Recommend me a trolley jack

kirkofski

I also found this one that looks good;


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RJAS2500-SEALEY-2-5-TONNE-ALUMINIUM-STEEL-ROCKET-LIFT-ALLOY-RACING-TROLLEY-JACK-/251263109516?pt=UK_Lifting_Moving_Equipment&hash=item3a8072c98c


are Sealey considered to be good/reliable?

AdrianC

kirkofski wrote: »

are Sealey considered to be good/reliable?

Perfectly decent lower-end brand, par with Draper & Clarke, imho.

skivenov

Sealey stuff is generally good. I have had the all-steel version of that same jack for around five years, and it wasn't new when I bought it. Around a year ago it stopped transitioning from the quick lift to loaded, I gave it a basic strip down, clean up and fresh oil and it's been fine since. I've used it far more than most home users would, and used it to lift Transit vans one end at a time without a problem.

I would question if that one is worth paying the extra for. The one I have tends to go for about £80 - £90 new on ebay last time I looked, and on a guess, it weighs about the same as that half aluminium one.

It won't go under low, low cars as it is, but I just drive them onto a bit of wood to give the extra inch of ground clearance before jacking.

I also have a smaller 2 tonne Halfords jack (£35 on their site today) that I bought to get out of a pickle. I've had it about 2 years, it lives in the back of the van and gets used for all kind of use and abuse jobs when I'm not at the workshop or the big jack's in use. For what it is, I can't fault it. The only criticisms I have about it are the same ones I've level at any small trolley jack (smaller saddles don't spread weight well, needs to be on a good surface). The upside is that I can lift it one-handed, keep it in the boot and it's been totally dependable.

Wig

OMG you have way too much money. If your cars are worth loads of money eg ferarri etc then you can pay a garage to do it, if you have the kind of cars that everyone else has then you don't need to have a jack as expensive as those....think of the room they will occupy in the garage aswell.

I have a 2 tonne jack from Halfords, bought about 20 - 25 years ago for £20. and I've constantly seen the same jack design since then in various shops like Lidl, £20 - £25.
Here
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-2-tonne-diy-trolley-jack-ctj2b

and here
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/ctj2l-2-tonne-long-diy-trolley-jack

I don't jack on the sills very often, but when I did, I have made a bit of wood that fits exactly into the cup on the jack, the bit of wood has a slot through the diameter which fits around the sill very snugly. But I generally always just push the jack under the car from the side behind the front wheels and put a flat bit of wood on a strong point of the chassis, works every time.

I agree you should use axle stands if you are under the car , but for a wheel change or a brake inspection you might aswell leave it on the jack.

And as the user above says, even if your car is stupid low you can easily drive it onto a bit of wood or concrete block to get the jack underneath.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Depends on how long you want it to last, i semi retired my last one after over 25 years heavy service, a British made Sealey, still use it but for when i need two jacks.

Replacement is a Weber, not cheap but then my limbs and life arn't cheap either., this one...http://www.weberuk.com/shop/standard-trolley-jacks/wdk20/

londonTiger

AdrianC wrote: »

Perfectly decent lower-end brand, par with Draper & Clarke, imho.

Draper is very low end. Clarke and Sealey are much better than that.

Mind you that £25 (or was it £20) LIDL jack is just generic rebranded. sold by sealey, halfords and i beleive clarke too.

Rodney_Trotter

londonTiger wrote: »

Draper is very low end. Clarke and Sealey are much better than that.

Mind you that £25 (or was it £20) LIDL jack is just generic rebranded. sold by sealey, halfords and i beleive clarke too.

What in general or their budget stuff or the whole range?

Knipex is very good kit.

londonTiger

to be honest. I've only evaluated their budget/diy stuff

Not their professional range. Their budget/DIY stuff were extremely low quality.

AdrianC

londonTiger wrote: »

to be honest. I've only evaluated their budget/diy stuff

Not their professional range. Their budget/DIY stuff were extremely low quality.

Compared to Silverline...?

londonTiger

AdrianC wrote: »

Compared to Silverline...?

Sl equally rubbish

Again good for the odd job one in a blue moon. But for jobs that you do regularly I recommend you spend the money for a decent bit of kit.