Which car jacks are best?
No matter how well you drive or how cautious you are, your car is eventually going to blow a tire or have some part break down. To fix these issues, you could call a tow truck and have it taken to a shop. Or you could keep a car jack and spare parts on hand to fix it for a fraction of the cost.
Car jacks are simple enough to use, but there is a surprisingly varied range of types. Not to mention the fact that they can use different power sources.
What to know before you buy a car jack
Weight and lift limits
The two most important numbers to understand when shopping for car jacks are the weight and lift limits.
- Weight limits are the easiest to understand. If your car is heavier than the limit, don’t get that jack. The “weakest” jacks usually have a weight limit of 2 tons — or 4,000 pounds. The strongest can lift a staggering 50 tons, equal to 100,000 pounds.
- Lift limits are slightly more complex. Each jack has a minimum and a maximum lift. The minimum lift is how short the jack is when it’s not, well, jacked up. It’s crucial that your car be taller than this limit, not equal to it, so the jack can fit. The maximum lift is how high the jack can get.
Car jack types
There are three types of car jacks:
- Scissor jacks are the most basic of the three, and as a consequence tend to be the most affordable. Due to their small size and light weight, they’re best for keeping in your car in case of an emergency tire change.
- Bottle jacks have the strength and stability to lift the heaviest vehicles, though smaller models can be used on regular cars, too. Be careful, though, as bottle jacks have the highest minimum lift height.
- Floor jacks are somewhat in the middle of the three types. They’re large and capable but have smaller minimum lift heights. They’re usually found in professional garages, but having one in your home garage is a wise idea if you engage in auto rehab.
Car jack cost
For $25 to $50 you can get a basic manual scissor jack. For $50 to $100 you can get basic to mid-tier manual jacks of all kinds of basic electric jacks. For $100 to $150 you can get mid- to high-tier jacks regardless of power source. The best jacks of any kind cost $150 to $250.
What are the best scissor car jacks to buy?
Big Red Manual Scissor Car Jack
This jack has a 3,000-pound, or 1.5-ton, weight limit with a lifting range of 4.12 inches to 15.12 inches. It has an extra-wide base to aid stability and strength.
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Husky Manual Scissor Car Jacks
This set includes two jacks, each of which has a 6,500-pound, or 3.25-ton, weight limit with a total lift of 24 inches. Instructions on how to use them and a swivel handle are also included.
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Pro-Lift Manual Scissor Car Jack
This jack has a 3,000-pound, or 1.5-ton, weight limit with a lifting range of 3.75 inches to 15.12 inches. It has a wide base for stability and comes with two handles.
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Rogtz Electric Scissor Car Jack Kit
Besides the jack, this kit contains items such as an SUV and sedan head for the jack, an impact wrench and two spare fuses. The jack has a 6,600-pound weight limit.
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Standtall Electric Scissor Car Jack
This jack has a 6,600-pound weight limit and a clearance range of 5.5 to 16.5 inches. It also comes with three spare fuses, a hand rocker, a battery clamp, a glove and support heads for SUVs and sedans.
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What are the best bottle car jacks to buy?
This jack comes in six weight limit and lifting range models. The smallest lifts 4,000 pounds with a range of 6.19 to 12.06 inches. The largest lifts 40,000 pounds with a range of 9.56 to 17.62 inches.
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This jack comes in five models. The smallest lifts 10,000 pounds with a range of 8.25 to 16.94 inches. The largest lifts 100,000 pounds with a range of 11 to 17.72 inches.
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This jack comes in five models. The smallest lifts 4,000 pounds with a range of 5.9 to 14.4 inches. The largest lifts 24,000 pounds with a range of 8.7 to 20.5 inches.
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This jack lifts up to 6,000 pounds and has a lift range of 11 to 21 inches. It has a safety lock to ensure its height is held once reached.
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This jack comes in seven models. The smallest lifts 4,000 pounds with a range of 7.12 to 13.62 inches. The largest lifts 100,000 pounds with a range of 11 to 17.75 inches.
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What are the best floor car jacks to buy?
This jack has a 6,000-pound weight limit and a clearance range of 6 to 17.5 inches. It has a safety feature that prevents it from lowering, even if power is lost. It uses a 12-volt power outlet and has an 11.5-foot cord.
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Blackhawk Manual Floor Car Jack
This jack has a 7,000-pound weight limit and a clearance range of 5.5 to 22 inches. It has an internal safety valve and vent plug, plus a swivel saddle for easy positioning.
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Eisen Equipment Manual Floor Car Jack
This jack has a 6,000-pound weight limit and a clearance range of 5.25 to 18.25 inches. It can be bought alone or with a two-pack of stands for extra help.
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Marchinn Electric Floor Car Jack
This jack has an 11,000-pound weight limit. It comes with a large assortment of extras such as a needle for inflation, a safety hammer, an impact wrench, a hexagonal wrench, three fuses and a glove.
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This jack has a 5,000-pound weight limit and a clearance range of 3.38 inches to 14.94 inches. It has two steel casters and two 360-degree swivel casters for easy movement.
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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