Floor Jack Recommendation?

[aiguy]

I have looked through many threads but didn't find a nice clear recommendation for a floor jack that:

• does an OK job in the garage (for changing between snows and F1s), and
• is light/small enough/packaged nicely for use in the trunk as a spare changer
• reasonably inexpensive (this is least important but still a factor)

Any recommendations?

Thanks.

[JMatt]

I don't think you'll find many recommendations. There is no spare tire. Why the need for a portable spare tire changer?

Second, the jacking points are about 12 - 18 inches toward the car's centerline. The car sits very low. A racing style jack is about all that works well. Even then, you may want to drive the front tires on to a 2x8 to get the first 2" of lift.

I use one from Sears/Craftsman that goes on sale from time to time. I think it cost about $100-$150. It's aluminum, and (relatively) lightweight for a floorjack. Unfortunately, it doesn't meet any of your specifications.

[aiguy]

Thanks, JMatt.

Like many of the SRT people here, I've ended up putting a spare (snow tire, in my case) in the trunk. So now need something to make it actually useful in the event.

Thanks for the recommendation -- it may not be perfect but it's the best so far!

[JMatt]

Originally Posted by aiguy

Thanks, JMatt.

Like many of the SRT people here, I've ended up putting a spare (snow tire, in my case) in the trunk. So now need something to make it actually useful in the event.

Thanks for the recommendation -- it may not be perfect but it's the best so far!

Well - I tried at least.

I just can't imagine a bottle jack fitting under the car anywhere, and I'd be afraid to use a cheap scissors jack, and I don't know of any with handles long enough to be able to get the jack far enough under the car to the jack points.

When they ran the SRT-8 in the OneLapofAmerica race, they used a racing jack themselves, and still had to get guys on the side of the car to physically lift it the first inch or so. There may certainly be jacks that will work, but I'd be worried about personal safety and damage to the car in trying.

[moddog]

Originally Posted by aiguy

I have looked through many threads but didn't find a nice clear recommendation for a floor jack that:

• does an OK job in the garage (for changing between snows and RSAs), and
• is light/small enough/packaged nicely for use in the trunk as a spare changer
• reasonably inexpensive (this is least important but still a factor)

Any recommendations?

Thanks.

Chack this Jack out
Electric Car Jack 2 Ton - Jack-T2

[aiguy]

Originally Posted by moddog

Chack this Jack out
Electric Car Jack 2 Ton - Jack-T2

Looks pretty slick! Have you tried it? (Or has anyone else if not?)

I saw some people had posted problems with electric jacks that died repeatedly on first or second outing so personal experience would be very reassuring.

[1fastsedan]

I just bought one at Costco that fits all your requirements except taking on the road for spare changes. I got a 2-ton aluminum low profile racing jack for $99! It weighs around 45 lbs. has dual pistons and is just long enough to hit the font "triangle" jack points without touching with rocker panels. I used it on Monday to rotate the tires on the 300 and my truck. It did great with both the lower and taller vehicle.

If you get a good trolley jack for only $100, you could buy that and then get a 2-ton manual scissor jack to keep in the trunk full-time for $20-40.

[marnepup]

Are those who haul a spare for the SRT in the trunk really in the majority? I just have towing coverage that covers flatbedding (heh...would the company rather pay a comprehensive claim after the car is towed conventionally? of course they'd rather pay for the flatbed!) and a cousin who is a tire wholesaler and can overnight me a tire for significantly less than I can pick one up at a tirerack brick'n'mortar (as in, my cousin's tire delivered overnight is a lot less than the sticker price from tirerack, before you add in tirerack's shipping. If tirerack is so much cheaper than walking into a tire dealer...damn...one car must put the dealer's extended family through college!)...but even if I didn't have that connection, I can't imagine giving up my trunk to a spare. I mean, it isn't just the space (which is important to me, I acutually use my trunk), it's also 8 miles per tank of gas.

[aiguy]

I didn't want to lug the spare around either -- but:

1. discovered that the summer tires didn't do so well in the snow/ice, so ended up with snow tires
2. discovered that my wife would be much more agreeable about my buying the snows if I put one in the trunk as a spare. (She remembers every flat we've ever had.)

So now it's off to choose a jack.