I went to jack up the front so that my big ol' self could crawl underneath and change the oil. My Craftsman floor jack that's 13 mo old no longer works. This is the second Craftsman jack that I've had in the past 3 years. They are not warranted like other Craftsman tools and seem to be junk. So, what jacks do y'all use? I'd like to stay under $200.

I know this is more than you wanted to spend but this jack is absolutely bulletproof and will last forever.I use this jack all day, every day and never had a problem. It is actually built more solid than their 3 1/2 ton model which my dealer told me before I ordered it and saw what he meant when it came in and I compared them side to side. He said he sells a ton of them and everyone loves them. The price is a little steep at 249.99 but if you check with a local dealer it cold possibly be going on sale in the future. I got mine on sale for 199.99. It has the lightning lift feature which raises it to the frame with a couple of effortless quick pumps instead of pumping a cheap jack dozens of times to even get it to the frame.

It is part #jsa250ma just put that in the search box and it will come up.
Mac Tools
The picture on their page doesn't do it justice, it is beefy as all hell.

+1 on craftsman junk besides the handtools.

I refuse to go in to sears anymore.

I had one of their jacks, used it once, didn't work after that. Brought it back, was informed I wasted a trip with no receipt. Brought it back with a receipt, got a new one and guess what? worked once and I nearly threw it through the garage door. On the third replacement, it did the same thing. So now I've got this damn shiney jack sitting in the middle of my garage that I seethe and foam at the mouth everytime I see.

I ended up getting a harbor freight 3 ton jack. It's got about the same lift as the craftsman SUV jack and with all the deals, sales, and coupons, got it for like 40$.

Has worked *great* every single time for the past 4 or 5 months.

X2 on the Harbor Freight jack. Mine has a 5 - 31 inch lift range. I got it for $100. It has worked perfectly for 5 years.

Mine's a Michelen brand I got from Sams Club about 4 years ago. It's made for higher-clearance vehicles and has the nifty one pump lift that brings the carriage to your frame with one pump. I've used it on the X and the Mustang for oil changes, tire rotations, and maintenance without fail. Cost me $85.

anyone had any luck with the husky brand?? We don't have Harbor Freight so I am kinda limited, between home depot, sears(not happening), and Grainger.

This is the jack I got:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34271

I went through to the checkout screen, and it seemed to claim 8.99 for shipping. Not too bad if you can find one of the 20% off coupons on the 'net. Dunno if they work on internet orders or just in-store though.

I have the same one and I really like it.

$55 and it came the right colors:



Local tool sale. It has worked great for years.

I use a 2 1/2 ton Michelin jack, with the same "speed lift" feature (I like that). Cost me $88 Cdn at Canadian Tire (our auto and hardware store). Lifts my X and my other vehicle (plus all of my friends cars who do not own a jack...) with ease. Good luck.
PK

Wow, you guys have not been lucky with Sears. My Sears jack has worked perfectly for several years. Granted, I only use it twice a year to change two trucks from winter to summer tires but it works like a champ.

And I am NOT a Sears fan either, in general.

I've got a 3 1/2 ton version (I think it's labeled a powertools) that I picked up about 4 years ago at Kragen/Shucks/Checkers for about $80. Hasn't failed me yet and it works great for my Super Duty too!

Axle

I like the Mac but it is a little more than I wanted to spend. I have looked at the Michelin jack at Sam's and it looks like a decent unit. Advance Auto has one that has 22 1/2" lift and a 2 year warranty for around $60.00. Sears has good tools but the jacks are terrible.

nice to see i'm not the only one getting screwed over by craftsman jacks. my first one leaked oil through the shaft after the first use and my second one started doing the same after maybe 10 uses. i'll have to check around for some of these other ones.

Yeah I wont buy another craftsman jack. Mine has already shit and I dont use it that often.

Just realize they are ALL built in China or Taiwan these days, even Lincoln jacks have models built in China. Not that there is anything really wrong with that but here is the catch, there is no rebuild kits for them. I tried to get a Craftsman rebuilt a few years ago by a hydraulic specialist I know and he said just buy a new one that fits your needs for as cheap as possible unless you look to spend $250+ for an American made jack that can be rebuilt and passed on from generation to generation.

That's fantastic. Gillette's Razor and Blade's business model now applies to car jacks. You keep the jack stands, and replace the jack.

On a side note, I bought a craftsman floor jack just two weeks before I read this thread. I hope I still have my reciept!

I have the "suv" jack from craftsman which the seals shit the bed after about 10 uses, I swapped out all the oil with the bars stop leak stuff and it seems ok for now probably about 8 good uses since. I know it will die again soon but it has worked as a temporary fix until I get enough scratch to drop on a $250 jack.

I live dangerously close to a Harbor Freight in my new house - less than a city block away. I think I might have to go pickup 2 of those $59.99 ones for my new workshop at the new house. I've seen some nice looking jacks in there before, they also sell some nice beefy looking jack stands, way stronger looking than the crap you see in Sears etc.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38847

Ok, so this is an old post and everything, but my buddy showed me this sears link the other day. Spend a few minutes looking at the reviews and count up all the positive ones out of the 40 or so they have.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0886747747.1182895445@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccggaddlflfilifcefecemldffidfko.0&pid=00950143000&cat=Mechanics+Tools&subcat=Lift+E quipment&vertical=TOOL&ihtoken=1

(hint, you can do it on roughly 2 fingers)

I can't believe sears keeps this up on their site, or at least pad it a bit more with some good reviews.

Yea, can you believe it! I have one of those and everything they say is true! I had some tires rotated at Sears and noticed they use the Michelin jack that Sam's sells. Wonder why!

I have a Craftsman and am satisfied for the 5 times a year I use it. But my story...

In Sears. Salesman: "Can I help you?"
Me: "I want to buy this jack"
Him: "We have none in stock and this is our floor model"
Me: "give me 10 off and I'll take it"
Him: "I can't sell this one. If I sell it, no one will buy more"
Me: WTF? You are losing a sale now! Get me some one above you"
New Manager: "Sorry, this is our last one"
Me "Did you graduate school?"
Sold for 20% off. Free stands.

I have a pair of these 6 ton stands from HF and they are excellent.