Home

Finding a quality Garage Jack

A storage jack or floor jack port, what is it?

A real garage jack is more usually called a floor jack. The idea of ‘Floor Jack’ applies to any trolley port used on a service center’s ‘floor’, being the bare cement apron on which vehicles happen to be serviced along with repaired.

Such jacks can be purchased in a wide variety of methods of differing top quality as well as picking up capacities. Anytime seeking out a floor jack you should note the following so you can come up with an informed conclusion when selecting the bottom jack to find.

Specifications of a garage jack

When considering buying a garage jack you need to take into consideration the following factors prior to making a purchase.

1. What lifting capacity do I need?

2. What lifting height will I require?

3. What is the minimum height that the garage jack has to slide under?

4. Will the jack be used privately or commercially?

5. Is there backup for the jack by the local supplier?

6. What are the warranty conditions and duration?

Garage jack lifting capacity

The lifting capability is extremely important as it not only affects the price, but also the size of the interface and the longevity of it in a working environment. Most importantly of all it affects the safety of operator and any person involved within the working atmosphere .If you are merely repairing small sedans then a lightweight floor interface will do just fine using a lifting capacity of let’s say, 2 tons. This size of interface will be strong enough to lift in family sedan and in many cases the occasional SUV.

What garage jack height do I need?

This will reflect on that which you are lifting obviously and if you aren't only limited to a specific make of automobile, chance to find that you go with an interface with high lift action. Quite simply, vehicle models adjust and it's also better to employ a connector capable of weightlifting beyond one needs right presently, than not sufficient down the track.

The minimum clearance height for your garage jack.

This is the minimum height your jack has to be able to slide under a vehicle without rubbing and safely. I would advise that if you are working on sedans and cars in general that you buy a low profile floor jack to start with. There is no down side to having a low profile jack and given the low profile tires that seem to be the factor these days, this type of jack is a ‘must’.

When selecting a low profile garage jack for sedan use it is a good idea to select one with positioning side bars as per the photo above of the red aluminum jack. These allow you to reposition the jack under the car where access is often restricted due to height. You will also note that this floor jack is aluminum for lightweight and maneuverability while under the vehicle.

One look at the quality of the anodizing and finish of the red jack and you can see it is made of high quality materials and unfortunately this will attract a slightly higher price too.

Should you require a jack for trucks, 4x4s and SUV then a low profile jack is not required though I wouldn’t write one off that easily. There are times even with 4x4s that you need a slimline jack and if availability is not an issue then I would advise you to go for it.

One other thing to note with regards to 4x4s and larger vehicles is the length of the jack, it needs to be longer than your standard sedan floor jack.

Here is a typical example of a low profile long series floor jack with the additional height requirements.

Commercial or private use of a garage jack

This is very important really. If you are going to purchase a floor jack for private use and dollars are an issue, (any time aren’t they?), you may effectively opt for a cheaper type of garage floor connector with pressed steel sides like this dull jack to the left.

These are more often than not cheap Asian sent steel, mass produced, ‘throw aside type’ floor jacks that are only suitable for constrained use and restricted weights.

My experience with them is not well as I have found seem to my peril.

I've had the occasion in which particular case a similar jack for the one in the photography here, slid sideways plus buckled up to a mess junk.

They will lack lateral balance as they tend to fold a bit too much. If you purchase one of these use it carefully and it will most likely serve you quite well nonetheless would not advise employing this type in a commercial ecosystem, it won’t hack it and could well be hazardous.

The other thing to be aware of if you should purchase one of such pressed steel ports, is to get one that has a rating at least 50% over you need, that way you can be assured of safety as well as longevity. Also try to find one that has a large track as this will prove to add to the stability.

In case if you’re going commercial, then you need a cast precious metal or heavy constructed steel floor connector which is my personal thoughts and opinions. Something that can take a knocks, abuse along with occasional overload (have I say that?)Looking at something like this in yellow and black that's rated at 3 tons.

This weighs 80 lbs. and so is simple to operate with a 20” lift and a 5 1/8” minimum height for low profile vehicles. It's made of heavy fabricated and pressed metallic as opposed to the lightly built floor jack in grey above.

This jack is also wide and so you are generally assured of strength and safety. This long handle enables you to position the jack, improve and lower it by twisting the handle which is a fixture in heavy steel. In a nutshell, it is a well-made plus balanced commercial storage jack.

Garage Jack Manufacturer back up.

When purchasing for private use this is not such an issue because if it fails then you take it back and get it repaired or replaced, simple.

Commercially of course this is not the case. If the jack fails then you need it repaired or serviced immediately as time is money. In this case, buying from a reputable dealership that carries known brands of American, British, German or Australian jacks you can be assured of after sales service and more often than not, a quality product to begin with. This makes the little extra you pay for these superior jacks all the more worth it.

You don’t always get what you pay for but you always pay for what you get.

Garage Jack warranty