The 10 Best Car Jack Options For Getting Your Vehicle Off The Ground The 10 Best Car Jack Options For Getting Your Vehicle Off The Ground

It’s happened to us all before- we’re on the road when suddenly our tire goes out. Or maybe you’re a mechanic who needs to lift a variety of cars to perform maintenance and repairs. In either scenario, you want to be sure you have the best car jack available for your needs. There are so many types made by different manufacturers that trying to decide which one to purchase can be a daunting task. In this article, we have compiled a list of 10 car jacks to help make your task of finding the best car jack easier. We also answer some common questions about car jacks for those who know little about them.

Comparison Table

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Car Jacks | FAQ

1. What Is A Car Jack?

A car jack is a tool that uses hydraulic power to lift part of a car, allowing the user to access the underside of the car to perform maintenance and repairs or enough clearance to change tires.

 

2. What Are The Types Of Car Jacks?

There are three main types of car jacks- scissor jacks, hydraulic bottle jacks, and trolley jacks. There is also a specialty jack called the hi-lift jack.

Scissor Jacks

Scissor jacks are hand-operated and use long, self-locking jack screws to raise the car. They are the most common type and are often included with new cars by car manufacturers. They have a centrally located screw that raises and lowers the scissor-shaped jack by using a tire iron or other specially designed tool. They vary in size and ability to bear weight.

Hydraulic Bottle Jacks

Hydraulic bottle jacks use hydraulics to provide adequate pressure to lift vehicles that weigh up to several tons. Most have a top, cylinder, base, pump filled with oil, and plunger. Oil pressure is controlled by valves, and using the plunger builds the oil pressure to lift and lower the vehicle. They are rated based on how much weight they can lift safely without failing. Lower end hydraulic bottle jacks can lift up to three tons easily.

Trolley Jacks

Trolley jacks are hydraulic floor jacks with wheels on them for easy transport. Standard trolley jacks can lift a weight range of 2-4 tons. They have either manual braking controls or automatic brake locks. Unlike the other jacks, they can be used safely on dirt or gravel and will lift the car higher. You want to be sure to buy the right type of jack for the type of vehicle it will be lifting.

A Specialty Jack (Called The Hi-Lift Jack)

is used with off-road or lifted vehicles. They are used in situations where rugged terrain limits the use of the other types or in off-road situations. They are often rated up to 7,000 pounds and lift vehicles up to five feet. Because they are 3-5 feet long and can weight up to 30-pounds, they are not suitable for carrying around in most cars.

3. Can I Use A Car Jack by Itself?

Car jacks can be used by themselves if you will just be changing a tire. However, a car jack should never be relied on to use by itself if you will be climbing under the car. You should use a jack stand to stabilize the jack.These are tripod or tower shaped and support the weight of the vehicle. They are placed under the vehicle frame or axle to provide additional support for the raised car. They can be either fixed height or adjustable height. They are placed after the car is raised up; manufacturers typically have a designated place they indicate on the car for the jack stands. They should only be used on level and hard surfaces and only for cars that don’t exceed their weight capacity.

 

4. What Should I Look For In A Good Car Jack?

When choosing a car jack, you want to look at the type, lift height, lift capacity, power, material, and size. Looking at these six categories will allow you to choose the best car jack for you.

How We Reviewed

To compile this list, we gathered a number of positive and negative user reviews and conducted extensive research on types and performances of different car jacks. After doing such research, we decided to review the following car jacks based on their features, price, where they could be bought, and their warranty. By comparing car jacks based on these four categories, we were able to provide an accurate list and choose the best car jack from among them.

Overall Price Range

Car jacks generally start out around $ and can cost up to around $$$. Some capabilities that higher-priced jacks may have include higher weight capacity, heavy-duty materials, overload safety features, and more. We made sure to include models in each price point so you can be sure you will find the best car jack for your personal budget and lifting needs.

What We Reviewed

  • Torin Big Red Hydraulic Trolley Floor Jack
  • Alltrade 640912 All-In-One Bottle Jack
  • Torin Big Red Steel Jack Stands
  • Pro-Lift F-767 Low Profile Floor Jack
  • Arcan XL20 Black Service Jack
  • Black Bull EJ212 12 Volt Fully Automatic Electric Car Jack
  • Pittsburgh Automotive 3 Ton Heavy Duty Jack
  • JEGS Low-Profile Aluminum Floor Jack
  • Arcan ALJ3T, Aluminum Floor Jack
  • Hi-Lift Jack HL484

Torin Big Red Hydraulic Trolley Floor Jack

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Features

The Torin Big Red is first on our list in the search for the best car jack. This heavy-duty trolley floor jack is great for SUVs and trucks, with a capacity of three tons and a lifting range of 5-7/8 inches to 17-1/4 inches. It has an extra long neck to make it easier to lift cars and save time. It includes 360-degree swivel casters, providing easy mobility, and a safety bypass feature to prevent overloading. It weighs 43.9 pounds, so it is definitely not suitable for smaller vehicles to carry.

Price $$

Warranty

This jack comes with a one-year warranty.

Alltrade 640912 All-In-One Bottle Jack

[amazon box=“B003ULZGFU”]

Features

The Alltrade 640912 All-In-One Bottle Jack is designed for off-road vehicles and trucks. It features a patented design that combines the bottle jack and jack stand in one unit. It is extremely portable and can safely lift and hold unibody and regular trucks and cars with its weight capacity of three tons. It has a default lift range of 11″ to 17.25″, though it can reach 21″ if adjusted manually. It includes a wide steel base for stability and a strong safety bar to lock the unit at its height, preventing it from lowering even at maximum height. It weighs 22.4 pounds.

Price $$

Warranty

This jack comes with a one-year warranty.

Torin Big Red Steel Jack Stands

[amazon box=“B000CO86BY”]

Features

If you need jack stands, then the Torin Big Red Steel Jack Stands are definitely useful for you. They are sold in pairs and can be bought at 2-ton, 3-ton, 6-ton, and 12-ton weight capacity. They all feature different height ranges depending on their usage, but all include the double-locking pawl-and-tooth design and are constructed of high-grade forged steel with a welded frame design. They are durable and include a large saddle surface area to provide good contact with the vehicle. They meet the ASME safety standard.

 

Price $

Warranty

These jack stands come with a one-year limited warranty.

Pro-Lift F-767 Low Profile Floor Jack

[amazon box=“B00BG6IJA0”]

Features

The Pro-Lift F-767 is the first low profile jack on our list for the best car jack, with a weight capacity of two tons and lifting range of 3-1/2″ to 14″. It features heavy-duty rugged steel construction and a sturdy handle for carrying the jack around. It also has safety features such as a patented bypass device that protects against over-pumping and a built-in safety valve for overload protection. It is rust resistant and weighs 30 pounds, making it perfect for smaller vehicles.

 

Price $

Warranty

This jack comes with a 90-day warranty.

Arcan XL20 Black Service Jack

[amazon box=“B00BMPFI6I”]

Features

The Arcan XL20 is another low-profile car jack that comes in a shiny black color and features rugged, heavy-duty steel construction. It has a weight capacity of three tons and a lifting range of 3.5″ to 18.5″. It features a dual pump for rapid lifting and a universal joint release mechanism for precise control. It complies with the ASME PALD safety standard and includes a 2-piece, 45.3-inch handle with a bumper pad. It weighs 67 pounds.

Price $$$

Warranty

This jack comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Black Bull EJ212 12 Volt Fully Automatic Electric Car Jack

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Features

The Black Bull EJ212 is the first electric car jack on our list for the best car jack. It is fully automatic and plugs into a 12-volt DC power outlet for power. It has a push button controller with a 12-foot cord to provide a good reaching range. It has a one-ton capacity and a lifting range of 5″ to 14″. It is extremely lightweight, weighing only five pounds, making it perfect for smaller cars. It comes packaged in a plastic storage case.

Price $$

 

Warranty

This jack comes with a 90-day parts warranty.

Pittsburgh Automotive 3 Ton Heavy Duty Jack

[amazon box=“B00LR753T8”]

Features

The Pittsburgh Automotive car jack is another low-profile jack in the list for the best car jack. It has a three-ton weight capacity and a maximum lifting height of 19.75″. It comes with a rapid pumping system for quick lifting and heavy-duty steel construction. It weighs 79 pounds.

 

Price $$$

 

Warranty

This jack comes with a 90-day warranty.

JEGS Low-Profile Aluminum Floor Jack

[amazon box=“B078WHZ4B8”]

Features

The JEGS Low-Profile Floor Jack is one of the pricier options in our search for the best car jack, but it provides high quality. It has a two-ton weight capacity and a lifting range of 3.5″ to 19.75″. It is made of lightweight, corrosion-resistant aluminum and features a two-piece handle with a foam sure grip padding. The saddle rotates 360 degrees and it has a rubber lift pad to prevent marring. It weighs 49 pounds.

Price $$$

 

Warranty

This car jack comes with a 1-year warranty.

Arcan ALJ3T, Aluminum Floor Jack

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Features

Arcan provides another contender on our list for the best car jack, this time the ALJ3T Floor Jack. It has a three-ton weight capacity and a lifting height range of 3.6″ to 19.4″. The aluminum construction is lightweight yet durable. It features dual pump pistons to quickly raise the floor jack saddle and a reinforced lift arm to increase chassis torsion control, strength, and durability.

It is designed with a foam handle bumper and rubber saddle for vehicle protection and overload and bypass valves to protect from overloading and over-extension. The side-mount handle comes in two pieces for easy positioning and storage. It weighs 56 pounds.

 

Price $$$

 

Warranty

This jack comes with a 1-year warranty.

Hi-Lift Jack HL484

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Features

The Hi-Lift Jack HL484 is last but not least on our list and is the only specialty jack included on this list. It has a 7,000-pound weight capacity and a maximum lift height of 48″. It is constructed of a mix of four high-strength stamped steel components and cast components. It includes a two-piece handle and socket and has a two-winch connector clamp and a powder-coated finish with zinc-plated hardware.

It is equipped with a shear bolt to prevent overloading. It includes safe use information stickers that are affixed to the handle and includes several accessories lie the off-road base. It is 48 inches tall and weighs 28 pounds.

 

Price $$

Warranty

This jack comes with a one-year warranty.

The Verdict: The Best Car Jack

After comparing these ten models against each other, we choose the Alltrade 640912 All-In-One Bottle Jack as the best car jack this year. Not only is it affordable, but it has a three-ton capacity and a design that includes the jack with the unit. It can handle both smaller vehicles and off-road trucks and vehicles. It can also be extended to a maximum height of 21″ and includes a rugged construction and a safety bar. Despite its heavy weight capacity, it is lightweight enough to fit in a smaller car. With all of these features, we feel that it definitely deserves to be called the best car jack on the list.

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