We reviewed portable car jacks to lift your vehicle and your spirits.
Torin Big Red Car Jack
Affordable
Weighs under 10 lbs.
Wide base
View on Amazon
Read Review
ROGTZ Electric Car Jack
No pumping or cranking required
Carrying kit
6,000 lb. limit
View on Amazon
Read Review
Pro-Lift 767 Floor Jack
Fits under low vehicles
Safety valve
Heavy-duty steel
View on Amazon
Read Review
Torin Hydraulic Lift
Affordable
Lightweight
12,000 lb. limit
View on Amazon
Read Review
Powerbuilt All-in-One
17 in. max lift height
Highly durable
6,000 lb. limit
View on Amazon
Read Review
By Katie McEntire
Staff Writer, Safety & Security
September 13, 2022
It’s big, it’s red, and it lifts your vehicle in a matter of minutes. The Torin Big Red Car Jack is a simple scissor jack that’s compact enough to fit under your seats and strong enough to lift a compact SUV for an emergency tire change.
We chose the Torin Big Red Car Jack as the best portable car jack lift because it’s suitable for most vehicles, costs less than a tank of gas, and weighs less than a bag of groceries. A simple car jack like this and an emergency roadside kit can get you out of a spot of roadside trouble.
While the Big Red jack does require manual cranking, its oversized base adds stability, making it a little safer to work with when you need to change a tire or work on your vehicle.
Read on to learn more and see our other picks.
Torin Big Red Car Jack
: Best overall / budget pickROGTZ
: Best electric car jackPro-Lift 767
: Best low profile car jackTorin Hydraulic Lift
: Best heavy lifterPowerbuilt All Trade
: Best for off-roadingCar jack | Best for | List Price * | Maximum Capacity | Maximum Lift Height | Jack Weight | Jack Type | Learn more |
Torin Big Red Car Jack | Best Overall / Budget Pick | $25. 60 | 3,000 lbs. | 15 in. | 7 lbs. | Scissor jack | View on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ROGTZ | Best Electric Jack | $57.88 | 6,000 lbs. | 16 in. | 13 lbs. | Electric scissor jack | View on Amazon |
Pro-Lift | Best Low Profile | $82.98 | 4,000 lbs. | 14 in. | 30 lbs. | Floor jack | View on Amazon |
Torin Hydraulic LIft | Best Heavy Lifter | $39.99 | 12,000 lbs. | 15 in. | 4.4 lbs. | Bottle jack | View on Amazon |
Powerbuilt | Best for Off-Roading | $109.99 | 6,000 lbs. | 17 in. | 22. | Bottle jack | View on Amazon |
*Amazon.com prices as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
Best Overall
Torin Big Red Car Jack
$25.60
View on Amazon
*Amazon.com prices as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
The Torin Big Red Car Jack is storable, affordable, and powerful. It fits the price and durability needs for most drivers, making it our pick for the best portable car jack.
It’s strong enough to lift your vehicle and weighs only 10 pounds, so it’s small enough to fit in compact rides from Coopers to Corollas. And at about $30, it’s about a third of the cost of other car lifts.
Like all scissor jacks, the Big Red jack fits under your vehicle and lifts as you crank the tension rod. Its extra-wide base and heavy-duty steel construction keep the jack and your vehicle stable while you work.
This car jack is suitable for vehicles of most heights, so it will work with your low-profile sports car or compact SUV. Its weight capacity is 3,000 pounds, so we don’t recommend it for heavy-duty trucks and large SUVs.
Pros
Costs less than other car jacks
Lifts 3,000 lbs.
Weights 7.7 lbs.
Fits low profile and high profile vehicle
ASME approved
Cons
Not suitable for large vehicles
Manual lift
ROGTZ: Best electric car jackBest Electric Jack
ROGTZ
$57.88
View on Amazon
*Amazon.com prices as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
Nobody wants to be on the side of the road for long. The ROGTZ Electric Car Floor Jack takes only a few minutes to set up and doesn’t require cranking or pumping to get back on the road.
The ROGTZ electric car lift has attachments that fit sedans and SUVs. As long as your ride has a 12V outlet or a battery, you can use this portable car lift to change a flat tire or perform other maintenance.
Once the jack receives power, press the control button to lift or lower the jack. The only thing it won’t do is change the tire for you.
The ROGTZ comes in a handy carrying case to neatly store all its parts. It can lift up to 6,000 pounds and 16 inches off the ground, making it suitable for SUVs and trucks.
Its biggest downside is the instructions.
Because it’s manufactured outside the US, the instructions use the metric system and can be confusing.
Pros
6,000 lb. capacity
Lift range of 3-16 in.
No manual cranking
Cons
Confusing instructions
Metric measurements
Best Low Profile
Pro-Lift 767
$82.98
View on Amazon
*Amazon.com prices as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
It can be hard to lift sports cars or luxury sedans because they’re so low to the ground. The Pro-Lift 767 is designed to lift cars 14 inches even if they have a low clearance.
The Pro-Lift is a floor jack, so it’s best for garages and paved surfaces. It’s made of heavy-duty steel, includes a lever for lifting, and has a safety valve to prevent overloading the jack.
Its weight capacity is 4,000 pounds—enough to cover sedans, small trucks, and SUVs.
Its size is its biggest drawback. It takes up a lot of space in your trunk and weighs 30 pounds, so it might be hard to move to the ground.
Pros
Narrow design for low-profile vehicles
Safety valve for overload protection
Easy-lift lever
Cons
Weighs 30 lbs.
Best heavy lifter
Big Red Torin Hydraulic Lift
$39.
99
View on Amazon
*Amazon.com prices as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
If you love your big rig, make sure you have a jack as strong as your vehicle.
There are nine Torin Hydraulic bottle jacks to choose from, each with a different weight capacity. Whether your vehicle weighs two tons or 50 tons, these portable jacks are reliable and affordable.
We focused on the six-ton jack because it covers most passenger vehicles, even those with trailers on them. This Torin bottle jack is small enough to fit in your truck, toolbox, or under the seat without rearranging anything. And it costs just under $20.
That said, bottle jacks like this one require hydraulic oil to work and aren’t the best choice for emergencies unless you’re experienced with vehicle maintenance. Bottle jacks also aren’t the best for uneven surfaces, so it’s smart to get jack stands for extra support.
Powerbuilt All-in-One: Best for off-roading Best for off-roading
Powerbuilt All Trade
$109.99
View on Amazon
*Amazon.com prices as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
Jeep drivers and off-roaders know how important a jack is in a bad situation.
Whether you’re stuck on a rock or stuck with a flat tire, this Powerbuilt All-in-One bottle jack is small enough to fit with the rest of your gear. Even if you aren’t off-roading, being prepared for all types of weather and terrain is essential for vehicle safety.
This Powerbuilt jack can lift 6,000 pounds 17 inches off the ground (21 inches, if you raise it manually first), but it’s best for specialty vehicles.
Specially designed for Jeeps and off-roading vehicles, it has an extra-wide base for better support on uneven ground. It also has a safety valve to prevent slipping while you’re working on your rig.
Even heavy-duty steel jacks have a weight limit.
Start by finding the weight of your vehicle online or on your driver’s side door sticker.
Most portable car jacks express weight capacity by tons, so remember that a ton is equal to 2,000 pounds.
Whether you’re changing a flat on the side of the road or tinkering in the garage, your car needs to be safely supported before you start maintenance.
For roadside maintenance, look for scissor lifts with extra-wide bases and floor jacks that can withstand unpaved surfaces (if you go off-road). Jacks you’ll use in your garage don’t have to be as portable and work better with jack stands or ramps for extra support.
Consider the distance from the ground to your vehicle’s undercarriage.
Whether you rock a low rider or sit high up, you’ll need a portable car jack that can reach your vehicle and raise it high enough for you to start working.
Most jacks can lift your vehicle a little over a foot off the ground. That’s enough room to change a tire, but not enough for you to slip under the car.
We like the Torin Big Red Car Jack best because it's lightweight, portable and affordable.
Our other favorites are close contenders:
It depends on your car’s weight. It’s best to find jacks that can lift a little more than what your car weighs. If your car weighs 2,500 pounds, a two-ton jack would be suitable.
Floor and trolley jacks are similar but have a few key differences. Floor jacks and trolley jacks both lie flat and roll under your vehicle. They’re also both better for garages and serious maintenance.
Trolley jacks are generally heavier lifters and less portable. Floor jacks cost less and are easier to set up, making them useful for roadside help for larger vehicles.
No. Look for a jack that’s strong enough to support your car. A two-ton jack is generally enough for a small car or sedan but not enough for a heavy-duty truck.
For more involved repair, garage work, or heavy lifting, floor or trolley jacks supported by jack stands are safest.
We wanted to find a portable car jack that works best for the most people. We considered factors like price, weight capacity, lift height, and the portability of the jack itself. So while the Torin Big Red Car Jack doesn’t lift the most weight, it checks the most boxes for the most drivers.
To find the best portable car jacks, we checked firsthand customer reviews to hear about real experiences with each product. The products with the highest ratings and most reviews made our list.
We also watched instructional videos about roadside emergencies, car jacks, and how to find the right fit for your car. Read our full methodology to learn how we wrote this and other articles on SafeWise.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
Written by
Katie McEntire
As a renter, pet-owner, and woman living alone, Katie McEntire takes safety seriously. She’s tested devices like pet cameras, home security systems, and GPS trackers in her own home and devices in the name of safety. In addition to testing, writing, and reviewing for SafeWise, she also makes videos for the site’s YouTube channel. She’s been featured on publications like TechGuySmartBuy, Forbes, Healthy Moms, and Digital Care. Katie has a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She’s held previous writing positions at Overstock.com and Top Ten Reviews.
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11/29/2022
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Whether you need a tool for roadside tire changes or you plan to work on your car’s undercarriage, investing in one of the best car jacks is a good idea.
The standard scissor jack or lift jack included in most tire replacement kits can get the job done, but they’re difficult to use and often less safe than alternatives.
If you perform any kind of at-home car repairs or tune-ups, you’ll want to invest in a quality floor jack. These recommendations are a good place to start your search. We’ve made an effort to suggest car jacks with various clearances, ton capacity, and price points.
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The Torin Blackjack is a low-profile floor jack that is made with heavy-duty steel. A built-in safety overload system prevents lifting beyond load capacity.
We like this floor jack because it is very easy to use, rolls nicely on its casters, and is simple to assemble.
While the instructions included with the Blackjack are practically useless, it isn’t too difficult to figure out how to assemble and operate this floor jack. The handle has a comfortable grip, and the low-profile jack easily slid under our test vehicle.
The release valve is integrated into the handle, which you twist when it’s time to lower the pump’s hydraulics. Among the car jacks that we tested, the Blackjack stood out as the strongest, lifting our vehicle with the least effort on our part.
| Overall Rating | 4. 7 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 5 out of 5 |
| Durability | 4.5 out of 5 |
| Value | 4.5 out of 5 |
Amazon Review Score: 4.3 out of 5 based on over 420 ratings
Those who like the Blackjack appreciate its heavy-duty construction and low-profile design. Many are impressed with the value given the relatively low cost of this car jack. It is easy to maneuver with a long handle.
Some people received the Blackjack with parts missing or with broken swivel casters. While this isn’t common, there are multiple complaints on Amazon about this specific issue. There are also reports that customer service is slow and difficult to contact.
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This low-cost, low-profile floor jack has a lifting range up to 14.0 inches. It has a 3.5-inch clearance, making it suitable for low-riding vehicles.
A built-in safety valve prevents over-pumping and overloading this car jack. We like it for the price and ease of operation.
The F-767 is not as ruggedly built as the Torin Blackjack. However, it is made from alloy steel construction and is generally easy to use. The lever design offers an easy way to raise your vehicle, and this device is ultra low profile (just under 4.0 inches).
The instructions are easy to follow and assembling the F-767 is simple (insert the handle). The attached wheels are cheaply constructed, but they work well enough.
| Overall Rating | 4.3 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 4 out of 5 |
| Durability | 4 out of 5 |
| Value | 5 out of 5 |
Amazon Review Score: 4.
4 out of 5 based on over 6,800 ratings
Users with low-riding cars especially seem to appreciate this car jack, which is able to neatly slide under such vehicles. The majority of reviews are comments from those who were happy to report that the jack works as advertised with no issues.
Some report using the jack for many years, with one reviewer claiming two years of service from their F-767 so far.
There are reviewers who say that they were shipped jacks with missing parts. This appears to be rare, but it can be very annoying if it happens to you. Some also say that it is a little short, and would prefer a jack able to raise their car higher.
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The Blackhawk B6350 is a beefy car jack with a weight limit of 3.5 tons for larger vehicles. This steel floor jack has a lifting range of 5.5 to 22.0 inches and built-in safety valves for overload protection. It features an extra-long handle for greater leverage and is the most powerful car jack that we tested.
One of the first things we noticed about the Blackhawk is its high profile. This would not be a good pick for those working on cars with low suspensions. It is a good pick for SUVs and trucks because of its large, rugged design and high load capacity (3.5 tons or 7,000.0 pounds).
Operating this hydraulic jack is similar to the other floor jacks that we tested – insert the handle, tighten the release valve, and pump. The included instructions are easy to follow. Generally, we were impressed with the construction and material quality of this car jack. The handle is very long which makes operation easier, and it is covered in a comfortable foam. It has a fast lift speed and is made of high-quality materials.
Though quite heavy, this jack isn’t difficult to maneuver on its wheels. It does take two people to lift, however. This is the least portable jack we tested.
| Overall Rating | 4.5 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 4 out of 5 |
| Durability | 5 out of 5 |
| Value | 4.5 out of 5 |
Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 4,200 ratings
Most are impressed with the high load weight offered by this relatively inexpensive car jack. According to customer reviews, this is a long-lasting jack.
Some have reported poor welds on the handle, which broke for a handful of customers. Aside from that item, the jack is well-constructed. It may ship low on hydraulic fluid (and need to be topped off), but most are satisfied with a jack that can lift 3.5-ton vehicles at this price. The Blackhawk seems to be an especially popular jack for DIY mechanics.
Even those who love this jack comment that it is exceptionally heavy. This is a beast to lug around and not a good choice for a portable car jack.
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This tiny bottle jack has a 10.0-ton lift capacity (6.0-, 8.0-, 12.0-, 30.0-, and 50.0-ton versions are also available). It can lift vehicles up to 18.13 inches and comes with a one-year warranty. This bottle jack’s small size makes it highly portable, but the design means that it won’t fit under vehicles with low clearance. It did not fit under our first test vehicle (a sedan), so we tested it on an SUV with a higher chassis.
The Big Red hydraulic bottle jack is easy to carry and position, weighing only around 10.
7 pounds in total. When first using this jack you must follow the instructions to remove excess air and possibly top up the hydraulic fluid.
The lever is shorter than with floor jacks and doesn’t include a comfortable handle. It also fits together awkwardly – one part slides into the pinched end of the other, and rests that way, somewhat wobbly.
Besides positioning, this jack is harder to use than the standard floor jack, but still not difficult. It has a very high load capacity (10.0 tons) and easily raised the test vehicle.
| Overall Rating | 4.2 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 4.5 out of 5 |
| Durability | 4 out of 5 |
| Value | 4 out of 5 |
Amazon Review Score: 4.6 out of 5 based on over 1,100 ratings
Many write that this is an excellent option for high-clearance, heavy vehicles. It has a high weight capacity and its portability makes it a popular choice for changing spares.
Be sure that it is stored upright, however, as bottle jacks can leak fluid otherwise.
Some have complained about receiving jacks that leak fluid. In the worst case, a few people got packages wet with hydraulic fluid. It’s annoying to need to clean and maintain your new product, but given the shipping distances, this isn’t entirely unreasonable.
You may want to bleed this jack once you get it and top it up with hydraulic fluid if any has leaked.
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The Big Red floor jack is a good low-cost option for a strong car jack. This jack has a maximum lift height of 20.88 inches. It uses a single-piston quick lift pump and is designed with a safety bypass system to prevent overloading.
This car jack comes with an extra-long saddle neck which can save you some pumping when lifting raised vehicles. The neck extension can be removed for lower-clearance vehicles. We found this car jack easy to use if not quite as well-constructed as our other top picks.
What most distinguishes the Big Red floor jack from the other jacks in this review is the neck extension. This positions the jack saddle higher to begin with, meaning less pumping to lift a car. This is helpful if you have a raised car, though is not necessary for low-profile vehicles like our test car.
This car jack is as easy to operate as any well-designed floor jack. However, the handle design doesn’t seem as sturdy or as comfortable as the Blackjack or F-767. Still, we were able to raise and lower our test vehicle with ease using this floor jack.
The wheels are functional and stand out as neither especially sturdy nor especially ill-constructed.
| Overall Rating | 4 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 4 out of 5 |
| Durability | 4 out of 5 |
| Value | 4 out of 5 |
Amazon Review Score: 4.
4 out of 5 based on over 2,800 ratings
Happy reviewers like how this jack works, and many mention the extended saddle neck as an appreciated convenience. Several report years of reliable use from this car jack, which is easy to maneuver and pump.
There are some comments about faulty welding on the wheels. Though uncommon, more than one reviewer posted complaints about the wheels failing. Another typical criticism is that the jack lowers too quickly. Some write that when the pressure valve is released the jack falls down very quickly. We did not experience this when we tested the Big Red floor jack, but this issue may be more common with heavier vehicles.
To select the best car jack for your job, consider your vehicle and the type of car jack that will best suit your needs.
The most common types of car jacks are scissor jacks, floor jacks, and bottle jacks.
These jacks use a screw mechanism to raise your vehicle. They are slow and can be difficult to use.When selecting a jack, you need to pick something that will fit underneath your vehicle before you begin to lift it. Some sports cars and luxury vehicles have especially low clearances, so require a low-profile jack to elevate. When purchasing a jack, consider your vehicle’s clearance compared to the jack’s.
Also, consider a car jack’s maximum lift height. If you have an especially high vehicle like an SUV, smaller jacks may not raise high enough to hoist your car off the ground.
Any car jack is rated to lift a certain tonnage. If you’re buying a car jack to lift your vehicle for repairs, pick something with a weight rating to match the vehicle you’re trying to lift. Keep in mind that to change a tire, you’ll only need to lift half the weight of the vehicle. You should be able to find your vehicle’s weight on the door panel or owner’s manual. The typical sedan weighs around 3,000.0 pounds, while trucks can weigh around 8,000.0 pounds.
| Vehicle Weight | Minimum Car Jack Weight Rating |
|---|---|
| 3,000 pounds | .75 tons |
| 6,000 pounds | 1.5 tons |
| 8,000 pounds | 2 tons |
| 10,000 pounds | 2.5 tons |
How you plan to use your car jack should determine which type of jack you get. If you want to raise your car so you can get under the body to tinker around, you’ll most likely want a floor jack.
These are the most stable and provide the best lifting power.
Floor jacks can be large and heavy, so they aren’t reasonable to carry in your trunk at all times, should you get a flat. If you need a car jack for spare tires, a scissor jack or bottle jack will serve you better (keep in mind vehicle clearance if you get a bottle jack, which may not fit under your car unless you have a truck or SUV).
You don’t need to be a professional mechanic to use a car jack, and many jacks are simple to operate. However, there are some steps you’ll want to consider to keep yourself and your car safe. Additionally, drivingtests.org has a detailed guide should our instructions here not suffice.
Before raising your car, you should also have jack stands and wheel chocks. Jack stands support and stabilize your car after it’s been lifted. They are a crucial safety component if you plan to work under your car while it is elevated. Any jack, especially a hydraulic jack, can fail and if that happens jack stands will prevent you from being crushed.
Wheel chocks stop your car from rolling while it is elevated.
Before lifting your car from the ground with a car jack, make sure that it is on a level surface, in park, with the engine off, and the emergency brake engaged. If you have wheel chocks, place those behind your wheels.
You don’t want to place the jack just anywhere before lifting your car. If you put it in the wrong spot it can damage your trim or undercarriage. Consult your owner’s manual to find the jack points – typically a reinforced metal plate just behind each front wheel and just in front of each back wheel.
Slide the car jack under your vehicle and start lifting. If you’re using jack stands, set those up once your car has been raised and before you get to work.
Hydraulic floor jacks often need maintenance, sometimes even when new. Before using your jack, be sure to inspect the welds and bolts.
Make sure there are no cracks and that every screw is fully tightened. If your car jack isn’t lifting properly it may need bleeding, a fluid top-off, or both.
Bleeding a car jack means separating air from the hydraulic fluid. The process is simple though it can be time-consuming.
New car jacks typically don’t need oil replacement for at least a year. However, if the screw or cap covering the oil chamber is loosened or damaged during shipping, your car jack could arrive low on hydraulic fluid.
To determine if your jack is low on fluid, open the oil chamber and inspect the fluid levels. Hydraulic fluid should come up to 1/8 of an inch from the top of the chamber. If you can’t see any oil, you’ll need to add more.
Expect to replace the fluid in your hydraulic car jack about once a year.
A floor jack like the Torin Blackjack will offer the fastest lifting speed and most stability. However, these jacks are heavy and not something you can store in your trunk for emergencies. For changing a tire, you’ll need a bottle jack like the Big Red Bottle Jack or a scissor jack.
Regardless of which car jack you have, be sure to also use safety equipment like wheel chocks and jack stands. You may not need jack stands just to change a tire, but you should certainly use them if you plan on sliding underneath a raised vehicle.
The automotive jacks in this article went through two rounds of reviews. We started by searching Amazon for top products, looking at customer ratings, Amazon superlatives, and prices. We combed through customer reviews to find a variety of jacks that are consistently rated for quality, durability, and value.
The car jacks that best met these standards were ordered by our team for testing. A team member assembled and tested each jack on a car, lifting it several inches off the ground. Each car jack was given a rating out of 5 stars based on ease of use, durability, and value.
To test each car jack, we unboxed and assembled the jacks according to the instructions (if any were included). We placed each jack under the test vehicle and lifted it several inches off the ground. Our tester was able to note the quality of materials, ease of use, and overall performance.
Each year, we test over 350 auto products on vehicles and in our testing lab. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches top products, unboxes and puts our hands on each component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.
We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to bring car enthusiasts detailed guides on automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products, and much more.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
How to choose the right jack.
Often, when performing car repairs, it is impossible to do without a jack. This small tool is able to actually lift the car off the ground and allows you to create a safe and comfortable environment. In order for a car jack to provide this safety, it still needs to be looked for.
So which car jack should you choose to make car repairs safer? ... Let's take a look at a few different jacks and lifting techniques that can be used to meet automotive repair needs.
- The standard jacks are a type of equipment that lifts the vehicle off the ground, although not very safe. They are often overlooked by those who constantly work under the vehicle, such as auto mechanics. But standard jacks are an indispensable tool that often saves car owners with such minor problems as a tire puncture.
- An interesting alternative to the lifting the car off the ground, which some DIY mechanics forget about, are ramps. Ramps are safer to use than a car jack. If you use ramps, always remember to set the parking brake and use the armrests.
- The floor jacks are the most common lifting tool used for both automatic repairs and regular maintenance. Many floor jacks come with the car, often as mobile tools suitable for wheel changes and other situations where work around the tire area is needed.
These car jacks are not safe to work under a car as they have a small surface area on the lift platform and are not designed for any deep repair conditions. If you want to use a floor jack, make sure you go out and buy one that's designed to work under the car, and as stated before, always use jacks with them.
- Bottle Jacks are small, fun and extremely powerful lifting tools. They can lift more than many floor jacks, but due to their compact size and shape, they may not be as stable.
You'll also want to make sure the bottle jack nest is on a level, solid surface for your safety. It is especially important that you accompany the sockets with stands as they offer even less stability than floor jacks.
- Specialized jacks which are made especially for auto repair can make your job smoother than previous jacks without connectors. BUT remember, just because these sockets were made for the specific projects you need them for doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful. All car jacks have a crushing hazard and therefore taking the necessary precautions before and during repairs is very important.
4 lbs.
The range of applications of modern jacks is wide and is limited, perhaps, only by your imagination. But after all, we are motorists, and which of the motorists has not changed the punctured wheel of his car at least once? Naturally, the first assistant in this situation is a jack. And of course, many of you will object that, they say, it’s here to think: there is a standard device, set it up, lifted it, changed the wheel and drove off? But is a regular lift so convenient and is it safe? And how much effort must be applied to lift at least a passenger car? Let's try to understand all this a little. 
The only advantage of such a jack is the height of the lift. 
There is, perhaps, only one minus here - the initial height of the jack. Otherwise, it is a very reliable and compact assistant. The principle of its operation is quite simple. The jack has a reservoir with a working fluid - a liquid (in our case, this is oil). It is on the property of incompressibility of the liquid that the principle of operation of the jack is based. On the side there is a pump with a small lever. When the lever moves up, the oil from the reservoir flows into the pump cavity. By lowering the lever, we squeeze the oil into the working cavity of the cylinder, thereby raising the jack rod. Special valves prevent the oil from going back into the reservoir. When the check valve screw is loosened, we release liquid into the reservoir by lowering the jack. As with any mechanism associated with the hermetic use of oil, the hydraulic jack has various seals and gaskets. The durability and reliability of the lift depend on their quality. 
Which one to choose so that it justifies its purpose, and does not become an additional element of the decoration of the trunk? Having asked this question, we decided to test the hydraulic jacks presented on the shelves of Moscow stores. 
N.E. Bauman by qualified specialists. The test took place in 4 stages. At the first stage, the dependence of the magnitude of the force on the handle on the magnitude of the force developed by the jack was determined. Simply put, we determined what the greatest effort the jack would require during operation. The jack was installed in the testing machine and loads of various strengths were slowly applied to it. Instead of a regular handle, a 1.12 m long rod with a dynamometer was used, from which the corresponding loads were taken. Next, the force on the extension rod was recalculated to match the standard handle. At the second stage, the value of the maximum force at which the safety valve is activated was determined. The jack was installed in the testing machine and slowly loaded until the safety valve actuated, which was noted by the drop in the force developed by the jack. The tests were carried out for two positions corresponding to half stroke and full stroke. 
At the same time, the jack was loaded until the safety valve actuated, and in case of its absence, up to the nominal 2 tons, and a change in this force was observed within 15 minutes. 
These tubes are painted white and give the red jack some aesthetics. The labels on the case have high-quality printing. The front contains a table with the values of the lifting heights of the three types of jacks and some instructions for use. This information is duplicated in English. In the picture on the back of the case, some types of Soroinstrument products are advertised. On the body of the jack there is a sticker with the designation of the load capacity, the manufacturer, as well as with safety requirements. At the base of the lift there is a drive pump, a service valve control screw, and a red plastic safety valve plug with "Do Not Adjust" written in English. Case height 17 cm, stem lift 12 cm, extension screw unscrewed 5.5 cm. Maximum lift 34.5 cm (not a bad result). The upper support platform with a diameter of 2.5 cm has a notch. The flat lower platform has dimensions of 8x8.5 cm and an area of 68 cm2. The rod lifting process is smooth, without jerks and dips. 
When lifting a mass of 2 tons, the load on the handle was 50.9 kgf - the best result. The actuation force of the safety valve is 20.6 kN (the closest value to the rated capacity). In the force drop test, only 2.9% of the initial value, again the best result. And in terms of maximum destructive force, the Soroinstrument jack reached a very considerable 8.03 tons. In general, the representative of domestic production is the undisputed leader of the test in almost all respects. Very patriotic! Yes, and beer opens ... 
It draws a diagram of the device with a cross section and designation of the main elements, however, due to low-quality printing, it is very difficult to understand it. 
The base of the jack has dimensions of 9.4x8.4 cm (area 78.96 cm2). During operation, the stem extends with noticeable dips. 
In addition, the kit includes detailed instructions in 10 languages, including Russian and Ukrainian. 
slippage of the load. The base of the jack has dimensions of 8.4x8.9cm and a total area of 74.76 cm2. The rod extends smoothly, without dips and jerks. 
Contradictory information was found on the Internet: either China, or the USA ... Inside the package, the usual set was waiting for us: a jack, two tubes and instructions. The latter, although nondescript, on one crumpled sheet, is completely in Russian and contains the rules for use and maintenance, an explanatory diagram in section with the designation of the main elements, technical data and a table for troubleshooting. 
3 cm. Thus, the maximum working height is 34.3 cm. The support base of the jack has dimensions of 7.7x8.7 cm and area 67 cm2. In the process of work, no jerks or failures were found. 
This strong man is hidden in a convenient black plastic case, on which high-quality printed labels with comprehensive information about the product in Russian flaunt. Surprised only by the lack of instructions inside the suitcase. But in addition to the usual tubes for the pump drive and the control valve, the kit includes a repair kit with four seals and gaskets. 
6 kgf (not the best indicator). The safety valve worked at a load of 21.7 kN. The change in strength is also very noticeable and amounts to 5.7% of the initial value. When tested for maximum breaking force, the Matrix jack turned out to be an outsider of the test: 7.36 tons, while, like the Big Red jack, the extension cord was cut off and the rod fell out of the cylinder. 
On the body there is a curved sticker with the company logo, a brief description of the product in Russian and a mention that the jack was made in Germany. On the base of the housing, in addition to the pump and the control valve screw, there is a safety valve with a red plastic plug and a warning label "Do not adjust". There is also an oil reservoir plug on the body. The jack rod rises from the top cut of the body by 12 cm. The extension screw increases this value by another 5 cm. The height of the body is 17.3 cm. The total working height is 34.3 cm. The upper support platform has a diameter of 2.5 cm and a deep notch on surfaces. The lower base of the jack is even and smooth, has dimensions of 7.7x8.7 cm and an area of 67 cm2. In the process of lifting the rod, jerks and dips were not observed. 
Twin brand Big Red in the same test was more loyal to the operator. The safety valve actuated at 20.7 kN. Strength drop - 6.7% of the initial value (the second result from the end). Well, in terms of breaking force, this jack showed not the worst result: at a load of 77.8 kN, a threaded extension cut off. 
Inside the box was a neatly stowed jack, tubes-levers in a separate bag and a meager instruction in several European languages. Russian, unfortunately, was not. 
What is it in reality? The extension screw is unscrewed by 7 cm, the stem extends to a height of 9.7 cm from the upper edge of the jack body, the body has a height of 15 cm. In total, we get 31.7 cm, which is slightly short of the declared value. The upper support platform has a diameter of 2 cm and two grooves crosswise. The lower surface is quite smooth and even, its dimensions are 8x9.5 cm and the area is 76 cm2. The rod lifting process is smooth, without dips and jerks. 
