The Best Floor Jacks
Working on a car means some heavy lifting is required. Enter the floor jack: the handy tool that raises cars with minimal effort. A floor jack is usually safer than using the scissor jack that comes with most cars, not to mention easier. When spending serious time working under a car, a floor jack becomes a great investment. Read on to learn about the best floor jacks on the market.
What to Look For
To bring you the best floor jacks on the market, we looked for a few key components and specifications: How high can it lift? Does it need jack stands? Is the price fair for the quality? And how easy is it to store? The most storable option would have to be Jegs’ aluminum hydraulic floor jack. It blew us away with its lightness, since it weighs almost half that of steel models but sports similar strength and durability. Those on a budget might appreciate the Powerbuilt UniJack, which works as both a hydraulic jack and a stand. There’s a lot to consider, so keep reading to learn more about these top-notch floor jacks.
Big Red AT84007R Torin Hydraulic Floor Jack
Prop up with power
When it comes time to get your hands dirty under the chassis of your car, a regular scissor jack won’t cut it. Instead, we suggest using Big Red’s hydraulic floor jack. It’s rated to lift four tons with just a few pumps of the handle. And its low profile means this jack works on cars without much clearance. Plus, this premium jack offers much greater stability than most scissor jacks — although we still recommend using jack stands after lifting for the best stability and safety.
Pros:
- It rolls smoothly on garage floors. The swivel casters turn enough to maneuver this around obstacles.
- The handlebar requires little strength to work. The dual pistons and leverage of the handlebar provide most of the force.
Cons:
- This is on the heavier side if you need to transport it.
Arcan 3-Ton Quick Rise Aluminum Floor Jack
Small yet mighty
Some car work requires plenty of space to work underneath the chassis. That’s why we love this floor jack that offers plenty of range of motion thanks to its 18-inch height. It can lift up to three tons, including hefty pickup trucks. The small handle on the side and the spinning caster wheels let us position the jack precisely. Plus, the green paint job adds a pleasant splash of color amongst a sea of black and red hardware.
Pros:
- The handlebar is easy to use. It doesn’t need much strength to pump and can reach its maximum height in around ten full pumps.
- Because it’s so lightweight, it’s possible for one person to transport and lift it into a vehicle on their own.
Cons:
- The rubber pad might need to be replaced after a while.
Jegs Professional Low-Profile 3-Ton Aluminum Floor Jack
Easy operation, easy storage
This floor jack is well worth its price. The aluminum build makes this more lightweight yet just as strong as similar floor jacks. We appreciate the side handle for easily positioning the jack into the right spot. It also lets us store the jack more easily. Even though it’s so light, this jack still lifts cars with ease, taking about fifteen pumps on average to lift a car to its max lift of 19 inches.
Pros:
- The wheels are clearly solidly built. The 360-degree swivel casters rotate smoothly and don’t get stuck like a malfunctioning shopping cart.
- Thanks to the aluminum construction and the paint job, this floor jack won’t rust after years of use. The build quality shows that this was designed with durability in mind.
Cons:
- This doesn’t come with jack stands and shouldn’t be used to hold the car up, just lift.
Pro-Lift 3-Ton Floor Jack with Jack Stands and Creeper
Keep it convenient
Working on cars usually means a bit of neck and back pain. Luckily, a creeper (which is essentially a low-profile cot on wheels) can easily reduce such pains. This floor jack kit from Pro-Lift comes with a padded creeper along with two heavy-duty jack stands. Everything you need to get to work comfortably and safely is included in this set. The floor jack lifts like a champion at a range of 5.5 to 18.5 inches.
Pros:
- Jack stands are necessary for safe work under a car, making this affordable set a steal. The two stands from this set each support three tons for safe work under a vehicle.
- This combination set costs less than most floor jacks. With jack stands and creepers, this set makes for a great entry point into car maintenance.
Cons:
- The floor jack doesn’t release as slowly as other models.
Powerbuilt UniJack Combination Hydraulic Bottle Jack Jackstand
Lift more for less
Most floor or scissor jacks require jack stands to keep a car safely propped up. The UniJack from Powerbuilt, however, does the job of both. It uses a lever and hydraulics to lift a vehicle — takes a little more effort than a large floor jack, but you save a lot of space and time. If you’re on the road and want a good car jack just in case, this unit does the trick. It easily fits into a trunk to be available whenever you need it.
Pros:
- This jack is noticeably more lightweight than most rolling floor jacks. It might not be as easy to lift, but it makes up for it in portability.
- The handle is small but effective. And if you want a larger handle for more leverage, you can use your own custom-sized iron pipe.
Cons:
- This jack won’t work with low-profile vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use jack stands or will a hydraulic floor jack work by itself?
While a hydraulic floor jack can certainly hold a car up for extended periods of time, they’re not as safe as jack stands. Hydraulics can fail, while jack stands are secure once set. Hydraulic jacks are meant to lift vehicles up, and jack stands are what the vehicle rests on.
How many pumps does it take to lift a car with a floor jack?
Each jack is different, of course. However, generally, it takes around 10 to 20 pumps to lift a car. Each jack will have different maximum heights, but the average is around 12 to 16 inches, but they go as high as 20 inches.
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