Importance of Load Capacity in Jack Selection
The load capacity of different jack types is determined by the amount of weight it is designed to carry. Based on the mode of operation of a jack type, whether mechanical or hydraulic, its load capacity may vary widely.
Usually measured in pounds or kilograms, a typical jack type has a load capacity ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 pounds (about 2267.96 kg), with heavy-duty jack models handling up to 10,000 pounds (about 4535.92 kg) of weight.
The importance of load capacity in selecting a jack type is great because it directly affects the health of the lifting, suspending and lowering process, as well as the safety of the personnel and the vehicle involved.
In other words, if a smaller jack is employed to lift heavy trucks beyond the load capacity of the jack, for instance a generic floor jack or scissor jack, then it is bound to fumble the process and damage your vehicle and may inflict indirect but severe bodily harm to the people nearby.
On the other hand, even using a heavy-duty jack for lifting small cars is not recommended. Even though it might sound like a harmless idea, in our experience such cases reduce the speed of lifting when smaller weights are involved.
Since the jacks have heavier infrastructure for lifting small cars, knee-jerk reactions within the machinery allow sustained injuries on the car being lifted.
Jack Types and Load Capacities
The above discussion paves the way for comparing the most common jack types and their different load capacities.
- Floor Jack – These are the most popular jack types used in lifting heavy weights, be it small cars or heavy-duty military-grade trucks. Their load capacities vary according to the type of car they are used to lift. For instance, the Scorpion floor jacks by Stan Design Inc. are built to lift anywhere from 24000 lbs.- 28000 lbs.
- Fast Lube Jack – These are manually operated machines that aid in tire servicing like tire rotation, lube servicing etc., transforming your commercial garage into a proper automobile station. For instance, the fast lube jacks by Stan Design Inc. are built to lift anywhere from 6000 lbs.- 9000 lbs.
- Rolling Bridge Jack – These jacks allow a special type of lifting, by aiding automobile lift systems found in big garages. These are very costly and are prone to malfunction. For instance, the rolling bridge jacks by Stan Design Inc. are built to lift anywhere from 6000 lbs.- 50000 lbs.
- Pit Jack – These tools are jacks specially designed for fitting into service pits of commercial garages or automotive shops. For instance, the pit jacks by Stan Design Inc. are built to lift anywhere from 12000 lbs.- 35000 lbs. Not only that, but they are also built with powerful air motors for lifting in a few seconds.
Calculating Load Requirements
Calculating Load Requirements
Calculating the load capacity for jack types involves understanding the mechanics of the jack and the weight it needs to support. This is the part where it gets technical.
Here is a basic formula to calculate the force required for a jack without considering friction:
F=2πRQp
Where:
- ( F ) is the effort force at the end of the arm or handle (in lb or N)
- ( Q ) is the weight or load (in lb or N)
- ( p ) is the pitch – distance or lead of thread in one turn (in inches or m)
- ( R ) is the lever-arm radius (in inches or m)
We will not bore you further with information that you need not confuse yourself with. This should be taken into account by manufacturers before they design jack variants for specialized processes.
In fact, this is an important step in distinguishing whether your provider understands your requirements and can furnish you with the right tool or not.
Factors Affecting Load Capacity
There are several common factors that affect the load capacity of all jack types. Below we will discuss 3 of these which are comprehensive enough to be applicable universally.
- Mode of Operation – Whether the jack operates on a mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, air motor powered, hybrid, or any other mode greatly affects its load capacity. This happens because some jacks require mechanical hand pumping to lift a particular load while other modern and more efficient lifting systems like hydraulic jacks can lift loads easily within a few seconds with the push of a button or two.
- Environmental Factors – Where the jack is placed- that is, its immediate physical environment- before and after its use is extremely important in determining not only its load capacity but also its longevity. A dirty and damp environment will often cause oxidation and lead to corrosion of parts, rendering the tool unsafe to use or worse, virtually ineffective.
- Build Material – This determines the load capacity of each jack type, along with other physical attributes like its size and portability. Whether a jack is made of high-grade steel with fine iron bearings or regular plastic material determines how much load it can lift. Also, a bigger jack can lift heavier loads and vice versa.
Stan Design Inc. Jack Types with Different Load Capacities
Stan Design Inc. is the most reputable and trusted name in the truck jacking industry in Canada and North America.
With over 25+ years of experience in the field of designing and manufacturing jacks like floor jacks, pit jacks, rolling bridge jacks, fast lube jacks, etc., they are the masters of understanding your requirements- whether for personal or commercial use- and helping you accordingly.
You can browse the second section of this blog itself to arm yourself with crucial information about the load capacities of their different jack types.
Not only do they provide jack types with a wide range of load capacity, but they also manufacture jacks in both air bags and hydraulic design variants.
This empowers you to load and lift your vehicles effortlessly and safely without feeling a hole burning through your pockets!
