A good rolling jack can make the work of a motorist or service station employee much easier. It will last a very long time, will not require frequent maintenance, and will easily lift the weight specified in the technical data sheet to the height you need. But how to choose such a universal tool correctly and not make a mistake? Now we will tell you what to look for when choosing a good hydraulic jack, what they are and what is better to buy for your home or service center.
The principle of operation of the equipment is very simple: there are two vessels on a solid base, between which liquid is pumped. When technical oil is pumped, the piston pushes the platform upward, which lifts the load. That is why the design is reliable, simple and relatively inexpensive. Household designs are quite simple, but if you take the best hydraulic rolling jacks, they are equipped with telescopic handles, collapsible platforms, complex hydraulic systems and reinforced platforms.
Varieties
To understand which jack will be better in your case, you need to understand what types there are.
The simplest option is a screw device. By rotating the handle, it raises the car (or, conversely, lowers it). It is these devices that are usually equipped with vehicles at the factory. This design is unstable and highly dangerous, so it is better to replace it immediately.
Diamond jacks are more effective. Here the load is clearly centered, which means that the raised car will be held securely. The disadvantages of this type are:
- relatively rapid thread wear;
- low load capacity (up to two tons).
Such a jack is suitable as insurance against unforeseen situations.
The rack and pinion variety is distinguished by its long stroke and reliability. For this reason, it is preferred by owners of heavy SUVs. Due to its bulkiness and heavy weight, purchasing such a device for an ordinary passenger car is pointless.
Among hydraulic jacks there are several main types:
- bottle - vertical;
- rolling
The first is suitable for those who own a car with high ground clearance.
Owners of ordinary city cars, which are mostly serviced in the garage, should choose a rolling jack.
For truck
Stels 51136 (3 t)
pros
- Raises quickly
- Heavy metal feeling
Minuses
- Goes down after 2 hours
From 9,900 ₽
A strong, reliable jack, suitable for trucks and cars. Excellent for tire fitting, lifting and transporting large loads. The heavy weight – 33 kg – allows you to firmly hold the load. Picks up quickly. The folding handle facilitates this.
matrix 51040 (3 t)
pros
- Qualitative
- Inexpensive
Minuses
- No case or bag
From 4,800 ₽
A hydraulic jack that can easily lift a truck or car. It has an expensive quality look. Not suitable for a salon, but more for servicing one car. Of course, gazelle owners will appreciate such a jack.
How to choose the right jack
A suitable jack is selected based on your own needs. The first thing you should pay attention to is the carrying capacity. This takes into account the weight of the vehicle with a loaded trunk and a full tank.
In general, it is desirable that the selected jack have a safety margin of up to 30 percent.
The maximum lift height is the next important characteristic. Standard devices usually have a stroke ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 meters. Less common are mechanisms that allow you to raise the vehicle by 100 cm.
When choosing a jack, you need to decide on the size of the lift. This refers to the distance from the bottom of the car to the ground surface. So, almost any design is suitable for jeeps, while owners of low-slung vehicles (up to 150 mm) will have to spend much more time choosing a tool.
The general rule of choice is that the wider the range of working heights, the more versatile the model is.
Another criterion is the type of drive. There are jacks:
- mechanical;
- hydraulic.
The former are suitable for occasional use, while the latter are needed by those motorists who repair the car themselves.
How to make a good jack for a passenger car with your own hands? This question is asked often. It is not difficult to build the device yourself. True, in some cases the master will spend more money on materials than on the finished instrument. To ensure that the product meets all safety requirements, you will have to buy only the best.
There are many ready-made drawings; a variety of designs are assembled on their basis. The choice of the latter depends on your level of training and your goals.
Car jack – which specific brand is the most reliable?
Among Russian motorists there is an opinion that it is necessary to give preference exclusively to products of well-known brands. There is no point in denying the obvious. Branded jack, in particular:
- fully meets the characteristics declared by the manufacturer;
- meets safety requirements;
- made only from quality materials;
- has good assembly;
- protected from corrosion and deformation.
Little-known companies usually produce literally disposable jacks - they often become unusable after the first use.
The highest quality options for each type will be described below.
Rating and description of the best car jacks
When deciding how to choose a jack, it is recommended to pay attention to reviews. Important factors when choosing are:
- financial inclusion;
- ease of operation;
- complaints about breakdowns.
Based on this data, you can choose the best jack for your car.
The best screw models
Screw diamond jacks are one of the most popular models on the automotive equipment and tools market. It is a compact and stable design. The main advantages are:
- long service life, rare breakdowns;
- The machine is lifted in accordance with the vertical plane.
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If necessary, repairs are carried out very quickly.
If you need to select a screw tool, it is recommended to choose “Enkor 1 t 28580”. This device is well suited for owners of small cars. It is characterized by low cost and compact design. The downside is the small carrying capacity. It reaches only 1 ton.
Enkor 1 t 28580
The best rack and pinion models
If you need to raise the car to the maximum height, you need to choose a rack and pinion jack. The advantage of this type of tool is the ability to work with large weights.
The vehicle can be raised to the maximum permissible height using the 505175 Matrix rack and pinion jack. The load capacity makes it possible to use this tool both for repairing any passenger car and for the Gazelle. It is equipped with a durable metal structure that gradually raises the vehicle to a height of up to 1000 mm.
Important!
Matrix 505155 is a rack and pinion jack for gently lifting and lowering vehicles. It is made of durable metal and has a long service life. The position of the tool is very stable due to the reliable support platform.
The best electric models
Electric jacks are very easy to use. They can be connected to the electrical or on-board network of the car. The driver sets the desired height using the control panel. The disadvantage of such a device is its high cost.
One of the popular models is JackGB-A20. It has increased load capacity and reduced grip level. This model has gained popularity due to its ease of use; when working with the tool, it is not necessary to maintain a flat surface.
The best inflatable models
Inflatable tools have a great advantage - they allow you to lift a car with minimal ground clearance. The device is inflated using exhaust gases. This type has many advantages:
- no physical effort required;
- the rubber bag can be placed under the car, which is at any height;
- The tool weighs only 2 kg and takes up very little space.
Inflatable device
Popular model. It is equipped with a splitter, which makes it possible to use it with two exhaust pipes. The disadvantage is the high cost of the tool. The jack itself consists of an inflatable lift cushion, a hose for connecting to the pipe and two mats.
Note!
This is a universal device that can be used even in wetlands. Often used in construction when it is necessary to lift equipment on an uneven surface.
The best pneumatic models
The operation of a pneumatic jack is based on compressed air. But in order for it to work correctly, a source is needed: a gas cylinder, a pneumatic network. The big advantage of such a tool is that the driver does not need to make any effort. Most often, such jacks are used at service stations.
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The best rolling models
Hydraulic jacks are divided into rolling and bottle jacks. Which jack is better: a rolling jack or a bottle jack? To answer this question, you need to consider their characteristics in detail. The bottle jack lifts up to 50 tons, but it has little support, which can make the tool unstable. When lifting the car, such a jack moves slightly.
Unlike a bottle jack, a rolling jack drives under the car and the load will always be vertical. The most popular are small floor-standing models. They are affordable and are often purchased by motorists to repair cars on their own.
Garage rolling jacks are used in tire fitting. They have a very large weight, up to 40 kg.
The advantages of using a rolling jack include:
- ease of use;
- small pick-up height;
- rigid design that ensures safety.
The disadvantage of such a tool is the need to maintain a flat surface and ineffective work in the cold season.
The best rolling jacks include KRAFTKT 820002. The main positive side is the low cost. It is convenient to use for both passenger cars and SUVs. It can lift the vehicle up to 380 millimeters.
KRAFTKT 820002
Roll-up
The ideal choice for a passenger car is the German hydraulic dolly MatrixMaster 51028. Its feature:
- convenience;
- compactness;
- presence of an overload valve;
- rigid frame;
- plastic storage case;
- repair kit
The carrying capacity of the model reaches two tons. Here are its technical characteristics:
- weight – less than 13 kg;
- rise – up to 38.5 centimeters;
- pick-up height – 13.5.
Flaws:
- high price;
- heavy weight.
Bottle
Among bottled ones, Autoprofi DG-08 is considered the best. It is used exclusively in stationary conditions.
Distinctive features:
- high load capacity;
- relative compactness;
- ability to lift the vehicle by 40 centimeters;
- no need for regular care;
- a safety valve that is triggered when an overload exceeds the permissible load by 25 percent;
- used exclusively for lifting (support is provided by other devices).
The model is not suitable for cars with clearance less than 200 mm.
General characteristics:
- maximum load capacity – up to 8 tons;
- product height 20 cm;
- weight – 12.5.
Screw
Reliable and efficient, the BIG RED T10202 is characterized by its low load capacity, compactness and simplicity. Anyone who uses this device can easily cope with changing a wheel on a car weighing up to 2 tons.
Its maximum lifting height is 38 centimeters. At the same time, the jack will be able to hold the vehicle independently.
Main advantages:
- minimum pick-up height – 90 mm;
- weight 2.8 kilograms;
- The kit includes a rubber pad;
- compactness;
- versatility (suitable for both foreign cars and domestic car repairs);
- good stability.
Modifications of the rolling jack
This type of lifting equipment is most popular among drivers. It is compact and lightweight and does not make noise during operation. The average weight of the jack is 13 kg. The lifting device is equipped with open-type plugs.
When purchasing a rolling device, it is important to pay attention to its parameters. The load must be lifted to a height of 130 mm. The designers provide a heel diameter of 40 mm. The lifting height should not exceed the required parameters. The main indicator of the device’s operation is the lifting mechanism.
The lever with a rubberized top should rotate freely. The car jack must have exhaust valve protection. The welding seam on the connecting plate must be of high quality. The return spring is installed on the rear edge of the product.
Models with spacer
To properly install and lift the load when using this modification, you must first place the heel under the pickup area, and then secure the equipment using the holder. Next, a handle is used that acts on the piston system, and the jack lifts the car.
This modification of the tool for lifting loads is in great demand among motorists. The length of the lifting handles varies depending on the manufacturer. The spacers are located near the supporting posts, and the upper part is protected by a casing. However, do not forget that this type of hydraulic tool weighs approximately 13 kg.
Devices with large heels
Such models are rarely found on the market; they are designed for lifting heavy-duty machines with large diameter heels. One of the main positive characteristics of the device is its stability. The width of the jack stands has been increased. The protection cover is located at the top.
The operating handles can be fixed or rotated. The design includes rubber linings. However, such hydraulic equipment is not in great demand among car owners with a vehicle weighing more than 2 tons.
To finally understand the question of which 2t rolling jack is better, it is necessary to identify and analyze device models of different brands. The most popular models are the following:
- Model "Bison".
- Modification "Stealth".
- Rolling jack "Biloxxi".
- Rolling auto jack "Ermak".
- "Bison". Has a good reputation. Made of very high quality. The maximum lifting height is 385 mm, the pickup works from a vehicle clearance height of 135 mm. Compactness, precise stable fixation at the lifting point, ease of use, and a very wide heel of 55 mm are among the positive characteristics. The disadvantages include the fact that the heel of the model is not rubberized, this can lead to damage to your car.
- The Stealth modification is suitable for cars with low clearance between the bottom and the surface. The lever is not fixed, which makes the jack universal when working in various conditions. The product has a tray for small tools and spare parts. Pickup height 100 mm, maximum load lifting to a height of 350 mm. This model is heavyweight - 12 kg.
- The Biloxxi rolling jack has a very good load lock, which makes it possible to reliably hold the car at any lifting point. The tool is made with high quality, and, as a result, does not allow distortion under load. This model is suitable for personal use. Reliable body, polyamide wheels and T-shaped rubberized handle.
- "Ermak" is simple and reliable in operation. The design provides for a fast and smooth lowering mode under load. The smallest lifting height is 135 mm, the largest lifting height is 385 mm. The handle is collapsible, which allows you to work in cramped conditions. The price is low, since the country of origin is China.
A hydraulic jack is suitable for changing a wheel. With proper operation and timely maintenance, this lifting equipment will last for many years. If you make a choice based on the “price - quality” criterion, then you can choose the “Zubr” model.
