Quality bottle jack?

I bought my 20 ton low-profil jack at Tractor Supply, think I paid around $60.00+-. Still going strong.

2oldman wrote:
sears

Funny you would say that.......*SEARS*

My "forever" genuine Sears *floor jack* that I paid $125 bucks for long ago, gave up the ghost.

Of course Sears (Craftsman products) sells repair kits and/or parts for the hydraulic cylinder/s on their jacks, right?

Or - maybe an entire replacement cylinder.

NOT a chance! .:(

(NO - there's no lifetime warranty of that kind of a "tool" - nor would I expect one).

Found others with the same dilemma (same jack) on the internet.

Best you can do is "ify" parts from some outfit in the Midwest that will run you about the same as a HF floor jack with *double* the capacity - and a bit more than *half* of what I paid for the Sears jack long ago.

It served me well - but no more "Sears" for me!..:W

.

sears

Snowman9000 wrote:
I am throwing in the towel on cheap bottle jacks from Harbor Freight, Farm & Fleet, etc. Who sells good ones that will last? I realize that a good one will probably cost 3-4 times what I've been paying.

Try 5-8 times what you've been paying!.:R

Hmmmmm - before you throw that towel.......

US Jack (the link)
12 ton (standard) bottle jack = $171.28
12 ton (high rise) bottle jack = $255.97

The have a ONE year warranty.
After that repair -if possible- or toss "throw in the towel" also..:R

Harbor Freight
12 ton (standard) bottle jack = $29.99
12 ton (high rise) bottle jack = $29.99

I've had both of the 12T HF versions (since 2006) at $30 each = $60.00
*If* I had both of the US Jack versions my total I would be = $427.25

You can buy five (5+) of the standard HF, and/or eight (8+) of the high rise HF - for the cost of (either) "ONE" from US Jack.

I'm all for buying American made products .:C. - but it doesn't "pencil out" for something used very infrequently.

*If* I had a business it might be worthwhile to have the more expensive variety (Mfg in the USA) - although I certainly wouldn't be using hydraulic (only) bottle jacks!

Had the HF jacks for 7 years now - and haven't had to toss either one, or "throw in the towel"..:C
Guess I'm $368. ahead..:W

IMO - Don't know what capacity (HF) jacks you're using, but be sure to use jacks that have more capacity for the load you're lifting -
no matter where they're manufactured.

Supporting the load. . . .
*LONG* before Harbor Freight -or Chinese Jacks- were around,
went out on a guy that lifted the side of a D-8 CAT with a bottle jack.
No cribbing, or jack stands.
Murphy's Law - It "came down" while he was under it - and he was *very* DOA..:(

.

This is what I carry in our RV. I don't know if this is "cheap" one or a "good" one - haven't had to really stress it much. This is a two stage bottle jack to provide a good high lift, just in case. It's also way over-kill on tonnage for extra reliability and safety:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200305495_200305495

If I ever have to jack up one corner of our 11,800 lb. Class C RV, I'll jack it a bit too high and put wooden blocks under that corner's suspension components ... and then let the jack back down a bit to put the vehicle's weight onto the blocks (but still keeping the jack in it's hold mode for additional insurance) before crawling under it. Even then I'd try to absolutely minimize how much of my body was under it and how long I was under it. I don't trust jack stands to not twist/tip sideways if one or two of their legs should start to sink into the surface ... 2X6 18 inch long wooden blocks seem to me to be way safer. I carry several of these type of blocks along anyway for leveling.

gbopp wrote:
American Made Jacks

Thanks for the link. I did not know any bottle jacks were still being made in the USA; I thought they were all made in China. Pricey, but what price does one put on personal safety? I rarely use my Chinese bottle jack and I certainly do not crawl under the vehicle when I do use it. I also always use jack stands most likely made in China sorry to say. If I were to use a bottle jack on a regular basis, I would certainly by one of the USA-made jacks. Thanks again.

Ray

Torin works for me. I have the two-stage to easily get under the axle with a flat.