Floor Jack Height recommendations

[Jon Olivier]

I need to purchase a floor jack and jack stands. Just wondering what the lift height should be for the 4WD Ranger, to get the wheels off the ground. Also, is everyone using a 3-ton jack for their Ranger?

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[BaGMaN]

liftmaster 3 Ton SUV High Lift Floor Trolley Jack
This is like what I use on the ranger and my 71 bronco.

 

[FULLSCALE]

An average 3 ton jack that lifts in the 20-22“ range should be lots. I have a couple of them and they’ll both lift high enough as well as a Quickjack that I haven’t tried yet on it. I also have four of these and they’re my favourite choice when lifting my Ranger - https://www.powerbuilt.com/products/3-ton-all-in-one-jackstand-bottle-jack.

 

[Swingpure]

I am also in the process of buying a floor jack. Mine will be purely for changing out winter to summer tires and vice versa.

In my research it said people often buy more jack than they need. A 3 ton jack would be more than adequate. But would a 2.5 ton jack also be adequate? The curb weight of a Ranger is about 4,500 lbs.

A lot of lower end jacks only lift to about 17”. Is that enough to get the tire off the floor, to change it out?

 

[HoosierT]

I use the good ole Dayton model that is the Snapon ripoff and it is an amazing Jack. Has plenty of height to raise my lifted Ranger.

https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...-duty-rapid-pump-floor-jack-yellow-63183.html

 

[Swingpure]

I use the good ole Dayton model that is the Snapon ripoff and it is an amazing Jack. Has plenty of height to raise my lifted Ranger.

https://www.harborfreight.com/autom...-duty-rapid-pump-floor-jack-yellow-63183.html

That is a sweet jack. I think it would cause me to time my tire changes!

 

[Toytec]

The aluminum one I picked up from HF years ago I can't say enough about it. 3000lb Love it!
Forget their jack stands though. lol

 

[Swingpure]

The aluminum one I picked up from HF years ago I can't say enough about it. 3000lb Love it!
Forget their jack stands though. lol

So 1.5 tons? It lifts the Ranger okay?

 

[Langwilliams]

I have 2 of the aluminum HF ones. A 1.5 for small stuff an a 3.5 for the ranger. I had to use both to rotate tires thought....the 3.5 wouldn't get both wheels off the ground on one side. I might be able to move the jack around an get both up at once but I just put the small one under the rear an large jack under the front. I have an old pair of 1.5 ton craftsman jack stands an a pair of ramps. I don't do the heavy work I used to on cars. My kids are all grown an I'm not keeping a kid car going an my muscle car days are gone.

If I do my own work on the Eibach front leveling struts I'll drive to my brother's house. He's 5 hours away but we can use his friends 2 post four point lift. Now that's the way to go if you can swing it!

 

[Jon Olivier]

I ended up getting this one from HF. It lifts the truck high enough to get the wheels off the ground.

 

[Langwilliams]

FYI for me it's worth the $50 to get the aluminum model jack...Getting old an grumpy an draggin an 80 pound jack around sucks, the aluminum 3.5 ton one I got weighs around 50 lbs, the 3.5 all steel one I gave to my son weighed around 80. It's light enough it's not a big deal to take it to change a flat for your kid or wife on the side of the road.

 

[AutobotXJ]

I am also in the process of buying a floor jack. Mine will be purely for changing out winter to summer tires and vice versa.

In my research it said people often buy more jack than they need. A 3 ton jack would be more than adequate. But would a 2.5 ton jack also be adequate? The curb weight of a Ranger is about 4,500 lbs.

A lot of lower end jacks only lift to about 17”. Is that enough to get the tire off the floor, to change it out?

I have a craftsman 2.5 and it is strong enough to lift but not tall enough for the front wheels to take off the tires.

 

[Toytec]

So 1.5 tons? It lifts the Ranger okay?

Perfectly but don't get the cheapest one get the next one up with actual Wheels

 

[Swingpure]

Sounds like some great deals at Harbor Freight, but we do not have that store in Canada. After looking at a number of jacks, I took some of the advice given and bought an aluminum (hybrid) jack (weighs about 55 lbs) with a double piston pump, that goes up 18.5” and is good for 3 tons. There were a few all steel, 3 ton ones on sale for less. I don’t plan on being an automotive mechanic, so I just need it for seasonal wheel and tire change on the truck and my wife’s car. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Swingpure]

The jack arrived today. The box with the jack in it is light enough. I haven’t played with it yet.

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