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Avoiding Common Mistakes When Operating Heavy Duty Jacks

Avoiding Common Mistakes When Operating Heavy Duty Jacks
Avoiding Common Mistakes When Operating Heavy Duty Jacks

Truck lifting equipment like hydraulic floor jacks or bridge jacks have been around for centuries now. Traditional jacks have generally been difficult to maintain and operate, due to cumbersome heavy-duty jack operation guidelines and proneness to malfunction. 

Innovations in safe vehicle lifting practices along with advancements in jack technology have resulted in modern jacks, like Scorpion floor jacks, with features for avoiding jack operation errors. 

However, unless you own Stan Design Inc. products like the StanJack or Scorpion lines of jacks, you would need to know some of the common jack operation errors and how to avoid them. In this blog, we discuss just that! Read on. 

Common Jack Operation Errors 

  • Skipping Safety Measures – Your jack requires regular inspection. Safety checks can range from as simple as seeing whether you have cleaned your jack after use and stored it upright in a clean and dry place, to more sophisticated ones like having a checklist to determine its fluid viscosity, etc. 
  • Not Sticking to Load Capacity – The load capacity of a jack refers to the limit of quantity that it is designed to lift. Overloading a jack is not only detrimental to its durability but also dangerous for the personnel using it, along with the vehicle being lifted. 
  • Not Removing Obstacles Before Lowering – A most common and easily resolvable issue while operating jacks is not clearing the ground before lowering the vehicle it has hoisted. 
  • Lifting or Lowering Too Quickly – Another safe vehicle lifting practice involves hoisting and lowering it slowly and steadily, making sure the vehicle remains stable. Remove the jack once the vehicle is fully on the ground. Check that the vehicle is rising evenly and not shifting. 
  • Not Checking the Surface or Contact Points – Positioning a jack incorrectly below the vehicle, that is, not in the correct jacking point, and lifting vehicles on a slippery or uneven surface is a recipe for disaster. 

5 Heavy-duty Jack Operation Guidelines 

  1. Use the Right Jack for the Task – Determine its purpose of use before choosing the type to work with. For instance, a hydraulic floor jack is ideal for home garage work, while a bridge jack is better for heavy-duty lifting. 
  2. Focus on Accurate Positioning – As discussed above, ensure that the lifting point on the load is directly above the center of the jack’s saddle, and it is connected to the jacking point before lifting. 
  3. Avoid Overloading the Jack – Check the maximum weight capacity, or load capacity, of the jack and stick within the permissible limits to avoid overloading the jack and causing accidents. 
  4. Follow Jack Maintenance Tips – Check for any signs of damage or wear and tear and ensure all bolts are tightened securely, along with regular lubrication of the system, handle, base plate, and wheels of the jack. 
  5. Adhere to Proper Jack Usage – Always use proper personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and safety glasses when operating a jack. Follow all safety guidelines provided by the manufacturer of your jack. 

Our solutions for safe Vehicle Lifting practices

  • Powerful Design – We provide heavy-duty hydraulic and pneumatic variants of our jack models. So, you can choose a gadget based on your requirements, rather than a lack of options. These powerful methods of operations offer a smooth lifting and lowering process, by eliminating the need for exhausting hand pumping. 
  • Detachable Remote Control – Lift a truck in seconds with full control over the process, using our detachable remote-control pendant. Just push one button on our Scorpion floor jacks, or two dead man buttons- one to lift and one to lower- on our StanJack bridge jacks. 
  • High-quality Material – Our jacks are built to last with durability, resilience and reliability. We only use the highest-grade materials like fine steel, zinc plated components and accessories, grease fittings, and sustainable finishes like high gloss powder coat paint. This resists oxidation and deterioration, while enhancing their appearance. 
  • Roller Bearing Wheels – All our jacks have four full floating casters that allow for effortless rolling, extreme ease and maneuvering. The casters are made of special roller bearings that reduce friction and wear, delivering impressive mobility. 
  • Multi-level Safety – Our in-built automatic three-stage locking mechanism allows us to maintain the car as well as personnel’s safety during the lifting, suspending, and lowering operation. This safety lock mechanism engages automatically at different heights and does not require additional jack stands or chocks for support. 

What is Stan Design Inc.? 

Stan Design Inc. is a hydraulic floor jacks and bridge jacks designer and manufacturer in Canada. With over two decades of experience in the automotive jack industry, we are at the forefront of making cutting-edge technology accessible for our customers. 

At the heart of our innovative features lies a beautiful marriage of the ideal of convenience and safety at affordable prices. Our deep-diving research into analyzing the most pressing issues within the industry revealed that garage owners across the nation were facing the problem of time and money wastage. 

They were wasting countless hours every day lifting heavy-duty vehicles with slow and cumbersome hydraulic floor jacks that require multiple stands to support the truck. So, we came up with Scorpion floor jacks with both hydraulic and pneumatic functionality. 

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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.

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Categories
Bridge Jacks Fast Lube Hydraulic Jacks Jacks Truck Jacks

What is the difference between a truck jack and a car jack?

The car jack is the one essential tool no vehicle or workshop owner can live without. You need it to lift your vehicle high enough for maintenance and repairs. But choosing the right type of car or truck jack is essential for safety and efficiency. Several factors like vehicle type and weight come into play when deciding on the perfect jack type for a task.

While there are several different types of vehicle jacks available on the market, the two broad categories of jacks used all over are car jacks and truck jacks. While they serve the same fundamental purpose of lifting vehicles, they are significantly different because they cater to the unique requirements of trucks and cars. In this blog, we’ll look at the fundamental differences between truck jacks and car jacks to understand their features, applications, and why choosing the right one matters. Read on!

1. Load Capacity and Construction

The first thing that separates a truck jack from a car jack is its load capacity and construction. Trucks are considerably heavier than cars due to their larger size and hauling capabilities. As a result, truck jacks are designed with a higher load capacity to handle the additional weight. These jacks have more robust frames, thicker columns, and sturdier materials to ensure safety when lifting heavy trucks.

Car jacks, on the other hand, are built to handle the weight of standard passenger vehicles. They are lighter and more compact than truck jacks, with a much smaller footprint. You can easily carry one in your car’s trunk and use it for minor repairs like tire changing.

2. Lift Height

The lift height of a vehicle jack refers to how high it can raise a vehicle. Trucks generally have higher ground clearance than cars, requiring jacks with a greater lift height. Truck jacks are designed specifically for this requirement, allowing them to lift a truck high enough for maintenance or repairs.

Your average car, on the other hand, won’t have as much ground clearance as a standard truck due to it needing a lower center of gravity for stability. Hence, car jacks typically have a lower lift height. This design also prevents cars from lifting too high and tipping over.

3. Stability and Base

The stability of a jack is of paramount importance to the safety of both the user and the vehicle. Due to the sheer bulk of trucks, truck jacks are equipped with wider bases and larger footprints. This feature prevents trucks from tipping or wobbling during the lifting process and keeps users safe.

Car jacks are designed for lighter vehicles. Hence, they have a smaller base to match the dimensions of a car’s undercarriage. This design choice optimizes stability for the specific weight and size of cars.

4. Portability and Storage

Portability and storage considerations are different for truck jacks. Car jacks are more compact and lightweight, making them easier to carry and store in a car’s trunk. Their smaller size is practical for occasional use and emergencies.

Truck jacks, due to their larger size and heavier construction, are less portable and more suited to use in a workshop or garage setup.

5. Stand Design’s Innovative Vehicle Jacks

With more than two decades of experience designing vehicle lifting solutions, Stan Design has come up with a set of revolutionary new jacks that make short work of heavy lifting. Cars, trucks, EVs, armored vehicles – no matter what you have, Stan Design’s Scorpion Floor Jacks will lift it in seconds at the push of a button. Safety features like a three-stage locking mechanism and an ergonomic design make the Scorpion Floor Jack safe and easy to use.

The Scorpion Pit Jack, Bridge Jack, and Fast Lube Rolling Pit Jack are all designed to fit any workshop setup. With these innovative vehicle lifting solutions in your workshop, you can service more customers in a day and keep the cash register ringing! Manufactured from premium-grade materials, Stan Design’s jacks are built to last for decades under heavy use.

Selecting the appropriate jack for a vehicle is essential for efficient servicing and user safety during the lifting process. Always make an informed choice based on the type of vehicle you plan to service and the specific tasks you’ll be performing. And remember to choose brands known for manufacturing quality products that last ages.

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