VEVOR Transmission Jack Modifications

[PAToyota]

So I picked up this VEVOR transmission jack a few weeks back when Home Depot had them on sale for $132. As luck would have it, the local grocery store had a deal on Home Depot gift cards that week too - 10x fuel reward points. So I got a $135 gift card and got $34 off my next fillup - bringing the price down to about $100 plus tax.

Overall, for the money there wasn't too much to complain about. Yes, there are better options out there. They also start at $600 and go up from there.

The three things that I noticed in assembling it are the cradle, that the release lever is awkward - particularly if you're trying to keep a hand on balancing or maneuvering a transmission as you lower it, and the bolt holes through the legs aren't sleeved so the tubes flexed a bit and I was a bit worried about stability over time.

I decided to address the legs, because that was the easiest to start with. So I tore it apart, drilled out the holes, and sleeved them.

Then, because I can't leave well enough alone, I stripped the legs down and sandblasted them.

And then powder coated them before reassembling everything.

It feels a lot more secure now. I'm likely going to work on the cradle next to improve it. I'm not sure if I can do anything about the release valve to turn it into a foot pedal.

 

[PAToyota]

Oh, and while the powder coat oven was warmed up, I coated a couple cutouts I did on the plasma able while I was at it.

 

[firestopper]

Those jacks are handy. I’ve had one for a few years and have made bolt on jigs for removing T-cases, transmissions and front axels when working alone. A must tool to compliment a two post lift.

 

[e9999]

nicely done!

that thing does look rather spindly when fully extended, though. Does it seem sturdy enough?

 

[PAToyota]

I haven't put anything on it yet, but extending it fully and shaking it around a bit I don't think there will be any issues. As I say, I'm likely going to make some modifications to the cradle to make it more useful.

 

[firestopper]

One of the mods I did on the cradle (aside from custom jigs) was to tack weld the nuts to eliminate the need for two wrenches. It will be obvious which ones to tack.
I will also add these jacks are pretty stable when extended into the second stage.

 

[PAToyota]

Totally agree. Why don't people seem to understand captured (or welded) nuts any more?

 

[NCFJ]

Because it costs more to manufacture.
Greed

 

[PAToyota]

I suppose that over 1000's of units the pennies add up...

 

[kcjaz]

I'm finally getting my 2-post lift installed next week and am thinking about other things I'll want now that I have the lift. One of the items is a transmission jack and I've been looking at similar cheap ones like the Vevor. I'm probably not dropping too many transmissions. my use case is more helping with skid plate removal/reinstallation and tire install/removal.

Wondering what others have done adapting transmission jacks to other uses like above. For help with skid plates, I was just going to make some kind of flat plate/table with a rubber non-slip surface and attach it to the jack. I want to be able to remove/install by Bub Built steel skids by myself with no help.

For tire removal, I want to do something like this: TRAC Tire Rotation Assistance Cart | Order Now - https://www.liftwithtrac.com/products/lift-with-trac. You can buy the cradle part by itself (though its $400) and then attach it to a floor jack or something else (like a tranny jack). Has anyone made some like this. Removing a 100 lb tire while standing straight up and not having to wrestle it would be awesome.