In this guide, we explain how to choose the car jack, an essential tool. Thanks to the jack, you can lift your car off the ground to comfortably replace a damaged wheel and to do any other type of repair or maintenance. If you’re planning to do some heavy lifting in your garage, from lifting areas of floor to raising a car, truck, ATV or SUV for maintenance, then you’re going to need floor jacks on BestOfMachinery for the task
Consider, however, that the choice for this tool is not limited exclusively to the scissor jack, you may indeed find better solutions on the market. That’s why below, we will show you all the elements to consider when choosing the new jack.
Types of Car Jacks
As we anticipated, on the market, you can find different types of car jacks, and each of these obviously has unique characteristics. For this reason, it is advisable to investigate the three main types of jack currently available, analyzing both the differences and the specific advantages and disadvantages.
Scissor Jack
The scissor jack is the classic jack. Probably you’ve already found it in your car. It works thanks to a mechanical and crank lifting system. Obviously, on the market, you can also find better alternatives to basic scissor jack.
If you are satisfied with a less efficient tool compared to other types, then know that with scissor jack, you will be able to bring a reasonably inexpensive tool to the garage.
When you decide to buy a jack of this type, be sure to evaluate aspects such as the minimum and maximum height allowed, together with the maximum weight tolerable by the jack.
In any case, since these jacks work mechanically by turning a crank, consider that you will still be struggling, especially with heavier vehicles.
Hydraulic Jack
The hydraulic car jack is a more advanced type than the tool seen above, as it works based not on a mechanical system, but Pascal’s law. This means that it is sufficient to apply pressure on the jack lever to be able to lift even very heavy cars, taking advantage of the pressure of the fluids and the power of the hydraulic cylinder.
In this case, however, it must be said that there are different types of hydraulic jacks. We talk about the professional trolley jacks, bottle jacks, and jacks called pit or under-bridge. In reality, the most recommended model for a motorist is the second. That is the bottle one because the others cost more and are designed for workshops. On the other hand, however, there is talk of a more advanced type of tool than the scissor jack.
There is also one type of hydraulic jack that isn’t much talked about. This is the type explicitly designed for lowered cars. If you are the owner of such a vehicle, check out carinmydna.com article on low profile floor jacks.
Electric Jack
The last type of jack listed is the electric one, whose motor allows you to automate the lifting of the car, using a simple remote control. This means that you will not even have to get down on your knees to use it, and therefore, you will be able to enjoy a level of comfort absent in the other two types.
Also, in this case, however, there are more or less expensive and, therefore, more or less performing models. Among the elements you will need to study are the maximum weight that the jack can lift and the lifting power.
How to Choose the Car Jack
At this point, it is necessary to investigate which jack model is closest to the needs of an ordinary motorist, all to avoid unnecessary spending, given the cost of advanced models. In this regard, we have already pointed out the convenience of the hydraulic bottle model, so called because of its particular shape. In addition to having an overall low cost, this type of jack proves to be really easy to use and also much more powerful than the scissor jack.
This tool boasts significantly higher lifting capacity or power than a mechanical model. To the point that using it is even possible to lift very heavy vehicles such as campers.
Before proceeding further, it is important to specify that the bottle jack is not equipped with wheels, as these are only found in the trolley jack. Secondly, it does not require recharging, which is instead necessary with a pneumatic jack. In conclusion, if what interests you is power combined with practicality, with this type of jack, you will find the perfect middle ground.
If you own a workshop and if you are a professional in the sector, then the situation changes, because you cannot be satisfied with a regular bottle jack. In this case, our advice is to choose a hydraulic trolley model or pit jack. Firstly, because they are much easier to move since they are equipped with comfortable wheels. Secondly, they have a much higher lifting capacity and are therefore more efficient.
So far, we have often cited a value such as lifting capacity. In essence, this is the essential element ever, in addition to ease of use. This is because a jack must always be able to perform its tasks, therefore, to lift a vehicle of a certain size.
It is evident that a scissor jack, for example, can be effective with an economy car and prove completely useless with an SUV. For this reason, if you want to equip yourself with a jack useful for this type of vehicle, then you should invest your money in a tool with a lifting capacity equal to or greater than at least three tons.
The maximum height that can be reached with the jack is also a factor that you will have to take into consideration, especially if you intend to use this accessory on very tall vehicles such as SUVs.
Fortunately, the market today offers different solutions valid for all budgets, provided that you understand that very powerful models obviously cost more.
What matters, however, is to buy a model that is quality and suitable for your specific needs. For the rest, know that the price can range from $20 for scissor jacks to $50 for hydraulic jacks, up to $150 for the more professional models.
