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[Ken T]

I was out adjusting the handbrake (MOT on Fri!),and came to use my 2 tonne trolly jack. Trouble is it only goes up to 318mm, so I can't get the car far enough up to put my axle stand in . Any recomendations for a decent jack that wouldn't wear out in 13 months?. I was looking at Fleebay, and saw this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160088610259&fromMakeTrack=true . Anybody any experience of bottle jacks?. They look good, they wouldn't move about like those damn trolly toys when jacking up. I like to feel safe under the car!. And some of them have an air line input so you could use your Aldi bargains!.    

[theolodian]

Put a block of wood or two between the jack and the car.  Just be sure they won't split or fall off the side.

[Admin]

This is a proper trolley jack and I would NEVER use a bottle jack, too damn dangerous!

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/ctj2000g-2-tonne-professional-trolley-ja/path/trolley-jacks-bottle-jacks-transmission-jacks/brand/clarke

[Ghosts in my machine]

Have to agree with LB. Bottle Jacks have a nasty habit of being a bit wobbly and usually have a very small footprint. The other thing is that if lubricated properly, they tend to get you nice and mucky before you even start the job you jacked up for.

They also get more dangerous, the older they get, as seals degrade and fluid leaks etc.

I certainly wouldn't advise using a bottle jack without secondary support for any length of time at all (ie. no more than 5 seconds! [smiley=smiley.gif])

A properly rated Trolley Jack is best. If you've got a Tarmac drive, make sure theres something under it to spread the load and ensure you dont get 4 little wheel shaped indents in it! [smiley=smiley.gif]

[x25xe]

Agree totally with Laidback and Ghosts.  I would just add that bottle jacks, in my experience, do not lift anywhere as near as high as a trolley jack.  I am currently searching for a trolley jack, to replace my ageing jack.  I want one with a saddle that has a rubber pad.  This seems to be very hard to find.  I have had my current 2 ton trolley jack for around 14 years.  It has seen lots of action lifting my cars, vans and minibuses.  The point is that it (the jack) is the same as Laidback has recommended (although I paid double what they are know ) and has performed very well.  The only reason I am replacing is because the wheels at the back have fallen apart due to most of my work taking place in the road outside my house.

Good luck with your search and don't forget to supplement the jack with a good pair of axle stands - 2 ton or above and don't get the fold up ones.

Hope this helps.

[sounds2k]

This is a proper trolley jack and I would NEVER use a bottle jack, too damn dangerous!

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/ctj2000g-2-tonne-professional-trolley-ja/path/trolley-jacks-bottle-jacks-transmission-jacks/brand/clarke

... for a couple of quid extra, this one - the same as I have - has a pedal you can press on which lifts the saddle until it makes contact, you then jack it as normal ... but beware that it ain't a lightweight jack in any sense of the word !!

I did get a bottle jack, the trouble with the omega - or the elite anyway - is that there is a fair bit of travel in the suspension, I found that the smaller bottle jack fits under the car but doesn't have enough travel to lift it fully, a bigger bottle jack will not fit under the car!!

as for a rubber saddled jack, I put a block of wood between the saddle and the car ... works for me  

[Ken T]

Thanks for the suggestions. I too have had a trolley jack for a long while, but it started coming down slowly, so it was time to buy a new one!. I thought about a bottle jack because they seem to offer a great lift, one of 508mm, but if its wobbling up there I don't want to know. Remember way back in the dim and distant past there was a car with 4 jacks built in to the chassis. I don't recall if they were hydraulic or wind down, but they would be handy. Imagine jacking up your car by simply pressing a button on the dashboard and up she goes !.

[MaxV6]

I've been waiting ages for someone to quip


"Daniels"


so I could go

yes please.

no ice.

[Ken T]

Come on, glenfiddich or glen grant, please!