Trolley Jacks
 

Hello. I'm looking for a decent trolley jack and axle stands so I can do some of the jobs the car needs myself. I looked on Ebay and the choice is bewildering along with the price range!
Does anyone recommend a trolley jack/axle stand set at all? I need something that's good value but preferably decent quality. I believe the old saying 'buy cheap, buy twice'. Any advice/links more than welcomed.
Thank you
:)

If you want to use axle stands one of the biggest problems I have is how to jack it up high enough to get the stands in position because many trolley jacks don't lift the car enough from the centre point you are supposed to use.

One solution, but an expensive one is adjustable car ramps. Many jobs dont need the wheels off so they are very useful for that.

They also allow you to drive on to them because they start off lower than the front skirt.

What you can then do is use them as a jack with the car still on its wheels, get the car high enough to get the axle stand in, and then let the ramp down if you really do need the wheel off.

As I say, expensive but very handy. Look for CJ auto's website.

Halford's "lifting kit" is on offer again, trolley jack, axle stands, wheel chocks, wheel brace and a padded creeper for £50, usually £75.

Machine mart have a good range of jacks at decent prices

My advice would be to forget the small, cheap, jacks which only give enough lift to get a tyre off the ground - they are only good for changing wheels, brake pads etc..

If you need a jack to get the car up on stands, at a height to be able to work underneath it, you need a jack with a decent lifting height. That basically means a semi- garage type jack. Which is what I have, I can put it under the centre lifting point at either end and lift it in one lift high enough to work under it, but not without stands of course.

Your jack also has a modified lifting point, the jack lifts high enough from the rear to place my higher than normal Draper axle stands. :}

Not really modified, just a bit of wood turned so as to fit in the jack's cup. Wood on steel gives a better grip/ less chance of slipping, than steel on steel. It also avoids scratching paint off.

My jack also has a feature where it has two up speeds, rapid until it makes contact, then slow as it begins to lift. It cost me around £60 15 years ago from Brown Bros, on special offer.

The profession quality trolley jack I have was acquired from a barn in Kirriemuir. It once lifted a Transit van, I use it for light use only these days.

Problem is, the jack is not able to lift a car high enough to get it onto axle stands, so the creeper cannot be used.

I have the halfords kit and as harry says, it doesn't quite lift the car enough to get the axle stands in. Last time i put a paving stone down so to give the extra height that could be slid from under the car once it was on stands. I admit that it looks a little worrying having the whole front of the car being held up by a jack but it worked. If I was to buy again I would look for a higher rated jack.