Reply to "Floor jack and vehicle stands"

> As soon as my el cheapo Harbor Freight jack goes (and it will) I am buying
> a German or made in the USA quality jack, no more import junk.

The best one I found was made in Denmark:

http://www.asedeals.com/hydraulicjacks2.html

Most of my cars are lowered and most of the "low profile" jacks are low only
for the first few inches and just don't work under my cars. It seems there's
a lot of questionable quality low cost Chinese import stuff and some very
expensive U.S. made stuff aimed at professional garages and not a lot in
between. After a fair bit of searching, I settled on DK13HLQ model and
couldn't be happier with it. The saddle height is only 3.1" and the height
stays low for the first 16 inches then tapers up. Not only does it slide
underneath all my cars but it also raises them high enough (lift height is
29.2") that I can actually work comfortably underneath them. The jack has
a wide handle that makes it easy to slowly lower the car and also has a foot
pedal that quickly lifts the jack until contact is made and each pump of the
handle moves the car quite a bit. It even glides around nicely, with the
rear wheels pivoting on ball bearings. Plus it doesn't bleed down under
load. I got the optional rubber pad. The price has gone up a bit since I
purchased mine but I'd still buy another.

As far as jack points on the car, I've been using a block of wood at the
back but am thinking of bolting in a block of aluminum that spans the frame
rails at the rear (same spot I put the block of wood) and something similar
up front (on the frame rails just behind the tie-down eyelets). A block
with dimensions of 15 1/2" x 2 1/2" x 1 1/2" at the rear and 15" x 2" x 2"
at the front should work. You might also want to put a pad on the frame
rails on each side of the car just behind the front wheels.

I already had a couple sets of decent jack stands so I didn't buy these but
AC Hydraulics make a series of nice stands:

http://www.asedeals.com/jack_stands.html

Prothane (and others) make pads that go on jacks and jackstands so you don't
scrath a painted surface. Summit Racing sells the Prothane versions. Before
I got the low profile jacks, I used a set of jack ramps that worked well.

http://www.protechproducts.net/images/tools.asp

Basically a low profile 2-step ramp made of plastic with a non-skid rubber
backing. Raises the car high enough to get a conventional jack underneath.
They come in handy if you have a front air dam with minimal clearance.

Another jack I'd like to find is a screw jack, basically a slender tube with
a right and left handed threads. Spinning the body one way expands the jack
and spinning it the other way contracts. A compact and lightweight alternative
to bottle or scissor jacks. My dad has one that dates back to his Model A
Ford and it's great for working in tight quarters. If anyone comes across
something like that, please let me know.

Dan Jones
St. Louis, Missouri