Jack Stands - Narrowed it down to two

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dorkiedoode

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I need help with my future purchase of jack stands. After doing much research here and the web, I narrowed down my selection to two: US Jack 3-ton (highly regarded here) or ESCO 3-ton.

From a price point comparison:

US JACK: 87.50 + 25.93 shipping= 113.43 shipped
ESCO= 136 shipped

ESCO review: http://revlimiter.net/blog/2010/07/mega-jack-stand-review-1/

What's your take? I don't mind paying more for the ESCO since they'll probably last a life-time. This will probably be a one time purchase kind of deal.
 
The ESCOs do not look very fun to use, IMHO. They seem like more of a specialty stand to me, in cases where you need maximum stability or something.

My HF stands work fine for me, have for years.

robert
 
my thought is the minimum lift height is too high. I would love to have USa made Jack stands like the harbor freight. I have two Jack stands like the harbor freight and two bigger ones a bit bigger than the craftsman. This works well for me.
 
I prefer a saddle type with rubber pads. The link test is good but only used 1 car - a Miata. A flat pad is no good for a round axle.

Obviously a wide base is best.

Hate to say it, but tough to beat the HF ones, or at least that style. Given how many they probably sell, they would have been sued and bankrupt by now if those things failed.

I don't like metal to metal contact - If you don't use a rubber pad, use a heavy cloth folded over many times. Same for a floor jack.
 
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HF ones work fine. I have the rubber pads if I need them. Typically put a 2x6 under them if they are not on concrete. They will last a lifetime unless you leave them outside to rust, in which case maybe 1/2 a lifetime. Not sure you need to spend money on jack stands. Get more of them, rather than better ones.
 
Originally Posted By: dorkiedoode
I need help with my future purchase of jack stands. After doing much research here and the web, I narrowed down my selection to two: US Jack 3-ton (highly regarded here) or ESCO 3-ton.

From a price point comparison:

US JACK: 87.50 + 25.93 shipping= 113.43 shipped
ESCO= 136 shipped

ESCO review: http://revlimiter.net/blog/2010/07/mega-jack-stand-review-1/

What's your take? I don't mind paying more for the ESCO since they'll probably last a life-time. This will probably be a one time purchase kind of deal.



As everyone else says, save money and but cheap jackstands and get yourself a nice torque wrench or something else... Unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket......

Regards, JC.
 
Originally Posted By: JC1
Originally Posted By: dorkiedoode
I need help with my future purchase of jack stands. After doing much research here and the web, I narrowed down my selection to two: US Jack 3-ton (highly regarded here) or ESCO 3-ton.

From a price point comparison:

US JACK: 87.50 + 25.93 shipping= 113.43 shipped
ESCO= 136 shipped

ESCO review: http://revlimiter.net/blog/2010/07/mega-jack-stand-review-1/

What's your take? I don't mind paying more for the ESCO since they'll probably last a life-time. This will probably be a one time purchase kind of deal.



As everyone else says, save money and but cheap jackstands and get yourself a nice torque wrench or something else... Unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket......

Regards, JC.


Thanks everyone for your opinions. Haha I actually have 3 torque wrenches and they are pretty nice ;)(my brother works a company that build parts for the military/boeing, etc). Well to be honest, harbor freight isn't really what i'm looking for. When I buy something I usually invest in quality, even if it cost more. At least with those jack stands that I listed I get a peace of mind which is worth the $$ to me, even if its overkill for my application. My brother and friends will be using it too so I'm not going to risk it.
 
Originally Posted By: Chadwilliam1
my thought is the minimum lift height is too high. I would love to have USa made Jack stands like the harbor freight. I have two Jack stands like the harbor freight and two bigger ones a bit bigger than the craftsman. This works well for me.


Maybe US JACK is the company your looking for. They are Made in the USA and the rated capacity for their jack stands is 3 tons EACH. The lowest height is around 11".

http://www.usjack.com/products/Jack Stands.pdf
 
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I wasn't looking but now I am!
smile.gif
 
Look at a HF jack stand in one of their stores and tell me what a more expensive or made in USA one will bring to the table with respect to ease of use and/or holding up your vehicle.

My boat and trailer (6000 lb) have been held partially up by HF jack stands for most of the summer while I was upgrading the brakes. There is not a lot for them to do except just sit there and hold up the trailer. And unfortunately the jack stands are still there, brakes not yet done.
 
if I were to buy Jack stands today I would make sure they were made in USA. I try to keep the made in China stuff to a minimum.

I got two of my Jack stands in a trade I am guessing all 4 were made in China though. I bought 2 of them when i was 17 so I assume it bought the cheapest option. they work fine and I have no complaint but I would spend the extra money to get made in USA now that I am older and learned the value of us jobs.
 
Originally Posted By: Chadwilliam1
if I were to buy Jack stands today I would make sure they were made in USA. I try to keep the made in China stuff to a minimum.

I got two of my Jack stands in a trade I am guessing all 4 were made in China though. I bought 2 of them when i was 17 so I assume it bought the cheapest option. they work fine and I have no complaint but I would spend the extra money to get made in USA now that I am older and learned the value of us jobs.


Things made in the USA will sell if they have better value or more functionality or fill a niche. But if its basically the same as one made in China with a "made in USA" sticker it will not make too much of a dent.
 
The US Jack stands engage two teeth with two pawls, so this is one way in which they are better. They are also rated per stand rather than per pair of stands.

Whether or not it justifies the price difference is up to the purchaser.

I have noticed on some jack stands, no brand in particular, that the pawl doesn't necessarily catch a large area on the tooth.
 
The taller jack stands, like the ESCOs, are generally made for trucks that need a higher minimum and maximum height. As the height goes up the base must go wider. They can be used for a car, of course, but that wide of a base may very well get in your way, and that is a main consideration for me when deciding which jack stand to match up with the vehicle being worked on. Truck stands for trucks, car stands for cars.

Another factor to consider is the saddle. A big, flat rubber saddle is perfect for flat parts of the frame, but some vehicles don't have a flat area to support the vehicle. Ideally jack stands would come with a variety of saddles, but they don't. I prefer the notched style of saddle and, like others, use a thick hunk of rubber to go between the metal of the vehicle and the metal of the saddle to prevent marring the vehicle, and sliding of the vehicle on the metal stand - I've seen them slide myself.

I also much prefer the ratcheting, lever-style of height adjuster over the slide-pin style. As stated above, watch out for questionable pawl to tooth contact if you choose the ratchet type.

If money is not a major part of the equation then I'd suggest the US Jack. If on a budget the HF will work OK. That style has been in use for many decades by pros and amateurs alike.

Keith
 
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Originally Posted By: robertcope
" ...in cases where you need maximum stability or something." robert


To ME, that's any time I stick myself under a car.
 
Originally Posted By: KB2008X
... If money is not a major part of the equation then I'd suggest the US Jack. If on a budget the HF will work OK. That style has been in use for many decades by pros and amateurs alike. Keith


That type, Yes, made of questionable Chinese steel by Chinese factories cutting every corner they can, I think not.
 
Originally Posted By: johnachak
Originally Posted By: KB2008X
... If money is not a major part of the equation then I'd suggest the US Jack. If on a budget the HF will work OK. That style has been in use for many decades by pros and amateurs alike. Keith


That type, Yes, made of questionable Chinese steel by Chinese factories cutting every corner they can, I think not.


Is there a Chinese jack stand failure that you're aware of ? An actual event that you can share with us ?

Keith
 
Originally Posted By: KB2008X
Originally Posted By: johnachak
Originally Posted By: KB2008X
... If money is not a major part of the equation then I'd suggest the US Jack. If on a budget the HF will work OK. That style has been in use for many decades by pros and amateurs alike. Keith


That type, Yes, made of questionable Chinese steel by Chinese factories cutting every corner they can, I think not.


Is there a Chinese jack stand failure that you're aware of ? An actual event that you can share with us ?

Keith


I was unable to post some of the link because it has been censored out but the first link from ih8mud deals with a harbor freight jack stand that failed. However, that might've been due to him using a jack stand that's too small for his truck.

google for ih8mud B***CH tried to kill me

http://forum.ih8mud.com/ca-socal-80s/305105-[censored]-tried-kill-me.html

http://www.thehulltruth.com/dockside-cha...nder-car.html#b

http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/garage/240934-jack-fail-built-like-[censored]-duralast.html
 
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