If you remember from our previous article regarding the car accessories for flat tire, I mentioned that I would write a detailed guide on how to use car jacks. As I often feel that subject is not thoroughly covered as it needs to be!
The purpose of the Tiremonk.com is to provide valuable insights to the readers that they can do tackle the various car tire issues that we come across on a daily basis. And through this guide, we are going to discuss one of the aspects related to it- what are different types of car jacks and how to use them? So let’ started:
Types of Car Jacks and Usage:
There are several types of car jacks that we can use. But as someone who knows a lot about these jacks, I feel that it isn’t necessary to know all of them.
Instead, I feel that we have to use car jacks that can give us the maximum output with the minimum effort. With this theory in mind, I have gathered a list of seven types of car jacks that we can use. These include:
Scissor jack:
Scissor jack is the first car jack we are going to discuss today. It comes as a part of standard equipment and is usually found in the vehicle’s trunk or undercarriage. So basically, we often don’t have to buy it. It comes as an essential accessory along with your donut tire.
As for working dynamics, it uses a scissor mechanism to raise and lower a vehicle. The primary function of a scissor jack is to change a flat tire.
As per the characteristics, they are compact, lightweight, and have a basic design, but not meant for heavy lifting. Now the question is how to use them:
How to use a scissor jack:
Now, moving to the second part, how we are going to use it:
- First, we must find a flat and stable surface to park your vehicle.
- Then, locate the designated jack points on your vehicle. These are typically marked in the vehicle’s manual.
- Next, place the scissor jack on the jack point closest to the wheel you want to lift. Make sure the jack is aligned correctly and securely placed on the ground.
- Make use of the crank handle that came with the jack. Insert it into the jack and turn it clockwise to raise the jack. Keep cranking until the vehicle reaches the desired height. Be careful not to exceed the jack’s weight capacity.
- Once the vehicle is lifted, check its stability by gently pushing it. If it wobbles or feels unstable, lower it and reposition the jack.
- Perform the necessary maintenance or repairs on the vehicle while it is lifted.
- To lower the vehicle, turn the crank handle counterclockwise. Lower it gradually and ensure your hands and body are clear of any potential pinch points.
- Remove the scissor jack from the jack point and store it properly.
And to learn it in a more better way, you can make use of the following video as well:
Floor jack:
Floor jack is the next car jack on the list. It is a heavy-duty hydraulic jack that sits flat on the floor. It has a long arm that lifts from underneath and can raise vehicles higher than a scissor jack.
Floor jacks are more stable and safer for tire changes or work underneath. They are commonly used in automotive repair shops and garages due to their high lifting capacity.
How to use a floor jack:
The initial steps for using a floor jack are almost the same. Park your car or SUV on a level ground. Then, find the jack point for your vehicle based on your user manual. Then follow the given steps:
- Position the floor jack on a solid surface, aligning it with the jack point closest to the wheel you want to lift. But do make sure that the jack’s saddle is positioned correctly under the jack point.
- Pump the handle of the floor jack to raise the vehicle. Keep pumping until the jack makes contact with the jack point and the vehicle starts to lift. And do ensure that the jack is stable and centered.
- Continue pumping the handle to raise the vehicle to the desired height. Watch for even lifting and stability. Do not exceed the floor jack’s weight capacity.
- Now, place jack stands under the vehicle’s reinforced lifting points for additional support and safety. And change the flat tire with the spare tire.
- Once done. Slowly turn the release valve on the floor jack counterclockwise to lower the vehicle. Make sure your hands and body are clear of any pinch points.
- Once the vehicle is safely lowered onto the jack stands, remove the floor jack from underneath.
And to understand this further, you can also make use of the above video as well.
Bottle jack:
Bottle jack is also known as piston jacks. They are powerful hydraulic jacks and are shaped like a bottle. They have a large lifting capacity and are suitable for lifting heavy vehicles such as trucks and SUVs.
As for shape, bottle jacks are compact and portable, making them a popular choice for emergency roadside assistance.
How to use a bottle jack:
If I am going to use the bottle jack, following are the steps that I would recommend you to follow:
- Place the bottle jack on the ground, ensuring its base is flat and stable. Align it with the lifting point closest to the wheel you want to lift.
- Check the release valve on the bottle jack and ensure it is closed (turned clockwise) to prevent accidental lowering.
- Attach the jack handle to the pump lever of the bottle jack.
- Pump the handle up and down to raise the saddle of the bottle jack. Continue pumping until the saddle makes contact with the lifting point on the vehicle.
- Keep pumping the handle to lift the vehicle to the desired height. Avoid exceeding the weight capacity of the bottle jack.
- For added safety, place the jack stands under the recommended lifting points of the vehicle before performing any work.
- To lower the vehicle, slowly turn the release valve counterclockwise. This will allow the hydraulic fluid to flow back into the bottle jack, gradually lowering the vehicle. Ensure your hands and body are clear of any pinch points.
- Once the vehicle is safely lowered, remove the bottle jack from underneath.
The following video is an illustration of it:
Ratchet jack:
Ratchet jack combines the aspects of a scissor and floor jack. If you see it’s working, you see it can lift your car like a scissor jack. But it’s more substantial than a scissor jack.
A ratchet jack has a long metal arm that lifts your car up. There is also a handle that clicks like a ratchet when you turn it. This makes the jack lift slowly and stop at each click so you can lift a little at a time.
It has a pin that locks the arm in place once your car is high enough. This holds the car up safely while you change the tire.
But unlike a floor jack, a ratchet jack collapses down small, so it’s easy to carry. You can keep it in your trunk in case of a flat tire while driving.
Likewise, the clicking handle and locking arm make it more stable than a scissor jack. But it’s also portable, like a scissor jack. So, a ratchet jack is a good emergency tire-changing tool to have in your vehicle.
Quickjack:
The Quickjack is a special car jack that uses electricity instead of manual cranking. It can raise a car completely off the ground, not just a little bit like a scissor or ratchet jack. This makes it safer to work underneath.
It is not something we are most likely to use, but it is still good to know under the paradigm of car jacks.
With the push of a button, the Quickjack lifts the car smoothly using an electric motor. Hence, there is no need to strain with a heavy hydraulic jack.
It lifts the whole car at once from points under each tire. This is more stable than jacking just one spot and is used by professionals in garages.
Electric Car Jack:
Electric car jack is like a car lift that runs on electricity instead of being hand-cranked. It makes lifting a car much easier.
As for how to use an electric jack, you just push a button, and the motor does all the work. No straining your back, pumping a handle like a regular floor jack.
The jack gets power from a battery, either from your car or a separate portable one. All the lifting force comes from the electric motor.
When you push the up button, it smoothly and steadily raises the car into the air. No stopping to rest your arms like a hydraulic jack.
A down button lowers the car just as quickly. There is no awkwardly controlled lowering, either. And is it worthy to be carried with you all the time? Well, generally, it is most suited for the mechanics because of their daily usage.
And I don’t recommend you are going to use it much! Hence, a regular scissor car jack is a better option.
Hi-Lift jack:
Hi-Lift jack is a special jack made for off-roading and heavy-duty trucks. It can lift vehicles much higher than regular car jacks. Hi-Lifts have a long crank handle to exert lots of force. This lets them raise big trucks and jeeps up very high for tough jobs.
Their frame is also very sturdy, made of solid metal that won’t bend during heavy use. They can lift much heavier weights than regular jacks.
Off-roaders carry Hi-Lift jack for recovery. If they get stuck, the Hi-Lift can hoist one side way up to put boards under the tires. Some owners even use them as makeshift winches to pull out others! The high lift range also allows inspection of hard-to-reach areas.
Since off-road rigs sit so high, regular jacks can’t reach them, and hence it is an excellent option to use as compared to regular car jack.
How to use Hi-Lift jack:
Now, as far as the usage of this jack is concerned, you can follow the steps given below to change the flat tire:
- Find a solid lifting point under the vehicle. This is usually a body panel, frame, or axle. Make sure the surface is free of debris.
- Place the lifting arm in contact with the lifting point. The arm should make full contact at a 90-degree angle to the surface.
- Open the base of the jack all the way to allow maximum lifting range. Firmly plant the base on level, stable ground.
- Begin cranking the handle to lift the lifting arm slowly. Take your time and lift in small increments to keep control.
- Keep cranking until the tire or load is entirely off the ground. The height may need to be adjusted by inserting lifting blocks.
- Once at the desired height, twist the handle clockwise to lock it in place securely. Test that it will not be lowered accidentally.
- Perform your maintenance, repair, or recovery process with the vehicle safely lifted.
- When finished, crank the handle counterclockwise to unlock it. Slowly lower the vehicle by cranking the handle.
- Close the jack base and inspect for any issues before storing it away securely on your vehicle.
And for a better illustration, you can also take the help of the following vehicle as well.
Conclusion:
To summarize, we have discussed the various types of car jacks. We have seen how to use car jacks in an appropriate manner, too. From a scissor car jack to a Hi-Lift jack, we have covered everything you need to know.
If you have any queries, feel free to reach out! Or want us to write on any topic related to car tires, do let us know through the comment section or through our contact page.
I am Kashif Riaz – founder and author at Tiremonk.com. I am an automotive DIY enthusiast and tire blogger with a background in Mechanical Engineering. I have been in the field for more than seven years. I love to write about automobiles, especially about their tires – design, construction, functioning, and maintenance.
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