Best bottle jacks according to redditors

So the trailer that I have has a big box for straps jacks, etc mounted on the front and in there is a squatty 20 ton jack like this one. https://www.amazon.com/Torin-T92003B-Hydraulic-Bottle-Capacity/dp/B000234IT4 and I put it in between the front skid and the front wall of the trailer. My trailer is a 10,000lb GVW trailer and it has a beam across the front that I put the jack against, and then I use blocks in between the front of the trailer and the skid and jack it backwards a little bit at a time. It's not perfect, but it does work. I have not had to move the load forward yet, but I have needed to move it backwards twice before I figured out the exact right position for the skids.

I really like this jack for my Jeep -easy to use and you can get rid of your jack stand. Watch the price on it, I picked it up for $38.

Powerbuilt Alltrade 640912 Black 3 Ton,All-in-One Bottle Jack https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ULZGFU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ghzIDbAGXSYBE

https://www.amazon.com/Powerbuilt-640912-3-Ton-Bottle-Stand/dp/B003ULZGFU

What to buy in order

Absolute first thing to buy is a fire extinguisher from Amazon. You can get a mount for it, mount it somewhere you can quickly get it

2) winch

3) air compressor.

This is what I suggest

Smittybilt 2781 5.65 CFM Universal Air Compressor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004K25GMG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_NF0ADbPPPVFC2

I'm not a smittybilt kinda guy, but that one is good. ARB makes a good one for more money. When you offroad, air down to 15psi

4) tools

Buy this first

TEKTON 3/8-Inch Drive 6-Point Socket & Ratchet Set, Inch/Metric, 5/16-Inch - 3/4-Inch, 8 mm - 19 mm, 47-Piece (Case) | SKT15301 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P6RJXJ9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_3K0ADbPSAB4NG

That'll get most of your minor stuff fixed

Then, get a torx bit set. I have 2 sets from harbor freight.

Then, when budget allows, get this

TEKTON 1/2-Inch Drive 6-Point Socket & Ratchet Set, Inch/Metric, 3/8-Inch - 1-5/16-Inch, 10 mm - 32 mm, 84-Piece (Case) | SKT25302 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07P7WLYFH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ML0ADb04NMYX3

Get a 36mm socket for the axle nut

All that, plus various other hand tools (torque wrench, repair manual, rtv adhesive) , and you'll be able to fix everything on your jeep. I keep all that stuff in my metal box in the rear of my wrangler at all times.

5) get some ammo cans and fill them with various spare parts such as U-joints or what not

6) bottle jack or high lift. I prefer a bottle jack

Torin Big Red Hydraulic Bottle Jack, 6 Ton Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CO86EG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TO0ADb8MSFCNM

And carry at least 2 jack stands with you at all times

7) if you don't have lockers, this is the part where you start saving up for lockers (and/or Dana 60 axles)

Edit : just seen you have a Rubicon, you can skip number 7 😎

Nice.

I think I'm going to with one of these. Powerbuilt 620471 Unijack

Easy to use. Small foot print.

90$ on amazon.

Some of the reviews report an issues lower the jack. Looks easy enough in the video but I'll be sure to report back.

Scissor jacks are absolute trash, even when you're just using them to change a tire on perfectly level ground.

The minimum i do is ditch the scissor jack, get a wider base bottle jack. That's just for emergencies.

Actual floor jack is 100% needed if you're doing planned work, along with jack stands.

I'll admit, i've gone under a car supported by floor jacks before - it was fine... but i've also seen too many accidents happen to chance it anymore.

Scissor jack is good for the garbage only.

There are also bottle jack stands - locking jack stand and lift in one.

https://www.amazon.com/Alltrade-640912-Black-All-Bottle/dp/B003ULZGFU

Get yourself a decent hi lift bottle jack. They can be had for the same amount or cheaper then the scissor jack you're looking at.

https://www.amazon.com/Strongway-Hydraulic-Bottle-Jack-Capacity/dp/B00UAOL6G8/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1537324897&sr=8-14&keywords=hi+lift+bottle+jack

I've got a three inch lift and 33 inch tires on a 4Runner. I don't do very much off-roading, I'd be more interested in being able to change a tire. Can anyone recommend a bottle jack for me? This one on Amazon has the highest reviews. Would it be adequate?

Measure your life points

Something like this might work

Strongway Hydraulic High Lift Double Ram Bottle Jack - 2-Ton Capacity, 5 15/16in.-14 1/2in. Lift Range https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UAOJHRI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_YDlMAbADHA3F5

If you have enough ground clearance, you could use a Unijack.

You may need to drive it up on some ramps first to get that 8+" of clearance.

Get him a uni-jack. They are convenient and will make sure he is using his jack stands since it's literally built into the jack.

Doesn't work for low low cars, but anything with 9 inches or so under the vehicle it'll slide in just fine. There's a 6000 lb option as well for bigger stuff

Powerbuilt 620470 Unijack - 4000 lb. Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GJJZ5YC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_E1T-zb7NDZANH

Can I use a bottle jack? It weighs ~4kg more than your mount.

I have a high lift and a couple bottle jacks. And jack stands. I would never use the high lift when I could use a bottle jack. High lifts are great off road, but I'd never use one for automotive work or a flat tire.

You can get a decent 3 ton or larger bottle jack for $15-30 at a farm and ranch store, they'll be the same ones as the auto parts store sells for $40+. Make sure it will fit under the axle when you have a flat tire and lift high enough to put a spare on/work under your van. (Measure your under axle height and subtract the height from ground to wheel to get this) For a full size van it will probably be a 6 or 8 ton to get the correct height. I use this 6 ton one I got for $25 locally for my E250 Class B.

Avoid the habor freight ones, their seals tend to leak. Torin ones at amazon and home depot are the cheapest I'd go.

http://amzn.com/B003ULZGFU

Check that out. It is a jackstand + a bottle jack. Most bottle jacks have just a knurled nub to lift on - very dicey. This is a jack stand for added safety (does NOT negate the need for real jack stands!) but also has a nice curved lift head to get a good seat on axle/frame. Be safe, rover on.

Could you just hand-tighten them to somewhat tight, then lower the car to normal driving position, and then do the final torquing while the car is on the ground? But if you can't get the pinch bolts to line up, then you'll need a second jack. For that, you could use one of those small arm-sized thingies (Bottle jack?), which cost like 15 - 20. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-427711-Hydraulic-Bottle-Jacks/dp/B0015NULOQ/ref=sr_1_14

First of all congrats on getting the Saturn, they are great cars. Have two S-series, they have been the best and are easy to work on. Hopefully the Ion is as good as they are! I hope to get an Ion redline soon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002H3364/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_fU8qybA1WJ2XM
I got this jack, it works but wasn't high enough to get my car onto jack stands. Not sure if you would be able to get it underneath with a flat tire though, it would be close.

If your planning on doing your own work on the car I can't recommend investing in a proper floor jack. I recently got a 3 ton one at Harbor Freight and the difference is phenomenal. A few pumps and the car is up in the air, it's no longer an big "to do" just to jack the car up and check something. It is heavy so I wouldn't recommend it for a travel jack though. In retrospect I probably would have gotten the smaller aluminum one but now I know I'll be set for a long time.

Probably just get anther scissor jack if it's exclusively for emergency tire changes. If your planning on doing some mechanic work on it in the future a floor jack is worth the investment.

http://www.amazon.com/Torin-T90203-Hydraulic-Bottle-Jack/dp/B0002H3364/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1412020621&sr=8-2&keywords=2+ton+jack
i think something like this to press down on a concave press will give a lot of pressure

https://www.amazon.com/Torin-Hydraulic-Bottle-Jack-Capacity/dp/B000234IT4

Torin Big Red Hydraulic Stubby Bottle Jack, 12 Ton Capacity https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B002RZC8WE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ZTCtDbP2CAR3S