Trolley jack that won’t break (or break the bank)

Dino D

Dino D

Zorg Guru (V)
British Zeds
Joined
Mar 28, 2014
Points
176
Location
Kent
Model of Z
2.8 Manual
so I had a halford jack, died after what must have been 10 uses in two years...

Bought an SGS jack and it is now dying (leaking fluid from the release valve/nipple thing when you lower it). This jack has worked a bit harder but maybe lifted the side of a car 20 times in 2 years - so light use and only lifted the Z3..

So cheap jacks are a waste it seems, what are recommendations for good ones that don’t cost the price of a tatty Z3 (!)

Quite like @Lee Zedshed one (once I figured out how it works) but that looked a big expensive beast.

Oh and being able to get the car high enough go actually be able to do something underneath it is always a bonus! Not all lift the the same it seems...
 
Question- how does it lower - do you take the pumping lever out and then use it twist a release valve (like my el cheapo ones) or does the lever stay in and you simply turn it to lower (like the beefy one I used at zedshed).
 
Dino D said:
Question- how does it lower - do you take the pumping lever out and then use it twist a release valve (like my el cheapo ones) or does the lever stay in and you simply turn it to lower (like the beefy one I used at zedshed).
Click to expand...
Stay's in and turns.
 
Saw thread title, was gonna suggest SGS like the two tonne I’ve had for a year, but then actually read your post haha:bag:

Which SGS model did you have? I previously had their 3 tonne which seemed like a VERY solid piece of kit. But sold it after 6 months cos it was so effing heavy so no view on long-term reliability unfortunately

Two tonne SGS seems to be holding up, although it prob hasn’t done twenty lifts yet..
 
DrWong said:
Saw thread title, was gonna suggest SGS like the two tonne I’ve had for a year, but then actually read your post haha:bag:

Which SGS model did you have? I previously had their 3 tonne which seemed like a VERY solid piece of kit. But sold it after 6 months cos it was so effing heavy so no view on long-term reliability unfortunately

Two tonne SGS seems to be holding up, although it prob hasn’t done twenty lifts yet..
Click to expand...
I think it’s a 2 tonne but looking at it it’s not much different to the Halfords carp, just better marketing. Based on this experience I cannot recommend their products to anyone I don’t want see squashed under their car :hungover:

Ps making it heavy is not enough if the seals are rubbish, just a heavier to tool to squash yourself with!
The handle is ill fitting as well, a tiny tab that wears down quickly so doesn’t centre well.

Just a heavy bit of rubbish all told!
 
One of the benefits of a more expensive jack is you can exercise finer control over dropping the car downwards, E.g. onto axle stands. Cheaper jacks tend to lunge more.

Not to mention pumping them upwards is a pleasure compared to the more basic ones.
 
Dino D said:
I think it’s a 2 tonne but looking at it it’s not much different to the Halfords carp, just better marketing. Based on this experience I cannot recommend their products to anyone I don’t want see squashed under their car :hungover:

Ps making it heavy is not enough if the seals are rubbish, just a heavier to tool to squash yourself with!
The handle is ill fitting as well, a tiny tab that wears down quickly so doesn’t centre well.

Just a heavy bit of rubbish all told!
Click to expand...
B*gger. Yours doesn’t look like by any chance does it?:facepalm:
930A8449-6CF7-4379-A681-2784F2B62088.webp

@mrscalex I found the valve on this to be very lungey, so taken to letting it off with pliers to increase the distance you have to move through, which helps massively
 
DrWong said:
B*gger. Yours doesn’t look like by any chance does it?:facepalm:
View attachment 115053
@mrscalex I found the valve on this to be very lungey, so taken to letting it off with pliers to increase the distance you have to move through, which helps massively
Click to expand...
Yep that’s it’s :whistle:
The difference is very obvious when you use a proper one!
 
Oh dear, haha. Did fair bit of research before buying. SGS came top on a balance of price/features/functionality, followed by various Machine Mart, and then Sealey jacks.

Agreed, the two tonne feels like a toy compared to the three tonne I had briefly
 
The difference is obvious when you try lift them proper garage jack has a bit of weight in it.
My Taskmaster jack is now about 10 yr old and has been used a good number of times.
I know the proper garage jacks are a chunk dearer than the likes of halfords ones but you need to look at it as a long term investment especially if doing own maintenance.
If dont have room for some kind of lift
Then a good garage jack and some decent axle stands an invaluable addition to any tool kit .
 
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