Trolley Jack Thread

[rian]

Hey RC,

I'm looking to buy a trolley jack. Can someone recommend a brand and a place to buy them in Brisbane?

 

Criteria:

- preferable not Chinese (providing I can afford it)

- as low and as long as possible

- less than $400

- I'd like to last more than 5 years

 

Some things I'd like to hear your opinions on:

- is it worth it to buy a rebuildable trolley jack? Or should I just settle for a "replace it when it fails" job like what you get from Supercheap/Autobahn/Repco/Tradetools. I would be happy with a Tradetools jack but they aren't rebuildable according to the staff there

- alloy vs steel

- life expectancy from a cheapo trolley jack/non-rebuildable trolley jack

- does anyone own a Tradequip jack? If so what do you think of it? I'm interested in these because I can order then through work for a fairly discounted price

 

Some of the brands I've heard good things about are Omega/Arcon/Armstrong/Liftech but I cannot find a place that sells them in Brisbane.

 

Something like this would be ideal:

 

 

Any advice would be great.

Edited May 25, 2013 by rian

[philbey]

Honestly. The Cheap Chinese ones from supercheapauto seem pretty robust for a workshop setup. Make sure they're built to an Australian standard, and always use stands etc under the car anyway.

 

I would always go with a steel unit, not an alloy one.

[ke70dave]

yeah I bought a cheap one from repco about 5yrs ago. It just won't die. Keep them out of the rain though, rain kills them real fast. Though it doesn't go that low so I had to drive my ke70 onto thin wood to get the jack under.

 

Agreed with steel over alloy, alloy doesn't bend.....

[Daizy70]

I've got a 2500kg trolley jack from supercheap auto cost about $100 it's great easy to move and use, it lifts up pretty high and goes under my ke70 easy but it would be better if it was a little lower

[Mark90]

I'm Supercheap biased but my SCA one does alright on the Corona and my Commodore. A lightweight aluminium one would be nice though!

[Redwarf]

I have a steel Armstrong jack that I've now had for nearly 15 years.

 

Great in the workshop, but a heavy shit of a thing going racing. When I go racing again in a serious way, I'll get an alloy one for that purpose.

 

That said, great workshop jack that is still going strong with no leaks.

 

Originally bought from Trade Tools.

Edited May 26, 2013 by Redwarf

[B.L.Z.BUB]

Do SCA do a really low jack? can't get mine under either of my cars, makes working on them really annoying.

I'm leaning more towards a serviceable one that'll last me forever though. The $5 one I got from the recycling center has done me proud over the last 18 months though, but it's too small.

[altezzaclub]

We've got $40 ones from Shitcheap or similar, and the lift height is always too low. The trouble is, to get good lift height they are both expensive and made for lifting too much, so too heavy!

 

I'd love a cheap plain one that lifted 600kg 600mm high. Sadly to get 600mm its made to lift about 3tons!

 

Anyone want to start a sticky'd thread about what garage equipment you need for working on Rollas?? Jacks, stands, welders, grinders, sliding hammers, port-a-power panelbeating stuff, a hoist, engine stands, parts washer, chassis straighteners, lathe, mill,...

[wagn]

I'm using one of them cost co low alloy jacks form memory they are 80mm at the jacking point seems good so far although i haven't used it heaps

Edited May 26, 2013 by wagn

[rian]

^No Costco in Brisbane unfortunately.

 

Alright so I did a stack of researching at work today: Supercheap Auto can order Omega, Armstrong, Stanfred, Orcon, Kincrome, Liftech and Tradequip jacks. They are all crazy expensive, however there are a few reasonably priced ($200-$450) Omega, Armstrong and Stanfred jacks. I am going to call the supplier soon to see if any are serviceable and find out the warranty period of each. I'm leaning towards either a Omega or Stanfred at the moment because their "low profile" jacks are cheaper than the Armstrong version.

Also Burson Automotive can order pretty much all of the above as well for probably the same prices.

[styler]

Honestly its worth getting a good trolley jack, the cheap ones fail with bad results like the $30 supercheap one I had years ago.

The small cheapies are so unstable its not funny and the pad section is tiny. $200 or so should sort one out from tradetools,

I have the omega one and its like night and day compared to the old one.

[It's_AUDM_Yo]

Don't you get cost price from SCA man?

 

I ended up getting this one

http://www.tradetool...m/products/GJ2T

Thier bigger 3tonne one is awesome its quick lift and stuff but it weighs 50kgs which is a pain in the arse for my needs.

 

I've had no issues with it seem's like it should last forever.

 

Fits under the rear of my Sil to the tow hook which is all I wanted for track days and such.

Doesn't fit under the front but like none do.

 

Whats the height of your "jack points"?

Edited May 26, 2013 by It's_AUDM_Yo

[B.L.Z.BUB]

Thats a good price^ !

Might grab one of those.

[rian]

Don't you get cost price from SCA man?

 

I do, but I'm not a fan of the SCA-branded jacks. I'd rather spend double on a good quality jack that will actually fit under my car, and will most likely last twice as long, if not longer, than an SCA jack. If you pay twice as much but it lasts twice as long it's the same price ;)

So it doesn't really matter where I get it from, however I found out today that I can order all the good brandname jacks through work and I still get cost price on order in stuff so that's probably what I'll do.

 

I ended up getting this one

http://www.tradetool...m/products/GJ2T

Thier bigger 3tonne one is awesome its quick lift and stuff but it weighs 50kgs which is a pain in the arse for my needs.

I've had no issues with it seem's like it should last forever.

Whats the height of your "jack points"?

 

I considered getting that one, or the 3 tonne one, good price too.

My car probably sits around 100mm at the crossmember? But most jacks foul on the beaver panel/stone tray before they even reach the crossmember.

 

 

 

Do SCA do a really low jack? can't get mine under either of my cars, makes working on them really annoying.

I'm leaning more towards a serviceable one that'll last me forever though. The $5 one I got from the recycling center has done me proud over the last 18 months though, but it's too small.

 

Not in-store, but we can order these:

 

Brand: Stanfred

3 tonne

85mm lowered

455 raised

2 year warranty

35kg

 

 

And I think we can order these, this is the one I want:

 

brand: Omega

2 tonne

64mm lowered height

500mm raised height

quick lift

1 year warranty

Edited May 26, 2013 by rian

[philbey]

That stanford one is identical to the one in the pic on that trade tools site.

 

How much is that omega one you posted?