'Maximum Chassis Height' on trolley jacks.

[GabrielKnight]

Hi,

I'm looking for a trolley jack so that I can get under my car to bleed cooling system etc. The one I like says minimum saddle height, 145mm, maximum saddle height, 504mm. 50cm seems like a reasonable amount of space to work under, but then I noticed it also says 'maximum chassis height', 165mm.

Does this mean that I would only be able to lift my Clio by just over half a foot?

I'm fairly new to all this and have never been under a car before, but that seems like such a small space to fit under, especially when spending £80 on a jack.

Are all <£100s jacks like this - just 16cm actual lift or so? What is is that determines this 'maximum chassis height' - i.e. what would stop it from jacking all the way up to its 504mm max saddle height?

Thanks in advance. :approve:

 

[AliasOmega]

I use a machine mart £20 jack, and a set of axel stands.

Gets under the car, and allows me to put the stands in whilst i get under. Would not like to leave the car just alone on the jack.

The jack says 2 ton, but im not a big fan of it really as the clio is alot of car.

 

[CHRISK172+]

The Clio way around a ton depending on model. A 2 ton jack is more than adaquet. Before committing to buying a jack it is worth considering wether you will lower the car as some standard jacks may not fit under. Also the lifting heights vary from around 450mm to 550mm which is fine to be able to use axle stands and gain access to the underside of the car safely.

A £20 halfords jack is fine for the job on standard cars. If you need access to a lowered car this might be of interest to you..

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALUMINIUM-TRO...yZ108783QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[GabrielKnight]

I was thinking to go for this one (3 tonne) because I won't always have a Clio, and might want to lift heavier cars or vans in years to come.

http://www.toolsnstuff.co.uk/produc...=2430&osCsid=817ad8270e9000d5144370fb7bcd9d39

So I was thinking of it more as a longer term investment.


Does anyone know the answer to my questions re. 'maximum chassis height' please? Thanks!

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Looking at that i assume it means how high the car is from the ground that is to be lifted before the jack is placed underneath . Sounds a bit strange i know but thats how it reads .

A 2 tonne jack will be more than adequate for a clio . Lifting gear that is rated to 2 tonnes is usually capable of lifting at least 50% more .The rating, 2 tonnes is the safe working load .

 

[GabrielKnight]

Looking at that i assume it means how high the car is from the ground that is to be lifted before the jack is placed underneath . Sounds a bit strange i know but thats how it reads .

That's saddle height, surely?

A 2 tonne jack will be more than adequate for a clio . Lifting gear that is rated to 2 tonnes is usually capable of lifting at least 50% more .The rating, 2 tonnes is the safe working load .

Thanks, but I'm after a 3 tonne incase I also need to lift a van.

Does anyone know the answer to my questions re. 'maximum chassis height' please? Thanks!

 

[Fred@BTM]

it means how high the car is off the ground so you can get the jack under it

should be access height

 

[GabrielKnight]

it means how high the car is off the ground so you can get the jack under it

should be access height

So that's not the saddle height? What's the saddle height then?

 

[Fred@BTM]

send me a link to the jack you want to buy!

 

[GabrielKnight]

send me a link to the jack you want to buy!

Go up 8 posts, come down 2, spin around once, and the link is there.

 

[Fred@BTM]

that'll do it, big enough!!!

 

[GabrielKnight]

Does anyone know the answer to my questions re. 'maximum chassis height' in the first post please? Thanks!

 

[Fred@BTM]

i've already told you!

 

[GabrielKnight]

Well, as its clear nobody knows, I just called Sealey to ask them.

It turns out that the 'maximum chassis height' doesn't refer to the car chassis at all. It means the maximum height of the chassis of the jack when it is lowest.

On some models, the body of the jack gets higher in the middle, meaning that it can't be pushed all the way under a lower car. So although that model needs 145mm clearance for the saddle only, it needs another 20mm clearance to get the jack under further.

 

[Steviant]

Can't wait til you order up some axle stands!

 

[Josh@Renparts]

jeez just buy a cheap jack from halfords..... its a clio.....

 

[GabrielKnight]

Its only a 1996 1.2L mk1! But theres no point wasting £20 on a cheap jack only to have to get another decent one when I buy my future cars.

I'll be buying 4x nice 500mm axles too!

 

[Fred@BTM]

500mm axle stands!!! christ you don't need the bloody car that high off the floor!

 

[GabrielKnight]

Is there any point / good reason to buy a car ramp if I've got all this kit?

 

[GabrielKnight]

500mm axle stands!!! christ you don't need the bloody car that high off the floor!

Well, if I want to treat the underside etc...

 

[Alan]

I've got a £25 jack out of halfords, it was good enough to lift my dynamique, my 182 and now my R27 so i'm sure it'd be fine lifting your 1.2 (no offence).

Alan.

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Same as Alan for me . Halfords 2 tonne trolley jack and axle stands . No problems lifting the car .

 

[deviltronics]

I'll be buying 4x nice 500mm axles too!

you must be one fat b*****d if you need the car up that high and get under it!

why don't you just by a two poster ramp, that way you'll be able stand under it!