Harbor Freight Jack
- Thread starter landtoy80
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
MoJ said:
I have a bunch of the HDC (traveling tool sales) 6 ton jack stands and I got the widest based ones (18"x18" sq)and have been using them for 10+years. Great for cruisers as they are stable at the higher settings.
HDC is just like HF as some things are steaming piles while others are pretty good but you got to give it the "harry
eyeball" to be sure.Yes
I've got the 3 ton size like HF sells, and have never felt they are not strong enough to have a pair at each end of the cruiser. I've had the entire 80 on 4 of those stands and never felt they weren't strong enough. The 6 ton are even beefier, and taller which is a real plus. I understand the next size up is really tall and I would love to have them.
A heavily laden 80 cruiser is about 6500 lbs , heck, let's say an even 7000 lbs. That means 3500 lbs each axle max, which is 1.5 tons. A 3 ton set is rated at twice our lifting weight, and I guarantee that there is a safety factory built in them. I've talked to my brother who is a structural engineer and he says they will for sure have a safety factor built in. I can't remember what he said would be standard safety factor but it's a lot.
I think I'm going to donate a set of my 3 tons for testing at work. I can put them into our shear tester which will apply up to 30,000 lbs and will let you know when they started to flex and when they totally failed. Might be very interesting, plus it gives me reason to have to go get a new 6 ton set to replace these
MoJ said:
I've got the 3 ton size like HF sells, and have never felt they are not strong enough to have a pair at each end of the cruiser. I've had the entire 80 on 4 of those stands and never felt they weren't strong enough. The 6 ton are even beefier, and taller which is a real plus. I understand the next size up is really tall and I would love to have them.
A heavily laden 80 cruiser is about 6500 lbs , heck, let's say an even 7000 lbs. That means 3500 lbs each axle max, which is 1.5 tons. A 3 ton set is rated at twice our lifting weight, and I guarantee that there is a safety factory built in them. I've talked to my brother who is a structural engineer and he says they will for sure have a safety factor built in. I can't remember what he said would be standard safety factor but it's a lot.
I think I'm going to donate a set of my 3 tons for testing at work. I can put them into our shear tester which will apply up to 30,000 lbs and will let you know when they started to flex and when they totally failed. Might be very interesting, plus it gives me reason to have to go get a new 6 ton set to replace these
I purchased the 12-ton only so I could get the total support height...
Well I just purchased the Harbor Freight Jack that this thread was started about. It is called a 2 1/2 Ton, Heavy Duty, Long Frame Jack and after seeing it, I was really impressed. I checked several other stores and couldn't even find anything to compare it to I got it on sale for $119, and got the 2 year optional full replacement warranty for $20, which seemed like a good idea considering this is a China made jack. Tax and all came to $153.
Wow! This thing is big, heavy, and looks to be built pretty stout. It's got a 46" long T-Handle, and also a foot jacking pedal. This foot pedal is nice for getting it up quickly to the height you need, and I used it with my hand easily, then the T handle is easy to pump to lift the heavy 80 series Cruiser. The center knob in the T-handle lowers the jack, nice and smooth, slow or fast. I said it's big, and it's about 48" long, or 53" OAL if you include the foot pedal. It's pretty much all steel with rubber grips on the T handle, and plastic grip on the center knob. Wheels front and rear are steel and even the mounts for the wheels look very sturdy. About the only flimsy thing on it is the jacking mechanism cover, which is thin sheet metal, with indentions in four spots and it snaps into place. This is on the top rear between the handle and the vehicle, and shouldn't be a place that needs solid steel. I am concerned if the hydraulic jack itself will hold up, but I was suprised to see the paperwork came with a new set of seals and instructions for disassembly, and states more seals can be gotten from HF.
The jack looks huge, but when you roll it under a lifted 80, it looks to be in scale. The long length really works well as now I can jack it up easier from each axle without its handle hitting my bumpers like my old 3 ton regular length floor jack did.
The jack is rated to lift 31" tall, and I verified it in the store but that was with no weight on it. Using it to lift my Cruiser a foot off the ground to the pumpkin was easy enough. Then I slowly lowered it down to the jack stands and it was very controlable.
My old jack had leaked from the seals and now with these instructions, I think I can replace them to use my old jack again which will be nice to have it going for a backup.
For the money, I don't think you can go wrong with this jack, especially coming with seals and instructions on rebuilding it. That was a big plus that I didn't expect. Time will tell how well it will hold out. If it last long term, I sure would like to paint it as I hate the orange and white color, but then maybe your a Tennessee fan. I would like to repaint it, maybe put some aluminum diamond plate on the jack top cover, and put some ARB, Land Cruisers, or whatever stickers you have laying around on it. Then again, it works well as is.
Wow! This thing is big, heavy, and looks to be built pretty stout. It's got a 46" long T-Handle, and also a foot jacking pedal. This foot pedal is nice for getting it up quickly to the height you need, and I used it with my hand easily, then the T handle is easy to pump to lift the heavy 80 series Cruiser. The center knob in the T-handle lowers the jack, nice and smooth, slow or fast. I said it's big, and it's about 48" long, or 53" OAL if you include the foot pedal. It's pretty much all steel with rubber grips on the T handle, and plastic grip on the center knob. Wheels front and rear are steel and even the mounts for the wheels look very sturdy. About the only flimsy thing on it is the jacking mechanism cover, which is thin sheet metal, with indentions in four spots and it snaps into place. This is on the top rear between the handle and the vehicle, and shouldn't be a place that needs solid steel. I am concerned if the hydraulic jack itself will hold up, but I was suprised to see the paperwork came with a new set of seals and instructions for disassembly, and states more seals can be gotten from HF.
The jack looks huge, but when you roll it under a lifted 80, it looks to be in scale. The long length really works well as now I can jack it up easier from each axle without its handle hitting my bumpers like my old 3 ton regular length floor jack did.
The jack is rated to lift 31" tall, and I verified it in the store but that was with no weight on it. Using it to lift my Cruiser a foot off the ground to the pumpkin was easy enough. Then I slowly lowered it down to the jack stands and it was very controlable.
My old jack had leaked from the seals and now with these instructions, I think I can replace them to use my old jack again which will be nice to have it going for a backup.
For the money, I don't think you can go wrong with this jack, especially coming with seals and instructions on rebuilding it. That was a big plus that I didn't expect. Time will tell how well it will hold out. If it last long term, I sure would like to paint it as I hate the orange and white color, but then maybe your a Tennessee fan. I would like to repaint it, maybe put some aluminum diamond plate on the jack top cover, and put some ARB, Land Cruisers, or whatever stickers you have laying around on it. Then again, it works well as is.
alvarorb
Color Geek in Charge
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2003
- Threads
- 110
- Messages
- 1,847
- Location
- Sacramento, California
- Website
- www.instagram.com
I have HF Jack, very similar to the one in the picture. The only thing that I don't like about it is that it's hard to lower under weight. To have control, you need to "push" on the handle towards the jack and turn it very slowly. Otherwise, it will just slam down.
Alvaro
Alvaro
that sounds like a real fair price. I might go pick one up
bigbrowndog said:
There is an all aluminum jack that HF, NT, and Sam's sell for around $100 that weighs about 50lbs. This alum/steel one looked like the one Pep Boys carrys for about $75. It is significantly heavier than 50 lbs (probably 75+, I didn't weight it).
jacks are jacks. Kinda hard to screw one up.
Harbor frieght, sears, whomever... chances are they're all made in the same factory in china.
All it does is lift your car. Id' be more worried about the quality of my jack stands to tell you the truth.
Fred
Harbor frieght, sears, whomever... chances are they're all made in the same factory in china.
All it does is lift your car. Id' be more worried about the quality of my jack stands to tell you the truth.
Fred
Cube Dweller
Moderator
One note on everything HF- before you head to the store, look up the item you're considering at their website. Typically it's cheaper online and they will match the price if you bring a printout, no questions asked.
Online price at HF for the jack I bought was $169, plus shipping. At store it was on sale for $119.
This jack is larger than most, heavy, able to lift very high, 31" and seems very heavy duty. I looked at jacks at - Sears, Northern Tool, and several other stores and catalogs. Seemed like quite a jack for the money. Might not be for everyone, but I wanted a longer jack and high lifting.
Go look at them in the store at least if your in the market. Seeing it in person, gave me the real idea of how heavy duty it seems. Well see how it holds up long term.
This jack is larger than most, heavy, able to lift very high, 31" and seems very heavy duty. I looked at jacks at - Sears, Northern Tool, and several other stores and catalogs. Seemed like quite a jack for the money. Might not be for everyone, but I wanted a longer jack and high lifting.
Go look at them in the store at least if your in the market. Seeing it in person, gave me the real idea of how heavy duty it seems. Well see how it holds up long term.
Thanks Mate, I was wondering if they were more upmarket as its really hard to know looking at the pics. Tools like that are more expensive here.Help much appreciated.cheers gazza97 FZJ80 said:
- Thread starter
- #37
I got the HF jack today. Its heavy!!! 143lb.
Got it home and it worked once and then the little u-joint that turns to lower and raise that jack broke
The other end of the jack where you jack to the vehicle was not centered between the frame either. It would of shurely not lowered all the way had I had a load on it.
I had to put it back in the Camry trunk, did I say its HEAVY(?) Now I need to hit the hot tub!!!
I guess I should exchange it and buy the warranty.
Got it home and it worked once and then the little u-joint that turns to lower and raise that jack broke
The other end of the jack where you jack to the vehicle was not centered between the frame either. It would of shurely not lowered all the way had I had a load on it.
I had to put it back in the Camry trunk, did I say its HEAVY(?) Now I need to hit the hot tub!!!
I guess I should exchange it and buy the warranty.
- Thread starter
- #38
Replaced the jack and got the 2yr waranty.
THe handle where it turns to lock and releace the jack it bent a bit but works.
I have yet to test it yet.
THe handle where it turns to lock and releace the jack it bent a bit but works.
I have yet to test it yet.
- Thread starter
- #39
Used the jack and I don't like the way the handle works.
The jack is long enough to get well under the vehicle but when you jack up the rear dif the jack is mostly under the vehicle.
The pump handle does not go down to the floor when you pump it.
I have just enough room to pump it but if I needed to put the jack more under the vehicle I wouldn't be able to pump it.
I don't know it there is a way to fix this problem as if I bent the handle, I don't think the knob that lowers the jack will work any more.
The jack is long enough to get well under the vehicle but when you jack up the rear dif the jack is mostly under the vehicle.
The pump handle does not go down to the floor when you pump it.
I have just enough room to pump it but if I needed to put the jack more under the vehicle I wouldn't be able to pump it.
I don't know it there is a way to fix this problem as if I bent the handle, I don't think the knob that lowers the jack will work any more.
alia176
SILVER Star
Sorry, but nothing from H.F. is worth losing a limb or life. Period.
I know that we all use floor jacks for safety but there's that one time when something bad can happen when you're not quite that careful!!! I'll buy all of my disposable tools from H.F. but nothing critical.I use the one from Costco and it works great.