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Jacking up a car has proven to be among the most hazardous steps in automotive maintenance over the years. Thousands of people are hospitalized on a yearly basis due to accidents in raising a vehicle or working on a raised vehicle.
As anyone who works in the automotive sector can tell you, not jacking up a car at all is hardly an option. There are numerous procedures that can only be performed on a properly raised car, and many more that could be performed without a jack but are infinitely easier with the car raised.
One of the main contributing factors to jack failure is that the jack is designed to lower at all. This means that the lock holding the jack up – whether a screw or a pressure valve – is talking the full weight of the car, and only rarely proves equal to the challenge.
Mechanics around the world solve this problem by use of the jack stand, an altogether more solid and stable piece of equipment placed under the car’s frame to hold it in position with a solid support as opposed to a pressure lock. Once they are in place, the jack itself can be removed and set aside, sparing the strain on its pressure lock and giving the car more stable purchase during repairs.
With that in mind, it should be clear to all why having a good jack stand is an indispensable part of auto maintenance. Here are five of the best stands you can choose to keep your care safely supported while it’s in the shop.
Related Article: The Best Racing Jacks on the Market
Comparison Table
| PRODUCT | FEATURES | LATEST PRICE |
|---|---|---|
1. Torin Big Red 3-Ton Stands  |
| Check Price |
2. ESCO 10498  |
| Check Price |
3. Hein-Werner HW93503  |
| Check Price |
4. Sunex 1410  |
| Check Price |
5. Omega 32066  |
| Check Price |
Our Best Product Reviews and Comparisons
1.Torin Big Red 3-Ton Stands
Product Highlights
These jacks form a staple of any properly equipped garage, offering good weight capacity while weighing relatively little themselves.
Features
- Aluminum construction
- Lift height up to 15.23”
- Supports up to 6000lbs
- Pin-through design
What We Like About Torin Big Red 3-Ton Stands
This set is made of lightweight aluminum to be easy to position and uses a full pin-through design for added security.
What We Don’t Like About Torin Big Red 3-Ton Stands
The tops of the stands are not hollowed or drilled, making it hard to attach accessories needed for certain models of cars.
PROS
- Light and easy to move
- Full pin for safety
- Reasonable weight capacity
- ASME approved
- One year warranty
CONS
- Tops are not drilled
- Chain holding the pin is too short for full extension
2.ESCO 10498
Product Highlights
This jack is made with your car’s safety in mind as well as your own.
Features
- Supports up to 3 tons
- Height between 13.2” and 21.5”
- Stainless steel construction
- Pin-through design
What We Like About ESCO 10498
These jacks include a textured rubber pad for added grip on the car and to prevent denting or scratching the chassis.
What We Don’t Like About ESCO 10498
Despite being stainless steel, the set has been reported to develop corrosion with relative ease.
PROS
- Steel is stronger than the more common aluminum
- Untethered pin can easily reach any hole
- Wide height range available
- Rubber jack pad prevents damage to the car
- Stable and sturdy enough for long-term work
CONS
- Untethered pin can easily get lost in shipping or around the shop
- Jacks may be too high for lower cars, even at minimum height
3.Hein-Werner HW93503
Product Highlights
These jacks are built thicker than competing sets for added support and stability.
Features
- Supports up to 3 tons
- Welded steel plate construction
- 12” to 19” clearance range
- Ratchet lift design
What We Like About Hein-Werner HW93503
Added thickness to the components makes this jack exceptionally stable and sturdy
What We Don’t Like About Hein-Werner HW93503
This set is on the heavier side, making it difficult to reposition quickly between cars.
PROS
- Heavy, durable construction
- Convenient crank to raise and lower the saddle
- Leg design prevents sinking into softer materials
- Comes with safety yellow already applied
- Two year warranty
CONS
- Set is heavy and hard to store
- Ratchet lift is less reliable than pin-through
4.Sunex 1410
Product Highlights
These jack stands are built for their staying power and can easily hold up anything you care to put on them.
Features
- Weight capacity 10 tons
- Welded schedule pipe construction
- Holds anywhere from 11” to 45”
- Pin through construction
What We Like About Sunex 1410
These jacks have a considerably greater weight capacity than comparable models.
What We Don’t Like About Sunex 1410
This set is often ineffective, on smaller, private cars.
PROS
- Exceptionally high weight capacity
- Sized to handle trucks as well as cars
- Highly durable construction
- Trusted manufacturer
- One year warranty
CONS
- May be too large for smaller cars
- Nearly double the cost of comparable sets
5.Omega 32066
Product Highlights
These jacks contain a number of advanced mechanisms that make them a cut above comparable products.
Features
- Welded steel plate
- Ratchet and air-ride lift mechanisms
- Supports up to 6 tons
- 15.75” to 24” lift height
What We Like About Omega 32066
A counterweight system and air-ride chamber in these jack stands allow the saddle to rise into position automatically once placed, saving you much time and effort.
What We Don’t Like About Omega 32066
The extra mechanisms may be helpful, but are in the end yet another thing that can be damaged to the point of making the rest inoperable.
PROS
- Counterweighted pawl
- Ratchet bar is a single piece of solid iron
- Convenient lift handle to raise and lower the saddle
- Bar locks automatically
- One year warranty
CONS
- Multiple mechanisms can be fouled more easily
- Iron ratchet bar is more susceptible to corrosion than the rest of the product
Final Verdict
These stands should be all you need to keep any car in your shop safely suspended while you work. Although these items tend to come in twos, your shop may want to seriously consider maintaining several pairs in case it becomes necessary to suspend a car for prolonged periods of maintenance.
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