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Fast Lube Jacks vs. Traditional Jacks: Which One Offers Greater Efficiency?

Fast Lube vs Traditional Jacks: Efficiency Comparison
Fast Lube vs Traditional Jacks: Efficiency Comparison

The 2 most common versions of jacks available currently are fast lube jacks and the older, traditional ones. An easy-to-use and high-quality jack is essential for vehicle maintenance, whether you are a DIY enthusiast, a motorhead, or a professional auto technician. The 2 most common versions of jacks available currently are fast lube jacks and the older, traditional ones. Fast lube jacks have gained greater currency over the past few years and are a staple for mechanics since these can help you save at least $24,000 every year on tire rotation services!

But which ones of these are the best and how do they match up against each other? If you have read this far, chances are you already have a good idea about heavy duty jacks for trucks and related sets of equipment. Still, let us begin with a brief introduction of the 2 types.

Benefits of Fast Lube Jacks:

  • The element of speed: Fast lube jacks are incredibly quick in their operation. They can lift a minivan or a large SUV in seconds, making them ideal for any environment where time is critical.
  • A lot more user-friendly: They are designed to be a lot more user-friendly. The hydraulics work better in these sets. 
  • More portable: Mostly fast jacks are super-portable, making them easy to move around and to use in several different locations and conditions.
  • Safer operations: All modern fast lube jacks come with built-in safety features expressly designed to prevent accidents.

Decoding Fast Lube Jacks

Fast lube jack also known as quick jacks, are designed primarily for both speed and convenience. Quick jacks are very common in quick vehicle service stations where time really is of the essence. Fast lubes are hydraulic jacks that can lift a vehicle quickly and with minimal effort. The design template typically includes a lever system that allows for easy operation. 

Drawbacks of Fast Lube Jacks:

  • Can be expensive: Did you see the list of benefits these heavy duty pit jacks offer? On the downside, it makes them more expensive than the standard versions. 
  • Require more maintenance: While this may or may not sound like a drawback, given that tools of all sorts require care, these jacks require more maintenance to ensure seamless functionality. 

Traditional Jacks

As the name suggests, these jacks have been around for a long time and are almost as old as vehicles themselves. They come in various forms, such as bottle jacks, scissor jacks, and floor jacks. These jacks rely solely on their mechanical advantage to lift a vehicle.

Benefits of Traditional Jacks:

  • The affordability factor: Traditional jacks are almost always less expensive than fast lube jacks.
  • More durable: Traditional jacks are built to last and are capable of withstanding heavy & even neglectful use over longer periods.
  • Extremely simple to use: Because they have fewer moving parts, maintaining and using them is much easier. In comparison, the fast jack is a Swiss watch!
  • More versatile: Traditional jacks can be used for a variety of applications beyond just lifting vehicles.

Drawbacks of Traditional Jacks:

  • Time consuming: Lifting a vehicle with a standard jack requires extra time and effort.
  • More physical effort needed: Traditional jacks require a lot of physical effort to operate, making it off-putting to many users.
  • Portability problems: Some traditional jacks, floor jacks being a good example, are bulky and not designed to be carried around.

Comparing Efficiency Levels 

Let’s now compare their efficiency based on a few key factors, namely speed, ease of use, the price factor, and versatility. 

  • Speed: Based on swiftness of operations, fast lube jacks are the clear winners. They can lift a vehicle in seconds, something traditional jacks can take several minutes to do, especially if you’re using a scissor jack or even a bottle jack. If you run a service station, for example, and need to handle multiple vehicles simultaneously or in short spans, fast lube jacks are irreplaceable. 
  • Ease of Use:
  • Quick jacks are designed to be easily accessed. The hydraulic assistance combined with lever systems makes lifting heavy vehicles a breezy affair. Traditional jacks are more cumbersome and certainly more physically demanding. If more efficient use is what you need, go for fast lube jacks. 
  • The price factor: Traditional jacks are a lot more affordable than fast lube jacks. If budgetary constraints are a big concern, traditional jacks might well be the superior option. Don’t forget the long-term benefits and potential time savings offered by fast lubes, however.  
  • Versatility: Traditional jacks are more versatile in their applications. Do you also need to sometimes lift heavy machinery or require supporting machinery during extensive repairs of, say, buildings? If so, opt for the older variants since fast lube jacks are designed specifically for lifting vehicles.  

A few other considerations

  • How frequently will you use it: If lifting your vehicle is something you do very often, opt for the speed and ease of use of fast lube jacks.
  • Types of vehicles you use: This is an issue that only automotive insiders are aware of. The type and weight of vehicles you’re working with should always influence your choice. Fast lube jacks are especially designed for passenger cars and light trucks, while traditional jacks can handle a wider range of weights and are also used as heavy duty jacks for trucks.

For example, if you’re working on your trusty pickup or a van, it would make more sense to use a traditional jack. Likewise, trust a fast jack to lift a medium-to-large passenger car or a hatchback, or a coupe with ease

  • Budget: Assess your budget and allow for the long-term benefits of the 2 types. Yes, fast lube jacks do have a higher upfront cost. Then again, their efficiency can lead to cost savings in a high-volume (read professional) work environment.

And the winner is… 

As it stands, fast lube jacks and the grand old traditional jacks have their place in vehicular maintenance. Fast jacks are a lot more efficient in terms of speed and ease of use, traditional jacks are a lot more affordable and exceedingly versatile, and are suitable for a range of applications, as well as the occasional, one-time use. 

Ultimately, the choice boils down to your specific needs, the amount of money you can invest, and your work environment. If you’re a professional and are intent on scaling up your repairs and fitments business, you need both speed and convenience in a time-bound setting, and you require fast lube jacks! 

But if you want versatility and lower prices over everything else, traditional jacks are certainly a better fit. 

The top 3 Stan Design pit jacks available right now:

Pit Jacks J7500HFL 

  • Capacity- 75,000 lbs. 
  • Narrow 34.5” Top Beam 
  • Heavy Duty Hydraulics 

Pit Jacks J7000HFL 

  • Capacity- 7,000 lbs. 
  • Narrow 34.5” Top Beam 
  • Heavy Duty Hydraulics 

Pit Jacks J9000HFL 

  • Capacity- 9,000 lbs. 
  • Narrow 34.5” Top Beam 
  • Heavy Duty Hydraulics 

get in touch!

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Bridge Jacks Floor jacks Hydraulic Jacks Pit Jacks Truck Jacks

A Guide to Choosing the Best Truck Jack for Your Truck

So, you are a proud truck owner! One thing’s for certain: trucks don’t come cheap and truck owners love their vehicles. Timely servicing keeps trucks up and running for long and ensures a solid return on investment. When it comes to truck maintenance or upgrades, you need the proper tools to go about the business. And the truck jack is the one indispensable tool you can’t do without.

You’ll have noticed there’s a wide variety of truck jacks available on the market. But which one’s the perfect fit for your beast? In this article, we’ll cut the clutter and shed light on the key factors that’ll help you decide on the perfect heavy-duty floor jack, pit jack, or rolling jack for your truck. Read on!

Knowing your truck’s weight is crucial

Trucks are rugged vehicles built to haul around heavy loads across all kinds of terrain. Tarmac or no tarmac, trucks have to carry on performing their duties and this means they have a lot of chunky metal parts and reinforced sections for rigorous use and durability. All this adds to the weight of the vehicle, making trucks heavy – like real heavy!

Trucks can weigh anywhere between 3 and 25 tons, sometimes even more. So, how heavy is your truck? If you don’t know that, you can’t decide on the best truck jack for your vehicle. Truck jacks perform the all-important task of lifting vehicles for undercarriage repairs and maintenance. So, you need a tool that won’t buckle under the weight of your truck.

Heavy-duty truck jacks come with a weight capacity rating. This tells you about the load-bearing capabilities of the tool. Always go for a truck jack with a higher weight capacity than your truck’s weight. This will ensure a safe lifting operation and longevity of the jack. Savvy?

Now, let’s dive straight into the details of all the different jacks you can buy for your mean machine.

Heavy Duty Floor Jacks

Tough, compact, and user-friendly – that’s how you describe heavy-duty floor jacks. Floor jacks have been serving truck owners forever! These cool tools use a hydraulic system to amplify the pressure applied on their handlebars into the monstrous force required to lift big and bulky trucks. Heavy-duty floor jacks typically have a low collapsed profile for easy access to a truck’s undercarriage. Leveled trucks, lifted trucks, military vehicles, EVs – throw anything at them and they’ll perform equally well.

Stan Design offers you a wide variety of heavy-duty floor jacks with weight capacity ranging from 12 tons (the TJ12S Scorpion Floor Jack) to 25 tons (the MJ25 Scorpion Floor Jack).

Pit Jacks:

Quiz time! What keeps the fleets up and running all across North America? You guessed it right – it’s the intricate network of workshops dotting the landscape of Canada and the US.

Hundreds of thousands of truck owners in North America rely on truck workshops for maintenance and repair jobs. And the one tool these workshops rely on is the pit jack. These heavy-duty truck jacks are designed to fit into service pits and lift big and bulky trucks smoothly without compromising on safety.

Innovative products like the Scorpion Pit Jacks from Stan Design employ pneumatic systems to boost their hydraulic mechanisms, ensuring some serious weight capacity. For instance, the PJ35S Scorpion Pit Jack can lift trucks as heavy as 35,000 lbs.!

Pit jacks also have inbuilt safety mechanisms to ensure that vehicles are secured in their elevated position, and stackable adapters ensure that they suit every truck type thrown at them.

Rolling Jacks:

Workshops with car lifts prefer the rolling jack as a valuable tool. These jacks can slide under the lift and allow specific sections of the truck to be lifted for maintenance or repairs. Couple of things to consider before choosing a rolling jack:

  • Safety and efficiency are equally important. Make sure the rolling jack you’re planning to buy has a proper locking mechanism.
  • Reinforced parts made of high-grade steel – that’s what you’re looking for when buying a rolling jack. It ensures safety and longevity.

What to Look for in the Perfect Truck Jack

Material and Build Quality:

  • Truck jacks are made of steel. We all know that. But the quality of the alloy and the construction of the tool matter. Make sure your truck jack has a robust build strong enough to endure decades of heavy use.
  • What’s the biggest enemy of any tool? Moisture. Rust can wear down machine parts quickly, leading to critical failure. Make sure your truck jack comes coated with corrosion-resistant materials for longevity.
  • Reinforced components, a wide base, and sturdy lifting arms are what you are looking for in the perfect truck jack.

Lifting Speed and Efficiency:

A wise man once said, you can make up for lost money but not time. The longer your truck sits in the garage, the more time and business opportunities you waste. So, you need a truck jack that operates quickly and smoothly.

Portability and Storage:

Truckers are constantly on the move. So, it’s in their best interest to carry a heavy-duty floor jack that’s compact, reasonably light, and portable. A floor jack with a low collapsed profile can be a lifesaver for overloaded trucks with saggy suspension.

Safety Features:

We can go on and on all day on the importance of safety features. Can you trust your truck jack to keep you safe when working under the vehicle? Here are a few things to consider as safety features:

  • Safety valves.
  • Locking mechanisms.
  • Sturdy base.

Carrying jack stands is a good idea. They share the load on the jack, increasing the tool’s safety and longevity at the same time.

Endnote:

Buying a truck jack should be a one-time investment. Your favorite truck-lifting solution will go through a lot of abuse during its time in the garage. So, it better be made of high-quality materials. Whether you buy a heavy-duty floor jack, pit jack, or rolling jack, prioritize robustness, reliability, and safety. Always go for time-tested products manufactured by popular brands. Remember, saving a few dollars upfront doesn’t always prove to be a good decision in the long-term.

Happy lifting!

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