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Most drivers look to professional mechanics for vehicle maintenance as they are unable to carry out simple repairs to their cars due to a lack of appropriate equipment and limited knowledge. However, most common repairs, such as changing spark plugs, brake pad replacements, and oil changes can be easily managed in the environs of your own garage.
Similarly, any work that needs to be carried out behind the wheel well or under the car can be easily managed with the help of a reliable and good quality lifting jack. Here we will review some top portable jacks and mention their various features to make it easy for car drivers to choose a product that gives them easy access to the components of their cars that need repairing.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Portable Car Jack
- OUR TOP PICK: Pro-Lift F-767
- RUNNER-UP: Arcan ALJ3T
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Blackhawk B6350
Table of Contents
Comparison Chart of the Best Portable Car Jacks
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When Would a Portable Car Jack Come in Handy?
A portable car jack offers convenience and utility to users. They are handy and can help in the following ways:
Lift a Heavy Vehicle
Getting your car to a mechanic for minor maintenance work can cost quite a lot of money. A portable car jack is an indispensable, time-saving tool that can help you take care of minor repairs easily at home. You can safely raise any vehicle, even a lawnmower, given that your jack is placed on a level surface.
Change Brake Oil or Transmission Fluid With Ease
Portable jacks are very easy to use and require minimal effort, thus making it easier to change brake pad or oils in very little time. You can use a low-profile car jack to raise most low-sitting cars and get easy access to the transmission.
Eliminates Waiting For Roadside Assistance
These items are designed with wheels that make it easy to roll them around in your garage. Even if you blow a tire while you are on the road, these tools can make it easy to change the tire, thus eliminating the need to call a tow company.
What Size of Jack Do I Need For My Car?
The size of the item suitable for your vehicle greatly depends on the weight of your car. It is ideal to invest in a jack that can lift more than the weight of your car. Typically a two-ton jack would be enough to carry out maintenance work on a regular car such as Altima, Civic, etc.
According to experts, the rule of thumb is to get a jack that is rated for at least three-quarters of your vehicle’s gross weight. Therefore, a one-and-a-half jack can easily support 4,000lbs, or if your car weighs 2,500lbs, it will be best to use a two-ton jack.
Review of the Best Portable Car Jacks
Choosing the wrong product can result in an accident causing injury to the person underneath. In some cases, a rusty unit could even cause an infection after coming in to contact with an open wound.
Therefore, it is best to choose a product that is durable, has some good reviews online, and is made by a well-known company. Following are some of the top-rated products that will surely fulfill your requirements:
Best Overall:
Pro-Lift F-767
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers have used this product on their cars as well as their riding lawnmower and have had no issues with lifting. It provides them with enough room under the car to get on their back and check things out. They find the Pro-Lift F-767 very economical and are very happy with their purchase as it offers good value for their money.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Pro-Lift F-767 is a great tool for working on your car. It is very easy to transport as it comes fitted with a central handle. This easy to grip handle makes it easy to carry this jack easily from the storage to your car by using just one hand. Moreover, this jack has a low profile, thus ensuring that it can easily lift low clearance vehicles.
Who Will Use This Most
This jack is designed with many safety features that make it ideal for use with most cars. Its lifting arm is powered by hydraulics and is fitted with a patented bypass device, which eliminates any chance of overextending the jack. It also has a safety valve that protects the jack from overloading.
It’s lifting range of 3 ½ inches to 14 inches makes it perfect for vehicles with performance suspension setups. In addition, its smooth steel wheels make it easier to drag this jack around the floor of your garage.
Bottom Line
The Pro-Lift F-767 has exceptional build quality. It is constructed from heavily reinforced steel, thus providing it with the required strength to withstand two tons of pressure. This product is guaranteed to last a long time. It is covered with a grey finishing coat that protects this product from rusting, thus ensuring further durability.
Runner-up:
Arcan ALJ3T
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers report that this item is much lighter than their old jack. It delivers amazing performance for a three-ton floor jack. When it comes to lowering this jack, they find that it is very easy to ease it down. It offers outstanding value for money and is much lighter than their old jack. Its smooth operation and durable built ensure them this will be the last jack they will ever need.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Arcan ALJ3T is an amazing product as it is the perfect example of lightweight durability. Its streamlined and sleek design is highly impressive. It weighs only 56 pounds and is seven inches in height, which makes it incredibly portable and easy to store when not in use. We find these features particularly remarkable as they make it a great jack to use both at the track and at home.
Who Will Use This Most
With the minimum lift height of just three ¾ inches, the Arcan ALJ3T is ideal for sports and imported cars that have low side skirts. However, its high lift capacity also makes it best for large vehicles like some SUVs and vans. It is designed with a fortified lift arm that provides increased strength, thick side plates, and bypass valves that ensure the durability and reliability of this product.
Bottom Line
This portable jack has a three-ton capacity and lifts to an impressive height of 18 1/8 inches. Moreover, this jack is able to get under low-profile cars easily. Its dual pistons provide fast-rising, smooth action and are designed with a dust shield that prevents hydraulic contamination. It provides users with easy maneuverability and stability with its protective rubber saddle pad, and ball-bearing mounted wheels.
Best for the Money:
Blackhawk B6350
PROS
CONS
What Recent buyers Report
The first thing that the buyers find impressive about this jack is that it is a sturdy unit, constructed with wide wheels that roll smoothly even on uneven garage floors. Another feature that buyers consider a plus point is its economical price. It has a long, convenient handle that makes it easy to use.
Buyers were able to raise this jack to its full height with just three or four pumps when there was no load on it. And when they released it, it went down completely in just three or four seconds.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The Blackhawk B6350 is constructed with heavy-duty, high-quality steel to ensure a tight tolerance for exceptional performance. This aircraft-grade metal makes it easy to handle and keeps it light.
We particularly like this feature as it comes in handy when you are doing heavy-duty lifting in your shop or using it in the fast-paced world of racing. Moreover, it provides users with a maximum lift height of 22-inches, which ensures plenty of workroom.
Who Will Use This Most
This item is perfect for individuals who work on sports cars and competition vehicles that have a low profile. It can also be used to repair diesel-powered trucks and larger vehicles. Moreover, it is suitable for professionals as well as the DIY mechanic who usually works on light trucks and cars. Although it is typically marketed for racing, its user-friendly design makes it easy to use for first-timers also.
Bottom Line
Whether you are looking for a durable and reliable unit for the shop or for use in the racing industry, this Blackhawk B6350 is ideal for you. It is best for both agricultural and industrial use. This strong and portable unit weighs 90 pounds and fits in the class of 3.5 tons. It is designed with various safety measures that ensure resistance to failure and optimal performance.
Best Portable Hydraulic Car Jack:
Arcan Jack XL20
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
Recent buyers are very happy with this unit’s low profile as it makes oil change a breeze. It maneuvers and rolls easily on the garage floor; while it’s up and down action is very smooth. Some buyers have also found it to be the ideal jack to get under their lawnmower, to change the tire, sharpen the blades by hand, or to put the drive belt back on. They also like the fact that it comes well-packed with perfect documentation.
Why it Stands Out to Us
We find this aluminum jack to be one of the best products as it works seamlessly and is able to lift most vehicles with minimal ease. It has high-quality steel construction and a comfortable yet solid handle that makes this unit durable and long-lasting. Since it is a low profile unit, it easily fits under most low profile vehicles, including the latest sports car models.
Who Will Use This Most
This compact and versatile jack is able to carry out its functions perfectly and with complete ease. It is designed with a dual pump that ensures rapid lifting, thus saving time and energy. It also has a universal joint release that offers precise control over lifting and lowering of the vehicle.
Its 45.3-inch handle is fitted with a bumper pad while the safety valve makes it a safe and durable jack that is ideal for every car owner. It can lift vehicles from a minimum of 3.5 inches, thus making it ideal for owners of low profile vehicles.
Bottom Line
This premium quality stainless steel jack is a good quality tool for professionals and DIY mechanics. In addition, it is one of the most affordable low profile jacks that can lift up to two tons of weight. It is designed with heavy-duty wheels that do not get damaged easily even after rough use.
The reasonable length of this jack makes the lifting process pretty convenient as less force needs to be applied. It is an excellent choice for people who want a reliable and good quality low profile jack for their shop or home garage.
Best Quick Jack Portable Car Jack:
BL-5000SLX by QuickJack
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
After using this jack, most recent buyers are wondering why they waited so long to buy this product. They completely love it as it has made maintenance of their cars easy and secure. It is very easy to assemble and makes lifting the car so much easier. They also like weight capacity, which makes it perfect for big vehicles.
Why it Stands Out to Us
With powerful performance and ready to assemble set up, the BL5000SLX by Quick Jack is the ultimate tool that is able to work with most vehicles and takes up very little space. We particularly like the fact that as this jack is able to lift 5000lbs, special attention is paid to make this a safe unit.
The dual-position safety lock bars engage automatically as soon as the lift rises. This ensures your car’s stability while it is being lifted, thus allowing you to work without any tension or worry.
Who Will Use This Most
This product is not only suitable for large vehicles but is also ideal for low-sitting ones. It offers plenty of height and can slide easily under most vehicles. The frame lifts up to 17.2 inches, and when used with rubber blocks, it reaches almost 22.5 inches. This adjustable height makes this lift ideal for almost all vehicle owners.
In addition, it is very easy to use as it requires just the push of a button to lift your car within seconds.
Bottom Line
The BL5000SLX by Quick Jack is a popular and versatile car lift model. Its incredible safety features, 5000lbs lift capacity, and impressive lift point spread make this unit perfect for many vehicle sizes and types. This revolutionary car lift system eliminates the need for jacks and ramps and gets your car ready for maintenance in just a few seconds.
How to Jack Up a Car
A jack is one of the most important tools in a mechanics kit. Not only do you need in your home garage, but you should also keep it with you whenever you are on the road. After all, you never know when you might need it. Although jacks are very easy to use, some precautions must be taken to ensure user safety. The following steps will tell you how you can use a jack safely:
- Make sure that your car is parked on a flat ground made of concrete or asphalt. An uneven ground could cause the jack to shift, which could result in an injury. Set the parking brake. In case of a manual transmission, set the car in first gear.
- Place wheel chocks behind the wheels to prevent it from rolling away unexpectedly.
- Your vehicle will have several points along the body which are designated to be jack points. Place the jack under such a point to prevent any damage to the body of the car. If you are not sure about these points, you can look them up in your car’s manual.
- The correct way to raise the jack depends on the kind of jack that you have. If you own a scissor jack, you will need to turn the rod. This will push the top and bottom of the jack apart, thus lifting the vehicle. However, if you own a hydraulic jack, you will need to crank its rod up and down to pump hydraulic fluid into the cylinder in order to raise the jack.
- Make sure to place jack stands if you will be working under the car. However, you will not need these if you are going to be changing the tire.
- Once you have finished your work, remove the jack stands and lower the car back down.
If you are still unclear on how you can jack up your car safely, you can watch the following video as it explains this procedure in detail.
Conclusion
Lifting your car to make some simple adjustments, such as changing the oil or replacing a tire, can be quite a daunting task. You will be hauling tons of hard metal that is why you need a jack that you can rely on.
The above products have been chosen while keeping your safety in mind. Make sure that you read these reviews before deciding on a product so that you can find a product that is not only safe but is also perfect for you.
People Also Ask
Whether you are a garage owner, a car enthusiast, or a car owner, a portable jack is a tool that you cannot work without. However, it is best to have at least some basic knowledge about these tools. Following are some questions that are frequently asked by car owners before they pick a particular model:
What is a Car Jack?
A car jack is a tool that allows users to lift their car off the ground so that they can easily perform maintenance on their cars, such as change a tire.
Where to Jack up a Car?
It is vital to place the jack at the right place because it might not be able to hold the weight of the car for long if the placement is wrong. If you want to raise the front or the rear wheel, you should place the jack behind or in front of the wheel, respectively. If you want to raise the whole rear or front part, it is best to position the jack halfway between the two wheels.
You can also check your car’s manual to find the dedicated points for placing your jack. Also, make sure to never to place your jack on the oil pan, radiator, and the steering rack.
Arcan ALJ3T 3-Ton Quick Rise Aluminum Floor Jack
How Much is a Car Jack?
Car jacks are of various types, sizes, and shapes. They have different load capabilities, which make them suitable for different cars. There are some models that are available at very economical rates, while some are high-end models. You can find a jack for as low as $10, while some models exceed the $200 mark.
While it is important to invest in a reliable unit in order to ensure your safety, this does not necessarily mean that you need to purchase an expensive unit. You should pay particular attention to customer reviews and your own requirements when looking for a suitable model.
How Does a Car Jack Work?
There are two main types of car jacks – mechanical and hydraulic. A mechanical jack works by turning the handle to wind the top and bottom of the jack apart, thus lifting the vehicle. A hydraulic jack, on the other hand, uses hydraulic pressure to lift the car. These jacks are designed with four wheels and a long handle that makes it easy to position them under the car to carry out the necessary repairs.
