing on the ground (3.25" low lift). ...although it only barely fits under my front lift point...without the rubber saddle pad...if I shove it. But the quality seems good (no ugly welds, rough edges, uneven finishes,
un-straight lines, etc.). It rolls around very easily, and I don't expect the large castors will have a problem on any surface. The oversized handle comes with a foam sleeve to protect your bumper and a nice quality knurl,
plus it breaks down into two parts for travel.

As far as operation, it's not the smoothest jack I've used, but I'm not unhappy with it. The description on the Northern Tool website says the double pump system lifts to full height in only 7 strokes, but I count 10. Using this jack on my 5th gen's rear tow point, I can lift my ass enough to get a 10.25" stand under my rear side jack point. This will improve a little if I've already got the front lifted on stands (not recommended) and if I use the rubber saddle pad.

I am having some problems with the retaining pin in the handle base. It seems like the pin is almost too short and the handle has slipped out of the base on me a couple times while dragging the jack. Probably something I can fix, but a problem nonetheless. Also, I wish this jack had a rear handle like the Craftsman I played with, that handle makes it carry almost like rolling luggage.

Overall though I'm very happy with this jack and would recommend it to anyone looking for something mobile. It's attractive, it lifts low enough for my front and high enough for my rear without using any boards or blocks, and it's very portable. Plus I got it, with jack stands, for $162 shipped.

THE PICS:

My car's sitting height:


Clearance below front lift point:


The approach:


Great success!:


Kinda hard to see, but with a little scraping that front tow point centers on the jack saddle:


Up goes the front:


...and the back:


Lookin sexy doin' it:

[SH^ftw^01]

Great Review! I'm looking for a jack like that myself.

No issues with lifting capacity? I believe the SH is a hair over 3000 lbs, which is the max capacity of that jack correct?

[MUlrich07]

should've got a pic of the front with the back high in the air lol.

[RudeLude95]

I bought the Sears one. I'm happy with it. It was only something like 40 bucks with the stands, so even if it only lasts a few years, I'm happy.

Thanks for reviewing them, though.

[MasterShake]

Originally Posted by SH^ftw^01

No issues with lifting capacity? I believe the SH is a hair over 3000 lbs, which is the max capacity of that jack correct?

Yeah, I might be 3100lbs with my front strut and rear sway bar and bag of emergency tools. I just went to check the sticker on my door jam to confirm and almost shit when I saw GVWR 3835LBS, until I realized that's the loaded rating, not the GVW.

Lifting the front did seem like I was giving the jack a good workout. Handle flexed a little bit and jack groaned. I wouldn't say the jack was struggling to lift it, but I'm glad I wasn't lifting a few hundred more pounds. I'm not sure the weight distribution, but I would guess I wasn't lifting much more than one ton, right? Anyway, it didn't seem like it was about to break, but I could tell that it wasn't designed to lift a couple tons no problem. It was adequate. Back was no problem.

Originally Posted by MUlrich07

should've got a pic of the front with the back high in the air lol.

Next time. And I'll photochop some 24's on the back.

[Spoolin BB1]

gotta think your car only weighs around 1800 in the front and back your not lifting a the full 3800 lbs with the jack only the front and back

looks just like the bluepoint model that one of my friends have....i need some more money i have alittle now and i see alot of things i want

[Preludesi_2004]

nice looking jack/jack stand set you have there man

[fullthrottle_man]

nice looking jack and stand! one question tho...how well will it fit if you have a flat tire since that will drop the height by an inch or two?

[MasterShake]

Originally Posted by fullthrottle_man

...how well will it fit if you have a flat tire since that will drop the height by an inch or two?

Yeah that's a good point, if I'm at home I'll have to use the stock scissor jack or some boards to get started. ...or just use the scissor jack instead for the whole lift, like I'll do for flats away from home.

[NegativeXero]

I got some "hot rod" named floor jack from my dad. I can lift my truck with it too and its low and can lift high. its just really heavy and still does not fit under my car very easly