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Bottle Jacks

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by FinoCJ, May 4, 2023.

  1. May 4, 2023
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    I've normally had mechanical bottle jacks in my vehicles for basic tire changes etc (including in the cj for off-road use). I think either the CJ7 or the YJ may have had a scissor jack mounted on the front inner fender in the engine compartment. Other than in the shop, I don't typically use hydraulic jacks....but it seems like true, fully mechanical bottle jacks are not as common - wish I would have poached the one from my tacoma before I sold it. How do you feel about carrying a small hydraulic bottle jack with screw top extension in a vehicle? I guess all my hydraulic stuff starts to leak at some point - and I'd rather not have hydraulic fluid everywhere in the vehicle - especially if its stored sideways or what not?
    https://www.homedepot.com/p/SUNEX-TOOLS-2-Ton-Bottle-Jack-4402/308049519?

    Otherwise, I might have to go with a scissor jack...
    https://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-2-half-ton-scissor-jack-66907.html
     
  2. May 4, 2023
    SFaulken

    SFaulken Active Member

    Bellevue, WA
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    I've had the same little hydraulic bottle jack rattling around in my "tool tote" that I move from rig to rig for I dunno, close to 30 years now? And it's never leaked anything. I couldn't even tell you what brand or capacity it is at this point (The paint/labels were destroyed years ago), but I know it wasn't particularly expensive at the time.
     
  3. May 4, 2023
    Jeepenstein

    Jeepenstein Me like Jeep..

    North Central FL
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    Jun 15, 2003
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    2,132

    Yep, been dragging them around for decades.. and not in ideal conditions.. Always been solid, even teh cheap o chinese ones..
     
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  4. May 4, 2023
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    Thanks....as long as they don't leak. It'll be kept inside a passenger vehicle/SUV with carpet etc, so not in storage or tool box in the back of a bed or whatnot.
     
  5. May 4, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    I use a big red 2ton but always with a jack stand.
    There is a rubber plug on em that I'm good at knocking off and releasing the juice. Then you gotta make due with a bottle of engine oil and a tiny funnel.
    Pros and cons with each style of jack.
     
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  6. May 4, 2023
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    2-ton ain't "big." :D I am afraid the small jacks are often "consumer grade." I use 20 and 30 ton for most work.

    A five or ten ton would take very little more space than a 2-ton.

    My greater Jeeping concern is that I very rarely have ever been stuck where I could get access for a bottle jack.
     
  7. May 4, 2023
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    This isn't necessarily for a jeep - and getting a high tonnage bottle jack causes issues with the 'minimum' height fitting under the lift point....but because of this, I am considering moving the mechanical bottle jack that i have in my cj to the suv, and then getting a slightly bigger bottle jack for the CJ.....
     
  8. May 4, 2023
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    You are right that 2-ton is technically adequate. But it still makes me grin to hear it described as "big."

    "Shorties" in heavy jacks are available, but then also have less lift range.

    And with any hydraulic, I always want LOTS of shims and blocking available to maximize the lift height.
     
  9. May 4, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    upload_2023-5-4_15-21-54.png

    Looks like they have double ram 3 ton jacks on the Amazon. i got mine around 02 and it's under the jeep now with a stand for safety.
     
  10. May 4, 2023
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Truth.
     
  11. May 4, 2023
    boopiejones

    boopiejones I can’t drive 55

    California east bay
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    “big red” is a brand of jack, not a description of the size and color.

    I keep a scissor jack in the under seat tool box of my Jeep, as I’ve had horrible luck with hydraulic jacks leaking unless they’re stored upright.
     
  12. May 4, 2023
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Ooohhhh. Duh.

    Nevermind.

    :oops:
     
  13. May 4, 2023
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    Yup...The shorty hydraulic bottles that will fit under the vehicle with a flat (like less than 7" clearance) don't have enough lift to actually raise the vehicle enough to change the tire. The screw tops allows you to get the max lift, but the short body/cylinder height keeps the lift to like 4.5"- so guess we'll try a scissor jack. Plenty of low profile clearance and lots of lift, but its a more awkward fit in storage space...
     
  14. May 4, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    upload_2023-5-4_20-51-49.png

    Check this out! https://a.co/d/02pb6BL

    I should 3d print centering blocks for these to stand on the camper leveling legos
     
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  15. May 4, 2023
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    thats what the mechanical bottle jacks do - 2 stages of lift. but without the screw top, you will loose some lift filling the gap at start-up, or you'll need some spacers and blocks to go under it....but yea, that might work.
     
  16. May 4, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Well this one isn't on sale....
    upload_2023-5-4_21-6-4.png

    Check this out! https://a.co/d/eCl7K25
     
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  17. May 4, 2023
    Jw60

    Jw60 Sitting up n buckled down. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Sedalia MO.
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    Looking at the other versions of the last one I would spend the extra five bucks for the three ton with double ram and adjusting screw.
     
  18. May 5, 2023
    danielbuck

    danielbuck Uncle Buck

    USA
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    my TJ came with a bottle jack, stored sideways under the passenger seat i believe. Even without a block of wood, it's able to extend high enough to change a 35" tire.
     
  19. May 5, 2023
    Dave Deyton

    Dave Deyton Member

    Fuquay-Varina, NC
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    That's what I always carried in the 81 Toyota pickup.
    Worked with the taller tires (31 X 10.50). Stayed behind the seat and finally quit working for lack of use (25 years?). I kept a big wooden block for cribbing in the tool box. when I get it back on the road, I will a get another one of these bottle jacks.

    Dave
     
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  20. May 6, 2023
    duffer

    duffer Rodent Power

    Bozeman, MT
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    Another that prefers a bottle jack. You can straighten a surprising number of components with a good chain and a bottle jack. I made a slip-over ram cap for the 20T I usually carry with a welded "U" to retain the chain for such tasks.
     
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