Thread: Trolley Jack - recommendations wanted !

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

Hey Vlad
Do you have a workshop compressor???
If so look into some of the air trolley jacks.
Chinese stuff has bought the prices down,try fleabay to get an idea of prices.
They are pretty shmick items,a mate has a couple of cheapies,work a treat!!!!
Andrew

Yeah, I looked at those, not enough lift.
The big jacks will lift a vehicle close to 800mm up

I have a 2.5 ton Royal trolley jack, while its a good jack, its not high enough. Under diffs and axles etc..its good, but lifting the rangie from the chassis with 35" tyres on, its not high enough, doesn't even reach the chassis.
So i reckon spend a bit extra and get something with a higher reach.

I have had a two tonne Taiwanese jack for a long time, and, whilst it has happily lifted Holdens, Falcons, and Valiants, will not reach max. height trying to lift the front of the County-Isuzu. I bought a large English Edro 2.5 ton industrial trolley jack at auction for $180. It lifts to 460mm and is made of 1/2" plate not pressed 16 gauge, has a three position handle and safety locks. This one does not hesitate, effortlessly pumping to full height. Recently sprung a leak in the lift cylinder. It is probably 40-50 years old so is entitled to have some plumbing problems.

get the jackstands to suit your vehicle before you purchase your trolly jack as you can use highlifts, exhaust bag jacks ,bottle jacks, lots of friends hell even the stupid highlift wannabe that comes with a deefer will work.

I have a 2000KG one that the missus bought me from supercheap and have been using that for about 8 years now and it still hasnt missed a beat.

but its right on its limit lifting 35's up high enough to get my jackstands under at the height I like.

Hey Vlad recently (well, a couple of months ago now) I asked the same question.

After advice from this forum I waited until Repco had a sale on (which they do quite often apparently) and got one of their Trolley Jacks. Specs are as follows:

Name: Heavy Duty Garage Service Jack
Safe Working Load: 2000 kg
Height Lowered: 140mm
Height Raised: 495mm
Cost (on special): $99.00

I looked at Autobarn and Supercheap as well, but value for money compared to safe working load this one looked the best.

Works fine on my 'fender

if you need more lift from the trolley jack you already have........

just sit a nice thick piece of WOOD........NO....DO NOT USE A BRICK.....!!
on top of the jack.....and this will give you more lift.......and only go as high as you need to......

also.......if you dont have jack stands.......you can use lengths of timber layed FLAT on the ground and stacked up to the height you need.....
timber similar to railway sleepers is great as it has good stability due to its width.....
you dont want to use narrow planks as they wont have the sideways stabilty.......

the correct rated stands are the safest option for supporting a vehicle off the ground.......

the best way to look at it is like this.......
you spend a few hundred dollars and all you get is a couple of spotties......
you spend over a grand and you end up with a tiny little fridge.......
close to a grand........a roof rack........
then theres rims...tyres....suspension......radios....bullbars .....you get the picture......

spending two or three hundred dollars on a bit of safety gear is nothing compared to what we spend on our vehicles......
so invest in decent stands and a jack.......and survive long enough to enjoy your investments......

and use commonsense when placing stands under a vehicle.......

under the diff housing is good.......under the radius arms....is NOT good......
you will be surprised what i have seen over the years........

that warning again........

DO NOT USE BRICKS.....!!

they may crumble at any time....without warning......

Originally Posted by DEFENDERZOOK

spending two or three hundred dollars on a bit of safety gear is nothing compared to what we spend on our vehicles......
so invest in decent stands and a jack.......and survive long enough to enjoy your investments......

Not only for safety but for ease of use. How good is it to slide the trolley jack under your car and give it a couple of pumps and slide the jack stand under. You can have both jack stands under with a good trolley jack in less time than one stand using the standard bottle jack.