When you think about the high cost of auto repairs, it makes sense to do certain jobs for yourself. Obviously, most of us are not mechanics, but most of us can (at least) learn to do certain things. Although they tend to be a little bit expensive, a good floor jack can save you a lot of money in the long run.
In this article, we will be focusing on floor jacks with a particularly low profile. These are necessary for lifting vehicles that ride lower to the ground, such as sports cars. Let’s look at five of the best products we could find and see which one is the best.
Contents
- Top 5 Low Profile Floor Jacks
- 1. Powerbuilt 620479E – Ultra Low Profile Floor Jack
- 2. Arcan XL20 – Simple And Effective 2 Ton Floor Jack
- 3. Pittsburgh Automotive 61253 – Heavy Duty 3 Ton Floor Jack
- 4. Arcan ALJ3T – Low Profile Aluminum Floor Jack
- 5. Sunex 6602LP – The High-End Beast For Lowered Cars
- Low Profile Floor Jack Buyer’s Guide
- Conclusion
Top 5 Low Profile Floor Jacks
| Product | Weight Capacity | Lift Range | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Powerbuilt 620479E (Editor’s Choice) | 2 tons | 2.75 - 15.5 in | |
| 2. Arcan XL20 | 2 tons | 3.5 - 18.5 in | |
| 3. Pittsburgh Automotive 61253 | 3 tons | 2.88 - 19.75 in | |
| 4. Arcan ALJ3T | 3 tons | 3.6 - 19.4 in | |
| 5. Sunex 6602LP | 2 tons | 2.75 - 24.0 in |
Below is a list of the best low profile floor jacks that will safely lift the car from the ground and lock in place.
1. Powerbuilt 620479E – Ultra Low Profile Floor Jack
This might be the coolest-looking jack on our list, and it offers some excellent benefits as well. First of all, it has a really low profile. At 2.75 inches, only one other jack on our list can go as low. We also like the fact that the jack isn’t extremely heavy, though it is by no means easy to lift.
The front wheels on this jack do not pivot and consist of one big roller. This is actually pretty handy because you don’t have to worry about the wheels being turned in the wrong direction. On traditional jacks, improperly positioned wheels can cause the jack to drift, and this can lead to a catastrophic failure if you happen to be underneath the vehicle at the time.
Another good safety feature is the locking bar mechanism. This is simply a way to lock the jack at its current height. Thus, even if the jack loses pressure for some reason, the car should still stay aloft. This brings us to one of the more common complaints about this product. Most of the reviews we read were positive, but a few users complained that the jack lost its pressure after a short period of use. Consistent complaints, no matter how few, are always a cause for concern.
- Very low profile at 2.75 inches
- Relatively lightweight
- Front wheels do not pivot
- Safety bar offers extra safety
- Rubber jack pad will wear out
- Jack pad is too flat
- Some buyers complain of pressure loss
2. Arcan XL20 – Simple And Effective 2 Ton Floor Jack
This is a basic and relatively inexpensive jack. It can be used for cars with ground clearance as low as 3.5 inches. It can raise them to a height of 18.5 inches, which is a pretty good range.
The lifting pad is rough, but the sidewalls are not very large. While most lifting surfaces are shaped almost like a cup, this one is more like a flat plate with a rough surface. As such, we are a little concerned that it might not work against certain surfaces.
According to the sticker on top, this product can handle up to two tons. However, when it is time to release the valve and drop the vehicle, the action is a little bit rough and hard to control. When compared to other products on our list, this jack is particularly heavy, and its’ ground clearance isn’t as low as some others. Still, a good product overall.
- Very durable
- Not too expensive
- Easy to use with minimal pumping
- 3.5-inch minimum clearance
- Exceeds industry standards
- Pretty heavy
- Minimum height might not be low enough
- Jack pad is not cupped
3. Pittsburgh Automotive 61253 – Heavy Duty 3 Ton Floor Jack
This is the budget option, but it isn’t necessarily a bad option.
We don’t see anything fancy about this jack, as the manufacturer seems to have stuck with the time-tested formula.
This jack has a very high maximum lift at almost 20 inches, and its’ minimum lift is 3 and 1/8 inches, which is quite low indeed. In terms of profile range, this one definitely gets some points.
On the upside, this is an easy jack to use, and it can raise your car very high in just a few pumps. This is because of one little extra feature: a dual-pump setup that allows you to get twice the lift with about the same effort. On the downside, this product is a big heavy beast (it weighs almost 80 pounds), and we see no evidence of a warranty at all.
- Cheapest option on our list
- Simple and traditional
- High maximum lift
- Excellent energy-to-lift ratio
- Decent minimum clearance
- No warranty
- Welds do not look terribly strong
- Quite heavy
4. Arcan ALJ3T – Low Profile Aluminum Floor Jack
As you can tell from the header, this one is made of aluminum instead of steel. This means that it is less durable, but a lot lighter.
This jack is rated to hold up to 3 tons of weight, so it is obviously not weak. It’s made of aircraft-grade aluminum, and weighs only 56 pounds.
One of the first things to notice about this jack is the convenient side-carry handles. This is handy in situations where you can’t roll the jack for one reason or another.
The jack pad is traditional in shape but has a cleated rubber pad. A rubber pad is always a double-edged sword because it provides better grip while sacrificing durability.
- Lightest jack on our list
- Side-carry handles
- Safety valves to prevent accidents
- Well-reinforced frame
- Quite expensive
5. Sunex 6602LP – The High-End Beast For Lowered Cars
This is easily the heaviest jack on our list, weighing about 108 pounds. This makes it a poor option for those who have a lot of trouble with heavy loads.
However, this product makes up for its weight problem with a very low profile. This one can get as low as 2.75 inches, making it tied for first place in this category.
We also have a very high maximum height on this product, and it isn’t very hard to use. The manufacturer says that it reaches maximum height in 6.5 pumps. This one is pretty-high-quality, but you will pay a high price if you go with this option.
- Very good minimal height- 2.75 inches
- 24-inch maximum height
- Easy and quick to raise the height
- Durable all-steel design
- Very heavy
- Quite expensive
Low Profile Floor Jack Buyer’s Guide
A jack is a fairly straightforward piece of equipment, as it is meant to do only one job. However, there are a few qualities that you need to examine when making your choice. These qualities include:
- Thickness of all parts
- Size and shape of the jack pad
- Size and thickness of the wheels
- Warranty (or lack thereof)
- Weight
- Cost
- Minimum lift
- Maximum lift
- Ease Of Use
In general, you are looking for something that is durable, easy to use, backed by a warranty, and which has the lifting range to suit your vehicle. Always make sure that you pay special attention to the release mechanism. Remember: This is a tool that you need to trust with your life. If you are working underneath this vehicle, and the release mechanism is somehow triggered, you could be seriously injured or even crushed to death.
This kind of thing happens more often than you might think. Your family might be able to sue the company, but that won’t help you! Make sure that you check this feature thoroughly and don’t take anyone’s word for anything. It’s your safety on the line, not theirs!
Conclusion
In general, we would have to recommend the Powerbuilt jack. Of all the jacks on our list, this one combined the lowest minimum clearance with a lot of other excellent features. The roller bar in the front also provided this product with a slight edge over the competition.
In spite of a few defective product complaints, the Powerbuilt jack seems to be the best option overall. The relatively low cost of this product certainly doesn’t hurt either. We hope that you have enjoyed this article and that we have given you all the information you need to make the right decision.