Trolley Jack - WHY Got?

[steverrquattro]

My hand me down trolley jack stuck the other day, so no messing, it's time for a new one.

Just wondered what you have got? Looking to spend no more than £200 and ideally it needs to be a low entry type.

[bluequattro]

The 1.5t alloy low ones seem good if you can find on ebay(think I saw 2 the other day)
I've a pair of 3t steel ones
One £50 from an auto jumble about 20 years ago , the other last year that was buy now for £20!
Great to use compared to a small halfords type but damned heavy lifting in n out of a car boot!

[macspring]

The two 'Race' alloy one are great because they are light to lift, compared to the steel ones, gravel drive, but the brand I bought, which wasn't cheap broke their back wheels, and now one has blown it seal and won't lift.

I find I need two trolley jacks to life the car either at the front or the back.

Would be interested to know if anyone has got or found a decent brand of the alloy type trolley jack ?

Thanks.

[RustyNut]

I did a fair bit of research before I bought mine and ended up getting this http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garag...m-trolley-jack
It's a really well made piece of kit for the price and for a few extra quid you can get higher tonnage ones. I haven't used it a great deal but so far it has performed brilliantly and lifts my car easily. Nice smooth release action too and the best thing is they're made in the UK so warranty and spares etc are easily sorted unlike the Chinese made ones which break easily and you can't get spares for them.

[mcandmar]

Halfords 2 ton yellow, £25. Bought one about 10 years ago and it has outlived every other jack i've bought since, they just work.

[Mikes2]

SIP 2.5 ton alloy / steel jack.

It's a dual piston type. can recommend it

[SteveH]

I did a fair bit of research before I bought mine and ended up getting this http://www.sgs-engineering.com/garag...m-trolley-jack
It's a really well made piece of kit for the price and for a few extra quid you can get higher tonnage ones. I haven't used it a great deal but so far it has performed brilliantly and lifts my car easily. Nice smooth release action too and the best thing is they're made in the UK so warranty and spares etc are easily sorted unlike the Chinese made ones which break easily and you can't get spares for them.

Looks the same as the Clarke jobbie for about £100. Mine has lasted a few years without any problems. Not bad if you're on a budget and want a light weight jack.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/p...inium-racing-j

[Christophski]

Ive got a sealey low entry 2t one and its perfect for the avant and the T4. Lifts with no problems and I know they do ones that lift more. They arent the lightest of jacks but seem to work fine and are smooth and easy to use.

[Rusty]

The one RustyNut has is very good. I will buy one of these at some point. Avoid the alloy ones, as they flex a huge amount when lifting the front of an S2 up

[Error404]

I used to have a low entry ally jack. They are OK on kit cars and the like but not man enough for a heavy car. It scared the **** out of me every time i used it on my coupe so I gave it to a mate and bought a big 3 ton unit from Machine Mart.
I have no issues with getting under my car which is lower than standard. I have ground off the lips on the lift pad and use a heavy duty bit of rubber on it off a railway sleeper.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/p...ional-garage-j
It's a heavy mo fo.

[andy10v]

How low does the jack need to be?

Standard trolley jacks are about 120mm, there are low profile ones down to 75mm ish.

How much weight does it need to be able to lift?

What is the max lift height you need?

I have the 3 tonne Clarke one Alex linked, works fine, its clunky to lower compared to a more expensive one, its too high to jack up a BMW Z4 without driving the car onto wood/ramps first.

2 tonne, 75mm-510mm £120

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/p...ft-low-profile

I have to say I prefer using a higher rated steel jack, much more confidence inspiring. Give a car a wobble on a light cheap jack, its scary

[andy10v]

. I have ground off the lips on the lift pad and use a heavy duty bit of rubber on it off a railway sleeper.

Good call, I have snagged them a few times now, I had just been removing the saddle and using a bit of horse matt straight on the jack if I needed it lower.

[simon20vq]

I've a 10 year old Halfords 3t jack been as good as gold but weights a ton. Got a SGS 2.5t alloy one low entry and its been worth every penny and very light. The best jack for your money is one with a big foot print not one of the little ones there just not as stable.

[macspring]

I think fellas on Detailing World use a hockey puck, as rubber interface between the jack and the sill.

I seem to recall someone was shaping them and selling them to other forum members.

Steel ones are better, but boy are they heavy when you have to lift two back into the garage after spending hours doing the front suspension on a C4.

Either way best buying decent 'footprint'd' one, and the best you can afford, as you won't be around to be sorry you didn't.

[mullder]

Halfords 2 ton yellow, £25. Bought one about 10 years ago and it has outlived every other jack i've bought since, they just work.

Had mine maybe a little longer not the widest footprint but then I always use axel stands if I have to get under the car. I would never trust a jack no matter what I paid for it. I've seen what can happen on more than one occasion