It is important to learn about the different types of floor jacks that are available in the market. With this information, you will be able to pick the best jack even before you head out to the shop. It also prevents you from buying something unsuitable just because the shop assistant recommended it. One of the factors to consider as you pick a floor jack is what you plan on using it for and the type of vehicle that you have. How much does your vehicle weight? How low is it? This will help to pick among the following best floor jack for the money:
This is one of the most popular floor jacks for car owners. Its popularity arises from the fact that it can be used for roadside emergencies. It is therefore likely that you will find a scissor jack in the trunk of every car. Its convenience stems from its light weight which makes it easy to carry around as it does not add weight to the car. It also has a relatively small footprint which makes it suitable for road use as it promotes safety even as you change your tie. The scissor jack is a mechanical jack and it uses a screw to compress the scissor mechanism in order to create upward movement to raise the car. It is not preferred for more complex tasks as it has a low height limit.
Unlike the scissor jack, the hydraulic jack is not suitable for roadside emergencies but is more common in repair shops. This is because of its weight which makes it hard to lug around in the back of your trunk. A hydraulic jack uses the hydraulic mechanism to lift vehicles. A lever is attached to the jack and pumped up and down, sending the fluid into a cylinder and causing upward pressure. This happens when the release valve has been closed. The hydraulic jack has the highest height capacity and can support large weights making it suitable for larger and heavier vehicles. It is not a wonder then that these types of jacks are used for other things such as lifting elevators and floors when replacing floor boards. Nesco Tools Low Profile Floor Jack and Powerzone 3 TON Floor Jack are some of the best in the market.
A piston jack is also commonly referred to as a bottle jack. It consists of concentric cylinders that make it look like an actual bottle. Because of this design, piston jacks cannot compress to extremely low heights, making them unsuitable for lower cars such as sports cars because they cannot get underneath. One of the advantages of the piston jack is that it has a small footprint. If you happen to be working on uneven ground, it would be a good option because it is easier to balance on a small even surface area. The jack also works through a hydraulic system and can support great weight which makes it suitable for trucks. It happens to be heavy as well so it is not the best option as a roadside emergency type of floor jack.
