Safest car jack capacity?

Don't buy from Harbor Freight

 

If you own a 2014 Prius, a 1.5 ton jack would be fine. Lifting one end or one side is basically half the weight of the who car.

There is a relief valve built in to the jack that does not allow the user to jack up more than the jack's capacity.

 

I'm a lot more interested in the lift height. A 3 ton jack can typically do at least 19" unloaded. 20"~21" is even better. The rear/central jacking point is up pretty high; a lighter jack (with less reach) will barely reach it.

I got a cheapo 3 ton (with about 19" lift) on a Boxing Day sale, for $69. about 15 years back. It doesn't see a lot of use, still works fine.

Get some safety stands (3 ton at least, 6 ton too for higher lifts) and heavy duty wheel chocks too. Whichever end you're lifting, you should chock the wheels at the other end. I pretty much only lift at the front or rear central jacking points. Doing tire rotations for example, I raise the whole car and put it on safety stands. I prefer alternate points for placing safety stands; the scissor jack locations are for the birds.

 

Really?

My nearly 20 year old $60 Harbor Freight aluminum racing jack still works and does not leak.

 

Really

 

No need. I have a special height riser block, pinch weld and secure locking system.

 

Yes, really! It's in the attached photos of my previous post.

 

I meant "really" don't buy a harbor freight jack or jack stands. They should lose everyone's trust when they recall jack stands and then give replacement jack stands that also gets recalled for failing.

 

20 years ago, HF had great stands. Recently, they recalled stands that replaced another recall of a recall.

 

The jack stands are trash. The jacks are just fine. I use the best. Safejacks Rennstands and Esco models.

 

Now that I have a garage, I'm looking forward to buying 12,000 drive ramps. Overkill 2X!

 

Custom and super clean!

 

Probably the best deal on a jack stand for the Prius is the $10 Hyper Tough 2 ton stand sold at all Walmarts. The welds are robotically done are exceptionally good at this price point. They are low enough that they are great for low clearance cars like the Prius.

Hyper Tough 2 Ton Jack Stand Single Unit Red/Black - T42002W-2 - Walmart.com - Walmart.com

 

Front and back.

 

I made my own "knife edge: pinch weld adapter that is an exact perfect fit for the Gen 3 Prius. I've made them for the $10 Walmart stand, too.

 

You jack the car up on those points, not held up by stands.