There’s nothing more annoying than the flop-flop of a flat tire, especially when it’s snowing. It’s enough to make anyone want to instinctively drop the F-bomb, because it’s something which always seems to happen at the most inappropriate times possible. But, to the dude who knows how to change a car tire, that flop-flop is just another chance to show off their manliness by changing that flat tire like a boss. Similar to knowing how to jumpstart a car, knowing how to change a flat tire is an important skill for any man to learn. Along with the skill of changing a flat tire, you’ll also need this. A reliable floor jack will come in handy, especially if you find yourself on a long stretch of highway, or just to help a hapless damsel in distress at the side of the road. So, what’s a good floor jack? You ask. We’ve got the answers right here.

But first…

An Introduction to the Floor Jack

A floor jack is designed to lift up a car for a short period of time so that you can quickly change a tire, and get back on the road. At first glance, all floor jacks might look the same to the untrained eye. But, on closer inspection, you will find that every floor jack in unique in its own way. These small differences become more apparent only when you’re lifting a vehicle weighing a few tons in the air.

Types of Floor Jacks

Floor jacks can be broken down into two types – mechanical floor jacks and hydraulic floor jack. The mechanic floor jacks are those which typically come along with a car’s roadside assistance kit. This type of floor jack is fairly lightweight and easy to use. The scissor jack is the most commonly used mechanical floor jack. The main disadvantage of using a mechanical floor jack is the amount of effort required to raise the jack up in the air, which can take quite a bit of time. On the other hand, hydraulic jacks have four wheels allowing it to be easily maneuvered into place. The hydraulic jack also comes in two primary styles: the bottle jack or piston jack and the trolley jack. The bottle jack has no wheels and has to be lifted and set into place. The main advantage of using a hydraulic floor jack is that it takes less effort as compared to a mechanical floor jack. That being said, both types of floor jacks are able to serve their purpose when all you want to do is to change the tire and get back to where you’re going.

Balance and Lifting Capacity

A good floor jack will sit firmly on the ground while you are changing a flat tire, this means the floor jack you choose has to be able to take the weight and be stable while you’re changing the tire. This is a crucial factor to keep in mind since you would want to have a stable platform for your car to rest on without having to push the floor jack beyond its maximum lifting capacity. While smaller floor jacks are good for lifting up a car weighing two or three tons, but if you want to lift something that’s a lot heavier such as a SUV or a truck, then you would want to go for a 3-ton floor jack. That being said, there are also floor jacks that weigh up to 5-tons and more if that’s what’s required. But, the larger jacks aren’t easy to carry and also require quite a bit of room to maneuver. While the floor jacks that are on the larger side are used by mechanics in car workshops, the smaller car jacks are more adequate for domestic use.

Clearance and Lifting Height

Another important factor to keep in mind when choosing a floor jack for your car is its clearance and lifting height. This will depend on the type of vehicle you are going to be lifting. Those cars that are built for speed will have a low clearance, since these vehicles usually stand very close to the ground. If you are going to be using a floor jack to lift high performance cars, then you will need to choose a floor jack that is low enough to fit under the vehicle comfortably. On the other hand, Sports Utility Vehicles and trucks will obviously not need a floor jack that’s too close to the ground. You will want a jack that is going to have the height to lift these vehicles completely off the ground before you can change the tire. A floor jack with a high or low lifting range will depend solely on the type of vehicle you will be driving.

Lifting Speed

Lastly, the time it takes for the floor jack to actually lift the vehicle off the ground matters for obvious reasons. You don’t want to be stuck for hours changing a tire at the side of some dark, spooky road. The standard floor jack will take up to 8 to 10 strokes of the lifting bar to get the vehicle off the ground so that you can comfortably change a tire. But, if you want to get the wheel off the ground in as few as 6 strokes, then you should go for a quick lift system or a dual lifting system.

Best Floor Jacks for Cars and Trucks

Now that we’ve gone through the details, it’s time to take a quick look at the floor jacks that made it in our list of best floor jacks for cars and trucks every driver should definitely invest in.

Arcan ALJ3T

Features:

• 3-ton capacity
• Weighs only 56 lbs.
• Bypass and overload valves over-extension of hydraulic ram and jack use beyond rated capacity
• Dual pump pistons for fast rising action, 3.6″ to 19.4″
• Piston dust shields
• Reinforced lift arm
• Chassis torsion control

Arcan ALJ3T — Overview

It’s easy to spray paint a floor jack to make it look cool. But, the Arcan ALJ3T is so much more than just a pretty floor jack. You will be surprised as to how efficient and simple the Arcan ALJ3T is to use. The Arcan ALJ3T has everything you would want in a floor jack for your car, and it delivers just that in a neat package that’s also nice to look at. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to call this a work of art!

Strong Built Machine

The Arcan ALJ3T boasts of a complete aluminum build, making it robust and strong, and ready for the long haul. The Arcan ALJ3T is not only light, but its frame is also rust-free, which means it can last you for years if you treat it right.

Lightweight and Easy to Use

Weighing at just 56lbs, the Arcan ALJ3Tis light, which means it’s not a hassle to store away or carry, which is good to know. The two handles on the sides make it easier to line up the jack according to the vehicle before you continue to raise the vehicle up. With a clearance of 3.6”, it can fit comfortably under low profile cars like the Corvette Stingray. But, don’t let that fool you. The Arcan ALJ3T can easily lift a vehicle up to 19.4”, so you can lift a Jeep Wrangler if you want to with the Arcan ALJ3T.

Efficient Design

The Arcan ALJ3T features dual pistons with sturdy springs that make it easier to lift up a vehicle. So, you won’t have to put your back into it just to get your car off the ground so you can change the tire. With the Arcan ALJ3T, all it takes is around 10 to 12 pulls of the handle to get the car up in the air. Once you’ve done changing the tire, all you have to do is release the pressure to get the car back on the ground. The thing that stands out the most with the Arcan ALJ3T is its incredible control over the vehicle whether it’s raising the vehicle up or releasing it to set the vehicle back down. The handle of this floor jack makes quick work of lifting a car with its cool design that splits into two parts and also features a comfortable, soft grip, so you won’t be getting blisters on your hands while using the Arcan ALJ3T.

Sunex 6602LP

Features:

• Rapid rise technology with dual pump pistons
• Low profile design
• 24″ max height.
• Versatile and lifts high enough for pick-ups and SUV’s
• 75″ min height is ultra-low and ideal for sports cars, exotic cars
• 18″ throw is long and reaches all lift points under a vehicle
• One year warranty

Sunex 6602LP — Overview

The Sunex 6602LP is a low-profile floor jack that’s ideal for most car owners. This floor jack has a lot going for it, with its ergonomic build and easy to use design. If that’s not enough for you, the Sunex 6602LP is also considerably affordable as compared to other floor jacks of its size and lifting capacity. Being among the two-ton floor jacks, the Sunex 6602LP performs well enough and could easily be one of the best floor jacks out there.

Excellent Lifting Height and Clearance

This floor jack has an incredibly low clearance of just 2.75” and can lift a vehicle up to 24” which is not bad at all. The Sunex 6602LP is also far superior to other floor jacks at its price point when it comes to fast lifting capacity.

Rapid Rise Technology

The Sunex 6602LP takes an amazing 6 pumps of the jack handle to get your vehicle up in the air, which is quite good for a cheap floor jack. But that’s not all the Sunex 6602LP has to offer. Other notable features of the Sunex 6602LP include a 32” chassis which gives it an excellent reach of 18”. This floor jack also has wheels to push the jack into place, along with comfortable handles and levers that makes changing tires a breeze with the Sunex 6602LP.

Blackhawk B6350

Features:

• Swivel saddle and rear caster for easy positioning
• Rolled side frames add strength and rigidity to reduce twisting
• Heavy-duty steel construction
• Fast Lifting Technology
• Bypass device prevents the damage from over pumping.
• Bypass device prevents over pumping
• Built-in internal safety valve ensures extra safety
• 5 ton or 7,000 lbs. capacity service jack that features

Blackhawk B6350 — Overview

The Blackhawk B6350 is your quintessential floor jack that any car owner will be proud to have lying and waiting for when duty calls. This is also one of the best options you can choose if you only need a floor jack occasionally. That’s because the impressive Blackhawk B6350 comes with an equally impressive price tag.

Best Value for Money

The Blackhawk B6350 has much to offer when it comes to the best in floor jack technology. You can rest assured that the Blackhawk B6350 is going to safely and efficiently lift your vehicle off the ground while you change the tire or change the oil of your car. Those who are looking for a floor jack that’s sturdy, stable and enables you to change tires in a jiffy, then the Blackhawk B6350 should be right up your alley.

Strong and Sturdy Build

With an impressive lifting capacity of 3 ½ tons, the Blackhawk B6350 easily beats other floor jacks at its price point. This floor jack has been built using the premium quality materials. The Blackhawk B6350 has also been built to last with its bulky and robust design. While the floor jack will not be able to lift low-profile sports cars, that’s for the standard jacks are for. At 85 lbs., the Blackhawk B6350 is all about muscle and heavy-duty vehicles like medium-sized trucks and SUVs. The Blackhawk B6350 will make quick work when it comes to lifting cars weighing 2 to 3 tons.

Good Height

The Blackhawk B6350 has a maximum height of 22” which is good enough for lifting any 4×4. This floor jack has swivel wheels, making it easy to get this brick of a floor jack into place so you can lift the vehicle. But, one of the best features of the Blackhawk B6350 hasn’t even been mentioned yet. It’s the no-load lift feature that rises from its base height to the contact point of the car in no time. The handles also bolt into position, resulting to a good balance and support while you’re changing the tire. There’s also a safety bypass valve that prevents the Blackhawk B6350 from overloading (if it matters!). Overall, the Blackhawk B635 is a great floor jack to have for its price.

Ending Note

Needless to say, a good floor jack is what every person who owns a car needs to get out of an emergency situation. That said, even a mechanic’s workshop will not be much without these floor jacks for their high level of quality and efficient design, and not to mention their affordability.