Suggestions for a decent trolley jack

[sliks]

If I was buying a jack I'd buy the sealey one which has a locking pin, so safe to use without axle stands. It's about a 100quid but sorry I can't remember the product number.

[Robmainstgarage]

At work I have 3 machine mart ones, 80mm entry to 500mm 2.5 ton rated about £100+vat the oldest one is about 5 years old and it's been abused with everything from quad bikes to motor homes balanced on it. The oldest one does have a wonky wheel now but 5 years in a busy garage with 4 mechanics I'm really not complaining

[CostaBrava1972]

InitialDave said:

These Halfords ones are perfectly serviceable, and only £40 with a trade card:

https://www.halfords.com/tools/garage-workshop/axl...

Yes, this model is my newest one - though mine's orange, as I think they like to play around with their colour schemes from time to time, so that - when you have to buy yet another (see above) you think it's a new model and might do better.

Mine's in immaculate condition - apart from the fact it only lifts 3", despite my rebuilding it with a new seal.

So I'm afraid it'll be a no for that particular suggestion (but thanks anyway).

[InitialDave]

Huh, ah well. I've got one, and my mate's got one, and they both work fine.

My "main" garage jack is one of these:

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-ctj2gls-2-t...

Because I need a big lifting range more than I need really high capacity. Not great for portability though.

[Riff Raff]

Jakg said:

Quattromaster said:

BobsPigeon said:

p4cks said:

Some will recommend SGS Engineering although I found the quality of them appalling. Thankfully though you can get away with putting it in your standard wheelie bin

I'll second that.

I’ll third that, SGS are utter tosh, had a proper row with em few yrs back concerning the quality of their so called professional tools.

Third that.
I bought a jack and it failed, but their support was useless.
The handle of the jack broke off because the little metal clip that held it together looked like it was off a coke can.
They said I'd have to pay £20 to send it back, and then maybe it'd be repaired. Or maybe not. The jack was only £40 in the first place... hence I splashed out on a fancy Arcan one.
And when that broke I bought a Sealey one because they sell spares for all their jacks, hence I got a pair of pistons, seals and caps with change from £10.

I'll fourth that. I bought a 2.5 ton jack from them. When it arrived it wobbled badly. On inspecting it the 'ears' on which the rear wheels are mounted were welded on to the frame of the jack at different heights. There was a near 20mm difference. I phoned up and complained. One of their 'engineers' said the jack was perfectly safe to use! Eventually, I got them to swap it for another one, but it is a real POS. The jack goes from locked to fully released in about 1/64 of a turn of the handle, so no gentle lowering of the car. It's either up in the air or on the ground. I have a little Machine Mart aluminium job that's been fine ever since I bought it 20 years ago. Only drawback is that its only 1.25 ton, so maybe a bit lightweight for some jobs.

[RECr]

I have the Halfords Pro low profile jack, which I've been very happy with. It has a long enough reach to reach the jacking point behind the front wheels on my e91. I still need to drive it onto 4x2s to get the jack underneath mind but all the jacks I looked at had a similar minimum height.

[rustednut]

Robmainstgarage said:

At work I have 3 machine mart ones, 80mm entry to 500mm 2.5 ton rated about £100+vat the oldest one is about 5 years old and it's been abused with everything from quad bikes to motor homes balanced on it. The oldest one does have a wonky wheel now but 5 years in a busy garage with 4 mechanics I'm really not complaining

Just a thought on this comment.

Do you not have to have them checked and accepted yearly for your insurance?

If so surely it would be easier to buy new than keep them going in those conditions? Allowing employees to use them in those conditions you may be asking for trouble?



Going back to the sgs quality or not issue, I use mine to earn money, not as a home tool that doesnt matter too much if it is out of use until replaced etc. I have no problems with them being used daily (in all weathers). Have had 2 sealey jacks that both got given away because I just could not trust them.

Are we comparing little diy jacks to garage quality jacks I wonder?

[CostaBrava1972]

Well, as the OP, I'm an unsophisticated DIY-er who's looking for something that's easy to use, fit for me to lift my car up quickly, and then onto stands.

Always on stands.

And apart from being a cheapskate, I don't really need workshop levels of robustness, or brute strength either. All I ask is something that doesn't go 'AAAA-H!' after a couple of hours, or 'pssssss.....' after a couple of years.

And the wheels stay on.

[Robmainstgarage]

rustednut said:

Robmainstgarage said:

At work I have 3 machine mart ones, 80mm entry to 500mm 2.5 ton rated about £100+vat the oldest one is about 5 years old and it's been abused with everything from quad bikes to motor homes balanced on it. The oldest one does have a wonky wheel now but 5 years in a busy garage with 4 mechanics I'm really not complaining

Just a thought on this comment.

Do you not have to have them checked and accepted yearly for your insurance?

If so surely it would be easier to buy new than keep them going in those conditions? Allowing employees to use them in those conditions you may be asking for trouble?



Going back to the sgs quality or not issue, I use mine to earn money, not as a home tool that doesnt matter too much if it is out of use until replaced etc. I have no problems with them being used daily (in all weathers). Have had 2 sealey jacks that both got given away because I just could not trust them.

Are we comparing little diy jacks to garage quality jacks I wonder?

Your right 6 monthly for lifting equipment, the jack in question is put to one side and will be replaced before the inspection in 3 weeks. Simply not worth fixing and it's all tax deductible. Probably replace it with a air jack, much less effort needed and much quicker

[Captain Answer]

Got three which I use regularly... just used all three this weekend fitting a motor mover onto my caravan, Arcan up front under the hitch sat on sleepers, 3tonne axle stands just behind that on chassis, jockey wheel and steadies down on all corners with fronts on sleepers then the two sealeys were used to lift and slide the mover into position onto the chassis of the caravan

Arcan from Costco which is my favorite, always been reliable and no issues with it ever

Sealey 2500LE - had a big job lined up last year and wanted another Arcan but couldn't get one anywhere - nice jack and a pleasure to use https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001SFXDM8/ref...

Old red Sealey 2tonne low profile unit, had this for donkeys, nice size to throw in the car and take for whatever reason, this looks like the modern equivilant to it now https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-1020LE-Trolley-2to...

[DaveCWK]

I have an SGS 'low profile' 3 ton one, which is far better than that generic Halfords style one, has a bigger pad, lifts far higher, can get it straight under the nose of the car no problems etc.

It is pretty bad quality though as previously said; it's still generic Chinese rebranded stuff.

[pcn1]

https://www.toolden.co.uk/p/sealey-2001lehv-trolle...

What about this ?

2 tonne lift. Low entry, hi level lift at over 500mm. Around £130. Plus I read here you can buy spares for Sealey jacks (that's got to be a plus)

I'm tempted unless anyone can advise me not too buy ?

Edited by pcn1 on Tuesday 4th May 15:15

Edited by pcn1 on Tuesday 4th May 15:15

[CostaBrava1972]

pcn1 said:

https://www.toolden.co.uk/p/sealey-2001lehv-trolle...

What about this ?

2 tonne lift. Low entry, hi level lift at over 500mm. Around £130. Plus I read here you can buy spares for Sealey jacks (that's got to be a plus)

I'm tempted unless anyone can advise me not too buy ?

Edited by pcn1 on Tuesday 4th May 15:15

Edited by pcn1 on Tuesday 4th May 15:15

Well, this is all very helpful, but didn't someone higher up say: "Sealey I wouldn't touch with a bargepole"?

So I'd discounted Sealey products on that basis but, in adding up your votes, does that mean they're now making a come back? (Though I also thought I'd implicitly discounted any jacks painted red?)

But please do keep your comments coming, as I'd guess this is a debate that's of core Public Interest to we Pistonheaders... once we've reached a decisive conclusion, anyroad.

[pcn1]

A couple of the early replies to your original post gave Sealey a thumbs up. (If everyone said Sealey was crap Id walk away)

I'd guess there all knocked out in china anyway, and there is no common thought that brand "X" is the best.

We pay are money and take our chances

[pcn1]

CostaBrava1972 said:

pcn1 said:

https://www.toolden.co.uk/p/sealey-2001lehv-trolle...

What about this ?

2 tonne lift. Low entry, hi level lift at over 500mm. Around £130. Plus I read here you can buy spares for Sealey jacks (that's got to be a plus)

I'm tempted unless anyone can advise me not too buy ?

Edited by pcn1 on Tuesday 4th May 15:15

Edited by pcn1 on Tuesday 4th May 15:15

Well, this is all very helpful, but didn't someone higher up say: "Sealey I wouldn't touch with a bargepole"?

So I'd discounted Sealey products on that basis but, in adding up your votes, does that mean they're now making a come back? (Though I also thought I'd implicitly discounted any jacks painted red?)

But please do keep your comments coming, as I'd guess this is a debate that's of core Public Interest to we Pistonheaders... once we've reached a decisive conclusion, anyroad.

Quick update:

The jack has been updated and this is the current model (so that original link is to a seller knocking out the old model still ?)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323478489388?epid=18031...

Slightly higher lift rating, and 20mm lower lift height

And yes I bought one

However I only use jacks a few times year, bought my current jack 38 years ago and it still works !
So come back in 20 years for an owners review

Edited by pcn1 on Thursday 6th May 09:37

[Smint]

Weber make decent professional quality trolley jacks, no not cheap but you should see most of your working on cars life out of one and yes i do have one, not made in China.

I had a Sealey(i think) for near enough 30 years and it saw a lot of use, it now lives with daughter who does some of her own car servicing, it cost over £100 some 35 or more years ago, that wasn't made in China either.

The most important tool you can buy in my humble, don't go cheap in this tool.

[Jakg]

Smint said:

I had a Sealey(i think) for near enough 30 years and it saw a lot of use, it now lives with daughter who does some of her own car servicing, it cost over £100 some 35 or more years ago, that wasn't made in China either.

I don't think anything Sealey sell is made in the UK anymore.

[alabbasi]

I have several trolley jacks. The ones that I like the most so far are my Arcan jacks which I bought from Costco.

I bought this one about 12 years ago and it's still rocking: https://www.costco.co.uk/Tyres-Automotive/Garage/T...

I also have the hybrid aluminum one at the house which I bought about 4 years ago.

The still one is very heavy duty. I use it to pick up heavy cars like Mercedes Benz S Class and 90's era Bentley, so they get a good workout. They also have quite a low profile and pump up pretty quickly.

Edited by alabbasi on Sunday 16th May 19:00