Types of Car Jacks
There are different types of car jack. And we are going to describe the most common ones.
1. Scissor jacks is a usual type working with any car. It is easy to lift it, and sometimes it may be found in a new car as a spare tire compartment. It is operated by means of a large screw, and due to it, the vehicle is lifted. Scissor jacks are light and helpful in the emergency kit.
2. Bottle jack is a step up from scissor jacks. The name speaks for itself: it is like a bottle. This type of the car jack uses a hydraulic mechanism that helps to lift a car. It is also not big and does not take much space in a trunk. It will do for bigger vehicles like SUV.
3. Floor jack is often met in a garage with jack stands. It has wheel for better movement because it is rather heavy. This type of the car jack is known for a good durability. A cost is higher compared to the previous types. It is necessary only for performing maintenance.
| Product name | Capacity | Lifting range | Product dimensions, weight |
|---|---|---|---|
Pro-Lift F-767 Check the price | 2 Ton | 3.5 to 14 inches | 17.9" x 5.3" x 8.5" 30 pounds |
Arcan XL2T Check the price | 2 Ton | 2.75 to 24 inches | 32.5" x 8.2" x 11.2" 97 pounds |
LIBRA Check the price | 5,000 lbs | 5 to 24 inches | - 20 pounds |
Extreme Max Check the price | 1,100 lbs | to 14 inches | 18" x 10" x 3.8" 27.1 pounds |
Torin Floor Jack Check the price | 2 Ton | 5-7/8 to 17-1/4 inches | 26" x 11" x 8" 43.9 pounds |
Pro-Lift B-006D Check the price | 6 Ton | - | 4.9" x 9.8" x 4.3" 10.75 pounds |
Arcan XL20 Check the price | 2 Ton | 3 1/2 to 18 1/2 inches | 26" x 6.3" x 13.2" 67.2 pounds |
It is heavy and that is good, but I can carry it easily. I thought that it was made in China, but the quality is higher. The wheels are well designed. The jack is stored by pushing a grip between the lift arm and a frame. Lowering is smooth, and it is stopped at any point. The product looks like on the picture. I definitely recommend it. We had to look for a replacement of our old hydraulics jack that worked for 30 years. The same jack now costs about $1k, and it is made in the USA. When we looked for the options, we found the same jack but not produced in the USA, and it costs $600. We were not going to use the jack every day, and so $600 made a point. We found Arcan aluminum jack made in Taiwan. But you never say it, if you have not been told it because it is a great floor jack for this money. It copes with its task well. It is not like Chinese Jack. This is a great value. It is awesome. Its box was not original, and I was skeptical about it. Moreover, there were 2’’ square tube with some mount, and I didn’t know what to do with it. But it is the best stabs I have ever seen. I recommend it. Also, it has a perfect coating. Its cranking is smooth. I have Vulcan 1500, and this is my secondary unit. It lifts 900 lb easily, and has a perfect work. Handy to use, it is rigid, and also durable. The platform is wide and smooth. I constantly work on my bike, and a jack is a great assistant for me. It does everything I need to do. I am not sure whether it may be used for heavy motorcycle because it may fall. I think this price is good, and I recommend it for people who does the maintenance. It is very impressive than it may seem on the picture. This model is 9×14. It would helped me a lot 10 years ago to save my time and aggravation. I use it for the SUV. I have a smaller jack but some of its part is slightly broken. Well, it worked well but it was difficult to get one wheel on the end of the ground. This jack arrived by USPS, they did not bring it to the door, I just got a message to get the package. But I asked them to deliver it to my house. As I opened it, its size was surprising to me. It was larger than I had one, and also it was heavier. Of course I checked it for the broken part and any scratches. The instruction is rather difficult because images were small and not clear. There was a plug on the top, and I thought it was metal but it was rubber plug, so I got a screw driver and pushed it, and a gap was opened, air could be escaped when you pump the handle. Then I tried the jack and it was fine. I put it under the SUV to test it, and I placed it on the center. I didn’t have any troubles to lift my front end. I am very satisfied with it because I have tried it on some projects. The only thing I don’t like is no handle. There is nothing to grab to pick it up. As it is heavy it needs two hands, and it is not convenient to move it. But I found a solution and I carried it from the axle. But when the jack is down, there is no room to put the fingers. It would get an extra star for a handle, but it does not have it. But I still estimate it highly because it works well. If you plan to use the jack on a regular basis, you should maybe find another option. But if you are going to use from time to time, it may not be a problem. This jack is very solid, it can lift Toyota sequoia. It has a good height for big trucks because it easily fits the frame. There is also enough space to pull a wheel off. To have a proper height, the saddle should be unscrewed, but it works well. It is easy to pump the jack up. I was expected to make more efforts, but it was smooth. It has a solid construction, and it is not heavy. The jack goes down easily when you release the pressure but when it stops, it does not have load on it. But it is not difficult to push it by hand. I don’t have any issues with the release valve. Well, I am happy with this product, and the price is fair. It provides a good lifting for low-clearance cars, but do not lift more than 6-8 inches. Easily controlled. And a light weight (not more than 60 lb). It is a really professional floor jack, and it is constructed for the shop use. Yes, it takes space for storage and is not easily transported. The handle is attacked to this jack. So it is not meant to being carried. The pad is fine on the saddle until it contacts a narrow metal on the car. If you lift the vehicle by the pinch welds, it would crush the saddle of the jack. So it is necessary to use hockey puck, or plate, and others to lift by pinch welds. The features of the tire jacks are various. It is important to know the features because it will help you to choose a right model. Some of them have three features, and others have one. If you decide to buy a car jack, you should consider some things. There are essential reasons to buy a car jack: changing a tire, inspecting breaks, oil changes, and some other reasons that will ease your work with a car. If a car jack is not constructed well, it may be dangerous for your life and lead to accidents. So there are recommendations that should be observed for a safe usage of the jack. 
Pro-Lift F-767 – Best portable car jack for garage
Our partner’s review:
Arcan XL2T – Classy floor jack
Our partner’s review:
LIBRA – Topnotch scissor jack for garage
Our partner’s review:
Extreme Max – Super motorcycle scissors jack for home garage
Our partner’s review:
Torin Floor Jack – Exclusive floor jack for trucks and SUV’s
Our partner’s review:
Pro-Lift B-006D – Topflight hydraulic bottle jack for garage
Our partner’s review:
Arcan XL20 – Best jack for low-clearance cars
Our partner’s review:
Common Features of Tire Jacks
Tire Jack Safety Recommendations
Okay, I’ve never used a floor jack. So I do not have a good sense of how much floor jack I should actually get.
Vehicles to be lifted are a Nissan XTerra and a Ford F150. Two ton, 2.5, 3?
Since you have an SUV and truck, look at lifting height. 2 ton should be fine for what you have…remember, you’re only ever lifting one end/side of the car at a time. Bigger can’t hurt though. I’m a big fan of the long reach HF jack.
Bigger is better, but smaller is more convenient.
And weight is paramount.
Forget steel.
You must get an aluminum jack. Steel ones are too damn heavy.
You need a 3 ton for the biggest vehicle and a 1 1/2 ton for conveniently lifting one corner or a smaller vehicle.
We have a Ford E350 1 ton van, an AstroVan and a 90 Pontiac sedan.
We keep a 1 1/2 ton HF aluminum jack (The smaller version) in the trunk of the Pontiac 6000.
It is the jack I typically use for one corner wheel or tire work.
We also have an Arcan 3 ton aluminum jack. I use that on the bigger vehicles and for lifting the whole front or rear of a vehicle.
So my answer is that you need 2 jacks, both aluminum.
Even more important is a set of the sturdiest and biggest jack stands you can find. I have 3 and 6 ton HF ones and a chock to keep the vehicle from rolling.
My rule of thumb is to always get the biggest one that can still fit under your vehicle (and you can afford). Don’t bother with an aluminum jack if it’s not going to travel with you.
I have a Torin Big Red 3-ton SUV jack that I picked up on sale from Pep Boys last year and it comes with a 3-inch adapter to raise the lift point higher if needed. In my experience most of the regular 2-ton car jacks will not raise high enough to be used on a truck.
I prefer jacks with outboard wheels rather than an inboard roller because I feel that the wheels are more stable, especially if you’re going to use it out on an asphalt driveway.