need a new trolly jack.

londonTiger

Had a few difficult situations caused by a cheap trolly jack from lidl.

Basically the wheels on them aren't great and the jack doesn't move forward as the jacking arm elevates.

Normally I try to line the jack up with the direction of the car but it's not always possible for every job. Today the jack bedded into the road and wouldn't move and the car was chucked as well, so the saddle slipped off the subframe and wedged inbetween the subframe and fuel tank, lucky it didn't puncture and the wheel was back on so it prevented any issues.

Anyway, not sure if it's down to the tiny wheels or the lumpy rocks used on the road that is causing the jack to stay put and not slide forward as it should. Perhaps a bigger jack with bigger wheels will work better.

Any suggestions?

londonTiger

I suppose I could also just use a scrap piece of plywood and use it with the jack so the wheels are free-er to move around.

Iceweasel

I have exactly the same problem - The little wheels at the back need to have the axles and the swivels well oiled to make sure the jack moves forward - but as you say that only works if you'r on hard ground.

I have a square of 19mm marine-ply to stop sinking on grass verges.

I can only use it on my Sprinter van as it's too high to get under the BMW.

If I was getting a new jack I'd go for a low entry one like the Draper one a friend of mine recommended.

Draper Stock no:31481, Part no TJ2-PRO-C. It is the 2 tonne version with low entry height of 72mm extending to 500mm.

Price is £79.99 + VAT.

Apart from the price - the main drawback is the weight - it is heavy, seriously heavy at 33 KG.

Maybe I'll just stick with the Lidl one.

arcon5

To be fair I think a lot of jacks would have trouble on grass or cobbly ground.
I've got a cheapo one, the lift isn't large enough and doesn't go high enough - nothing a block of wood doesn't resolve

FiremanDave

londonTiger wrote: »

Had a few difficult situations caused by a cheap trolly jack from lidl.

Basically the wheels on them aren't great and the jack doesn't move forward as the jacking arm elevates.

Normally I try to line the jack up with the direction of the car but it's not always possible for every job. Today the jack bedded into the road and wouldn't move and the car was chucked as well, so the saddle slipped off the subframe and wedged inbetween the subframe and fuel tank, lucky it didn't puncture and the wheel was back on so it prevented any issues.

Anyway, not sure if it's down to the tiny wheels or the lumpy rocks used on the [/B]road that is causing the jack to stay put and not slide forward as it should. Perhaps a bigger jack with bigger wheels will work better.

Any suggestions?

You shouldn't be doing unnecessary repairs on the road.

Iceweasel

I'm well aware of that Fireman D - I carry the trolley jack in the Sprinter to change a wheel if I have a puncture - the M-Benz jack is pretty poor and needs a lot of effort to turn the handle.

I forgot to mention that if weight is a problem then Costco do an all aluminium trolley jack - haven't a clue of the price though.

FiremanDave

Iceweasel wrote: »

I'm well aware of that Fireman D - I carry the trolley jack in the Sprinter to change a wheel if I have a puncture - the M-Benz jack is pretty poor and needs a lot of effort to turn the handle.

I forgot to mention that if weight is a problem then Costco do an all aluminium trolley jack - haven't a clue of the price though.

Nothing wrong in that.

But I do think our op services his car on the road.

AdrianC

After a recommendation elsewhere, I got a new trolley from SGS a few months back.

http://www.sgs-engineering.com/hydraulic-jacks/trolley-jacks
(2t low-profile)

Very impressed with it, especially for the price.

But expectations have to be realistic - you're putting a lot of weight onto small wheels, and on anything but the hardest of surfaces, they are going to dig in, good and hard.

forgotmyname

Maybe you should check back to the post you created before you bought that jack?

londonTiger

FiremanDave wrote: »

You shouldn't be doing unnecessary repairs on the road.

road in front of my house, just did a minor brake pad change, no harm done. i took the whole front end off for a radiator swap before. looked crazy and got people stopping and making comments, but is actually very simple procedure, just looks more daunting than it is.

Strider590

Unfortunately due to how roads are repaired these days, most trolley jacks will sink into the tarmac if used anywhere but the most well compacted part of the road.