Floor Jack - Need advice

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Jun 29, 2010 | 09:00 AM

JTATMAN

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From: MADISON,IN

Floor Jack - Need advice

Ok, I have a Ford Super Duty with a Powerstroke & I am in need of a good, well built, american made floor jack - 3.5 tons. I'm trying to find one that actually works well & is good quality as the Sears & Michelin floor jacks I have bought over the years are 100% junk. Any opinions on what I should buy ?

Matco Tools offers a new 3.5 ton jack that will lift to full height in 4 pumps for $ 300.00.

Jun 29, 2010 | 05:14 PM

ckal704

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From: Lancaster County PA

I bought a Sears Craftsman 3.5 T jack several years ago for our high school shop.
It is junk. Harder than h-e-double hockey sticks to unscrew the relief port with the lifting handle, no matter if you only tighten it a little bit or not. IF you don't tighten the relief enough, it won't jack. If you tighten it enough to jack, it is very hard to release it.
I hate the dumb thing, but don't have the budget to replace it and we don't have to use it all that often anyway.
Sorry I can't recommend one in the size your are wanting. I do have a little Chinese 2.4 ton that works well enough, especially considering its low price.
I'd probably buy a HF big floor jack if I tried it at the store and it worked smoothly enough, but I am not really in the market for one so I haven't tried any.

Jun 29, 2010 | 07:01 PM

rebocardo

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From: Atlanta GA

Hard to believe, but, for the money (orange colored one) the chinese 3.5T floor jack from harbor freight is pretty good. Cost about $90.00. Many of the American jacks are junk, I really do not know what to tell you on that front. I gave up.

Jun 30, 2010 | 12:22 AM

ford2go

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From: Frequently frozen MN

There was a fairly long floor jack thread over in Garage and Workshop a while back. Might be worth a search

Jun 30, 2010 | 06:51 AM

JTATMAN

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From: MADISON,IN

Here is what I have found -
Harbor Freight jack - from - China & junk
Snap on jack - from - China
Michelin jack - had one already - from China & Junk
Sears jack - had one already - from China & junk

Matco Tools, USA $ 300.00, newly released jack, 3.5 ton, 4 pumps to full height
Mac Tools, USA $ 314.00, 3.5 ton
Milwaukee Hydraulics, USA $ 787.00, 4 ton - best jack you can buy

I think im gonna buy the Matco Tools one.

Jun 30, 2010 | 07:28 AM

Lazy K

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Had a look at the one you picked. Too short a reach for my liking. For around another $100 you could get one of their service jacks which I like better. But just my opinion.

Jun 30, 2010 | 07:59 AM

JTATMAN

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From: MADISON,IN

I have a 40 year old walker , heavy duty truck jack 4 ton but its too big to fit under cars & the handle also hits the bumper cover on my car so I need a smaller unit. Just hate to buy another cheap china jack since I have had 2 junk ones already uno