I just purchased the QuickJack 5000TLX- 5,000lb Extended-Length Portable Car Lift for my C8. I read the 5000TLX Extended is the best model to buy to insure a balanced lift.

I have three questions for those who have a Quickjack.

1. how difficult is it to get the Quickjack left frame and right frame aligned with each other? I talking about getting it aligned tip to tip and the alignment along the entire left/right frame lengths. Any easy align learnings you can pass along?
2. I use hockey pucks w/eye bolts will these work with the Quickjack?
3. I have limited wall space in my garage so is a C8 high enough to drive over the Quickjack frames if I store them on the garage floor?

 

1 Alignment is rather easy. I do it by sight, you will be close enough.
2 yes
3 Can't tell as I have not tried it but it should work.

 

1) Put the lifting pucks on your C8, put the quickjack under the pucks with the shorter of the rubber pads lined up under the pucks, the quickjack will be aligned (trust me, have done it many times with the 5000 TLX).

2) yes, or there are many temporary or permanent lifting pads on the market.

3) yes, if you can pull over the quickjack straight-on, If you have to cut your wheels sharply to pull in/out of the garage that will be a problem.





Paragon lifting pads were the first mod I put on my car so I could use the quickjack to install many others (grill covers, rotors, low dust brake pads, front splitter, wheel spacers, etc. Car has been up and down many times. The quickjack has been an indispensable tool.

 

A bit of advice after you have stored your lift and go to use it again. Plug the pump into an electrical outlet and press the down button about 5 seconds. Then attach the hoses, first to the pump, then to the lift. This will release any line pressure and make it much easier to connect the couplers.

I've really enjoyed my QuickJack. Great for detailing the car.

 

My thanks for all the great responses.

One additional question, which is the correct/best fluid to use in the pump? And do I use hydraulic or transmission fluid?

 

You can download the quickjack manual online which states all the different fluids that you can use, there are many AT fluids that work well.
You had said you have minimal wall clearance ....so please make sure you allow enough distance for the lift as these jacks move the car forward some while lifting.

 

Thanks I will download the manual. In the meantime how many inches does it lift back?

 

I do not have your model - I have the 7000.
On page #16 the handbook says that shift can be anywhere between 11-15" dependent upon the model.

 

I think the 5000 is also 11-15" but maybe the 5000 leans more toward the 11", the 7000 toward 15". I don't know for sure because I always leave 18" for mine, which is more than enough by quite a bit (sorry I can't be more precise.)

 

Must I use the lifting blocks that come with the Quickjack under my jacking pucks or can I simply use my jack pucks without the rubber blocks?


Not especially hot on the idea using these small diameter rubber lifting blocks under the jack pucks, Not sure why they didn’t make their Rubber blocks 4”x4”.

 

The blocks work fine, and you need some distance between the jock and the car frame.

 

I use wood blocks I made from 2x6's.

 

Yes, use the smaller of the lifting blocks. You need something that goes above the frame of the quickjack. The supplied lifting blocks are larger than whatever jack pucks you will put on the car. Very stable.

 

I have SwissTrax flooring, so it's very easy for me to align the frames both at the tops, but more importantly, be sure they are PARALLEL to each other. Again, my flooring makes it easy for something to use as a reference point.

I have " leave in pucks" in the car, so it's super easy to use the smaller height rubber blocks on both ends of the lift to totally cover the leave in pucks, and they are very stable. Although they give you plenty of rubber lifting blocks, I've never gone more than 1 block high. Hadn't had the need.

Lastly, I leave my QuickJack lift flat on the floor when not used. I just push the two frames together at the center of the garage floor and either our C8, or our SUV easily clear the flat frames without issue. I then store the power unit under my roll away tool chest side cabinet, and the two coiled up hydraulic hoses which hang off the end of the tool chest along side my compressor.

As stated above, be sure to hold down the DOWN button on the controller when going to connect the hydraulic hoses to the power unit, and again, after lowering your car off of the lift..... hold it for another 5 seconds or more.... takes the pressure off the system.

DON'T forget to open the vent on the tank reservoir ...... ask me how I know .... LOL !!!! Forgot once, and it sucked the sides of the plastic tank in. Fortunately, I caught it right away.

 

The problem I have with them is that they really are a pain to use. Sometimes they're the only option if you don't have a real lift and need all 4 wheels off the car, but they're really heavy and a pain to move around and line up. And you have to connect and disconnect the hydraulic lines every time you use them, which is also a pain. For most things, I find it easier to use two jacks, lift one end at a time, and put wheel cribs under the tires.

 

WOW....... I don't have any issues. Perhaps with my SwissTrax Flooring, which makes the QJ frames slide around very easily on the plastic flooring, and alignment to each other. I typically slide each frame which lay flat, centered under one car using just the heal of my shoe. I don't even have to bend over until time to hook up the hoses. Slides like on butter. I use mine often, as well as for my 2 other C8 neighbor friends cars. From the time I start to the time the car is up in the air, is less than 10 minutes. That includes moving the power unit out from under my tool chest, getting the 2 hoses out and connected, etc, etc.

 

^^^THIS. I was going to write the exact same comment. only with Racedeck flooring, but you beat me to it. I gave my floor jack to my son after I got the quickjack - not needed any more.

 

I have a two-post lift, but the QuickJack is ideal for detailing, wheel removal, brake work, installing car grills, etc.

 

1- Not difficult. I eyeball it
2- I have pucks on my car. No issues.
3- When I'm done, I disconnect everything and slide the two frames together. I then back up over them so they're centered under the car. Been doing that for months now. No issues.

 

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...with-ease.html

Add some casters to it.