Guys, this may very well be a very dumb question but I my mamma always said the dumb question is the one that isn't asked so here goes...

I don't have the jack that came with my truck so I need buy a new one. My friend keeps telling me I need a bottle jack, not a scissor jack. I've never used a bottle jack so what do you guys think? Also if anyone of you have an aftermarket jack, which one did you go with an where in your cab did you place it?

Thanks for the help!

 

WHen I need to buy a jack in the past I used bottle jacks and these are easier to operate than scissor and much quicker to use. In my opinion bottle are far better than scissor. My 2 cts.

 

from my experience scissor jacks are weaker, and will twist under slight unlevel conditions, or ive seen the threaded rod bind and freeze up once the weight of the truck is on it, and then its stuck in the air

 

Only down side to a bottle jack is I've seen some that loose their oil if they are stored on their side. Make sure you get a good one.

 

So I guess I'll soon be buying a 3ton bottle jack here tomorrow...Thanks for the inputs guys.

 

another down side to the bottle jack is its not as friendly for lowered trucks.

Ive got both styles in my truck, and i plan on using the scissor to get the truck high enough to get the bottle jack under the frame

 

Thanks Jgger. Do you know which ones are decent? I saw one today made by AC Delco at an O'Reilys but have no idea if it is a good one or not.

 

Maybe you should consider installing hydraulics!!!

 

Well for sure steer away from any Chinese crap (Harbor Freight and such). I think most of the ones I've seen that leak down have a plastic plug where you put the oil in. If it has a regular filler plug (screw in type) I think you would be good to go.

As for brands,sorry I don't know.

 

I had the same problem on my daughter's Civic when I changed the oil, never could get a real jack under it without some one lifitin up on it first!

 

Why don't you just buy a jack from a wrecked F-150 in the junkyard? Then you know it will be strong enough and tall enough to lift your truck.

 

Or buy an ARB x-jack

 

Torin in a pretty decent brand and you can get them from Advance Auto Parts. You may want to check out such places as Northerntool.com for a selection of bottle jacks.

 

Look for a dual stage jack so you can have a shorter collapsed jack and get under your truck easier. You can always carry a small block of wood to add under a jack that is too short, but you cannot shorten a jack that is too tall to start.

 

All good ideas to consider. I will have to shop around. Who knew just buying a jack could be so complicated? Actually, I'm complicating it!

Thanks for all the ideas. I like making informed purchases and you guys on this forum definitely help me out with that!