Stan Design

Categories
Hydraulic Jacks Truck Jacks

Portable Hydraulic Jacks: A Lifesaver for Roadside Truck Repairs

Your car breaks down on the roadside way off the highway with no sign of help within the vicinity. You will at least have to contact the tow truck service, but it will be hours before they can reach you. You have a flat tire. What do you do?

A portable hydraulic jack is what you need in your compartment to get a quick fix. Heavy-duty hydraulic jacks save you the time and effort of waiting for help in situations which can be quickly investigated.

Of course they cannot fix big breakdowns, but for a flat tire, or a quick oil fix (given you stock up on the fluid too), portable hydraulic jacks for trucks come in handy, packing powerful heavy-duty performance.

What are Portable Hydraulic Jacks?

Portable heavy duty truck jacks for trucks work based on the law of fluid mechanics. The law states that when there’s a change in pressure at any point in a confined, incompressible fluid, that change is transmitted throughout the entire fluid without any loss. 

Simply put, the law states that if you push or squeeze one part of a fluid, the effect propagates to all other parts of the fluid. To understand the workings of a portable hydraulic jack, let us look at its broad components: 

  • Hydraulic Oil 
  • Reservoir or buffer or oil tank, 
  • Main cylinder or ram, 
  • Release valve, 
  • Control valve, 
  • Check valve, 
  • Lifting arm or pad, 
  • Hydraulic pump with piston or plunger, and 
  • Pump lever or handle.  

The reservoir or buffer, or oil tank is the physical compartment of the portable hydraulic jack that holds the hydraulic liquid or pump oil together when it is not in use. The control valve stays in a closed position when the heavy-duty hydraulic jack is not in use to prevent the accidental flow of oil. 

The piston is responsible for lifting a heavy load or weight. It is usually mechanically activated by shifting the positions of the handle or pump lever attached to it. This movement builds up pressure in the hydraulic fluid contained inside the reservoir or buffer tank of the heavy-duty hydraulic jacks. 

When the handle or lever of the hydraulic pump with piston or plunger is mechanically lowered or raised, it activates force and builds up pressure in the adjoining compartment, i.e., the reservoir or buffer tank containing the hydraulic fluid or pump’s oil, inside portable hydraulic jacks. 

The pressure created allows the fluid to move through a check valve into the ram or main cylinder, which then pops out of the main body of the portable hydraulic jack creating the force required to lift the load. 

This applied pressure is what transfers the oil from the pump through the check valve and into the main cylinder or the ram, which extends out of the heavy-duty hydraulic jack body. Finally, the release valve relieves the built pressure for easy retraction and lowering of the ram with the load on it, creating the required lifting force and lifting the load. 

How Portable heavy duty truck jacks Help You? 

In the previous section we explained how a heavy-duty hydraulic jack works. As opposed to pneumatic jacks, since these hydraulic jacks function based on fluid power they can lift heavy loads smoothly in a few seconds to minutes. This is perhaps the biggest way in which heavy-duty hydraulic jacks help you, but we will discuss more values it adds to your life in this section. 

  1. Safety– Heavy-duty hydraulic jacks are best known for the all-encompassing safety that they provide to the personnel handling them. Because of the operating mechanism of hydraulic systems, which by principle require fewer moving parts as compared to their mechanical or electrical counterparts, they are less prone to malfunction. Many jack manufacturers, on top of this, introduce sophisticated safety measures like in-built automatic lock systems which engage at different lifting levels or heights, giving the user more control over the loading process.
  2. Durability– The unique selling point of hydraulic systems is their capacity to load, lift, suspend, and lower safely heavy and expensive loads. Hydraulic jacks for trucks are durable enough to do just that. Owing to powerful hydraulic cylinders and manufacturer-specific reliability features, they can deliver a smooth ride to customers. For instance, jacks made with high-grade steel body and the finest quality zinc plated components with high gloss powder coat paint accessories allow enhanced functionality that resist corrosion and deterioration.
  3. Portability– Jacks must be portable enough to fit into and be carried around in car compartments for emergency breakdowns. Stan Design Inc. portable hydraulic jacks provide just that value to you. Their compact design- only 7.5”-8.25” collapsed height- enables them to fit virtually any undercarriage of a vehicle with the lowest chassis profile. This small footprint reduces floor space and does not take up much room, allowing for a low-profile high adjustability functionality.
  4. Adaptability– This brings us to our last point. Portable hydraulic jacks for trucks are highly flexible, making them very convenient for regular use. Each Stan Design Inc. heavy-duty hydraulic jack for trucks comes fitted with special roller bearing wheels that allow for effortless rolling and maneuvering. They also have convenient pull handles that make it easy to position the jack under the vehicle without any hand pumping required. This eliminates the need for additional stands or chocks, although they are adapted to be used with jack stands for other jobs if the requirement arises.

About Stan Design Inc.

Stan Design Inc. is a jack manufacturing and design company that has been in the business for more than 25 years. They produce the highest-quality lifting solutions by fusing the science of manufacturing with the art of creative design. Their portable hydraulic jacks provide a secure way to raise, lower, and suspend your heavy vehicles for upkeep and repairs. 

Heavy-duty hydraulic jacks help customers in a variety of industries, including aircraft, automotive, bridges, cable tensioning, house moving, construction, general industrial, laboratory, locomotive, marine, mobile home, railroad, shipbuilding, shoring and stabilizing such as for tunnels and mines, tractors, and trailers. 

Categories
Pit Jacks Truck Jacks

Top-Rated Portable Truck Jacks: Your Ultimate Guide

When it comes to lifting trucks, buses, and other heavy vehicles for undercarriage maintenance, the heavy-duty truck jack is the best tool one can have. Truck jacks come in a variety of types. Hydraulic floor jacks, pit jacks, bridge jacks, and pneumatic jacks are the most popular iterations. But if you are looking exclusively for portable truck jacks, nothing beats the good old-fashioned floor jack!

There are lots of different brands selling a plethora of portable heavy duty truck jacks. But what’s best for you? In this blog, we will look at our top picks for the best portable jacks on the market. We have intentionally left out pit jacks, bridge jacks, and Fast Lube Rolling Pit Jacks to cut the clutter.

But before we can proceed further, here’s a list of things to consider before buying a truck jack:

  • Weight Capacity: Knowing the weight capacity of a truck jack is the crucial first step to buying the best tool for your workshop. Jacks are subjected to tremendous pressure and stress when lifting heavy vehicles. Never use a floor jack or pit jack with a truck heavier than the jack’s stipulated weight capacity. It can cause the jack to buckle and fracture, compromising user safety.
  • Durability: Heavy-duty truck jacks are made from materials resistant to wear and tear under prolonged use. They are also corrosion-resistant and don’t buckle under stress.
  • Collapsed height: A practical floor jack must have a low collapsed profile for it to reach under all sorts of vehicles. Always go for a jack with a small footprint and a low collapsed profile.
  • Lift height: A jack’s lift height decides how high it can lift a vehicle. This is crucial because you need to be able to access your truck’s undercarriage easily once it’s lifted. Floor jacks and pit jacks with good lift heights enable users to carry out maintenance work efficiently, minimizing downtime and maximizing the workshop’s output.
  • Safety Features: Safety is paramount in any workshop environment. Hence, you need jacks that have inbuilt safety features like multiple contact points and locking mechanisms to keep users safe while lifting heavy vehicles.
  • Intuitive Design, Portability, and Storage: Truck jacks that are portable, and easy to use and store increase user efficiency and maximize workshop space.

Stan Design’s Top Picks! 

We evaluated multiple heavy-duty truck and car jacks based on the above criteria to come up with the following list for you:

1. Pittsburgh Low-Pro Aluminum Racing Jack

This trusty portable truck jack has a lot of good things working for it.

Pros 

  • The frame is made of aluminum, hence corrosion-resistant, lightweight, and durable.
  • The jack’s low-profile design makes it easy for users to service vehicles with low ground clearance.
  • Great for small trucks, cars, and other mid-sized vehicles, the Pittsburgh Low-Pro can easily lift up to 6000 lbs. over 19”.

Cons

  • Small wheels affect portability.

2. Stan Design’s Scorpion MJ25 Floor Jack 

When it comes to lifting bona fide behemoths like military trucks and armored cars, there’s no competition for the MJ25!

Pros 

  • Lifts 25,000 lbs. over 36”. The lifting apparatus uses the combined force of hydraulics and pneumatic pressure for heavy lifting.
  • A robust, durable, and corrosion-resistant metal frame enables this mean beast to take abuse for decades on end.
  • An extendable beam with stackable adapters makes the MJ25 a workhorse suited to any vehicle type.
  • A three-stage locking mechanism makes this heavy-duty truck jack extra safe.

Cons 

  • The pneumatic apparatus needs a compressed air source to operate.

3. Blackhawk B6530 Fast Lift

The B6530 is your ideal garage jack capable of lifting small trucks, and small to mid-sized cars easily.

Pros 

  • The B6530 has a maximum weight capacity of 7000 lbs. and can lift over 21”.
  • Here’s the best part: you need no more than 2 pumps to lift a car with this robust jack!
  • An elongated chassis design makes it easy to reach the lifting points under sedans.

Cons 

  • Although not a deal breaker, the jack’s large footprint can be tricky to manage in crammed-up workshops.

4. Big Red AT84007R

The Big Red has a big heart and takes the lifting game a notch higher than the Blackhawk!

Pros

  • A weight capacity of 8000 lbs. should be good enough for lifting any hatchback, sedan, or small truck.
  • A heavy-duty steel frame with reinforced arms makes the AT84007R one robust floor jack capable of handling lifting duties day in and day out.
  • A collapsed profile of just 3.8” enables this heavy duty floor jack to reach under cars with low ground clearance easily.

Cons 

  • The only negative aspect of the Big Red – and we are nitpicking here – is its weight.

5. Vevor Pneumatic Jack

Several heavy-duty truck jack manufacturers are relying more and more on compressed air or pneumatic pressure operated lifting mechanisms for their products. The Vevor is the perfect example of this new trend.

Pros 

  • Super quick lifting time – simply plug in the compressor to the nearest electrical power source, open the valve, and you have lift off!
  • This cool floor jack can lift over 15” and has a maximum weight capacity of 6000 lbs.
  • A low weight of 34 lbs. and an incredibly small footprint make it easy to move around and store the Vevor Pneumatic Jack.

Cons 

  • Like any other pneumatic jack, the Vevor Pneumatic Jack requires a power source to operate its air compressor. So, forget using a hand pump if your workshop has a power failure!

Endnote

Each of the portable heavy-duty jacks mentioned above is an absolute winner when it comes to lifting trucks, cars, or other vehicles. Before you buy your floor jack, make sure you have read the product manual carefully to facilitate an informed decision.