3-ton floor jack recommendation

[Bob - MI]

I have been limping along with an old 1.5 ton floor jack that struggles lifting my GMC 2500 and I want to upgrade to a 3-ton. Not being a real fan of Chinese equipment I find myself stuck choosing different name brands of jacks that are all Chinese. The folks from the local Napa store who I know very well have a $300.00 beauty in stock that is also Chinese and they advise that the entire line is now coming from there as well.

I have been looking at Harbor Freight units as well as the Masterforce line at Menard's. I won't use this very often but I don't want to sacrifice safety.

Any opinions and/or direction?

Thanks as always for your responses.

 

[Steve in VA]

I don't own one, but apparently US Jack is 100% usa made.

 

[Mule Meat]

Stay away from those $249.99 ones sold at Harbor Freight no matter what color it is. If you use one often. They will only last about a year.

I have 6 or 8 aluminum HF jacks that were here in the shop when i took over that look brand new. The relief screw on very one of them is striped out. No way to fix them except replace the cylinder. They will be on the next load of scrap leaving here.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Years ago I needed floor jacks.
I looked at Napa Jacks and HF jacks
HF looked like a NAPA clone.
I asked NAPA if I can buy parts to rebuild their jack? NO
I asked HF if I can buy parts to rebuild their jacks? No

I bought 2 HF 3 ton jacks
and 2 HF low profile aluminum 2 ton Jacks.

I have yet to have an issue with any of the jacks..
I like the light weight aluminum jacks when I have to put it in the back of my truck. I really like the low profile. If I want more height I have a 4x4x4 block of wood that fits the jack perfectly..I use the aluminum jack the most..

 

[el6147]

I have and still do repair a fair amount of newer aluminum and vintage jacks , floor
transmission, bottle jacks, etc and I have and it is possible to repair the stripped out
release screw on the aluminum jacks with success.

For me to repair one is about the same cost as a new jack but my repair is permanent.

if your interested in a rebuilt vintage floor jack Bob, I am located in Mich also

email should be open

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I forgot to add about safety. I'll never trust any jack. I'll jack up vehicles, then I'll add Jack stands.
Always only jack things up on concrete.
I don't use my jacks everyday, but they are handy when I need them. And there are times I need 2 jacks..

 

[Dusty MI]

Back in the late 50's I had a neighbor that had a floor jack that was not hydraulic but had a flat chain and a ratchet, worked very nicely.

 

[moresmoke]

I have 2 of the older gray HF 3 ton low profile jacks. Dont use them constantly, but often enough. I have no complaints with them whatsoever. It appears todays version is red and twice the price I paid back when.

 

[marloweg]

have 4 HF not one problem with them

 

[Goose]

I have several from HF. No problems.

Just last week I bought one of the 3 ton Pittsburgh units with 'Rapid Pump'. That Rapid Pump is a nice feature. The jack raises fast until it hit a load.

What's interesting, is HF's floor jacks are under several brand names, and 2 and 3 ton. The metal stampings and most parts on virtually all of them are identical. Probably all trace back to the same source.

 

[Hobo,NC]

I spec most all new ones are foreign made the on one the left is over 30 years old the one on the right brought 11/09. The old one has been into 2 times the last time it was a check ball rusted so I quit washing them off with water. Other than that they are heavy to heavy to tote around they are great jacks that are a walker are a walker knock off. A kit for them cost more than a HF jack I trust these so this is what I use.

 

[redtom]

Where I was working had an old rusty Pittsburg from HF that works fine. We needed a second jack. I bought the more expensive Daytona, It lasted one year and leaks all over. Shouldve bought another Pittsburg. Sadly, I already bought a Daytona for home use. we'll see.

 

[Texasmark]

I like the long shank HF jacks. They are double piston, fast pumpers and there is a manual foot pedal at the rear that you pump them up with your foot till the jack makes contact with a surface and then use the handle to pump it up. Very handy on tractors with axles high off the ground. I also like their 3 ton low profile for other jobs...the low profile does the trick on a lot of jobs. Have a couple of both.

 

[KF]

Most of the Chinese floor jacks are made by Shin Fu. I repaired a 3 ton jack a couple years ago. The repair kits are available. I started with the model and name of the jack. It will end up at a Shin Fu repair kit.

 

[rustyfarmall]

I have an ancient Black Hawk. Looks like junk, but works quite well. It has lifted everything I needed.

 

[shaun wallace]

Them are Walker copys made by Lincoln now badged as Black Hawk.

 

[Hobo,NC]

10-4 Keep'em away from water life will be good.

 

[oldproudvet]

Here's what I recently purchased. I love it. I bought mine for my 1996 1 ton Ford F350. I've got an awesome 4 ton truck jack, an old Blawkhawk and it's a great jack. Problem being it's 4 ft long, a beast to manuver under a truck and just plain awkward in my shop. It weighs over 100#.
3 Ton Jack

 

[tractorguy2]

I have two. A NAPA and a Carquest. There is no comparison. The Carquest is ten times the jack.

 

[John in Ct]

Those Walker/Snap-On/ Lincoln/ Hein Warner/ etc./ Napa are great jacks!!!! I also have the HF jack that was all of the rage a
couple of years ago and it is ok but the others are better. The BEST jack out there is the one made by Milwaukee Hydraulic Co. It
is beautiful just to look at it and they last forever, but are expensive with shipping.

 

[miangus]

The double pump is nice.

 

[miangus]

My old Walker is stable but it is so heavy. I have two of the old Walkers. I tend to use the HF because its lighter and has the double pump. When I raced that Walker was a back breaker to load.

 

[caterpillar guy]

On one of the Sheridan auctions there is a lift that would lift the whole end of a vehicle listed. Don't remember which auction. It was one of the retirement auctions I believe. Think it was near Chelsea.

 

[ASEguy]

I bought a dual pump 3 1/2 ton from NAPA four years ago on their black Friday event. I love it.

 

[Rkh]

Im in the market for a floor jack. The Pittsburgh floor jack from Harbor freight is warranted only 90days so if your like me, I'm not going to use that much. Reading reviews, one guy says that it only worked once, then wouldn't work again after the 90 day period.

 

[John-MI]

Can you call me if interested in a good used one. Formerly used by Mich DNR shop that closed. A better jack and a lot less money. 231 869 4952

 

[Texasmark]

So is the foot pump to get to the target fast.