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To help you find the best car jack for changing a tire or repairing your vehicle, we spent over 17 hours lifting and lowering our vehicles with 15 different jacks. As we tested the car jacks on our cars, trucks and SUVs, we looked specifically for durability, portability and safety features. You should feel confident in the car jack you’re using, so we also considered stability and features that make the jack easy to use.
After we tested each of the car jacks, we chose the Performance Tool W1606 as our top pick. Its extra-high lift capacity, built-in safety features and lightweight design gave us the most confidence. It can lift vehicles with ease and keep them stable while fully lifted, allowing you to get your work done without a worry. Keep reading to learn more about Performance Tool W1606 trolley car jack and the other top four picks on our list. It doesn’t matter what kind of car you have. This jack will lift the best electric cars and older models.
If you need a lot of lift capacity without sacrificing portability or maneuverability, the Performance Tool W1606 jack is an excellent choice, and these features are also why we chose this jack for our top pick spot. For starters, you can lift up to 2 tons (4,000 pounds) total weight with this jack, which is the highest lift capacity on our list. Fortunately, the overall design of the jack is durable and heavy duty enough to handle higher lift weights, and it even includes a built-in overload protection bypass valve for added safety. Need new floor mats? Then check out our best car floor mats guide.
The Performance Tool W1606 jack is a little heavier than other similar jacks, weighing in close to 20 pounds, but it offers one of the most compact designs we tested. It can also roll around easy on its casters and wheels, which adds to its overall portability. The jack is also easy to use, although we wish it was a little more controlled on the descent while lowering your car. All in all, the Performance Tool jack is a great choice for all garage applications. Check out more best car accessories for your vehicle.
The best part about the Powerbuilt bottle jack is its design. Typically, when you need to get under your vehicle to work, you need both a jack and jack stands for added support and safety. The Powerbuilt combines this idea into a single product. You can lift your vehicle with the Powerbuilt car jack and also use it as a stand once at your desired height. This level of security is only increased with the included locking safety bar that prevents the jack from lowering while locked. Keep your tablet secure with our best car tablet mount.
With a three ton capacity and 11 – 21 inch lift range, this bottle jack is perfect for trucks and SUVs, but you can also use it for vehicles that have a bit higher clearance from the ground. It’s also easy to operate with the included handle, which we wish was a little longer. Simply pump the handle once the jack is in position and watch the vehicle rise. Another thing we wish we could improve on this jack with jack stand is the release speed. During our testing, we found that the Powerbuilt lowered the vehicle a bit faster than we would have liked. You may also want to read about the best transmission jack.
One of the first things that stood out to use after receiving the Arcan XL20 two ton car jack was its overall premium build quality. Made from durable steel and painted with chip-resistant black paint, the Arcan floor jack is one of the most well-designed jacks we tested. This build quality is reliable and long-lasting for many years of use. On the end of the lifting arm, you also get a durable rubber pad that protects and cushions the bottom of your car during use. This isn’t something you see a lot, especially with bottle and scissor jacks.
Overall ease of use here is also something to be noted. It’s got an ultra-low profile of around 3.5 inches, making it easy to put under pretty much any vehicle. Like most floor jacks, the Arcan XL20 rolls around on four wheels, making it easy to move around. This is super helpful when you consider just how heavy the jack is at around 68 pounds. The low profile service jack also features a unique dual-pump design that makes the overall lifting process much easier on your arms. The only thing we would want to improve would be a higher lift range. The Arcan maxes out at 18.5 inches, which isn’t the best for bigger vehicles. Check out the best car subwoofer to punch up your audio as well.
Durability and simplicity is the name of the game with the Torin Big Red steel scissor jack. It doesn’t have any extra features or special modes, but it does exactly what it’s supposed to do and does it well. It’s also super portable and easy to carry around in your car for immediate access when you need it most. When you need to change a tire, all you need to do is pull out the Big Red, place it under the lift point on your vehicle and start extending the arms with the included handle.
Unfortunately, the Big Red scissor jack is completely manual, which means you’ll need to do most of the work to lift the vehicle. As you lift your car, it can get a little bit more difficult as you get higher in the air. It also has a 1.5 ton lift capacity, which is good for sedans, but not for SUVs or trucks. If you need a quick fix for emergency situations, the Torin Big Red steel scissor jack is a perfect choice. The best radar detector is another great accessory.
The Blackhawk B6350 floor jack is a heavy-duty option that can lift up to 3.5 tons of total vehicle weight, making it a versatile choice for any type of vehicle. One of the things we liked most about the Blackhawk is its unique body design, which features rear casters and a padded saddle that can both swivel. This makes it super flexible, allowing you to position the jack in whatever position you need. The casters can get caught on cracks sometimes, so just be aware of that during use in your garage.
You also get a tall lift range that maxes out at 22 inches, which is more than enough for most vehicles, even trucks and SUVs. Another really helpful aspect of this garage jack’s design is the built-in safety valve that protects against failure and internal bypass device that prevents you from over-pumping the jack. If you need a heavy-duty lift floor jack, look no further than the Blackhawk B6350. Have a look at the best car alarm while you are here. The best satellite radio for your car is also awesome.
If you need an affordable and reliable scissor jack, don’t pass over the Pro-Lift 9456. It’s made from durable materials that can lift up to 3,000 pounds. While this may not be enough for SUVs or trucks, it’s the perfect lift capacity for economy cars and sedans. And with the jack’s large base, you get more stability than most other options. With the added stability, you can feel more confident while changing a tire on the side of the road.
Unfortunately, the Pro-Lift isn’t great for much more than lifting your vehicle to change a tire. We definitely don’t recommend using it for maintenance and repair, especially considering its low lift height and capacity. However, its portability and lightweight design more than make up for this fact. You may also like the best car charger and the best car stereo.
Lifting a heavy vehicle is made easy with a good car jack, but if done improperly, it can be one of the most dangerous things you will ever do. This is why we only found the most reliable and durable car jacks to include on our list. We only considered car jacks from reputable brands and a long history of positive customer response. The best car jacks are made from highly durable materials like forged heavy-duty steel.
We also chose car jacks that were easy to use and easy to move around. Some jacks you’ll want to keep in your shop and some you’ll want to take along in your car with you. Regardless of where you’re using your car jack, you can be sure you want one that’s easy to get out, set up and use. This is especially true if you’re stranded with a flat tire on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.
Finally, we only considered car jacks that meet or exceed ANSI/PALD standards, which are the safety standards for portable automotive devices. Car jacks with these standards are tested specifically for durability and reliability. Speaking of safety, it might be a good idea to have the best breathalyzer in the car with you.
The way your car jack works depends on the type of jack you have available. If it’s a hydraulic jack, it uses pressurized fluid to generate force and lift the vehicle. If it’s a scissor jack, it uses a long screw to extend arms that generate force and lift the vehicle.
For the most part, car jacks are extremely safe to use when placed on flat ground, at the proper lift points and using the appropriate additional equipment. However, this doesn’t mean you are 100% protected from your car failing on you while using a car jack. If the jack is old or damaged, your risk for failure is higher. And there’s always a chance that your car can slide on the jack while doing maintenance. It’s of critical importance to follow safety standards when using a car jack.
If you’re going to be going under your car to perform maintenance or repairs, you absolutely should use some jack stands along with your car jack. This gives you an additional layer of protection in case your car slides of the jack or in case the jack fails. However, if you’re just changing a tire, you don’t always need jack stands.
Technically yes, but we highly recommend you don’t try and lift weights heavier than the rated lift capacity on your car jack. Manufacturers always build in some safety margins in lift capacity, but you won’t know those exact margins and you definitely don’t want to exceed that weight only to have your car fall on you while you’re under it.