I’m finally having to replace my floor jack because my old one is leaking and can’t seem to find any seals for it. I’m looking at a 3 ton low profile Pittsburgh brand from CF. I know most of there stuff is crap and I’m hesitant about buying it. What is everyone’s opinion?

 

Well, I don't usually get under my cars much these days but, your own evaluation can usually answer your question(s). #1...How much is your life worth? #2....Will you have confidence in the tool? #3...Repeat # 1.

You are already questioning the product itself.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Read the customer feedback on that exact model on their website before buying. Also use jack stands or wood blocks or something beside the jack before crawling under the vehicle. Backup support is really good in case of a sudden failure.

 

I never trust ANY jack. I won't put any part of my body under a car without jack stands.

If a jack can lift a car reliably enough to put jack stands under the car and lift a car off the jack stands, it is good enough.

 

IMO I would not trust my life or my car with anything chineasium. Their raw material, inspection, and manufacturing process just aren't there, inconsistent as best. Caveat Emptor.
Stop lining their pockets. Spend more on USA with confidence of high-grade raw materials safe manufacturing and inspection processes. Keep the money here and most of all be safe.
Same deal with jack stands.

https://winchcentral.com/jacks/usa-made/

https://www.floorjackshop.com/top-ra...de-in-the-usa/

https://www.vehiclejack.com/top-4-am...facturer-list/

 

I've had one of these 3.5 ton Arcan jacks for nearly 20 years. I got it back when Costco sold them for $99. Zero complaints. It lifts my K3500 crewcab dually as well as all my cars.

 

I don't have any problem with HF tools. I used a 2 ton Pittsburgh jack for a number of years until it wore out and bought another one just like it.

 

I have only had one issue with my HF jack and it was not safety related. The screw that holds the handle to the pump fell out while pulling it across my driveway. Rounded up another one and put some loctite on it and has worked perfect otherwise. If I keep the jack under my vehicle while working on it, I keep pressure on it but I never go under a vehicle without jack stands.

 

I agree to buy American, I would never get under any car without proper support. It’s hard to find anything that’s made in the States anymore. Thanks for the website with the American Jacks, I will certainly look into it. Hopefully we will continue to see stuff made here again!

 

I don't care what brand of jack you are using, it is just common sense to NEVER get under a car with only a jack supporting it. Always use jack stands and then shack the car (or attempt to) after you let the car down on the stands.

 

I have one. I even bought the extended warranty (which I NEVER do) because it seemed to have bunch of random issues. I've had it for at least three years with no problems

 

Years ago my 1980s era Craftsman floor jack started leaking so I searched around for a new one. To my surprise, folks on the local Jeep club web site referred me to a hydraulic shop and I was able to get my jack rebuilt for $40. So try looking for a shop to rebuild it for you instead of just looking for the seals to do it yourself.

 

If you don't have a lift-

When it comes to floor jacks, I love me some Hein-Werner. Pricey AF, but you get what you pay for I guess. I used to have an old HW 2-ton jack I paid a little over $200 for way back when. I let a guy at work borrow it from me and then he quit shortly after that, then he moved out of state and I never seen it again. Now they're almost twice that price. I think a gorilla couldn't tear those things up. I've got an Advance Auto aluminum special right now that seems to do what I need it to do. Still miss my HW.

I've heard good things about the Arcan brand though as far as budget jacks.

Agree about the jack stands. NEVER get under the car without jack stands or race ramps. I bought a set of those lightweight race ramps for my Camaros since they're low slung and they are the cat's meow for oil changes. Even on my truck. JMO. Unless I need to take a wheel off, the race ramps are my go-to.

 

I had a Blackhawk that gave up the ghost 12 years ago. I bought one from Advance Auto, and it's served me well. As everyone has said, but still worth one more, jack stands are a must. I have Blackhawk stands that are built like a brick $hithouse. Still, with having a lift for 20 years, I'm never underneath a car on jack stands.

 

I've used the HF long reach low profile jack for ~10 years. Good stuff. I like the old handle more than the new handle, so I swapped them over. I had to replace the old one because the frame got twisted. Long story, totally expected, I was using it for something it shouldn't have been used for.
The HF jacks are generally well regarded. The only problem is you can't buy seals. But I doubt you can buy seals for any current jack except painfully expensive units.

 

I have the same jack CJSDAD has, low profile, high lift - love it. I've had it for five years and no problems other than the handle tends to loosen over time. I remove the screw once a year or so, clean it, and reset it with red Loctite. Good to Go for another year. I use it three or four times a month - no trouble. Raise the vehicle, insert jackstands all around - get to work.

HF now has a number of tiers of quality, some of which are outstanding, including much that is Made in the USA. Their upper-tier stuff is comparable to the Big Names (expensive) in tools, but at a significant discount. There are a growing number of comparison videos on YT and other video web sites. The Pittsburgh jack I have is mid-tier. Check out their up-line equipment.

 

HF has always had only one line of jacks. They changed the name a while back from Pittsburgh to whatever it is now, and then added colors.
It's basically the same jack. They changed the reinforcements a little and used that to justify increasing the rating, and the handles are different. I've had both and it looks like the ram is identical.

 

Oddball, true in the past, and you are correct about the levels of reinforcements on the different versions of the Pittsburgh line. Better reinforcements, among other changes, amount to better product, in my book. I'm just saying Don't write them off, like we all used to do, without checking their new product lineups - they are not all re-branded Pittsburgh.

 

I have a HF low profile jack that I have used very little. I also have an orange floor jack that I have had for years. I think it is an Allied brand but the label is gone. I can't even remember where I bought it but it still works fine.

 

I have two craftsman ones from around 2005. I like them.

 

I've had my Craftsman 1.5 Ton since 1985...you can't kill it (or lift it!)