Floor Jack & Jack Stand Recommendations

[rlestra5]

Not sure if this is the correct place to post this, but here goes.

I am looking to buy a floor jack and jack stands for routine car maintenance (oil changes, tire rotations, etc.) on my 2008 Nissan Altima 2.5 S which weighs approximately 3,100 pounds. My two biggest concerns regarding this purchase are price and quality. I need something that won't break the bank, but I also realize the importance of safety when it comes to doing work underneath your car and I need something durable that is going to last throughout the years without needing repairs time and time again. I would prefer to buy the floor jack and jack stands together in a combo set, but I am willing to purchase the two separately if need be. I have already done some research in my local auto parts stores and online and I am beginning to hear bad reviews on certain brands such as Craftsmen and Duralast which is making this decision even more difficult. Not to mention I have seen several floor jack and jack stand combo sets retailing at $49.99 or so which have gotten mixed reviews, so again I am leery about choosing a product simply for the low cost.

I would also like to mention that for 95% of the work that I plan on doing to my car, I would only be lifting one side of the vehicle at a time with the floor jack and jack stands (e.g., front of the car for an oil change or left side or right side one at a time for a tire rotation). So I would think that a 2- or 3-ton floor jack and jacks stands of an equivalent size would suffice, although feel free to correct me if anyone feels this is wrong.

Thanks in advance for reading my post and offering your advice.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Floor Jack & Jack Stand Recommendations

We've moved this to the Break Room area as your initial choice was for discussion of our Consumer Line of products.

No worries..... it'll probably see better traffic here.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Floor Jack & Jack Stand Recommendations

I am very pleased with the performance of my "big Red" 2 ton hydraulic service jack.

We bought it Tractor Supply. It was around $50.00

[zeegs]

Re: Floor Jack & Jack Stand Recommendations

Here's a pretty good deal, check it out:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00950140000P?keyword=009-50140&sLevel=0

[Nappers]

Re: Floor Jack & Jack Stand Recommendations

That sears jack is a nice unit, I have the same set up and use it all the time on our cars. for oil changes and other maint. that don't require a wheel to come off, I use drive up ramps.

For the longest time, I used a jack and jack stands from Harbor Freight. Had not one bit of trouble with them. I gave the jack to a buddy of mine and I seemed to have lost one of the jack stands in a move, but still have one and still use it. I used my Harbor Freight 6 ton jack stands on my '64 when I was transplanting a rear end, the stands under the frame provided lots of height and were secure while putting a new rear end, control arm bushings, brakes etc when working on it. I still use them as needed.

Have fun.

[roushstage2]

Re: Floor Jack & Jack Stand Recommendations

I've been rocking 2 sets of jack stands from Summit for some time now. Cheapest price I found (doesn't always mean it is cheap quality), and they have been used to hold up the front end of my truck (which weighs ~5,500 pounds) many times.

[cnfowler]

Re: Floor Jack & Jack Stand Recommendations

If you purchase online, try looking on Amazon.com. I just purchased a jack online and found that the shipping on such a heavy item is killer. I purchased one on Amazon.com that qualified for free shipping. The exact same jack at Northern Tool would have costed me almost $45 just for shipping.

On a side note, I had a 2 ton $15 hydraulic jack I bought at Wal-Mart years ago that worked great. I never had a problem with it. I ended up giving it to my father before I moved out of state; I just didn't want to move it.

Colin