Which /what trolley jack should I buy

[ricky s]

I brought a set of 19" rims and tyres last year to use as a summer wheel on my W211 E55, and don,t wish to use the OEM in car jack all the time whilst changing the wheels back and fro, and need to buy a trolley jack as good weather may soon be with us, hopefully.
Anyone advise to the lifting weight I should get, had thought 2 ton and low lift, and also to weather it should be a steel or alloy construction. I would also like some advice to when using one of these jacks, do you still use the MB jacking points, or is it advisable to place the jack elsewhere of the car, and lift. Thanks in advance.

 

[grober]

Use the Mercedes jacking points. Chose your jack carefully--in general I found ---larger capacity=larger size= longer lift arm= ability to raise the car higher. You will be surprised how much suspension will "droop" as you jack a car up. A higher jack "raised height " is one characteristic I would look for. 2/2.5 ton capacity would be fine for most average sized cars- 4x4s are a different proposition!
some hints here http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/62030/trolley_jacks.html
there may be later reviews don't know

 

[Roger Jones]

The Arcan aluminium-alloy jack from Costco (and other sources) is excellent. Lighter than the steel ones, it also has a very low starting height and a good lifting range. I bought one and, not long after my mechanic had seen it, he bought one too.

Arcan Professional Tools

 

[abecketts]

if you are using the jack for occasional use Lidl offer a 2 tonne jack that is great value for money. As grober said the merc jack will do the job perfectly well.

 

[Dee-124CAB]

Well, I have been thinking of the one in the below link....

Its very well priced, especially compared to some of the 200-300 quid ones!
It lifts 2.25 tons.
It has a low profile , ideal for a lowered/sports car.
Its also European (EC) & German (GS) standards approved.
Has a nice handle & comes wth a couple of handy sockets.
And looking through the guys feedback, he's sold quite a few & had no complaints.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2-25-Ton-Low-Profile-Mul-fun-Hydraulic-Trolley-Car-Jack_W0QQitemZ250572552024QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Lifting_Moving_Equipment?hash=item3a5749b758

Only worry would be if its maximum lift range of 14.37 inches is enough for most cars?

What do the panel reckon?..Any good?

 

[npuk]

Was a thread about jacks on another forum and the Arcan ones Costco sell were highly recomended. If you cant buy from Costco the Machinemart ones (clarke branded) were also said to be good.

 

[Will]

To be honest, if you're only using it once/twice a year to swap wheels over and not for major DIY mechanical work, almost any trolley jack will be suitable for the task

You only have to take one look at the standard MB supplied device to compare

Eg even something like this will be fine:-

Clarke CTJ2B 2 Tonne DIY Trolley Jack - Machine Mart

IMHO

Will

 

[Roger Jones]

There's a used Arcan on eBay -- 4 days left.

 

[Frank O' Phile]

... the Machinemart ones (clarke branded) were also said to be good.

I've had one these for about 10 years, and it's had quite a bit more than occasional use. Last year it needed a new seal and a top up of fluid. It's rated at 2 ton and has lifted everything I've had. I think it's paid for itself by now.

Recommended.

 

[lynall]

Ive got an alloy one ive had a for a few years now been good.

I think i got it from e bay for £99 ish.

Low and wide so very stable also not to heavy but still pretty heavy.

Assuming 211 similair wight distribution as 210 i lift mine at the front side jacking point and the whole side of the car comes of the ground, wifes is also the same.

So you can change two wheels with one jack operation.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-5-TON-ALUMI...ILE_W0QQitemZ250583112034QQcmdZViewItemQQptZU

Also a second hand one for £50 on there clarke aluminium racing jack.



Lynall

 

[renault12ts]

I know I'm probably teaching my granny how to suck eggs but...when you have a trolley jack do not be tempted to go under the car ( don't even stick your head under a wheel arch to have a look). Position axle stands first and always.

 

[wemorgan]

I bought this trolley jack and axle stand set for £34 last year:
Sealey 2 Ton Short Chassis Yankee Trolley Jack + Axle Stands : Tooled-Up.com

It's OK for changing tyres and inspection, but now when working on the car wish I'd bought better.

 

[HughJarse]

I bought one of these form screwfix for about £26 8 years ago and is fine.
2 Tonne Trolley Jack - Screwfix.com, Where the Trade Buys

However here is the same jack in lidl this week for £14


... here we go we'll get the "you get what you pay for" lines... well yes you do, but for occasional use its fab. ie. I'm not a tyre fitter!

 

[Rory]

Assuming 211 similair wight distribution as 210 i lift mine at the front side jacking point and the whole side of the car comes of the ground, wifes is also the same.

So you can change two wheels with one jack operation.

I never think it's a good idea to jack a car up at the side jacking points any higher than is absolutely necessary. I've had a couple of cars make extremely nasty sounding "cracks" while being jacked up (including wifey's Honda Jazz which is small, light and seems very well built) and twisting the car can't be a good idea.

In fact I've been thinking of buying another tolley jack so that I can jack cars up evenly.

 

[renault12ts]

^ Not sure that's a good idea !! Better to jack it up under the front or rear axle position.

 

[wemorgan]

Modern cars, at least, are designed to be jacked up via the jacking-points.
With a torsional stiffness of ~20 kNmm/degree you're not going to do any global damage.

 

[Rory]

^ Not sure that's a good idea !! Better to jack it up under the front or rear axle position.

There is a jacking front front centre on my car (W203) but I'm never sure at the back - I know a lot of people us the diff housing buy you see warnings that they can crack.

 

[grober]

A good example in point. Most differentials are flexibly mounted in the subframe. The idea being that mechanical vibrations/shocks are not transmitted to the car body. They are designed to absorb the forces generated by the weight of the differential and torque of the drive shafts and propshaft. They are not as far as I know designed to take the weight of the entire rear end of the car. Mercedes engineering is such that they will probably take this extra loading in their stride but a few years down the line when the rubber is past its best and maybe softened by being saturated in oil who knows?----- OK you got 2 new rear tyres put on recently but that clunking noise from the rear on drive takeup was that there before??????

 

[BlackC55]

The Arcan aluminium-alloy jack from Costco (and other sources) is excellent. Lighter than the steel ones, it also has a very low starting height and a good lifting range. I bought one and, not long after my mechanic had seen it, he bought one too.

Arcan Professional Tools

I have one and it's total crap. It fell apart very quickly and when it has weight on it it slowly creeps down. Not ideal really

 

[Roger Jones]

"I have one and it's total crap."

Ah well, experience differs: no problems with mine or my mechanic's over the three years we've used them.