Floor Jack Failure And New Replacement

Harvey Halabookie · January 11, 2011

I almost got killed yesterday when my Larin aluminum floorjack (2-1/2 ton bought from Costco in 2006) failed. I was jacking up the left front under the frame and had it up just high enough to slide the jackstand in. As I was moving the jackstand into position, the jack dropped incredibly fast. Luckily there was no damage to me or the truck. The jack would not work anymore after that. I even followed the directions and tried to bleed the pump and added more jack oil. To me, it is not worth trying to fix it.

I then went on a hunt for a good strong floor jack that could lift my truck safely. I went to Harbor Freight and Sears. They both had 3-ton steel floor jacks for between $80 and $120, but it seemed that the lift height was not that great on them. I then found a Maasdam 3-ton commercial equipment and SUV jack at Home Depot for $49.95. I took it out of the box and was very impressed. It is actually made in the USA and the company makes a ton of heavy duty tools. The jack is very solid and well-made.

I checked their website at www.pullr.com. You can download the catalog off of their website. The jack I have is on page 32. I am also going to buy the MPL-12B bottle jack on page 33 to keep in my truck. The jack that Chevy gives you is scary, even just for changing a tire. My buddy had a horrible experience with his where it began to tilt. It just seems very unstable.

Anyway, just thought I would share this pleasant surprise, finding high-quality stuff made in the USA for a great price! They even have come-alongs and hi-lift style jacks. Their jackstands also have feet on them so they don't dig into the ground. The company also makes Dead-On tools ( I have one of their pry bars) and the Bucket Boss tool carrier. If you are looking for some new tools, check them out!

gnet158 · January 13, 2011

Scary, I picked up the Sears 3 ton jack and jack stands almost two years ago. No problems yet (knock on wood). Glad you were not hurt.

old-chevy-dude · January 13, 2011

thank you for this thread..

I have been looking for a new jack since I bought the truck, because the jack height on my old one is too low for the truck (it was designed for my lowered vehicle, not a truck) and I had not found any within what I feel is a resonable price..

I'll be heading to home depot this afternoon never actually thought to look there for one.

thanks again.

mhenshaw · January 13, 2011

I bought this 3.5 ton jack from Northtool for $100 bucks a couple weeks ago. It is low profile and has the highest lifting height I have found.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/pro...45429_200345429

old-chevy-dude · January 13, 2011

I bought this 3.5 ton jack from Northtool for $100 bucks a couple weeks ago. It is low profile and has the highest lifting height I have found.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/pro...45429_200345429

that one looks pretty cool.. has the same max lift height as the one the OP posted..

pwall · January 13, 2011

Glad you were not injured!

robert scharp · January 13, 2011

I bought this 3.5 ton jack from Northtool for $100 bucks a couple weeks ago. It is low profile and has the highest lifting height I have found.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/pro...45429_200345429

I realize this is an old thread....but i have sears aluminum that is 2 ton, has a roller in front for my 32 ford coupe.....it has a chrome dropped axel. i've had these jacks from sears all my life and built 18 show cars and 5 for other guys.and never HAD ONE COME DOWN.tHIS SOUNDS LIKE HE DIDN'T HAVE THE JACK COMPLETELY LOCKED OF[REVERSE TWIST]I always use stands the miniute the truck is up aways. and a pretty standard lift range is 19"

BTW your jack looks like a good deal to me. JMO

old-chevy-dude · January 13, 2011

I bought this 3.5 ton jack from Northtool for $100 bucks a couple weeks ago. It is low profile and has the highest lifting height I have found.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/pro...45429_200345429

I realize this is an old thread....but i have sears aluminum that is 2 ton, has a roller in front for my 32 ford coupe.....it has a chrome dropped axel. i've had these jacks from sears all my life and built 18 show cars and 5 for other guys.and never HAD ONE COME DOWN.tHIS SOUNDS LIKE HE DIDN'T HAVE THE JACK COMPLETELY LOCKED OF[REVERSE TWIST]I always use stands the miniute the truck is up aways. and a pretty standard lift range is 19"

BTW your jack looks like a good deal to me. JMO

lol the thread is only 2 days old...

Harvey Halabookie · January 13, 2011

I bought this 3.5 ton jack from Northtool for $100 bucks a couple weeks ago. It is low profile and has the highest lifting height I have found.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/pro...45429_200345429

I realize this is an old thread....but i have sears aluminum that is 2 ton, has a roller in front for my 32 ford coupe.....it has a chrome dropped axel. i've had these jacks from sears all my life and built 18 show cars and 5 for other guys.and never HAD ONE COME DOWN.tHIS SOUNDS LIKE HE DIDN'T HAVE THE JACK COMPLETELY LOCKED OF[REVERSE TWIST]I always use stands the miniute the truck is up aways. and a pretty standard lift range is 19"

BTW your jack looks like a good deal to me. JMO

It was definitely locked down completely. And something definitely failed because it will no longer pump. It seems that the hydraulic part failed, whether it is a seal or a hard part I do not know. And the jack was under the truck only for a few seconds as I was manuevering the jackstand into place.

The jack from Northern Tool looks like a good service jack, but I noticed there is also an Arcan #ALJ2T 2-ton aluminum jack sold there as well. My jack is labeled a "Larin ALJ2D" 2.5 ton jack. Interestingly, Larin's website does not list this jack, but it looks 100% like the Arcan one. I wonder if the companies are related and why the 2.5 ton aluminum is no longer listed. I will complain to Costco and see if they will refund my money, though I have to track down the receipt and I bought the jack a while ago.

mhenshaw · January 13, 2011

I bought this 3.5 ton jack from Northtool for $100 bucks a couple weeks ago. It is low profile and has the highest lifting height I have found.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/pro...45429_200345429

I realize this is an old thread....but i have sears aluminum that is 2 ton, has a roller in front for my 32 ford coupe.....it has a chrome dropped axel. i've had these jacks from sears all my life and built 18 show cars and 5 for other guys.and never HAD ONE COME DOWN.tHIS SOUNDS LIKE HE DIDN'T HAVE THE JACK COMPLETELY LOCKED OF[REVERSE TWIST]I always use stands the miniute the truck is up aways. and a pretty standard lift range is 19"

BTW your jack looks like a good deal to me. JMO

I wouldn't feel save about lifting the front of my truck with a 2 ton jack (4000 pounds) and putting it on jack stands.

topdj · January 14, 2011

I bought this 3.5 ton jack from Northtool for $100 bucks a couple weeks ago. It is low profile and has the highest lifting height I have found.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/pro...45429_200345429

I bought a pair of those , great Jacks

Harvey Halabookie · January 23, 2011

And here is the great response from Larin:

Hi,

I am sorry to hear that you are having problems with your Larin jack. If you would like to purchase parts to repair your jack please contact Roger in our customer service/parts dept toll free @ 1800-875-2746

randas · January 23, 2011

Bought this jack at home depot but it would never go high enough for me, so I had to rework it abitt

Doug_Scott · January 24, 2011

Bought this jack at home depot but it would never go high enough for me, so I had to rework it abitt

Did you do the math and figure out how much that reduced the lift capacity of the jack? A quick guess would be half the capacity now.

[email protected] · January 24, 2011

Yeah, you better be very cautious while using that thing. You need to put some metal brace plating on the side where your metal meets the jacks and paint it up good, though.