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.
Our 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.