What are Floor Jacks?
Floor jacks are handy tools that are useful in servicing your vehicle. From lifting the rear or front ends of your vehicle, to suspending them at a certain angle or length, to lowering them safely, effective floor jacks take care of it all.
Floor jacks come in all shapes and sizes, and most importantly, in all categories of servicing. Namely, semi-truck floor jack, heavy duty pit jacks, military grade floor jacks, small car pit jacks, rolling bridge jacks, etc.
You must purchase a floor jack based on your particular requirements to get the most out of it. In this blog, we will discuss how to understand your floor jacking needs, the process to choose the right floor jack, where to buy one, and finally our top picks. Read on.
Understanding your Floor Jack Requirements
Understanding your floor jack requirements before making a purchase is the key to getting the highest return on your investment. For this reason, we have collated a list of points which can break down the process in 3 tangible terms for you to gloss over.
1. Vehicle size- The first and foremost step in understanding your floor jack requirements is to assess your vehicle size. It is a fairly straightforward step, but imperative not to be missed. If you have a small car, like a family car or small van, you may or may not purchase heavy floor jacks made of sturdy materials, but if you own heavy duty military grade trucks, you should service them in commercial garages which host the right equipment, or at least use heavy duty pit jacks.
2. Undercarriage profile- The next step is to buy a floor jack that fits the distance between your vehicle’s chassis and the floor, also called ground clearance.
3. Storage Infrastructure- Finally, and perhaps the most enduring deciding factor in buying a floor jack is being mindful of its storage facilities. If you have a home garage, you must keep it clean and dry for storing your purchase, as the floor jack’s maintenance directly affects its longevity.
Guide to Choose the Right Floor Jack
Choosing the right floor jack based on your requirements is not rocket science. To choose the right floor jack for your needs, you must equip yourself with our 5-point basic toolkit, and you shall be all set to go.
What is the toolkit, you ask? Well, researching the top 5 features that are a must in the best floor jack for lifted trucks. Here are the 5 features.
1. Load Capacity- The load capacity of a jack is directly proportional to the load lifting faculty of its build materail. And it represents the amount of weight it is built to lift- meaning in simple terms, whether it can lift small cars or heavy duty military grade trucks. A floor jack with a higher load capacity will safely carry loads without excessive manual exhaustion. It is generally measured in pounds or kilograms.
2. Build Material- As discussed in the point above, the material with which a floor jack is built is an important factor in determining its performance and longevity. Whether it is built to withstand heavy duress and long-term wear and tear, along with natural depreciation like rust and oxidation processes, can be assessed by this factor. High quality fine grade steel products are sturdier than plastic or rubber floor jacks.
3. Size and Portability- Often overlooked in the purchasing process, the size and portability of a floor jack has a considerable effect on its regular use. Larger sized floor or pit jacks that are used along with lifting systems fixed in commercial garages would obviously not be the right purchase choice for customers looking for portable options that can be safely tucked away in car storage compartments for quick access in emergencies.
4. Convenience and safety- Features in modern floor jacks should go beyond ensuring safety in its functioning and the personnel involved in operating it. They must include features that make it convenient for use- for instance, buttons for lifting and lowering, axles, stands or chocks for securing, and so on. However, safety features must not be overlooked and checking its locking mechanisms, etc. are a must.
5. Designed to Fit- Lastly, the ultimate guiding factor in choosing the best floor jack for lifted trucks is to see whether its design is functional. This means understanding, say for instance, that the fine polish on the floor jack body does not only showcase a sleek appearance, but also usefulness like protection against corrosion. Functional designs are the need of the hour, that would not only be useful in appraising the longevity of your floor jack but also whether the price it is listed at is worth paying.
Where to Buy Floor Jacks?
There are many options available both online and offline to buy floor jacks that are tailored to fit your requirements. However, there are only a handful of businesses that fit both your needs and your budget.
And even lesser, that manufacture jacks that fit your pits too. Stan Design Inc. is one of them. With over two decades of experience within the industry, Stan Design Inc. has craftily mastered the art and craft of designing and manufacturing technologically advanced jacks that are pocket friendly.
Their line of Scorpion floor jacks come in both hydraulic and air bag variants, with a wide load capacity that can accommodate a large range of vehicles. That is why their products are our top picks, which we will discuss in the last section.
Stan Design Inc. Scorpion Floor Jack Models
Scorpion TJ12S
- Capacity- 24,000 lbs./ 12 Tons
- Only 8’’ Collapsed Height
- Lifts Over 15.75”
Scorpion TJ12SL
- Capacity- 24,000 lbs./ 12 Tons
- Only 7.5’’ Collapsed Height
- Lifts Over 15”
Scorpion TJ14
- Capacity- 28,000 lbs./ 14 Tons
- Only 8.25” Collapsed Height
- Lifts Over 20”
Scorpion TJ12E
- Capacity- 24,000 lbs./ 12 Tons
- Only 8’’ Collapsed Height
- Lifts Over 15.75”
- 2 Extendable Arms
Scorpion MJ25
- Capacity- 25,000 lbs./ 12.5 Tons
- Lifts Over 36”
- Extendable Beam with Stackable Adapters Designed for All Military Vehicle Applications