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Topic: Wide/large scissor jack (Read 3576 times) previous topic - next topic

Wide/large scissor jack

So I have a light trolley jack but even it has poor contact area. Does anyone know of a scissor jack that has a wide base and jacking surface, similar to a small-medium floor jack? I worry about hydraulic jacks when they sit for long periods of time and the time comes that I need one on the side of the road. I refuse to use the pinch welds and the subframe connectors cover up the useful frame jacking points completely. All I know is some honda scissor jack has a tiny round jacking surface similar in size to a trolley jack.

Any direction to go for looking for something like this?
1988 Thunderbird Sport

Wide/large scissor jack

Reply #1 –
once upon a time, i welded a round pad on the top and a large pad on the bottom. 

now i just carry a small floor jack in the trunk.

Wide/large scissor jack

Reply #2 –
X2 on the floor jack.Way more stable in odd jacking situations,and,you can get them in a plastic carry case for cheap these days.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Wide/large scissor jack

Reply #3 –
Hydraulic setups can blow out orings and other gaskets if not used for 5+ years though, correct? I'd be afraid of this when I'm relying on the jack the most.
1988 Thunderbird Sport

Wide/large scissor jack

Reply #4 –
My dad had this exact same setup, except it was shaped as a floor jack. I think it came with either his chevy caprice? station wagon or his crown vic.


The scissor jacks suck bad. I have broken two on the side of the road.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Wide/large scissor jack

Reply #5 –
If you go 5 years without using a floor jack,you're not working on your car the right way.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Wide/large scissor jack

Reply #6 –
Quote from: vinnietbird;303915
If you go 5 years without using a floor jack,you're not working on your car the right way.

Either that, or your roads (and cars) are luckier than mine! :rollin:
'98 Explorer 5.0
'20 Malibu (I know, Chevy, but, 35MPG. Let's go brandon, eh)

Wide/large scissor jack

Reply #7 –
I wouldn't use a trunk jack for normal maintenance. I've only had one flat - in downtown Vancouver BC last January and I couldn't use my scissor jack so I had to waste money to have a tow truck put the spare on.
1988 Thunderbird Sport

Wide/large scissor jack

Reply #8 –
I have bent two handles to the scissor jacks in the last 2 months or so. After I bent it, I couldn't raise or lower it, so I ended up driving the car off the jack and had to call my dad to bail me out.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com
 

Wide/large scissor jack

Reply #9 –
There are THICK quality scissor jacks out there that do not have these problems. I understand how most behave, especially on uneven footing, but there are some scissor jacks that are more spendy, but built WAY better. They do not have a wide enough surface for jacking through, in my opinion, with no way to increase it or install a polyurethane pad unless I weld a plate on top (which may be my solution - weld the piece from a floor jack to the center of a quality scissor jack).

Anyways, so what's a good way to store a hydraulic jack that won't see duty for long periods of time, if ever? Besides vacuum sealing it up in some type of plastic, covered in oil...
1988 Thunderbird Sport