Bottle Jacks Vs Floor Jacks

After frequent use of your vehicle, the time would come when a change of oil or replacement of a tire is needed. At such periods, car jacks are needed. This is why bottle jacks vs. floor jacks need to be considered.

Due to the fact that bottle jacks and floor jacks are the most common types of vehicle jacks, it is only proper that bottle jacks vs. floor jacks are considered, and the pros and cons of this two jacks are itemized.

Although floor jacks are a bit expensive, with proper maintenance, floor jacks can last for a very long time. They are suitable for garage use and are needed for cars that are not too high above the ground level. The wheels on the floor jack are also of significant advantage. This because they make the floor jack mobile and able to adjust to the little movements of the vehicle when the vehicle is lifted. Furthermore, floor jacks have a relatively faster speed of lifting the car. This is as a result of the longer handle which makes the jack more efficient and time-saving.

The surface area of the floor jack enables even distribution of car pressure across its base. This makes the vehicle more balanced and stable.

Bottle jacks, on the other hand, are relatively cheaper than floor jacks. Its ability to lift heavy-duty vehicles makes it a very important tool for truck and lorry drivers.

Also, a vast majority of bottle jacks are smaller than floor jacks which in turn equips them with smaller lifting pads which make them fit into compact spaces floor jacks cannot be used in. The size also makes it more portable and can easily fit into the trunk of a vehicle and can be used for any type of vehicle since height above the ground is not a restriction.

General Directions For Use Of Jacks

During the course of using any type of jack, it is very important that the base of the jack rests firmly on a flat surface. This because the entire weight of the vehicle will be transferred to the surface of the lifting area to the floor itself.

In order to prevent the destruction of vehicle parts, check the emergency section of the owner's manual for your vehicle for its underparts suitable for jack lifting.

For Bottle Jacks

  • In an anticlockwise direction, turn the piston ram till it unthreads and gives you length just enough to fit under your vehicle.
  • Using the tip of the bottle jack handle, lock the valve located at the bottom of the bottle jack. This is done by turning the screw top valve in a clockwise direction till it tightens.
  • Next, place the handle assembly into the pump shaft.
  • Begin to pump the handle up and down. One cycle is completed when the handle goes down which leads to an increase in the height of the piston ram. Repeat this process.
  • And pump the handle in the pump shaft, until the piston ram reaches the required height.
  • You can now remove the handle from the pump shaft and return the tip back to the valve once you are done with your procedure and ready to lower the bottle jack.
  • Slowly turn the valve in an anticlockwise manner to lower the vehicle. It is important the valve is turned slowly so that the piston does not drop rapidly and cause destruction to the vehicle.

You can see video below to get more detail

For Floor Jacks

  • Move your floor jack so that the part of the jack that makes contact with the vehicle,(saddle) is directly below the lifting point.
  • In a bid to close the hydraulic valve, turn the handle of the floor jack in a clockwise direction until it stops. This is done so that the jack can hold pressure and be able to lift the saddle when pumped.
  • When you notice the handle of the floor jack can no longer be turned, slowly begin to move the handle up and down, until the saddle is a little distance away from the lifting point. After ensuring that the point of contact on the body of the vehicle will not lead to damage, slowly continue to move the floor jack handle up and down until the vehicle reaches the desired height.

You can see video below to get more detail

Safety Precautions When Using Both Types Of Jacks

When about to use jacks, it is important that the work surface is not clay, dirt, or grass as these cannot support the entire weight of the vehicle. If a strong surface of concrete or asphalt is not available, plywood of at least, 5/8'' thickness should be used as resting surface for the jacks. A pair of jack stands can also be gotten as a safety precaution, and placed under the vehicle's lower control arm. This will prevent a lot of damage in the event of jack failure.

General Review Of Bottle Jacks Vs Floor Jacks

After looking closely at this "bottle jacks vs. floor jacks" discourse, a vehicle owner looking to buy a jack need not find himself or herself in a dilemma.

A floor jack has its high cost to thank for discouraging car users from a purchase.

This should not be a deterrent in any way as the floor jack, ends up paying for itself in the long run. It can "fit into" a garage as the perfect jack easily except in scenarios where there is literally not enough room to fit in. This is where the bottle jack has one of its major strengths as its size can enable it to be stored in tight spaces such as garages and car trunks, comfortably. The bottle jack is also cheaper when compared to a floor jack and is more appropriate for lifting heavy vehicles.

The bottom line is that the yardstick for the choice of your jack should be mostly based on the type of vehicle you have (e.g., heavy duty vehicles for bottle jack and floor jacks for very small vehicles) and not based on the cost.

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