£20 Hydraulic jacks off ebay..

[BDR529]

Tempted by these..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-TON-CAR-HYDRAULIC-LIFTING-...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAR-VAN-TROLLEY-JACK-2-TONNE...


.. but has anybody here bought one and had any horror stories with them?


Thanks

[busta]

I've used a very similar budget 2 tonne trolley jack for several years and never had an issue. 100 x better than a scissor jack and as long as you are sensible and use axle stands when under the car it'll be fine.

[rottie102]

Spend a bit more and get a proper thing, with normal warranty and a shop you can take it to when something goes wrong.

THIS JACK is a great value for money, those cheap ebay things are very low, you won't be able to lift anything for some work under the car, which would require putting taller axle stands underneath.

[MX7]

I'd go for the one that rottie said. There are some things that are just not worth saving a few quid on, and, being Ebay, there's a possibility that it might be junk. We've all been there.

[busta]

I wouldn't call the Halfords one any more of a 'proper thing', but you make a good point about the warranty.

Like I say though, mine of the same design has lasted for years jacking up Volvo estates and Defender 110s so IMO there's no doubting that they are worth £20 even without long term backup.

[HereBeMonsters]

I've got two of these:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...

One is over 15 years old, and still going strong.

[rottie102]

busta said:

I wouldn't call the Halfords one any more of a 'proper thing', but you make a good point about the warranty.

Like I say though, mine of the same design has lasted for years jacking up Volvo estates and Defender 110s so IMO there's no doubting that they are worth £20 even without long term backup.

To be honest lack of reach is a bigger NO for me than the warranty. I have no idea how did you use to jack up Defenders when the maximum lift is 35cm... Did it even reach the sill?

[busta]

rottie102 said:

To be honest lack of reach is a bigger NO for me than the warranty. I have no idea how did you use to jack up Defenders when the maximum lift is 35cm... Did it even reach the sill?

I'd like to see that Halfords jack get a defender wheel off the ground if you're jacking under the sill!

Jack under the axles, on the other hand, and you only need to lift an inch or 2 to get a tyre off the ground. Clever huh!

[General Price]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0015NPPNI/ref=...

Had one for 2 or 3 months,seems fine.

[BDR529]

Thanks for all the replies guys

rottie102 said:

Spend a bit more and get a proper thing, with normal warranty and a shop you can take it to when something goes wrong.

THIS JACK is a great value for money, those cheap ebay things are very low, you won't be able to lift anything for some work under the car, which would require putting taller axle stands underneath.

Just noticed this one:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

This one looks like a good deal, I seem to recall my mate having the same one and it hasn't done him wrong since. Last time I looked in Halfords they were £45 or something, which is why I didn't consider it the time.

Thanks for linking me to the other one, or I probably wouldn't have found it!

[Magog]

That first halfords Jack, the black one is the same as the one in this kit from screwfix I'm almost certain;

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/66742/Van-Car-Access...

I bought the screwfix one two years ago when it was about half the price! (4.5% inflation my arse), Wickes also used to do exactly the same one for some kind of ridiculous price in their extra stores; maybe 6 pounds or so, with matching axle stands at 3 pounds each!; but it seems they have run down their range or garage accesories/motor tools.


Edited to add, I was telling a lie, they were even cheaper than that; http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/2-tonne-foldable-a...

These axle stands and 2 tonne jack were exactly the same as those screwfix ones and that halfords one! If you're of a nervous disposition you might like to avoid looking at the chinese welding too closely.

Edited by Magog on Tuesday 15th March 23:43

[rottie102]

Magog said:

That first halfords Jack, the black one is the same as the one in this kit from screwfix I'm almost certain;

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/66742/Van-Car-Access...

No it's not, please read the specs.

[rottie102]

BDR529 said:

Just noticed this one:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

This one looks like a good deal, I seem to recall my mate having the same one and it hasn't done him wrong since. Last time I looked in Halfords they were £45 or something, which is why I didn't consider it the time.

Thanks for linking me to the other one, or I probably wouldn't have found it!

The black one is really more useful and only a fiver more.

[Slinky1989]

BDR529 said:

Just noticed this one:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

This one looks like a good deal, I seem to recall my mate having the same one and it hasn't done him wrong since. Last time I looked in Halfords they were £45 or something, which is why I didn't consider it the time.

Thanks for linking me to the other one, or I probably wouldn't have found it!

I have this jack as part of the £50 jack, axel stand and chucks package they do. Used it about 5 or 6 times so far and no complaints here. Certainly not bad for the money!

[Magog]

rottie102 said:

Magog said:

That first halfords Jack, the black one is the same as the one in this kit from screwfix I'm almost certain;

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/66742/Van-Car-Access...

No it's not, please read the specs.

Yeah your right; the halfords one appears to be a slightly larger version to a very similar design (same wheels/lever etc) they're clearly born of the same womb.

[rottie102]

Magog said:

Yeah your right; the halfords one appears to be a slightly larger version to a very similar design (same wheels/lever etc) they're clearly born of the same womb.

Well, they are both hydraulic jacks, can't be too creative there...

I own both, everything is stronger and bigger on the black one. Also it only requires one move to reach the full height - very handy.

[Jo Po]

HereBeMonsters said:

I've got two of these:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...

One is over 15 years old, and still going strong.

I was 7 when you bought it.

[busta]

rottie102 said:

Well, they are both hydraulic jacks, can't be too creative there...

I own both, everything is stronger and bigger on the black one. Also it only requires one move to reach the full height - very handy.

One move? How do you mean?

[McSam]

busta said:

I wouldn't call the Halfords one any more of a 'proper thing', but you make a good point about the warranty.

I would, actually - I've been there two and a half years now and never even heard of one of our jacks coming back faulty.

When the SpeedyLift 2.25t one comes on its regular half-price offer, that's the one to go for, awesome piece of kit. Basically, you only need one stroke to take the plate from fully down up to the bottom of the car, no faffing about repeatedly pumping just to reach the sill. Feels like a good quality item too. I'd go for that over the standard 2t version, for sure.

[busta]

McSam said:

busta said:

I wouldn't call the Halfords one any more of a 'proper thing', but you make a good point about the warranty.

I would, actually - I've been there two and a half years now and never even heard of one of our jacks coming back faulty.

When the SpeedyLift 2.25t one comes on its regular half-price offer, that's the one to go for, awesome piece of kit. Basically, you only need one stroke to take the plate from fully down up to the bottom of the car, no faffing about repeatedly pumping just to reach the sill. Feels like a good quality item too. I'd go for that over the standard 2t version, for sure.

My point was it's still very much a budget trolley jack made in china from pressed steel- you wouldn't find many professionals using them. For example, what trolley jacks do they use in the service part of your store, if you have one?

I'm glad to hear they are reliable though, and the speedy lift feature sounds useful.