Any suggestions for an inexpensive/moderately expensive floor jack that will fit under the Mini (preferably under the center jack point from the front end) without needing to drive it up onto wood "ramps" first? I've looked at the low-profile jack at Harbor Freight, but I'm not sure it will fit clear under the car.

 

What is your definition of inexpensive/moderately expensive?

 

$100ish (I'd wince at $150, but it's tolerable; $200 probably isn't). I'd also like to be able to use it on my wife's 3700lb Chevy Equinox.

 

I've got a Craftsman jack from Sears that fits. It says its the "2 1/4 ton trolly Jack" I've managed to lift the centre jacking point with it, though its easier if you jack up the back wheel first.

 

It costs around $150, so more than you wanted to pay but the Alcan XL35 will do exactly what you want. It's a low profile jack with a good reach that has a high enough lift to be used on SUV's. I have one of these and bought it for my MINI and my Jeep Grand Cherokee. If you go from the side you can get the center point. I usually drive up on ramps and them jack from that point for more clearance. As low as or cars are any jack that can hit that point easily costs a whole lot more as it is a specialty jack.

I looked at the cheaper jacks and none really had any good reviews on them. Pretty much you get what you pay for. I bought mine at Northern Tool on sale for $129. There is a XL35R version that is red and has a jack pad and pad on the handle. I ordered the jack pad from amazon for cheap and used pip insulation for the handle held on with zip ties.

Be aware that this jack is not a traveling jack. It is VERY heavy. Thing is built like a tank and the model is known to last a very long time. That being said it is very smooth and easy to control the lowering rate. You can actually make it creep lowering the car. No foot pedal but I never liked that feature on a jack anyway.

Hope that helps some.

 

I got a Craftsman 3ton jack. It came with a creeper and 2 jackstands. It is around $120 at Sears. It fits under a stock height MINI. Also I have used a 2x4 in the middle of the running board and the jack to lift the car if I have to.

 

I have a Habor Freight aluminum "racing jack". Works great and easy to move around. I believe I paid around $150 for it.

Kevin

 

I have the Harbor Freight racing jack too. There are 2 models if I remember correctly. Priced at $99.00 then had a $20.00 off coupon. Good deal!

 

I use the following:

http://www.harborfreight.com/automot...ump-68049.html

It works great on the MCS and my Challenger. I put a hockey puck between the jack and the vehicle.

 

I have the HF aluminum low pro one. I paid 149 for it. It is fine for light cars and truck such as the mini and my street rod but does not make it with my suburban. Just remember the jack stands when under the car!!!! HF has some aluminum one that are kight and easy to move also. If your going to work on the car itis going to cost some coin but not whtat the stealership will cost

 

On the subject of jack stands: The style that has a pin through the stand is preferred over the ratcheting kind. Why? Because the ratchet can let go if you bump the handle. I have a friend who had a car fall on him because of that. He had to get his face surgically reconstructed; he was lucky to not be killed.

Be safe under your cars.

 

Good call. And: in one of the how-to's on this forum, the author told of a habit he'd formed of placing removed wheels/tires back under the car while servicing. The thought being, in the event of a support failure, the vehicle wouldn't crash all the way down. I hadnt seen that one; made sense to me.

 

It's on sale for 84.99 right now but back ordered

 

You spend $30,000 on a car and then go to Harbor Freight to buy the cheapest jack and stands to risk your life with?!

 

http://www.acjacks.com/

 

harbor freight is great IMHO. i have yet to have a single problem with a tool bought from there.

 

I've seen cheaper jacks and stands than HF and I've seen people go under vehicles without stands. Cheap stands are better than no stands.

 

Ya, I always put the removed wheels strategically under the car when I crawl under. I've seen a jack fail and a jack stand almost fail. Better to ruin a good rim than to crush your skull.

 

+1

 

I watched a guy in a mall parking lot under his car with the wheel off banging away on it with the car on a scissor jack. Car was moving side to side with the jack wobbling around. I pointed this out to him but he didn't seem to care. I moved along and figured if he's not smart enough to figure it out, and not smart enough to let someone point it out, then he gets what comes to him.

 

Due to the weight, I passed on the Arcan XL35 and went a few more bucks for the Arcan 2 ton professional aluminum floor jack. It has a padded pad and padded handle to keep from dinging the car during lifting. It can be carried although you would not want to carry far. Most Arcans' are rated very well. If you do not want to spring for the AC(great jack) then this may be your next best buy. I researched for quite a while last year and this seemed to be the best for under $175. The Sears jacks do not seem to rate as well as they did some years ago and many have reported leaking cylinders. There is a good amount of research on the net that you can find on all the major jacks. Again, always use GOOD jack stands....You have to ask, what is my life worth...