Bottle jack from ebay

[mk08]

Hi All
I am looking to buy a bottle jack form bay. Has anyone bought one from ebay?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202945975582

[Krikkit]

Depends how long you expect it to last, but I'm sure it'll work for lifting a couple of tons without too much fuss. Obviously don't get underneath it.

[Skyedriver]

I used to use bottle jacks a lot back when I was young and stupid.
Desperately unstable but there again so is a scissor jack.
I get more and more cautious about car jacks as I get older, don't go under a car with one, don't even place my hand under a hub/brake disc now in case the jack fails. (I've had a couple of events in my time when the car has started to move).

[85Carrera]

Is it really feasible to make a safe and properly functioning bottle jack for under £14?

I’ve found that whenever I’ve bought cheap kit (hello SGS!), it’s invariably needed to be replaced with proper kit later once it’s failed.

Buy cheap, buy twice (unless you’re under the car when the cheap kit fails, in which case you only have to buy once ...)

[mk08]

Skyedriver said:

I used to use bottle jacks a lot back when I was young and stupid.
Desperately unstable but there again so is a scissor jack.
I get more and more cautious about car jacks as I get older, don't go under a car with one, don't even place my hand under a hub/brake disc now in case the jack fails. (I've had a couple of events in my time when the car has started to move).

I will use it for oil change only. Has it failed when you were using it.

[aka_kerrly]

I'd increase the budget and buy a 2tonne trolley jack and some axle stands if you want to do any work under a car.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Supatool-Trolley-Jack-a...

[Cold]

Stuff that at least has the backing of a major chain is available in most towns. Pop into either Halfords or Machine Mart or Toolstation and buy something which might last a bit longer than an Ebay special.

[B'stard Child]

mk08 said:

Skyedriver said:

I used to use bottle jacks a lot back when I was young and stupid.
Desperately unstable but there again so is a scissor jack.
I get more and more cautious about car jacks as I get older, don't go under a car with one, don't even place my hand under a hub/brake disc now in case the jack fails. (I've had a couple of events in my time when the car has started to move).

I will use it for oil change only. Has it failed when you were using it.

Buy a set of drive up wheel ramps and wheel chocks

[105.4]

Cold said:

Stuff that at least has the backing of a major chain is available in most towns. Pop into either Halfords or Machine Mart or Toolstation and buy something which might last a bit longer than an Ebay special.

Yep, this ^^^^^

The black Halfords jacks are alright bits of kit. I can’t remember what I paid for my 3 ton trolley jack, but I’d say it was decent value for money.

As for a cheap and nasty eBay bottle jack, er.... no thanks. I’ve seen a guy get crushed to death under a car when the jack failed and I’d rather it didn’t happen to me.

[InitialDave]

Bottle jacks are useful in certain specific situations, but for general work on a generic modern car, a trolley jack is probably a better choice.

Halford's cheapest trolley jack is £30 (£24 with trade card), go get one of those instead.

And some axle stands, I have more faith in the ratcheting kind than the tubular ones, again, Halfords £25 for a pair, £20 on a trade card.

Yes, you're spending about £40 more than just buying that cheapo bottle jack, but that just means you need to do two DIY oil changes to save the cost back, and you're massively less likely to drop a car on your head.

[105.4]

InitialDave said:

And some axle stands, I have more faith in the ratcheting kind than the tubular ones.

Genuine question Dave, why do you prefer the ratcheting axle stands to tubular ones?

[InitialDave]

105.4 said:

Genuine question Dave, why do you prefer the ratcheting axle stands to tubular ones?

I think they're a better design, they have more adjustability to them, and I feel they're less likely to fail if accidentally clobbered or similar.

Heavier duty tubular ones are likely fine, but the cheap ones seem a bit weedy to me.

[105.4]

InitialDave said:

105.4 said:

Genuine question Dave, why do you prefer the ratcheting axle stands to tubular ones?

I think they're a better design, they have more adjustability to them, and I feel they're less likely to fail if accidentally clobbered or similar.

Heavier duty tubular ones are likely fine, but the cheap ones seem a bit weedy to me.

Ok, thanks for replying.

[bluezedd]

mk08 said:

Hi All
I am looking to buy a bottle jack form bay. Has anyone bought one from ebay?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202945975582

What do you intend to do with the bottle jack?

I have a cheap one that I've used for the past 10 years, but I use it to jack up suspension components on an already supported car. It has worked great for my current requirements.

The main reason I ask what you intend to do with it, is because you need to be quite careful with selecting the best bottle jack for your car.

For example, I have had situations where my bottle jack cannot reach the height to remove the wheel from the ground on a "high" car (this includes unwinding the extended screw section to the max).

It has also presented situations where the bottle jack is too tall to fit under a low car (unmodified, not taking about a car that's been intentionally lowered).

If it's for jacking up a car, get the tallest bottle jack in its lowered position that will fit under your car (leave a wee bit of height difference to account for different parking positions/ground etc).

Also, if you end up getting one, try it at home when you get it before you decide to rely on it to change a wheel at the side of the road.

You can admittedly raise a bottle jack that is too short by putting something under it, but it's not something I would be willing to dealing with for the hasssle and risk, when you can just get one the right size.

I'd also want wheel chocks when dealing with a bottle jack. Even cheap plastic ones are fine.

[mk08]

bluezedd said:

mk08 said:

Hi All
I am looking to buy a bottle jack form bay. Has anyone bought one from ebay?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/202945975582

What do you intend to do with the bottle jack?

I have a cheap one that I've used for the past 10 years, but I use it to jack up suspension components on an already supported car. It has worked great for my current requirements.

The main reason I ask what you intend to do with it, is because you need to be quite careful with selecting the best bottle jack for your car.

For example, I have had situations where my bottle jack cannot reach the height to remove the wheel from the ground on a "high" car (this includes unwinding the extended screw section to the max).

It has also presented situations where the bottle jack is too tall to fit under a low car (unmodified, not taking about a car that's been intentionally lowered).

If it's for jacking up a car, get the tallest bottle jack in its lowered position that will fit under your car (leave a wee bit of height difference to account for different parking positions/ground etc).

Also, if you end up getting one, try it at home when you get it before you decide to rely on it to change a wheel at the side of the road.

You can admittedly raise a bottle jack that is too short by putting something under it, but it's not something I would be willing to dealing with for the hasssle and risk, when you can just get one the right size.

I'd also want wheel chocks when dealing with a bottle jack. Even cheap plastic ones are fine.

To use it while changing oil.

[mk08]

aka_kerrly said:

I'd increase the budget and buy a 2tonne trolley jack and some axle stands if you want to do any work under a car.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Supatool-Trolley-Jack-a...

I have got these axle stands, again from eBay.. as they ok? The are 3 Ton.

[V8covin]

InitialDave said:

I think they're a better design, they have more adjustability to them, and I feel they're less likely to fail if accidentally clobbered or similar.

Heavier duty tubular ones are likely fine, but the cheap ones seem a bit weedy to me.

I was in the market for axle stands recently after one gave way causing the car to fall on me trapping my arm but that's another story.
I looked at the ratchet stands and discovered there'd been a huge recall of them in USA after some had failed.It appears the Chinese factory where they were made had worn tooling.
Fortunately you can get them with a locking pin as well.
They're the ones I bought,from Halfords,£24 with a trade card.
I also bought a pair of tall 5 or 6 ton conventional stands from Sealey

[mk08]

V8covin said:

InitialDave said:

I think they're a better design, they have more adjustability to them, and I feel they're less likely to fail if accidentally clobbered or similar.

Heavier duty tubular ones are likely fine, but the cheap ones seem a bit weedy to me.

I was in the market for axle stands recently after one gave way causing the car to fall on me trapping my arm but that's another story.
I looked at the ratchet stands and discovered there'd been a huge recall of them in USA after some had failed.It appears the Chinese factory where they were made had worn tooling.
Fortunately you can get them with a locking pin as well.
They're the ones I bought,from Halfords,£24 with a trade card.
I also bought a pair of tall 5 or 6 ton conventional stands from Sealey

Mine axle satnds seems to be Chinese ones.
What is a ratchet axle stand.

[V8covin]

mk08 said:

Mine axle satnds seems to be Chinese ones.
What is a ratchet axle stand.

Most things are made in China so I wouldn't let that put you off.
These are ratchet with the locking pin
https://www.halfords.com/tools/garage-workshop/axl...

[Krikkit]

If you do get ratchet ones the pin is essential - I've got some Draper non-pinned ones and they're not great if there's any chance of the weight shifting on them. I've had them ratchet down by themselves twice while using them, thankfully I wasn't underneath but it was a little unsettling.

I've now modded them, but I must admit I prefer the tube type, recently splashed out on some SGS ones which have a double pin and are built strong enough to survive a nuclear blast.