The Best Car Jacks, Stands, Lifts and Ramps of 2022

Buying a Car Jack

Whether you’re changing a tire or getting underneath to do some serious work on your car, a good car jack is an important tool in any home mechanic’s shop. Getting the car up in the air safely and securely is critical.

When shopping for a jack, we recommend a few key features:

• Handle length: A longer handle will typically give you more leverage, allowing you to lift the car with less struggle.
• Wheels that roll smoothly: Jacks are usually heavy, so dragging it across your shop will be easier if the wheels roll well.
• A wide, sturdy base: The wider the jack, the more stable it will be when you go to lift the car.
• An appropriate saddle height and maximum lifting height: The saddle is the part of the jack that touches the car. Consider what you need to lift. Some larger jacks won’t have a low enough saddle to get under low sports cars, while others won’t raise lifted trucks high enough.

One other thing to know: Jacks are generally rated by the weight they can lift, in tons. Typically you’re only lifting half your car, either two side wheels or one end. So you’ll need to know your car’s weight.

First, check the placard in the door jamb gives you the weight. Then cut that in half to determine the appropriate minimum size of your jack. It’s never a bad idea to have more capacity than the minimum.

Also, remember to wedge weights snugly against the wheels that remain on the ground when you go to lift, AKA chocking the wheels. If you don’t, those wheels might decide to roll as you jack the car.

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