My mom got me this nice 3ton floor jack and stand and creeper combo from Sears. Its nice, but I have 2 sets of stands, a nice low profile creeper and just really need a jack because my steelie has a dilapidated wheel. Still useable though.

So now I am looking at returning it and getting an alum for ease of moving and track days.
I see the Craftsman has a ton of bad reviews. so I am so so on that.
The HF ones seem to be so so too.
I really would like to keep under the $200 limit.
Any other suggestions?
I dunno if its like cars and just the few that break report them and the ones that dont. . dont? So it seems like they all break?

 

Good question. I've been looking into upgrading my traditional steel floor jack as well. It's pretty heavy and needs servicing. Sears makes it so focking hard to get it serviced since they only have one local location that services them. It's way out in BFE and only open on weekdays, closing early.

I'm assuming you're talking about an aluminum jack

 

yes aluminum
Also I love how they say low profile. Bleh, Im sure its the same profile as my steelie and still needs 2x4 stacked ramps to get it under.

 

The red and silver jack is pretty low profile. It uses a small roller in the front instead of wheels. It also has a light I believe, so you can see the jack point. Pretty handy IMO....

 

i'd say get the HF one. It's on sale now too for around $65.

 

My HF jack worked well for two years. Then the side plate actually fractured as I was jacking up the Z! Luckily, nothing collapsed and I could drop the car down without incident. The casting itself was pretty archaic, to say the least.

I've got a new 3T low-profile jack from my local Costco for $130 (ARCAN brand) and I'll give that a go. Seems to be a bit better quality than the HF one, but I think they're all just expendable, cheap tools with a limited life span.

 

Do you think a 2 1/4 ton jackstand and floorjack would be enough? I saw a couple of the "low profile" craft's on sale at sears and home depot yesterday (after xmas sale maybe?).

 

2 1/4 is more then enuff. 2k lbs= a ton.
Z = what? 3200lbs?

Anyway, Sears would only give me store credit. Fockers. I got the Craftsman one for like $160 after bitching and griping over some dumb **** to get a discount.
We'll see how she works.

 

I've been using the Sears alum racing jack for about 4 years and never had an issue with it.

The HF alum jack may get down to $120 on sale, I've never seen it at $65, that's got to be one of the regular jacks.

 

That's good to know. I've been eyeing it for awhile. I get tired of driving my car on ramps before sticking the jack underneath....

 

I still think you are gonna be driving over ramps.
I will compare tonight if this thing is really any lower. It mgiht be a bit from the roller in the front, but cant be all that much

Also the HF ones that go close to that cheap only have 14" lift. I wanted like 18" lift. 14 might not even get the tires off the ground.
They do have a sale on the 2 ton lower profile looking one though for $149 until 1/2. From the dimensions though its only 1/4" lower then the Craftsman. Looks like that lower part is longer though?

 

just got back from sears. Everything was sold out!! Let us know if the crafts will go under your car without ramps.

 

They were $149 like the day before Xmas for a few hours. And then to $179. So alot of places likely sold out.
They are $199 now but go back to $179 tommorow and you can get like $15 off with the Sears card if you care to apply.
Im gonna try it tonight to see if it goes under.
Any specific spots you want me to try from? Under the front likely wont go too far. under the sides shouldnt be much of a problem though

 

There isn't a jack long enough and low enough to fit under the front of the Z. You'll either need to use some 2X4's or small ramps to get the front wheels up enough to sneak a jack under there.

Otherwise, you do like I do and jack the car up one side at a time.

BTW - there's no problem jacking the rear up at the pumpkin.

 

I was hoping it would fit under the front, if it doesnt then i guess ill invest in some ramps too.

 

While the lift end of the low profile jacks will fit, it's the other end that has the problem. That's why I said there's not one long enough. You can barely squeeze the jack under the front but then there's no room to actually move the jack rod up and down to pump up the lift.

I took some 2x4s and bolted two of them together to make a 4x4 then cut a long sloping ramp down one side. That gives me a 3½" ramp to drive the front up and only costs you a few bucks.

 

Yea I just tried it. I dont know off hand where a good lift point to do the whole front is, but it will go under. Just prob not far enuff for a good jack point. The other thing is the pump shaft. If it will go under enuff, you will only pump in small increments
I use the same method as above with the 2x4's. Ive used em for years with super low cars.

This thing deff moves alot easier and you can feel the deff weight difference even just rolling it around.
The lift isnt as high as my other one, but its like 17.5". Not too shabby if you jack from the sides

 

I bought a jack at Walmart that can go under 3 1/2" without using a ramp. My Z is lowered and this jack clears it without problems.

 

CRAPSMAN floor jacks suck!!! I've oned two and they both broke on me.

 

There's a round dimple in the center of the cross member behind the engine that is for lifting the front end...

https://my350z.com/forum/attachment....5&d=1130347779