gr8t73

My craftsman aluminum floor jack has crapped out & I need to purchase a new one. I was looking @ a 2 ton aluminum jack from Harbor Freight for $160. Any thoughts or recommendations?

CA-Legal-Vette

I had a similar post a while ago for the same reason. Those Craftsman aluminum jacks were very poorly made. General consensus was that e Harbor Freight aliminum jacks were great for the money. Keep your eyes open or coupons. Most of the car magazines have them and some are worth 30% off.

mds3013

Get the 3T Craftsman in iron. They are heavy but very stable. I am on my second one in thirty years. mike...

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-ton...1&blockType=G1

RodgerF

I've been using one of the Harbor Freight aluminum jacks for a little over a year now. Works fine. Watch for sales and grab a coupon, you should be able to get one for less than that. Be careful though, i went there last month to get a small paint gun and found all kinds of stuff I just couldn't live without!

Rodger

RodanAZ

Anyone using one of the low profile steel jacks from Costco?

I've seen them in-store, but they're not on the website...

gr8t73

What size jack did you buy 1 1/2 or 2 ton. My thoughts were the 1 1/2 ton might be a bit light.

MikeKey

I am using the Harbor Freight, 3 Ton Aluminum Racing Floor Jacks. It's low profile. I use it on my Corvette, my lifted Trailblazer and now my G8 GXP. It works well, and since it's aluminum it's easy to lift and move around. Highly recommend it. Have had it for over a 2yrs with no issues.

http://www.harborfreight.com/aluminu...ons-68052.html

gbvette62

I have the Harbor Freight 3 ton aluminum racing jack, and love it. The vintage racer I crew for, has one too.

He had a Craftsman racing jack, that the thumb screw for the handle, stripped on after a year. The cylinder was always leaking and the castors were screwed up. He bought the Harbor Freight late in 2011, and it's still working flawlessly.

After using his Harbor Freight jack all last racing season, I decided to replace my 35 year old 2 1/2 ton jack, with a Harbor Freight jack. I still have the old jack for a back up, but the Harbor Freight jack is my new workhorse.

cor66vette

At first so did I, but I ended up getting the 1 1/2 T and have had absolutely no problems with it. It does what a jack is supposed to do for the jobs I ask of it. I am still of the opinion that the 2 or 3 T jacks are overkill.

Jeff_Keryk

I have 2 HF lightweight jacks, 1 Costco low profile and my trusty 25 year old iron floor jack from an auto parts store. Love 'em all.
I can lift an Accord using 3 jacks and rotate tires in minutes.

racerx1

I have a Harbor Freight 2-ton low profile/high lift floor jack and I'm very happy with it.

With my resto, I've also been using one of my fathers Hein-Werner 3 ton floor jacks, now that's one nice jack. It's one of the few floor jacks still made in USA, but they're pretty expensive...I want to say it's around $500. Maybe if I keep it long enough, he will forget about it

MikeKey

They're not overkill if you're lifting heavier vehicles.

540 vette

I bought the one from Harbor Freight. Works great.

gr8t73

Based on all the responses it sounds like the HF units are of good quality therefore I am going with a HF 2 ton unit.

hunt4cleanair

What do you do with a 3 ton cast iron (Craftsman) where cylinder leaks hydraulic fluid and no longer lifts? Rebuild or discard? If discard where do you dump it?

Mid-Years Forever!

I would look online for a rebuild kit.

If that's not your thing, then I'm sure you can find a local shop that would rebuild it--maybe one that rebuilds hydraulic cylinders? (A REAL, i.e., NON-Chain, auto store should be able to direct you to who can do such hydraulic work, as the auto store may "make up their own hydraulic lines," but they KNOW who to call, when they're in over their heads. Heavy equipment shops should know as well).

To get rid of it, I would first:

1. Craigs list it or

2. Take it to your local metal/auto recycler. So many cents per pound....

But were it me, I'd rebuild it, or hire it done, as I'd bet that quality of your older unit exceeds the current offerings. (Unless weight is an issue for you, of course, as I can well appreciate).

Good luck.

Peter

540 vette

I put mine out with the garbage. The local metal guy picked it up.

gungatim

hydraulic jacks are extremely easy to fix/rebuild. do a search, there are some good threads showing how they work. I have 7 jacks, most of them I got for free because they didn't work. They do now...my favorites are the aluminum racing jacks and the big long truck jacks.

jnb5101

i recently bought the 1 1/2 ton low profile steel jack from hf for $60. the face of the jack is very low, so that i can place a piece of 2x6 between it and the (don't yell at me) front crossmember and/or the differential. it has widely spaced wheels for stability. it's very heavy, but since i never lift it, it works out well.

Chinaski

I agree. Ditch the aluminum jack and get a real one. I have a 3 ton iron jack from Harbor Freight and it's leaps and bounds better than my aluminum one.

Once I get a few issues ironed out on my car, I plan on buying a Hein Warner.

http://www.shinnfuamerica.com/Produc...ks/HW93652/523