Low Profile Car Jack

[JasonSSG]

Could someone recommend a car jack that can slide underneath the car. Conventional car jacks are too high and I don't have access to a lift. Ill need to be able to change the oil soon and prefer to do it myself.

 

[ViperCobra]

Would love to know this too. Mine's too low too

 

[DanielR]

I use the Omega 29023. It's big, heavy, and long, but very low and can get under almost anything. It's not cheap. The place below is where I bought it and usually has the best price, but shipping is expensive.

http://www.tooldiscounter.com/ItemDisplay.cfm?lookup=OME29023&source=froogle&kw=OME29023

 

[LifeIsGood]

There are many many threads already about this topic...here's a few...

Jack/Jackstands

best floor jack for vipers

got my low profile jack...pics...

 

[pdub]

Costco has an Arcan floor jack for about 100.00 It goes from 3.5" to over 21". It is very heavy though, not one to take to the track.

 

[VIPER GTSR 91]

The 1.5 ton racing jack from Amazon works great with free shipping too.

 

[speedracervr4]

I use two Harbor Freight low profile jacks approx $80 each...http://www.harborfreight.com/low-pr...rapid-pump-25-ton-heavy-duty-steel-68049.html. They also make a lite weight version.

 

[Steve M]

I've used an AC Hydraulics DK13HLQ for years. Pricey, but it is the nicest jack I've owned in terms of its ability to reach far under lowered cars and get them up high in the air.

 

[ZZ SRT]

I have 2 harbor freight low profile jacks as well. The lightweight aluminum version is great for travel but if you are only using it in the garage the regular heavy one works just as good if not better.

 

[ACR steve]

agree with Steve M above - AC are amazingquality. Check out their flat to jack stands as well. They are the only jackstands I will use to go under a car. Lots of years in pits and paddock and Ican tell you some horror stories. When it comes to jack and stands spend theextra to protect yourself and the car.

 

[Steve M]

agree with Steve M above - AC are amazingquality. Check out their flat to jack stands as well. They are the only jackstands I will use to go under a car. Lots of years in pits and paddock and Ican tell you some horror stories. When it comes to jack and stands spend theextra to protect yourself and the car

I had a hard time sourcing the AC Hydraulics stands when I was looking for them (I think they had just stopped producing them or something, and it still looks like that's the case), so I went with the ESCO jack stands. The design is very similar, and I love the rubber flat top pads on them. You can see them in this pic here under my car:

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They aren't too terribly cheap either, but they are nice.

 

[VIPER PIT]

Griots garage has some nice jacks and stands

 

[Steve M]

Griots garage has some nice jacks and stands

The trick is figuring out who they are using as the supplier...Griot's has made a very good business out of finding good stuff out there, then slapping their logo on it and selling it at a markup. I'm not trying to knock what they're doing, but you can usually save some money if you go straight to the source.

 

[Dom426h]

I'll take a cheap lightweight 1.5ton aluminum short-body jack over a fancier better spec'd expensive one any day of the week.

Why, because it fits my application better. Ive got a two car garage and with the short body jack i am able to get a car up even if it is on one side of the garage. With one of these lager units the jack is up against the wall and the lever would only move a few inches before hitting the wall (like a pool table in too small of a room)
Also, the small lightweight design makes it convenient to throw in my trunk to take to performance events.

Now, If i had a pole-barn for my garage and a trailer for my racecar & tools then i would definitely go for some of the "nicer" units that are posted in this thread.


Steve made a good point about "horror stories" but in some cases i think that the operator can be more important than the equipment. It is wise to never take any chances when you are laying under a +3000 pound object.
There has even been times when i have lifted my truck with a 2-post lift and when it got up waist high i looked under and didnt like exactly how one of the arms was lined up on the frame. Put her down, adjust by a half inch, re-lift. No big deal. Never be in a rush.(unless you are in a pit crew where that is your JOB. lol)

 

[lagalaxy13]

I have the small Alum low profile one from Harbor Freight for a few years now. Works great.
If you don't want to spend the money drive up on on chunks of 2x10's and then most regular jacks will work.

 

[BlknBlu]

I use the Craftsmen Aluminum low profile jack. It is very light and has no clearance issues.

Bruce

 

[Cobraken]

Craftsman aluminum low profile

 

[1bad540]

I have the crafstman, low profile jack, and I just picked up the harbor freight light weight one for 59.99 with a coupon they publish.

 

[98intrigue]

At 2 1/4 inches of ground clearance, I haven't found a jack to suit my car. I just use a couple homemade 2x12" pieces of wood ramps and then a standard floor jack.

 

[gb66gth]

Hey SteveM,
I noticed you have your car up on jack stands. Where do you put the head of the jack stand under the car? I only see the little triangular jacking pionts and don't know where the stands go, that would not bend or "F" something up underneath the car.

 

[speedracervr4]

Frame rails work

 

[Steve M]

Hey SteveM,
I noticed you have your car up on jack stands. Where do you put the head of the jack stand under the car? I only see the little triangular jacking pionts and don't know where the stands go, that would not bend or "F" something up underneath the car.

I either put them directly under those triangles (the stands have rubber pads), or find a frame rail nearby. I usually jack it one side at a time, so I grab it by the rear triangle and put a jack stand up front and find a frame rail in the back, move around to the other side and repeat.

 

[JAY]

Great Post ! Love seeing guys do there own work !

 

[Steve M]

Great Post ! Love seeing guys do there own work !

I wouldn't be able to afford the car otherwise

 

[3whitevipers]

I have the Harbor Freight low profile jack--works great--$69.00--Dave

 

[Voodoo Rob]

Costco low profile here

 

[Richie7]

Anybody have any good pics of where on the frame rails the jack stands can go safely?
Also, how do most people go about getting it on 4 stands? Do you jack one side at a time?
Thanks, good info on this thread

 

[beerly]

I had a hard time finding a good lo pro jack as well. So I just bought a 2x6 and cut six 12 inch lengths, 3 for each side. I bolted one on top of another and used the third in front as a stair step to drive the car up onto the double stack. By keeping the single piece loose, you can slide it out of the way once the front wheels are up on the double stack. This gives you a good 3 inches of clearance and I just use my regular jack. As for getting it up on four stands, I jack the front up first, then put the stands on the frame rails. With the front end up off the ground theres plenty of clearance to get the jack under the rear jack points. Using two jacks, jack the rear up at the same time, or if you're by yourself, jack one side a couple of pumps, then the other side. I've done it a hundred times and its very stable.

 

[Wiretech]

I had a hard time finding a good lo pro jack as well. So I just bought a 2x6 and cut six 12 inch lengths, 3 for each side. I bolted one on top of another and used the third in front as a stair step to drive the car up onto the double stack. By keeping the single piece loose, you can slide it out of the way once the front wheels are up on the double stack. This gives you a good 3 inches of clearance and I just use my regular jack. As for getting it up on four stands, I jack the front up first, then put the stands on the frame rails. With the front end up off the ground theres plenty of clearance to get the jack under the rear jack points. Using two jacks, jack the rear up at the same time, or if you're by yourself, jack one side a couple of pumps, then the other side. I've done it a hundred times and its very stable.

I did the same thing myself I used 2x12 16inch in length and tapered the ends in a 30 degree angle then sprayed rubberized glue on the bottom so it won't slide around works great.

 

[speedracervr4]

Anybody have any good pics of where on the frame rails the jack stands can go safely?
Also, how do most people go about getting it on 4 stands? Do you jack one side at a time?
Thanks, good info on this thread

I drive up on ramps and then jack the back up with either one or two low profile jacks. Then I jack up the front and install jack stands on the rails...Dave666 Has some good pictures posted of where to jack.