Arcan ALJ3T Quick Rise Aluminum Floor Jack Review – 2020 Deep Dive

Last Updated on August 2, 2020 by Tim

A Deep Dive into The Arcan ALJ3T 3-Ton Quick Rise Aluminum Floor Jack

Arcan, known for its floor jacks, is actually a subsidiary of PowerStation, USA. A popular brand in the market for automotive equipment it manufactures many other products that range from creepers to lifting equipment. To put it in their exact words – their tools are built for the professional technician.

This means that you should know your vehicle and the equipment required to maintain it. The Arcan ALJ3T Aluminum Floor Jack is a 3-ton low profile floor jack.

The Arcan ALJ3T Aluminum Floor Jack is one of the most highly demanded products in the market. For a car enthusiast, this is one of the best products to assist in an emergency repair or a regular routine check.

This floor jack was first made available on January 7th, 2012. It weighs 58 pounds and its dimensions are 30×13.5×8 inches. This product is really durable as it comes with thick side plates. This lightweight product is also durable, a combination not often found in jacks with this type of lift capacity.

Speaking of lift capacity, being a 3-ton jack this product can conveniently lift any kind of automobile – right from a small car to an SUV, or even a van or a truck. It is known for its smoothness and easy operation which is why if you ever want to lift that Mack truck of yours then you can be assured that it covers all the range.

For instance, it can lift anything from a minimum height of 3.75 inches to a maximum height of 18.25 inches. This jack is perfect because it is super speedy. It works fast and in no time, your car will be ready to go.

The Arcan ALJ3T is made from aluminum and steel, aluminum makes it lightweight while steel adds the durability factor. Its low profile design attracts the modern consumer who does not want something that looks outlandish. It also has a built-in safety overload system that enables the user to only use until its rated capacity.

So what makes this device stand out? It is the dual piston pump. It is added for a faster lift when compared to the lift given by a single pump system. This enables the jack to reach its height within a short period of time. In case there is hydraulic contamination, dust shields are attached to it. It also has a quick-lock feature that is present in the long handle provided. This ensures that it is easy to engage and disengage.

But, what is it that makes it a consumer’s favorite? The answer lies in its toughness. Every part of this equipment is reinforced making it durability. It comes with its own bypass valves as well as overload. This is specially included to make sure that you stay within the capacity. It also prevents the hydraulic ram from being stretched assuring it remains safe for the user.

Another great feature is the wheels on this unit, which provides a level of stability making it easy to maneuver. It comes with front steel wheels and rear swivel caster wheels that allow for smooth movement. The part which comes into contact with the car has special padding made from tough rubber. The handles come with a protective foam bumper pad. This prevents scratching or any kind of fiction. The two built-in handles make for easy transport.

So what are the dimension parameters of this jack? The jack can be lifted from a minimum height of 4″ inches to a maximum height of 18.6″ inches. Its weight is around 58.3 lbs. The Caster wheel measures at 1.8″ x .9″ inches, the front wheel size is 2.6″ x 1.6″. The saddle diameter is 4.6″ inches and the handle length is 45″ inches. The overall dimensions of the Arcan ALJ3T 3-Ton Quick Rise Aluminum Floor Jack is 24″ x 11.9″ x 6″ inches.

Who is it for?

The Arcan ALJ3T 3-Ton Quick Rise Aluminum Floor Jack is not a product that everyone can use. You must be familiar with floor jacks to understand how this product can be used. It requires a degree of maintenance and knowledge.
For instance, what would you do if the release valve is not closed? While instructions are given in the user manual most automotive enthusiasts would know that the first thing to do would be to turn the valve clockwise tightly. Furthermore, they could remove handle, lubricate handle receptacle and handle end, then retry.

If you are not anywhere near a quality service center and your car has broken down would you know what to do if you were low on hydraulic fluid? Experienced personnel would refill the jack to the correct level of hydraulic fluid.
If you are wondering what to do with pump seals or back-up ring that are defective then you must clean hydraulic fluid passages, replace seals and refill hydraulic fluid.

Customers who constantly work with big vehicles on construction sites, or travel with huge cargo over long distances must know about the specifications of the product. What would you do if your equipment is malfunctioning and upon exploring, you find that the hydraulic system has trapped air?

A more knowledgeable or experienced customer would open the release valve, pump handle rapidly with full strokes to purge air and then close the release valve. Besides this, the user must also maintain other parts regularly. These could include return spring, linkages, constantly greasing the pivot shaft, and all lift arm linkages. To ensure that the discharge ball is not sealing the hydraulic system the user has to check the oil. If required they need to manually flush the hydraulic system.

What We Like About The Arcan ALJ3T 3-Ton Quick Rise Aluminum Floor Jack

The Arcan ALJ3T 3-Ton Quick Rise Aluminum Floor Jack is incredibly smooth as well as slow even with bigger cars such as a minivan or an SUV. It has immense control and you can easily maneuver the release. The lift arm contains extra padding. Also, despite the fact that is made of lightweight aluminum it still supports 3 ton.

The wheels are definitely an improvement on the whole product. They are smooth and move easily into position. If you are a car enthusiast looking for good quality, lightweight, large saddle, low profile jack then the Arcan ALJ3T 3-Ton Quick Rise Aluminum Floor Jack is it. The fact that it can also get under low cars with ease, makes this jack ideal for cars with low side skirts, namely imports or sports cars.

What We Don’t Like About The Arcan ALJ3T 3-Ton Quick Rise Aluminum Floor Jack

Some customers are not happy with the steel plate saddle claiming that it is 4 1/2″, smaller than promised. Not only that, the rubber pad in some cases might not be up to the mark. Also, it is said to be much more expensive when compared to the other jacks.

If you are someone who is used to a single handle on a steel jack then this device might not be to your taste. The two-piece handle provides a slight flex when it is pumped so some people might find it difficult.
Most importantly, it seems to be on the higher side. In addition to that, some people have reported hydraulic failures and the inability to fit under certain types of vehicles.

What’s Included?

The Arcan ALJ3T 3-Ton Quick Rise Aluminum Floor Jack comes with dual pump pistons and two-piece handle. It complies with ASME PASE-2014 safety standard.

Overview Of Features

• • Material:

It is made from lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum. This makes it easy to transport and allows for easy maneuverability.

• • Supporting equipment:

It has dual pump pistons that enable in quickly raising the floor jack saddle to load. The reinforced lift arm increases strength and provides chassis torsion control as well as ensures it has durability. It also has a side-mount handle which enables convenient jack positioning. Moreover, the 2 piece handle ensures that it can be conveniently stored anywhere.

• • Safety:

This device provides vehicle protection. The equipment comes with a rubber saddle and a foam handle bumper. This ensures that there is no scratching to your vehicle. Not only that, the bypass and overload valves prevents over-extension of hydraulic ram and jack use beyond rated capacity.

• • Capacity:

This device is a major winner when it comes to managing most types of cars such as vans, trucks, and SUVs since it has a 3-ton capacity.

Review Summary

The Arcan ALJ3T 3-Ton Quick Rise Aluminum Floor Jack is perfect for car enthusiasts, yet it does needs maintenance. Users are suggested to be careful when adding or replacing the hydraulic fluid, as this jack must always have high-quality fluid. Refrain from using brake fluid or alcohol or glycerine, and even motor oil. This can cause serious damage to the product.

The manual contains detailed instructions on how to add hydraulic fluid. You are also advised against overfilling and always add hydraulic fluid only if you need to. The owner must regularly maintain and inspect the jack by following the instructions.

As this product has moving joints it also requires lubrication and this should be regularly done. It is suggested that since it has a two-piece handle, the user must grease the lower end where it mostly rotates in the handle socket. Even the pivot shaft has to be greased including the lift arm linkages, front wheels, and rear casters
You must thoroughly check your car especially before raising it. You need to check for the recommended lifting surfaces to prevent any permanent damage happening to your car. When you decide to raise the load, proceed by closing the release valve tightly. You can do this by turning the handle clockwise. You must then position the jack under load so that the paddle will make firm contact with the load and be certain that the load is centered so it does not slip.

You must not crawl under the vehicle, lift the vehicle, place or remove jack stands. The jack stand must only be placed at areas that are considered safe and that can provide stable and steady support for the raised vehicle.
When lowering the load you must open the release valve extremely slowly by turning the handle counter-clockwise. This is to prevent any shock to the jack stand. Most important, keep hands and feet away from the hinge mechanism of the jack.

For storage, it is recommended that the jack be stored in a dry location with all wheels touching the ground on a relatively level surface.

This jack was obviously made with safety in mind, as it complies with the ASME PASE-2014 safety standards and has bypass and overload valves to prevent overextension of ram and use beyond the rated capacity. The rubber padding is designed to protest vehicles from damage while in lifted on the jack.

In addition to that, it has a foam handle bumper. Ideally people think that a floor jack should be heavy so that it can function well. But the Arcan ALJ3T boasts a 3-ton capacity despite being made from aluminum making it convenient to transport from anywhere.

Since it has gone through rigorous checking and has been provided a certification, it guarantees good quality. Features like dual pump pistons help to quickly raise the jack saddle, which then loads. The reinforced lift arm ensures that there are constant stability and durability besides strength and chassis torsion control which is extremely important for this equipment to function safely.

This device lifts vehicles faster and easier. It is much lighter and operates really smoothly as it is built incredibly tough and genuinely serves the purpose. If the price is not an issue then this product will definitely suit your purpose.