Light weight floor jack to carry in vehicle?

[The motor guy]

Been looking at some profile floor jacks and see some of these weigh over 100 pounds. Do they make good quality light weight floor jacks that won't throw out my back? It doesn't really need to be some 4000 pound unit, just a smaller one to keep in the back seat. I already keep a 2ft breaker bar and a universal lug nut socket

 

[ctechbob]

Bottle jack? Those are usually a lot more compact.

 

[The motor guy]

Bottle jack? Those are usually a lot more compact.

Those aren't really safe. I don't know if they can fit under a car. The problem. Is the car or truck shifts as you lift it up and it may fall over

 

[Kantaro]

Definitely something aluminum. I've been using this 33 lb "racing" jack for over a decade now:

1.5 Ton Low-Profile Aluminum Racing Floor Jack with RAPID PUMP

Amazing deals on this 1.5T Aluminum Racing Jack W/ Rapid Pump at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I have since upgraded to a long reach jack in the shop, but it weighs 103 lbs:

3 Ton Long-Reach Low-Profile Professional Floor Jack with RAPID PUMP, Blue

Amazing deals on this 3T Long-Reach Lp Pro Floor Jack, Blue at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

If the racing jack is too low, this one only weighs 4.5 lbs more: https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...-racing-floor-jack-with-rapid-pump-64542.html

 

[ctechbob]

Those aren't really safe. I don't know if they can fit under a car. The problem. Is the car or truck shifts as you lift it up and it may fall over

No less safe than a factory scissor jack.

 

[vavavroom]

Many years ago I got stuck in the desert with a buddy who had only an exhaust jack in his vehicle. As it turned out to his great surprise, with the engine having broken down* the jack was useless. No more trips with that gasbag.

*the alternator bracket had broken or fallen off his MR2

 

[Yuk]

No less safe than a factory scissor jack.

Maybe, but every scissor jack I own has a wider footprint than most bottle jacks, and a much wider body/frame mounting surface than almost any bottle jack.

Another consideration is that It's almost impossible for a reasonably made scissor jack to strip its threads under load, while a bottle jack can blow a seal/gasket when it's under load.

Most scissor jacks are lighter and much lower profile too. I dare you to get even the lowest profile bottle jack under car when it's got a flat tire.

Cheers

 

[Dave9]

As always you need to know the minimum height, and the max lift height you need, and in the case of trying to get something light weight, what the minimum ton rating is that you're comfortable with.

An aluminum floor jack is nice to have, but unless you plan on getting a lot of flats on the road, and if you can live with ~13" lift height, then I'd look into a basic trolley jack. They can be had for around $40 and weigh about 20 lbs. Example:

Husky 2-Ton Hydraulic Trolley Car Jack HPL4136-VT - The Home Depot

The Husky 2-Ton Hydraulic Trolley Floor Jack is great for use on smaller vehicles. It will lift up to 2-Ton (4,000 lbs.) with minimum lifting height of 5 in. to a maximumlifting height of 13 in. The removable

www.homedepot.com

That's just the low end of trolley jacks, spend more get more, including being heavier.

Big Red 3-Ton Trolley Floor Jack with Saddle Extension Adapter T83006 - The Home Depot

Jack is steel construction making it strong and sturdy. The two swivel back wheels provide for easy positioning, so it will lift the car with ease. The built-in safety valve makes sure it is free from

www.homedepot.com

 

[Kantaro]

An aluminum floor jack is nice to have, but unless you plan on getting a lot of flats on the road, and if you can live with ~13" lift height, then I'd look into a basic trolley jack. They can be had for around $40 and weigh about 20 lbs.

Actually, these are much better as long as they meet OP's needs. The aluminium jacks I linked are far from compact or portable. Sometimes I forget more basic tools exist and are adequate

 

[CharBaby]

As always you need to know the minimum height, and the max lift height you need, and in the case of trying to get something light weight, what the minimum ton rating is that you're comfortable with.

An aluminum floor jack is nice to have, but unless you plan on getting a lot of flats on the road, and if you can live with ~13" lift height, then I'd look into a basic trolley jack. They can be had for around $40 and weigh about 20 lbs. Example:

Husky 2-Ton Hydraulic Trolley Car Jack HPL4136-VT - The Home Depot

The Husky 2-Ton Hydraulic Trolley Floor Jack is great for use on smaller vehicles. It will lift up to 2-Ton (4,000 lbs.) with minimum lifting height of 5 in. to a maximumlifting height of 13 in. The removable

www.homedepot.com

That's just the low end of trolley jacks, spend more get more, including being heavier.

Big Red 3-Ton Trolley Floor Jack with Saddle Extension Adapter T83006 - The Home Depot

Jack is steel construction making it strong and sturdy. The two swivel back wheels provide for easy positioning, so it will lift the car with ease. The built-in safety valve makes sure it is free from

www.homedepot.com

Man, I'd entertain the thought of buying this $39.97 HUSKY 2-TON from HomeDepot and I don't even need another floor jack.

 

[Snagglefoot]

“ just a smaller one to keep in the back seat.”

Not good. Something as solid as a floor jack should not be inside the passenger compartment of a vehicle. It would be lethal in a roll over. Make sure you tie it down appropriately.

 

[Lubener]

Been looking at some profile floor jacks and see some of these weigh over 100 pounds. Do they make good quality light weight floor jacks that won't throw out my back? It doesn't really need to be some 4000 pound unit, just a smaller one to keep in the back seat. I already keep a 2ft breaker bar and a universal lug nut socket

If you don't have anything, go to your local junkyard and buy what a similiar model to yours has from the factory.. You can then store it in its intended space, chances are you will never use it. . It's been over 25 years since I used a jack on the road to change a tire and hopefully you will never have to use one.

 

[ctechbob]

Man, I'd entertain the thought of buying this $39.97 HUSKY 2-TON from HomeDepot and I don't even need another floor jack.

I have one that looks identical to that Husky (sans grab handle). My grandmother gave it to me for Christmas in......1995? Somewhere thereabouts. That thing has changed more tires, put more cars on jackstands, and is still my only floor jack to this day. It does seep a tiny bit of oil that I had to finally break down and add some to it a few years back. I still use it to jack up one side of a car at a time to rotate tires.

 

[cptbarkey]

HF aluminum 1.5-2.5 is reasonably light to lug around. I always do when towing.

 

[supton]

Agreed with the HF 1.5T

And in the trunk, preferably secured. I thought my sedan was pretty hard to roll over, but my daughter proved me wrong. Its hard to secure “everything” in a vehicle but the recommendation is easier for me to make now.

 

[Sayjac]

Another vote for the HF 1.5T aluminum jack. If not needed immediately, HF will frequently have it on sale. I'd think it best kept in the trunk though.

 

[totegoat]

Not good. Something as solid as a floor jack should not be inside the passenger compartment of a vehicle. It would be lethal in a roll over. Make sure you tie it down appropriately.

Good information above. Heavy stuff in the cab is no bueno.

 

[Donald]

What is the problem with the factory jack?

 

[4WD]

Maybe, but every scissor jack I own has a wider footprint than most bottle jacks, and a much wider body/frame mounting surface than almost any bottle jack.

Another consideration is that It's almost impossible for a reasonably made scissor jack to strip its threads under load, while a bottle jack can blow a seal/gasket when it's under load.

Most scissor jacks are lighter and much lower profile too. I dare you to get even the lowest profile bottle jack under car when it's got a flat tire.

Cheers

I carry a 10T bottle jack in my Jeep along with an oak/pine base I made to place under it. The day it won’t fit under a Rubicon - I will reach for my HiLift … (carry a Kevlar choker) …
The scissor jack that came with it is a sad little joke …
When I went looking for something better - found an AC Delco scissor slightly better that I have used to rotate tires … It takes and even larger block of wood to not over stroke …
I have several floor jacks 1.5T to 4T …

 

[bbhero]

Good information above. Heavy stuff in the cab is no bueno.

You are daggone on right……

A heavy metal object weighting 18 or 25 or 35 pounds etc etc etc…. Can easily cause severe damage to a persons head. Or kill them.

I have had my portable 2.5 ton jack in my cars trunk for well over 14 years.