Would You buy this Jack from Walmart?

"The man in the iron mask" (Themanintheironmask)
11/11/2013 at 17:02 • Filed to: None

DISCUSSION (32)

E30Joe drives a Subaru > The man in the iron mask
11/11/2013 at 17:04

Montalvo > The man in the iron mask
11/11/2013 at 17:04

Would you buy anything from harbor freight if your life depended on said product working?

Takuro Spirit > Montalvo
11/11/2013 at 17:06

That's why you use quality jack stands. After lifting said vehicle with shit jack. IF it works.

The man in the iron mask > Montalvo
11/11/2013 at 17:06

Whats Harbor Freight, does it make these?

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > The man in the iron mask
11/11/2013 at 17:07

Do you have to be 21 to buy it?

XJDano > The man in the iron mask
11/11/2013 at 17:08

I bought a set at sam's years ago and its still kicking. I do own about 3 sets of jack stand to go with 3 project cars. So, yes I would likely buy this if i needed a jack.

MtrRider Just Wants Doritos > Montalvo
11/11/2013 at 17:08

My sister got my brother in law a Harbor Freight jack for his birthday recently. I was weary of the low price, do you think it's dangerous?

The man in the iron mask > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos
11/11/2013 at 17:08

I dont think so.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > The man in the iron mask
11/11/2013 at 17:10

I have that exact model.

It works well enough to get a car on stands.

I'd prefer something of better quality, with a narrower front profile, but for a cheapish jack to get a car into the air to put stand under it it works well.

I had the all aluminum "race jack" from HF. It failed in less than a year. If you go with HF, get their replacement plan. There is no return policy, or warranty.

Montalvo > The man in the iron mask
11/11/2013 at 17:10

Harbor freight can pretty much be summed up as a wholesale warehouse seller. They sell nearly everything and much of it is extremely cheap. The result is that you should enter knowing that your purchase will be a one and done deal. Meaning I would buy hand tools or basic power tools but I would stay far away from jacks and axle stands because having a 2 ton vehicle fall on you and make you part of the pavement is not how I want to go.

http://www.harborfreight.com

The man in the iron mask > E30Joe drives a Subaru
11/11/2013 at 17:10

What, on grass

E30Joe drives a Subaru > The man in the iron mask
11/11/2013 at 17:12

He was asking for it.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos
11/11/2013 at 17:12

There's absolutely nothing dangerous about a jack if you're using it correctly; it should never bear weight, that's what jackstands are for. A jack can only kill you if you're an idiot; at worst, your car will have an unpleasant descent without you under it.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Montalvo
11/11/2013 at 17:13

How does your life depend on a jack? Jack stands? Absolutely. But a jack? You're doing it wrong if your life is depending on a jack.

Montalvo > MtrRider Just Wants Doritos
11/11/2013 at 17:14

For very occasional use probably not but please for the love of god do not push the limits for it. There have been instances where people have bought jacks and things and opened the box to find it already broken. If you are going to have something that supports a 2 ton vehicle above your body do yourself a favor and splurge. Buy something of real quality and something that will last years instead of months or days.

The man in the iron mask > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
11/11/2013 at 17:14

Does it lift the front of the car all together?

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > The man in the iron mask
11/11/2013 at 17:15

I suppose it could, if I had a good central lift point on my car.

Also, the handle is rather short for an under-car lift like that.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > The man in the iron mask
11/11/2013 at 17:16

That's much more a factor of your car's suspension setup/design than it is the jack, unless you're talking about finding some central point from which you can jack the entirety of the front up, which I would find to be a little odd and cumbersome to do. It's a 5000 lbs. jack, though, so it should be able to handle the entire front end of most cars.

oldirtybootz > The man in the iron mask
11/11/2013 at 17:17

As was already said, it's like a Harbor Freight tool. Be smart when using it, don't expect it to be high quality, but why the hell not? I have a cheapo jack at home and it does the job on the rare occasions I need it to. One of the perks of working at a shop is having a lift to use virtually whenever I need it.

Montalvo > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/11/2013 at 17:18

If I am lifting a car to work on it I will use jack stands. However as incredibly stupid as it seems some people do not use jack stands. The problem is though I wouldn't trust harbor freight with jack stands either.

The man in the iron mask > E30Joe drives a Subaru
11/11/2013 at 17:18

Pretty much, lucky he wasn't underneath it. But watching the car fall makes me realize the importance of putting the wheels under the car with me. I never trust the Jack stands entirely. Using wheel chocks and all.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > Montalvo
11/11/2013 at 17:20

I wouldn't trust their jack stands either, but I'm perfectly fine taking my chances on a 1/3rd price jack.

Anyone not using jack stands, well, deserves whatever comes their way.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > The man in the iron mask
11/11/2013 at 17:20

Anything to keep the car from crushing you is a good idea.

The man in the iron mask > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
11/11/2013 at 17:23

True, and the short handle maybe involves getting under the car, and is never a good idea with any jack.
Im going to need a bigger boat. I mean Jack.

The man in the iron mask > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney
11/11/2013 at 17:26

I have a cheap 2 ton jack and it cant lift the front of the 1,500 kg car i have, so thats why i dont trust their capacities. Besides, as "adabofoppo" said, the handle is too short to be able to lift if from the front point.

TheDon > The man in the iron mask
11/11/2013 at 17:30

Pass..I'd save up for a proper jack. The aluminum race jacks from Harbor freight will work but I'd spring formthenlatgest version they have.

I have a 2 ton craftsman aluminum jack, works great and I think I paid $200 for it 4 years ago. I'd like to upgrade to something a bit better in the near futur, like a 2 post lift...

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > The man in the iron mask
11/11/2013 at 17:34

You have a good central lifting point, clearly, so you're just being picky now!

I'd buy name brand if you're not satisfied with the lifting power of your current jack, as most off-brand jacks I've used have required many pumps or just don't have the power, and $50 is too much to keep throwing at crappy jacks when $150 will buy you a capable and durable unit.

The man in the iron mask > TheDon
11/11/2013 at 17:35

And What capacity would be a proper jack?
a 2 post lift sounds awesome, but i dont work the car that much and dont have clearance. Oh and the money.

desertdog5051 > The man in the iron mask
11/11/2013 at 19:12

No.

Jayhawk Jake > The man in the iron mask
11/11/2013 at 22:54

I have It's lower capacity brother, it lifts the car onto stands.

I've only lifted the car like twice though, and probably won't do it much, but it seems to be good enough for that purpose. If you're going to be doing a lot of work I'd go higher quality, but if you just need a jack to lift the car once In a blue moon I imagine you'd be fine

rabidpenguin > Montalvo
11/12/2013 at 13:03

Like everyone said, as long as you are not going to be under the car putting your life in the hands of this jack or using it like an industrial tool you should be fine.

TheDon > The man in the iron mask
11/15/2013 at 23:08

Mineis a 2 ton and works great or my MINI andmy Mercedes. My roommate tried to lift the front of his '97 dodge 2500 with a 6BT and the jack went "nope". For that we used a 4 ton steel bodied jack from harbor freight. You also need to consider if you need a low profile jack or not. If you can't budget or a lo pro then just drive up onto some 2x6's.

Also, I'm a tool collector/snob so I spend money on tools so they last.