If you want to perform repairs at home in your garage, you will need car jacks. They can be handy if you have a flat tire while driving. In the event of an emergency, your car most certainly already has a jack hidden away. However, not every automobile jack is made equal. Some are built for portability, while others are built to raise more weight.
In this article, the following questions about car jacks will be discussed:
- What is a car jack?
- What are the functions of a car jack stand?
- What are the types of car jacks?
- What are the things to consider when selecting a car jack?
- What are the safety tips for car jacks one should know?
- What kind of car jack do you need?
So, let’s dive in!
Contents
What is a car jack?
Car jacks are devices used to raise cars off the ground. Car jacks come in a variety of designs. While some jacks are hydraulic, others are mechanical. The majority of mechanical jacks operate by cranking a screw or lever. To generate adequate force to lift huge objects, hydraulic jacks use a hydraulic cylinder that is under pressure. Automobile jacks can raise a car, but they aren’t designed to keep it there. You will require two jack stands for that.
What are the functions of a car jack stand?
Jack stands are instruments made to support the weight of your vehicle when it is raised. Even while automobile jacks handle the bulk of the lifting, if you need to access the underside of the car, you’ll still need to stabilize it on jack stands. An automobile that is only supported by a jack should never be crawled under.
Although you can purchase them separately, some car lift kits come with jack and jack stands. The maximum height and weight capacity of jack stands might vary. The typical height runs from 13 to 25 inches, and the weight capacity is 2 to 25 tons.
What are the types of car jacks?
The following are the different types of car jacks you can see or use in a garage:
- Floor jacks
- Bottle Jacks
- Farm Jacks
- Scissor Jacks
- Exhaust Air Jacks
- Pneumatic Jack
- Hi-lift Jack
- Strand Jack
- Hydraulic Jack
Floor jacks
Simple tools called floor types of jacks are used to help lift the car you’re working on. With a hand lever and hydraulics, you may lift a piece of the car. These tools are incredibly powerful and simple to use for anyone without much mechanical expertise.
You must consider the weight of the automobile while selecting floor jacks for your vehicle. Generally speaking, floor jacks need to be rated for at least three-fourths the weight of your car. Overloaded jacks can be dangerous even if they can only lift a part of your car—not the entire weight of the vehicle. Furthermore, operating them is more challenging.
The majority of floor-type jacks are mounted on wheels, which makes it simple to move them about your garage. They are less portable for usage on the road due to their size and weight, though.
Bottle Jacks
A hydraulic jack with an extended cylindrical body that resembles a bottle is called a bottle jack. Bottle types of jacks are hydraulic floor jacks that function similarly to regular floor jacks but can support a higher weight. Additionally, they raise the car higher. A higher starting clearance is one of the costs associated with this feature, which can make them more challenging to utilize on lower vehicles.
Because bottle jacks are typically less expensive than floor jacks, they are preferred as a secondary set by professional mechanics and as the primary tool by DIYers and hobbyists.
Farm Jacks
Farm types of jacks are frequently used for farm machinery, but anyone may operate one; you don’t need to be a farmer or be operating a tractor. A lot of people utilize them for high-clearance trucks and off-road vehicles.
These types of jacks also known as high-lift jacks, are simple to stow in the rear of a big car or off-roading truck. They are made to free a vehicle from deep mud or rough terrain, yet they can be used to assist in tire changes. Farm jacks are excellent all-purpose tools in some circumstances because they may also be used as a winch or clamp.
When you need to jack up a vehicle in your garage that has a very high clearance and a regular floor jack or bottle jack won’t work, farm jacks can be useful. Traditional floor jacks or bottle jacks will work just fine for most cars and trucks.
Scissor Jacks
When properly positioned, scissors types of jacks raise a car using a hand crank. Since scissor jacks often have capacities of one or two tons, they work better for lighter cars in general. Additionally, depending on the model you have, they have a rather low lift height that can be anywhere between 15 and 30 inches.
A scissor jack’s safety is an advantage, especially in comparison to farm jacks and high-lift jacks, which call for greater caution and skill. In comparison to floor jacks, scissor jacks are also more affordable and lightweight. They are therefore a great choice if you want a portable jack that is simple to move about.
Exhaust Air Jacks
A special type of jack that inflates with air from your exhaust is called an exhaust air jack. An inflatable bag and a lengthy hose that connects to the exhaust pipe are included with these jacks. Without having to worry about the jack points, you may place the bag anywhere under the chassis. One side of the car will be raised off the ground once the sack has inflated. A one-way valve that you also use to deflate the bag keeps the air inside.
Off-roaders benefit from these types of jacks the most because they can utilize them on a variety of terrains. They work particularly well on softer ground, such as dirt, sand, or snow, due to their increased surface area. Additionally, they are compact and lightweight.
Pneumatic Jack
The pneumatic jack often referred to as a telescopic jack, is most frequently used in the heavy machinery maintenance sector to raise buses, trucks, and construction vehicles. They are not advised for use with smaller vehicles.
Hi-lift Jack
If you enjoy off-roading, you may have once or twice seen a hi-lift jack. These are used to lift a vehicle out of the mud or when a wench is required. They are also known as farm jacks. These have a 7,000 lb weight capacity and can raise a car five feet off the ground. Uses include lifting off-road vehicles, maintaining farm equipment, and wrenching.
Strand Jack
A strand type of jack is prepared to go to work if it requires a powerful lift. These are frequently employed in engineering and construction, and they can raise larger, heavier objects like power plants and bridges. uses include heavy lifting, engineering, and construction.
Hydraulic Jack
The landing gear of semi-trailers, boat trailers, and fifth-wheel RVs are the most frequent uses of hydraulic mechanical service jacks, which are operated by a crank handle. Hydraulic jacks are used in recreational vehicles, boat trailers, and other uses
Trolley Jack
The trolley jack, another popular jack for automotive work, has a braking system, can roll over dirt and gravel, and can lift to 4 tons. It is one of the safer and simpler jacks to use in many situations. Uses include maintenance on some high-clearance machinery, auto repairs, and medium- to heavy-duty building jobs.
Motorcycle Jack
Working on bikes can be challenging due to their compact, low-profile engines. To provide simple access to vital components, the entire machine is raised off the ground using a motorbike jack. ATVs and snowmobiles may both use it with some modifications. Utilized for maintaining ATVs, motorcycles, and snowmobiles.
What are the things to consider when selecting a car jack?
Car jacks are not intended for solitary use. You’ll need jack stands to support your vehicle as they lift it so you can work underneath the automobile to make repairs. Never approach an automobile that is only supported by jacks of any kind.
Although there are many different types of car jacks, only one of the four primary types will typically meet your needs. For in-garage repairs, floor jacks and bottle jacks work well in general. The ideal choice will mostly depend on your financial situation, the type of vehicle you’re constructing, and your vehicle’s weight capacity.
What are the safety tips for car jack one should know?
Although using a car jack might appear easy, it can be risky. Here are some safety recommendations when jacking up your car.
- Park on a Flat Floor.
- Guard the vehicle
- Locate the Right Jack Points
- Utilize a Jack Base
- Use Jack stands to support the car
Park on a Flat Floor
Before utilizing the car jack, you should park your car on level ground if you aren’t in a garage. Since gravity may easily drag your automobile off a jack if it isn’t level, car jacks are made to be utilized vertically. If the level ground cannot be located, consider parking next to a curb with the wheels pointed in that direction. To prevent the car from rolling downhill, block the wheels on the bottom.
Guard the vehicle
Turn off the ignition and put the vehicle in park before jacking it up (first gear if you drive a manual). Use something to stop the wheels from rolling after using the parking brake.
Depending on what is available, you can use wheelchocks, wooden wedges, bricks, or pieces of wood. Instead of the side, you’re jacking up, you should put them beneath the tires on the other side. By doing this, you’ll keep your car in place and prevent it from rolling off the jack.
Locate the Right Jack Points
You run the risk of easily damaging the frame or suspension if you don’t use the proper jack locations on your car. The recommended jack points should be listed in your car’s owner’s manual. If you don’t have access to your manual, you can search online using the year, make, and model of your automobile to find one. Read any instructions that came with your jack as well.
Utilize a Jack Base
The ground might not be stable enough for you to utilize a jack if you’re off-roading. In the mud, using a jack will simply cause it to sink. Your jack can be supported on uneven surfaces with the aid of a jack foundation.
Use Jack stands to support the car
Utilize a jack stand! We must emphasize this. If your car isn’t securely supported by jack stands, don’t get under it. Jacks are made to lift your car, not to keep it stationary. If you go underneath a car without jack stands and it comes off the jack, you could sustain significant injuries.
What kind of car jack do you need?
Your budget, your car’s weight, and the clearance of the vehicle will all influence the kind of jack you require. When selecting a car jack, portability is another factor to take into account. For the majority, all they need in an emergency is a scissor jack. Due to their height and recovery ability, high-lift and exhaust air jacks are preferable for off-roading. Floor or bottle jacks are wonderful choices if you need something for your garage. However, if you plan to work under the car extensively, a car lift can be a good investment.
In summary
Selecting a jack for your car can be intriguing, especially when you need it for a specific operation. There are various types of jacks out there used for lifting cars at different capacities. That is all for this article, where the following questions are being answered:
- What is a car jack?
- What are the functions of a car jack stand?
- What are the types of car jacks?
- What are the things to consider when selecting a car jack?
- What are the safety tips for car jack one should know?
- What kind of car jack do you need?
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I hope you learn a lot from the reading, if so, kindly share with others. Thanks for reading, see you around!
