I've been researching a few floor jacks, narrowed it down to a Pittsburgh 4 ton from Harbor Freight for $129.00, a Torin Big Red 3.5 ton w/ foot pump from Northern Tool and Equipment for $159.99, an Arcon XL 3.5 ton as well from Northern Tool for the same $159.00 or the A/C Delco 3.5 ton from O'rielly's for $199.00.

Anyone have any experience with any of these? I did have my truck at Discount Tire a few days ago and all they had were 3.5 ton jacks, said they worked just fine for all trucks, even 350 duallys.

I need to call Napa to find out their price so they might be in the equation as well. Price isn't the concern for the most part, safety and reliability is although I'm not looking to break the bank.

All the above are double pump hydraulic. Thanks.

 

I have to Harbor Freight floor jacks. One is an aluminum quick lift. It will not lift my truck. Then I went and got the yellow or orange one that I believe is the 3.t ton you are talking about. It works just fine. No frills but does the job it is intended to.

 

Aracan, not ArcOn. This is the one that has the best reviews so far. Same one you have?
http://www.bestcovery.com/arcan-35-t...-jack-arc-xl35

At Northern Tool.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5429_200345429

 

Ditto... but the Aluminum quick lift is for my kids cars. I actually have two of the 3-ton models for my three 7.3's, and they are a bare bones, but effective solution.

The only issue we've had with the HF units is that upon turning the jack handle to lower the vehicle, the gears tend to stick a little with the truck weight on them and if you're not REALLY careful, you can drop your truck down almost too fast... at least too fast for my taste. I've solved that problem by using a high quality penetrating fluid on every joint in the lift and valve mechanisms, and this has given me much more control when dropping the truck down.

Never owned any other heavy duty floor jack, so the problem mentioned above may be somewhat universal until you lube them.

 

I did all the same research and bought the HF jack, as it it was 1/2 the price of other Chinese jacks sold at auto chain stores. Yes - it can lower abruptly, but has been a decent jack overall. I use great caution when lowering vehicles anyway.

 

[quote=Texas Chain Ring;12334122]I've been researching a few floor jacks, narrowed it down to a Pittsburgh 4 ton from Harbor Freight for $129.00, a Torin Big Red 3.5 ton w/ foot pump from Northern Tool and Equipment for $159.99, an Arcon XL 3.5 ton as well from Northern Tool for the same $159.00 or the A/C Delco 3.5 ton from O'rielly's for $199.00.
quote]

I have an Arcan 3.5 ton jack I bought when Costco had them 5-6 years ago. Great jack. I also have the Harbor Freight 4 ton jack. Also works fine. Two things I notice between the two though. The Harbor Freight flexes more than the Arcan under the weight on the truck, for what it's worth. And, as mentioned above, the HF lowering needs to be done with caution. The Arcan is way more controlled and smoother. (Not sure if it makes any difference, but my Arcan jack is a blue one, but it looks identical to the one pictured in your link).

 

i wanna say my buddy has the craftsman aluminum 3ton jack. Has a rubber pad in its landing foot. Well, tried jacking my truck up to add fluid to the zf6, and on the 2nd/3rd pump, damn thing slid off the frame and came crushing down, 1/4in more of hieght, and it would've center-punched my floorboard. Again, tried jacking it up, SLOWLY, and what was happening was the jack..(on level/clean ground) was not "walking" while being jacked.

Ya, wasnt to stoked with that. At home here, got me a one of those HF orange jacks, and besides the handle needing turned with pliers to lower truck, works fine for me.

 

I have two of the Big Red jacks and they work fine.TSC carries them as well.

 

I have the A/C Delco one, it works just fine on my trucks.

 

I have two of the XL 3.5's. I think it's an excellent jack. Heavy, but I'm not part if a pit crew - so it doesn't bother me. It's also very low profile, especially for such an HD jack.

EDIT: mine are black.

 

I think the Arcan XL 3.5 ton will work best for me. Thanks guys!

 

While you are investing in a good jack, also get a good set of Jack Stands.....safety first.

 

Also... make sure that you have good wheel chocks as well for those times when you use the jack without stands for a "quick" lift/inspection.

 

I bought a Michelin 3 1/2 ton Speedy Lift floor jack from Sams Club about 8 years ago and it has been a good jack.

 

Sometimes you can find a good used American made jack, I got an American made OTC for $75. It leaked so I got it rebuilt for around $80 plus $30 shipping for the hydraulic unit, so for $180 I got a large frame 3 ton American made floor jack that rolls beautifully and raises and lowers my truck smoothly and with ease, the valve is very smooth and controllable when lowering.

Most of the imports cannot be rebuilt as far as I know and are throwaways.

I see Harbor Freight sells "racing jacks". I have never seen a jack race before, sounds interesting.