Floor jack.
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2011
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Floor jack.
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.
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.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 31
From: OKC, OK
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.
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.
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2011
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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
http://www.bestcovery.com/arcan-35-t...-jack-arc-xl35
At Northern Tool.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...5429_200345429
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,288
Likes: 269
From: North of Greenville
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.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 52
From: Southern Colorado
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.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,573
Likes: 4
From: Seattle
[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).
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).
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 7,793
Likes: 50
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.
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.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: South Shore, MA
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.
EDIT: mine are black.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,609
Likes: 324
From: Arizona
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.
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.