14 Feb 6 Best Car Jacks on the Market

A car jack is one of the most essential tools for car-owners. You should ideally always keep one in the trunk of your car so you can handle any impromptu car repairs such as replacing tires, accessing the suspension, etc.

However, be extremely careful while purchasing a car jack. Its purpose is to lift the car so you can slide under it and get some work done. Consider that any failures in the machine can potentially have fatal consequences.

You need to make sure you have the right type of car jack, with the right weight capacity, and one that is durable. With so many m0dels on the market, selecting the right one can be difficult.

In this article, we give you a thorough overview of the best car jacks across different categories. As such, you can find the best option for your specific needs.

Best Scissor Car Jacks

These car jacks are already included with the car when you purchase it. They are made of a long screw that can be turned to pull the ends of the scissor together. As the legs of the jack come closer, the overall height of the jack increases, thus lifting the vehicle. They are designed specifically for the car model they come with and can easily fit into the trunk. They don’t generally have a strong weight capacity, so they shouldn’t be used for serious tasks.

1. Torin Big Red Steel Scissor Jack

The Torin Big Red Steel Scissor Jack is one of the most popular car jacks on the market. It’s extremely cheap and affordable for everyone. Plus, it is built well for tire replacement needs.

The unit has a weight rating of 1.5 tones, so it should only be used for compact and subcompact cars. Its maximum lifting height is 15.4 inches; however, it is not recommended to use at the maximum as stability is compromised. Despite the high lifting height, it can shrink down to a compact 3.7 inches, small enough to fit under most vehicles.

This scissor jack has a rugged construction of alloyed steel with a heavy-duty steel frame. It comes with a durable and firm handlebar to crank it up easily. The crank is about 16” in length with the capacity to fold in half, making it ideal for storage. In addition to the convenient handle, the foot is riveted to the jack instead of being tack welded, which makes it more stable.

My biggest concern with this scissor jack is the carbon steel screw. Many users have complained that the drive screw galled up and failed within the first couple of uses, even when lifting a relatively lightweight vehicle. This can be pretty risky as taking the car down may become difficult if the screw fails. I personally didn’t have this issue; however, there are plenty of comments from other users. I suppose the manufacturer needs to work on the consistency of their product.

All things considered, it’s understandable why the Torin Big Red Steel Scissor Jack is so popular. I’ve been using it for years and have never had any problems. It’s also one of the cheapest car jacks available.

Pros

• Extremely affordable
• Stable base
• Foldable crank handle
• Durable construction
• Collapsible to a short height

Cons

• The base is so large that it might not perfectly fit in a car trunk
• There have been complaints about the screw mechanism being faulty in some products. This can cause difficulty while lowering the vehicle.

2. Fasmov Scissor Jack

The Fasmov Scissor Jack has a lift capacity of 1.5 tons, enough for use on small compact and subcompact vehicles. It has a lift height that ranges from 3.5 inches (when fully collapsed) to 13.8 inches (when fully extended). In my opinion, 13.8 inches is a pretty decent height and should give you enough clearance for most tasks. However, as with all scissor jacks, you should not extend it all the way up because that would sacrifice the jack’s stability due to the narrow base.

The Fasmov Scissor Jack is small and compact enough to fit into any vehicle’s trunk, making it ideal for portability and emergency use. It’s fairly easy to use and comes with a crank handle that’s durable and strong enough to aid you in lifting the vehicle. The body is made of a heavy-duty metallic frame that can sustain damage without buckling. It is also water-resistant, so you don’t need to worry about the jack’s joint rusting with age.

Despite the strong construction and weight rating, I have heard complaints from several users that this car jack cannot be trusted. This is not my personal experience as it has lifted vehicles fairly well. However, I am obliged to take others’ experiences into account. Several commented that this jack gets bent in half while lifting a car. They have stated that if you extend the jack fully while lifting even lightweight vehicles, it starts buckling under the weight. Considering that, I would advise users not to extend it beyond 10” even if you technically can.

Pros

• Collapsible to a short height
• Has a decent weight rating
• Can easily fit into any car trunk
• The crank handle is durable and strong
• Made of heavy-duty waterproof metal that doesn’t corrode with age

Cons

• Several users have complained that the jack gets bent in half
• Should not be extended all the way up

Best Floor Car Jacks

Floor Jacks are some of the most commonly used car jacks for purposes that go beyond simple tire replacement, such as general repairs and maintenance. They use hydraulic pressure to lift heavy vehicles relatively easily.

Floor jacks include four wheels, each of which are placed under the car, and then a handle is used to elevate them and lift the vehicle. As effective as they may be, they are also bulky and cannot be carried around in the trunk of your car. They come in various different weight capacities, so be sure to get a floor jack with a higher weight capacity than your car’s overall tonnage.

3. Pro-Lift F-767

The Pro-Lift F-767 is a fairly small and budget-friendly car jack with a 2-ton weight rating. It has an all-steel construction and a lower profile that allows it to slip under low-profile vehicles. With a 2-ton weight capacity, it is only suitable for compact cars and small trucks. It should not be used for heavy car maintenance on a regular basis, but it’s perfectly suitable for oil changes, tire changes, etc.

This car jack is small enough to easily be stored in compact spaces. It comes with a convenient lifting handle and weighs only 30 pounds, making it fairly portable. It’s certainly not as portable or lightweight as a scissor jack, but it’s definitely lighter in comparison to most floor jacks. It has a total lifting height of 14 inches, which is adequate for most tasks but not suitable for large heavyweight vehicles.

Some people are concerned about the effort required to lift a vehicle with this car jack. In this case, since it is a hydraulic jack, you need to pump a little more, but you don’t need to exert greater pressure.

The only fault I could notice — even after considerable research — is that the paint starts chipping away after a while. The quality of the jack is never compromised and the paint chipping doesn’t impact the quality or durability. However, it does give the jack a worn-out look rather fast. But this is a pretty nit-picky problem.

Pros

• All-steel durable construction
• Low profile
• Has a bypass valve that can prevent over-pumping of the handle
• Lift handle makes it easy to carry
• Ideal for small vehicles

Cons

• Paint starts chipping away pretty quickly

4. Pittsburgh Automotive Floor Jack

Floor jacks are often used to elevate heavy vehicles, such as RVs, trucks, and SUVs. The Pittsburgh Automotive Floor Jack is one of the best on the market for these 3-ton vehicles. The jack has all the features necessary for lifting vehicles, and they’re available in a reasonable price range.

This car jack has a 3-ton weight rating, ideal for large vehicles. Its profile is extremely low and the saddle pad is only 2-7/8” high, so it can slip under almost all vehicles easily with plenty of clearance. It has an incredibly high maximum lift height of 19-3/4”, which provides more than enough clearance for people to perform all kinds of maintenance tasks. It makes use of a rapid pump dual-piston design that requires the user to exert minimal pressure to lift the vehicle quickly. With 4 full pumps, the process of lifting even the heaviest vehicles becomes relatively effortless.

One of my favorite features in this car jack is the wide front steel wheels. They make sure that the jack remains stable and doesn’t swerve when you’re loading it. Furthermore, if the jack is positioned on soft surfaces such as asphalt, it is capable of spreading the load a lot better.

You should, however, note that this car jack is pretty heavy at 70 pounds. You can keep it in your garage but you certainly can’t carry it around for emergency use. However, if you must carry it somewhere and have enough space in a large vehicle, you can disengage the 2-piece lifting handle — both sides of the handle are about the same size as the jack.

The only drawback here is that the jack tends to lose hydraulic fluid pretty fast. If you let it sit for a few days, you’ll find that a lot of the hydraulic fluid has leaked and needs to be replaced. This can be wasteful and expensive in the long run.

 Pros

• Has a low profile suitable for large vehicles and low-lying sports vehicles
• Has a maximum lift height of 19-3/4”
• Strong weight rating of 3 tons
• Stable wheels
• Dual-piston rapid pump design makes it easy to handle

Cons

• Heavy and large
• Not very portable
• Loses hydraulic fluid too fast

Best Bottle Car Jacks

Bottle jacks are cylindrical car jacks. They come equipped with a mechanism that can be inserted into the jack and pumped in order to create pressure within the bottle jack. It’s similar to a floor jack, but smaller, and it doesn’t operate on wheels. However, it carries the scissor jack’s greatest drawback — it is entirely dependent on the type of surface you place it on.

5. Alltrade 640912

The Alltrade 640912 is the perfect car jack for large SUVs, RVs and trucks. It has a high weight rating of 3 tons and its height adjustability ranges from 11 to 21 inches. It comes with a safety bar that can lock the car jack at the desired height and elevate the vehicle in a stable manner. It is pretty durable and features a wide steel base that adds stability even under the greatest of loads.

Before purchasing this car jack, I noted several quality complaints online. Several past users complained that the car jack wasn’t very durable or that it failed over time. However, the manufacturer puts the product through quality control and I was fortunate enough to receive a model that was consistent in quality. The welds were good, the powder coating was evenly spread out, and the packaging was well done.

I only noticed one tiny issue with the release. When there was some downward pressure, the stand would successfully go down; however, once the item being jacked up was sitting on its own weight, the jack stand didn’t go down anymore. I had to use a screwdriver to apply pressure and get the lip past the frame to successfully remove the jack stand. This is just a minor issue, however, and it’s well worth it considering that this product is essentially both a car jack and a jack stand in one.

Pros

• Serves as both a car jack and jack stand in one
• Consistent quality
• Ideal for large vehicles
• High adjustability
• Extremely stable

Cons

• Some of the users complained about the quality
• Removing the jack stand after elevating the car could be challenging

6. Torin Big Red Hydraulic Bottle Jack

The Torin Big Red is one of the best hydraulic bottle jacks on the market and is made of extremely durable high-grade steel. It has a stunning 6-ton weight rating, making it perfect for lifting even the heaviest vehicles such as large trucks and RVs. The wide rugged base adds stability even as the jack lifts heavy vehicles by up to 15.94 inches.

This jack has an inner and outer welded structure that prevents hydraulic leaks. The hydraulics are powered with high-quality oil that also prevents corrosion, and it can operate in temperatures ranging from 40 degrees Fahrenheit to 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

The top of the ram on this car jack is 1-1/8 inches, and the cylinder raising that top is 1.25 inches. The total height of the jack is 9 inches before the raising ram. You can use the release valve to reset it to go down to its non-pumped height.

Pros

• Has a high lifting capacity
• One of the highest weight capacities among all car jacks on the market
• Corrosion-free materials and durable construction

Cons

• Some of the customers complained that the hydraulic fluid leaks considerably
• Some users complain that the pump handle is weak and comes off if used consistently

Factors to Consider when Buying a Car Jack

When purchasing a car jack, you consider the following factors carefully.

Jack Type

As mentioned, there are three primary types of car jacks — scissor jack, floor jack, and bottle jack. All of them come with their unique advantages and drawbacks. Some should only be used for replacing tires while others can handle complex maintenance tasks. Some are not portable and some are extremely portable. You should get the type that meets your requirements and needs.

Weight Rating

The car jack’s weight rating is the amount of weight it can lift as represented in tonnage. If you want to use the car jack for mid-sized, compact, or subcompact cars, you will be fine with a 2-ton hydraulic model. However, if you need it for a truck, SUV, or larger vehicles, you’ll need a 3-ton jack. Before purchasing, consult your vehicle’s manual to make sure you’re getting a car jack with the right weight rating.

Height of Lifting Pad

The car jack needs to be slipped under the vehicle to access the designated lifting points. However, for the jack to go under your car, its height needs to be lower than the ground clearance height. Make sure there is at least a one-inch gap between the top of the car jack’s lifting pad and the vehicle’s lifting point.

Lifting Height

This feature determines how high the car jack can lift your vehicle. If you need it for small vehicles and merely replace tires, a small lifting height will be sufficient. However, if you need the car jack for maintenance purposes, it will need to have a greater lifting height to provide greater clearance from the floor.

Construction Quality

The construction and material quality of the car jack should obviously be of supreme quality. If you’re under the vehicle and the jack caves in, the consequences can be deathly. Even if you have to shell out an additional amount, you need to purchase a car jack with the strongest and most durable metal. Furthermore, heavier car jacks are better than lightweight ones as they are more stable.

Jack Size

Size depends on what you intend to do with the car jack. Do you need the jack to occasionally replace tires? Or do you need it for regular maintenance and repair tasks? If it’s the former, a small-sized car jack you can throw into the trunk is ideal. However, if your purpose is the latter of the two options, you need a large car jack, even if it doesn’t fit in your trunk.

Mobility

If you get a floor jack, make sure it has sturdy wheels that can pivot perfectly. This will allow you to move the jack around with ease.

Power

Electric jacks that can be plugged into a power source are ideal for those who don’t have the strength to handle a car jack manually. However, if you want a car jack that operates without power, get a manual or hydraulic jack.

How Does a Hydraulic Car Jack work?

Hydraulic car jacks have two cylinders. The oil moves through these cylinders via pump plungers. Once the plunger pulls back, the suction valve ball located within the pump chamber gives way for the oil to move in. The oil goes past the check valve and into the cylinder while the suction valve closes. This entire process leads to an increase in pressure, which, in turn, allows the cylinder to lift the vehicle.

How to Safely use a Floor Car Jack?

When you’re using a floor jack, take the following cautionary measures:

• Carefully inspect and check your floor jack before using it. If there’s any sign of damage or leaks, repair them immediately and don’t use the jack until it is secure.
• The weight rating of the floor jack should be considerably higher than that of your vehicle.
• Purchase a durable and expensive floor jack. This is not the place to cut corners.
• Before placing the floor jack, make sure the car is positioned on a strong, stable and flat surface.
• The car should be in the Park position, and the emergency brakes must be engaged to prevent it from accidentally moving.
• Be sure to place a wheel chock on the wheel opposite to the one you’re working on to prevent the car from moving or sliding.
• In addition to the floor jack, also use a jack stand as a backup in case the floor jack fails or caves in.
• Go through your vehicle’s manual to identify the correct lifting position and place the floor jack in the appropriate place.
• Before you slide under the vehicle, check the jack’s stability.
• Before lowering the floor jack (after you’re done working), make sure all your body parts are outside the circumference of the car.

What’s the Maximum Height of a Scissor Car Jack?

The maximum height of a scissor jack depends on the length of the screw holding the legs of the jack together. Some screws can be as high as 15 inches, and some even higher. However, higher scissor jacks are also a lot more unstable because they have a narrow base. As such, be sure not to extend them too much and refer to your vehicle’s manual for safety instructions.

What should the Maximum Height of my Floor Jack be?

When using a floor jack, you have to place it under your vehicle at the correct jacking point and then pump it to raise the vehicle off the ground. You have to continue pumping until the vehicle has a strong clearance and reaches an adequate height. Once it has reached the desired height, you need to place a jack stand to secure it, disengage the floor jack, and then slide under the car to work on it.

Based on this sequence of events, the following factors determine what the maximum height of the floor jack should be:

• Your needs: You need the floor jack to provide enough lift so you can comfortably slide under the vehicle.
• Floor jack’s ability: All floor jacks can only lift to a certain limit and shouldn’t be pushed beyond that point.

You need to find a floor jack with a maximum height that strikes the right balance between the two requirements— being stable at a considerable height while also providing enough clearance. You can find a lot of floor jacks that have a maximum height in the range of 13 inches. This is usually enough for most people. However, only you can determine what height you’re most comfortable with.

Can a Floor Car Jack Be Placed On a Differential?

Technically, yes, it is completely possible to place the floor jack right under the car’s differential to lift it up. In fact, that’s just how seasoned professionals do it. However, when doing so, only the pitch weld or the car’s frame should be used as lifting points. This requires quite a bit of expertise, and you need to know the exact type of jack to use and from which spot to use it. As such, if you’re a novice, avoid placing the jack on a differential as it can be unsafe.

What’s My Vehicle’s Weight?

Before purchasing a car jack, you need to know your vehicle’s weight, so you can get a jack with the correct weight rating. You can find out your vehicle’s weight from various sources:

• check for the weight in the vehicle’s manual
• go to the manufacturer’s website for details
• search for the weight in the vehicle’s title deed
• drive the car to a weighbridge to get it weighted

Checking the weight of the vehicle is really no issue at all. In fact, you don’t need to know how much your car weighs exactly. You only need to know if it’s more or less than 2 tons. Most cars fall within the 2-ton range and you can use 2-ton car jacks with them. If you have a truck or an SUV, it will probably be higher and you’ll need a 3-ton car jack.

Conclusion

Do you now know how to select the best car jacks? I hope this article has helped you make a decision, so you can go ahead and handle all your car repairs safely and conveniently.