Tire changing jack
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2010
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Tire changing jack
I've never been a fan of any OEM jacks for a variety of reasons. I have an excellent shepards jack (the big orange hand lever crank model your dad probably used) but I have no ready access point on my new 150 to use it.
Once I install the tube bars all around I will but anyway....
I'm thinking of a 5k bottle jack but was curious if others have found a nice product. I'll just carry it in the back with all my other gear.
I'll also be moving the spare tire out from under the truck to the box. I'm having my roller-bed from previous truck (a god-send!) installed when my box-cap arrives so no issues there. Under truck may save room but I personally find it very inconvenient and time consuming.
Anyways, bottle jack best or other ideas out there? How about you folk with 20+ tires? you make a phone call or change it yourself?
Thanks.
Once I install the tube bars all around I will but anyway....
I'm thinking of a 5k bottle jack but was curious if others have found a nice product. I'll just carry it in the back with all my other gear.
I'll also be moving the spare tire out from under the truck to the box. I'm having my roller-bed from previous truck (a god-send!) installed when my box-cap arrives so no issues there. Under truck may save room but I personally find it very inconvenient and time consuming.
Anyways, bottle jack best or other ideas out there? How about you folk with 20+ tires? you make a phone call or change it yourself?
Thanks.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Denver, Co
Personally, I would go with a floor jack over a bottle jack, and I'd add in a block of wood (or two).
- Floor jacks have a larger footprint, and they are less likely to sink into the ground...especially with the previously mentioned wood blocks under them.
- Floor jacks almost invariably have a quicker pump action; half a dozen pumps on a floor jack could equal 30 or more on a bottle jack.
- With their longer bodies & handles and casters/wheels, it is usually easier to get them into place without having to actually crawl under your car/truck.
- And, with their shorter height, it is possible to get them under a vehicle that is stuck in mud and ruts. (Although, I have had to hook a chain up to a floor jack and pull it out with the truck in order to retrieve it once.
)
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Excellent rationale my friend and thank-you for the response.
We are not talking a very portable unit with a full sized floor jack though are we. True, it's a truck and I can make room but man-handling a 100 lb floor jack in the mud is not the easiest of options.
Of course, wood blocks will be involved and I carry 2, foot long 4x4 blocks and a piece of square foot 3/4 inch plywood in the bed for that purpose. Thinking along the lines of options, that's pretty much it though isn't it? A floor jack or bottle jack. I think I prefer the bottle jack idea for ease of portability and as we have both mentioned, a good wood base to put it on.
I'm still extremely interested what those with 20"+ or even 33" tires do when grief hits.
We are not talking a very portable unit with a full sized floor jack though are we. True, it's a truck and I can make room but man-handling a 100 lb floor jack in the mud is not the easiest of options.
Of course, wood blocks will be involved and I carry 2, foot long 4x4 blocks and a piece of square foot 3/4 inch plywood in the bed for that purpose. Thinking along the lines of options, that's pretty much it though isn't it? A floor jack or bottle jack. I think I prefer the bottle jack idea for ease of portability and as we have both mentioned, a good wood base to put it on.
I'm still extremely interested what those with 20"+ or even 33" tires do when grief hits.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2003
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I don't think the newer factory jacks are all that bad, my '05 has a scissors type jack and it works pretty good. You just need to keep a block of wood with you to get the jack up higher to save cranking time.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Denver, Co
Oh, I am definitely not advocating a full sized floor jack. A compact floor jack (usually rated around 2 - 5 tons) is not that much bigger than your average bottle jack, and fairly easy to carry around in a single hand...especially if a spend a few extra bucks for an aluminum one.
Something like this:
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_101...3&blockType=L3
As for the tire question, I have had two Harley-Davidson Super Duties with the factory 20" rims and ~34" tires. The floor jack has worked well for me in my routine tire rotations and the one occasion where I have had to swap a flat. And, yes, I do my own tire changes. It guarantees that the lug nuts are torqued to spec, and I do not have to wait roadside for someone to be dispatched & drive to where I am waiting.
Something like this:
http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_101...3&blockType=L3
As for the tire question, I have had two Harley-Davidson Super Duties with the factory 20" rims and ~34" tires. The floor jack has worked well for me in my routine tire rotations and the one occasion where I have had to swap a flat. And, yes, I do my own tire changes. It guarantees that the lug nuts are torqued to spec, and I do not have to wait roadside for someone to be dispatched & drive to where I am waiting.
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Thanks much for the clarification Marine.
As it turns out, I purchased just today what I think is an excellent intermediary between the two.
It's made by "Powerbuilt" and it's a 3 ton truck bottle-jack with a few very nice features.
- The lift post is individually adjustable with large pip-pin for 4 settings and has a very wide lip at top
- it has a lift of 11" - 21"
- it has a very sturdy 10"x10" square base
- it has a "lock" feature once you've reached set height
- I can carry it in one hand
- it has a limited life-time warranty
- it cost $40
I tried it when I got home tonight and it works perfect.
I saw a floor-jack model beside it (same company, $90, not that money mattered) that I seriously considered but I really like this model. I think this will fill the bill quite nicely.
Thanks for your responses.
As it turns out, I purchased just today what I think is an excellent intermediary between the two.
It's made by "Powerbuilt" and it's a 3 ton truck bottle-jack with a few very nice features.
- The lift post is individually adjustable with large pip-pin for 4 settings and has a very wide lip at top
- it has a lift of 11" - 21"
- it has a very sturdy 10"x10" square base
- it has a "lock" feature once you've reached set height
- I can carry it in one hand
- it has a limited life-time warranty
- it cost $40
I tried it when I got home tonight and it works perfect.
I saw a floor-jack model beside it (same company, $90, not that money mattered) that I seriously considered but I really like this model. I think this will fill the bill quite nicely.
Thanks for your responses.
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