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I have one of the big Sears aluminum jobs (no longer available?) which I still use at home but got this smaller one to bring to the track and to have a second one at home. So far so good.
I really don’t understand why people who decide to spend 100 thousand dollars or more on a car, then also decide to skimp on vital equipment such as jacks and stands.
There’s an old racing adage that goes “If you have a cheap head, then buy a cheap helmet.” It can also be said that if you have a cheap life, then buy a cheap jack.
I’ve read many threads with people recommending cheap jacks (and jack stands), and these definitely aren’t tools you want to skimp on. Harbor Freight, Craftsman, and far too many other makes are just rebranded/repainted versions of the same “Made in China” POS jacks. These jacks are poorly manufactured with shoddy components and seals that might last a few years if they're only used once or twice a year. Why keep buying shoddy Chinese-made throwaway jacks every couple of years when a high-quality $400 jack will last a lifetime AND be much less expensive over the long run?
Oftentimes you get what you pay for, and "saving" a few dollars (in the short-term) on cheap POS jacks and jack stands isn’t worth the safety risk either. Potentially getting crushed under a car with some extra money in my wallet just doesn’t seem like a good risk/reward trade-off to me. Simply put, I won't trust my life or my limbs to Chinese jacks or jack stands.
I prefer using high quality tools that are built to last. I have a Danish made AC Hydraulic DK20 4,400 lb (2,000 kg) low profile floor jack and US made Hein-Werner 3-Ton jack stands. The DK20 is an outstanding floor jack with excellent fit, finish and build quality. The jack is priced at around $400 and is an excellent value for the money. I bought mine in 2012 (which averages out to only $40/year so far), and it’s still going strong. This jack will probably last me a lifetime. The DK20 is 16 inches wide and very stable with an extremely low saddle height of about 3.2 inches (for 4 inches past the saddle) and a maximum lift height of almost 20 inches. The DK20 can jack up an entire side of my Spyder, M3, M240i, MX-5, and even my wife’s X5. I highly recommend the AC Hydraulic DK20 floor jack.
Uncle-by-marriage was killed when the jack supporting the car slipped.
Co worker cheated death when the jack supporting his 4000 lb Firebird blew out.
He had just rolled out from under it seconds before.
Several years ago, the head of SCCA tech died under the car from jack failure.
They tell you a thousand times, and common sense dictates...
JACKSTANDS.
Don't cheap out on those!
I really don’t understand why people who decide to spend 100 thousand dollars or more on a car, then also decide to skimp on vital equipment such as jacks and stands.
There’s an old racing adage that goes “If you have a cheap head, then buy a cheap helmet.” It can also be said that if you have a cheap life, then buy a cheap jack.
I’ve read many threads with people recommending cheap jacks (and jack stands), and these definitely aren’t tools you want to skimp on. Harbor Freight, Craftsman, and far too many other makes are just rebranded/repainted versions of the same “Made in China” POS jacks. These jacks are poorly manufactured with shoddy components and seals that might last a few years if they're only used once or twice a year. Why keep buying shoddy Chinese-made throwaway jacks every couple of years when a high-quality $400 jack will last a lifetime AND be much less expensive over the long run?
Oftentimes you get what you pay for, and "saving" a few dollars (in the short-term) on cheap POS jacks and jack stands isn’t worth the safety risk either. Potentially getting crushed under a car with some extra money in my wallet just doesn’t seem like a good risk/reward trade-off to me. Simply put, I won't trust my life or my limbs to Chinese jacks or jack stands.
I prefer using high quality tools that are built to last. I have a Danish made AC Hydraulic DK20 4,400 lb (2,000 kg) low profile floor jack and US made Hein-Werner 3-Ton jack stands. The DK20 is an outstanding floor jack with excellent fit, finish and build quality. The jack is priced at around $400 and is an excellent value for the money. I bought mine in 2012 (which averages out to only $40/year so far), and it’s still going strong. This jack will probably last me a lifetime. The DK20 is 16 inches wide and very stable with an extremely low saddle height of about 3.2 inches (for 4 inches past the saddle) and a maximum lift height of almost 20 inches. The DK20 can jack up an entire side of my Spyder, M3, M240i, MX-5, and even my wife’s X5. I highly recommend the AC Hydraulic DK20 floor jack.
AC Hydraulic DK20 4,400 lb Floor Jack.
Sorry but this is bs. You can crap on the quality of chinese products all you want but youre flat out wrong about harbor freight jacks. Ive regularly used my 3 ton long reach low profile jack that i paid 70 bucks for over the past 6 years and its perfect. Taken to the track, bounced around in trailers, soaked in oil and coolant, etc. Same exact experience with my friends. I will absolutely buy another. You want to waste money, thats your business, but dont post this biased uninformed misinformation.
The hf and other aluminum 2ton are flimsy. They work, but they twist a lot. Those i would avoid
Sorry but this is bs. You can crap on the quality of chinese products all you want but youre flat out wrong about harbor freight jacks. Ive regularly used my 3 ton long reach low profile jack that i paid 70 bucks for over the past 6 years and its perfect. Taken to the track, bounced around in trailers, soaked in oil and coolant, etc. Same exact experience with my friends. I will absolutely buy another. You want to waste money, thats your business, but dont post this biased uninformed misinformation.
The hf and other aluminum 2ton are flimsy. They work, but they twist a lot. Those i would avoid
Is it steel? I could use a long reach low profile jack but they probably aren't $70 in 2023.
But ya Brunnhoelzl is the shiznit you want to afford it..
Ah, but Rolex prices are dropping and Brunnhoelzl are going the other way!
__________________ -Peter Krause www.peterkrause.net www.gofasternow.com
"Combining the Art and Science of Driving Fast!"
Specializing in Professional, Private Driver Performance Evaluation and Optimization
Consultation Available Remotely and at VIRginia International Raceway
I've been using a Harbor Freight Dayton jack for nearly a decade; it lives in my trailer, gets beat up works perfectly. I also have a Quickjack lift in the trailer for serious repairs.
11-11-2022, 04:44 PM
