Bottle Jack vs Floor Jack: Which one is Better?

People need to go places. To do that you depend on your vehicle. And to keep that vehicle well-maintained, you’ll generally need to use a jack to lift it up.

Especially, if you need a tire change or even an oil change. It is a useful and relatively compact tool which allows you to lift up your vehicle for maintenance and repair.

Bottle Jack

Bottle jacks typically are smaller jacks. For this reason, truck owners benefit from them since ground clearance isn’t as involved in their equation. That is, the truck’s height off from the ground isn’t an issue with the bottle jack.

Truckers can simply fit the bottle jack underneath their vehicle and put it right to work. Another benefit to being smaller is that they are also easily tucked away for storage.

Also for convenience, bottle jacks have smaller lifting pads. This allows them to fit into tight spaces, which might be tricky for other kinds of jacks. This can be handy in many situations, especially with so much work that generally goes into maintenance on a vehicle.

Bottle jacks are considered hydraulic jacks. Hydraulic jacks work on force generated by pressure.

Because of the physics incorporated, the pressure applied on the smaller of the two connected valves on the jack pushes out force relative to the larger valve. This force pumps the rod upward and lifts vehicle.

The Powerbuilt Unijack does its job like it’s supposed to do. I needed my vehicle raised and it did the duty. It took a load off of my plate.

Because I have no problem with ground clearance, this bottle jack fits right underneath my truck. I can easily just slide it under there, lift up my truck, and get to work quickly. The lift holds strong and sturdy. For the most part, I feel that it securely does its job so I can do mine.

Furthermore, it was a great plus that the package was a two for one. I knew I needed the bottle jack, but what I didn’t know I needed was the jack stand Powerbuilt provided.

Although, it still would have been much more preferable to have the assistance of a maintenance buddy, the jack stand came in handy for extra support. Powerbuilt definitely saved me another from having to make another purchase.

The jack is large, but not too clunky for mobility. And it is designed sturdy and has held true for each use I’ve run it through. It provides an 11-21-inch raise for a lot of headroom. The Unijack is a quality tool at a great discount rate.

Key Points

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Floor Jack

Unlike bottle jacks, floor jacks have flat, horizontal shafts. The shaft is pushed on a crank that is connected to a lifting pad, which is then lifted horizontally. So, visually, floor jacks look flatter and closer to the ground.

Floor jacks are a crucial part of any respectable auto garage. It’s a type of jack that also allows you to lift up your vehicle for auto repair or vehicle maintenance.

Although larger, they are typically easier and quicker to use than bottle jacks. They have longer handlebars which allocate pressure more efficiently, which provides a more efficient lift.

These wheels not only help allocate the precise position of the floor jack, but they also lift the vehicle a more natural movement.

A well-maintained floor jack can last you a lifetime. They can be used for a variety of car models. That’s why they are among the top-rated jacks for safety and versatility. That’s also why they’re such a popular consensus in the auto garage industry.

Floor jacks are also commonly known as “trolley jacks” because of its wheels.

This floor jack is just what I needed. My first impression of the jack was that it felt heavy-duty and very sturdy. That tool was definitely not easily moved around. Which, already to start, made me feel safer about using it to do work under my rather heavy car.

When putting it to use, this floor jacked performed without an issue. It has a low profile, which allows for use among a number of lower model vehicles. Unless your car has a really low modified aftermarket suspension, this jack should work for your car.

I opened the packaging up and my new tool was ready to soldier on my work load.

Being no expert mechanic, the instructions Liftmaster provided were clear and very simple to follow. Five to ten pumps and my car was up and ready to go.

The car was raised and lifted up, ready for me or anyone get to work. This process would have been rather much more painstaking if I were to use my car’s old stock jack.

With a 3-ton capacity, the floor jack’s force generously lets you lift most vehicles.

The floor jack’s hold was stable and strong. I completely felt safe underneath my vehicle. Liftmaster also designed its floor jack with a longer handle.
This ultimately, gives its user a more efficient lift in fewer pumps.

Key Points

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Conclusion- Liftmaster Wins!

In conclusion, when comparing Powerbuilt’s Unijack bottle jack to Liftmaster’s Low-Profile Steel Floor Jack, the winner has got to be Liftmaster’s floor jack.
Both jacks do the job, but one clearly does it better.

Both hydraulic jacks are simple to set up and easy to use. Both require little to no installation prior to use. And they both relatively work the same.

The Unijack had its advantages in certain areas.

• It’s smaller and more compact than Liftmaster’s floor jack.
• This makes it convenient for owners to store it away.
• Also, because it weights a significant amount less than Liftmaster’s floor jack, owners can even to store the Unijack directly on their vehicles.

Perfect for those middle-of-the-road emergencies; flat tires, etc..

• Also, this bottle jack is arguably preferable to work on trucks and taller vehicles.

Trucks don’t have issues with ground clearance, and the Unijack is much taller for a quicker connection to your truck’s unibody.

However, Liftmaster’s floor jack heavy-duty, floor-bound design gives it a sturdier lift.

• Even just from my first impression of it, I could tell it was solid and well-constructed.

It felt like it was made to last, which was definitely a great sign. Powerbuilt’s bottle jack, on the other hand, had some flawed parts. Some of these issues even possibly cause oil leakage from the jack’s valves.

• Liftmaster’s floor jack also has wider and more stable frames.

When working with it, you really feel like you’re in a safe environment to work in. This peace of mind really lets you work on your car more efficiently and safely.

• Liftmaster’s heavy duty floor jack prevails in all fronts besides for compactness.

But even this disadvantage is slightly remedied because it has wheels to help roll it around.

When it comes to bottle jacks versus floor jacks, floor jacks win. That’s why it’s the industry standard. That’s why you can find floor jacks in practically every auto shop.

FAQ and Buying Guide:

Contents:

What is a hydraulic jack?

When it comes to car maintenance, you’ll probably need to lift up your car. Being able to do so is very useful for a tire change, or even and oil change.

A hydraulic jack is a tool that helps raise your vehicle so you can get underneath and do your desired work on it.

How many types of jacks are there?

There are actually a number of jacks out there, and not all of them necessarily have to do with auto care. We have jackscrews, which include the scissor jack and the house jack.

As mentioned above, we also have hydraulic jacks, which include the bottle jack and floor jack. Next, there are Pneumatic jacks, which comprises of the air hydraulic jack and inflatable jack. There’s also the strand jack, and lastly there’s the farm jack, also known as the railroad jack. So that makes about eight in total.

How are jacks rated?

Car jacks are rated on quality and dependability. You want to be able to lift/raise your vehicle efficiently and safely in order to do your auto maintenance.

The fewer pumps for maximum height, the more efficient. The jack must be sturdy and hold the vehicle steadily. Jacks are also rated on ground clearance. Different jacks may be better suitable for different vehicles.

How much can a 3-ton jack lift?

One ton is equivalent to 2,000 pounds. An average sedan now weighs about 4,000 pounds. Moreover, 1.5-ton jacks are considered sufficient to lift the average 4,000-pound sedan.  So, 3 tons is more than enough to hold up even your hefty vehicles, including that 7,000-pound Suburban.

Do I need a 3-ton jack?

As mentioned above, a 1.5-ton floor jack is considered plenty sufficient to lift up your standard sedan, at 4,000 pounds. So, in cases where your vehicle is a large truck or big SUV, then you would need the larger, 3-ton jack.

Essentially, a 3-ton jack would be needed for vehicles significantly larger than your standard sedan.

Which oil is used in a hydraulic jack?

Hydraulic jacks actually use their own hydraulic oil. Don’t use brake oil, and stay away from motor fluid.

Are jacks safe to work under?

Jacks are very safe tools to work under. They are the auto garage industry’s standard for vehicle repair and maintenance.

However, always remember to use jack stand alongside your jack. Never, undergo a vehicle, large or small, without the proper allocation of a jack stand.