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Best Portable Truck Jacks: Top 10 Models Reviewed In 2023

Getting your hands on the right truck jack isn't as simple as it sounds. There are factors that you need to understand, or else you are on the verge of wasting your hard-earned money.

Weight capacity, lift height range, lifting mechanism, saddle surface, and jack type, are some crucial factors that need to be kept in mind while buying jacks. 

However, we have designed a list of the 10 best portable truck jacks. If you don't want to go through all the trouble of sorting and checking dozens of factors, go through this list.
You'll definitely end up picking the right jack for yourself.

Are you in a hurry? Go through these summarized reviews, that should give you a good idea about each truck jack. It shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes

1. Best Overall: Blackhawk B6350 3.5 Ton Service Jack

"Decent load weight capacity, good lifting height, lightweight design, stability, and ease of use, this Blackhawk B6350 jack packs in everything that one looks for in a truck jack. On top of that, the price is also in the reasonable range."

2. Best for Easy Maneuverability: Arcan 3 Ton Aluminum Floor Jack

"This Arcan floor jack comes with two smooth-rolling front casters and two 360-degree swivel rear casters which makes it very easy to maneuver. It is a 3-ton jack that offers a lifting height range of 3 inches to 18 inches."

3. Best All-in-One: Powerbuilt 640912 3 Ton Bottle Jack

"Do you need a jack that is effortless to carry? Have a look at this Powerbuilt bottle jack that only weighs 22 pounds. Not only that, it delivers a lifting height range of 11 - 22” as well, making it a suitable jack for lifted trucks or other vehicles."

4. Best Safety Standard: BIG RED 3 Ton Torin Hydraulic Floor Jack

"The BIG RED Torin hydraulic floor jack has been factory tested for safety and reliability, and it passed the test with satisfactory results. And it meets all the ASME safety and reliability standards as well."

5. Best Electric: E-HEELP 5 Ton Electric Hydraulic Jack

"Wouldn’t it be great if you could pick a good jack that comes with some other tools as well? Check out this E Heelp 5-ton electric hydraulic jack that comes with a tire inflator and impact wrench as well."

6. Best Combo Set: BIG RED T82001S Torin Hydraulic Floor Jack

"This BIG RED T82001S Torin floor jack combo set could be a great pick for roadside emergencies. It is extremely lightweight and is very easy to lift vehicles. Plus, it is light on the wallet too."

7. Best Easy to Move: BIG RED Torin Pneumatic Air Hydraulic Jack

"Looking for a jack that can lift very heavy weights? Presenting the BIG RED Torin pneumatic jack that can lift up to 20 tons of weight. Do you know what’s more impressive? The weight of this jack is only 32 pounds."

8. Best Two in One: Powerbuilt 620471 Portable Black UniJack

"Are you in need of unijack that will be very easy on the wallet? Then don’t miss out on this Powerbuilt 620471 jack. Comes with a 3-ton load capacity, and 21 inches max lifting height. Plus, heavily constructed with metallic fiber material."

9. Best for Versatile: Powerbuilt 620422E Triple Lift Jack

"If the weight isn't an issue for you, then you might enjoy using this Powerbuilt triple lift jack. The max lifting height is 17 inches and the lifter fits most of the vehicle frames."

10. Best Low-profile: Torin T83505W Hydraulic Jack

"Want a lifting jack that can be used on both low-profile cars and lifted trucks? This Torin T83505W might fit your needs. The overload safety feature and wide footprint make it safe to use as well."

In-depth Reviews of 10 Best Portable Truck Jacks

We have thoroughly reviewed each of these truck jacks including their flaws, so that nothing stays behind the curtain.

1. Best Overall: Blackhawk B6350 3.5 Ton Service Jack

Product Specifications:
  • Brand: Blackhawk
  • Load Capacity: 3.5 tons.
  • Material: Alloy Steel
  • Jacks Weight: 85 Pounds
  • Min. Lifting Height: 5.5 inches
  • Max. Lifting Height: 22 inches
  • Color: Red

With a lifting height range of 5.5-inch to 22-inch, and a weight capacity of 3.5 tons (7000 lbs) the Blackhawk B6350 service jack has grabbed the top spot on the list. It is a service jack that can be used for lifting most cars and some trucks.

The way the jack is designed, it can be slid into some low-profile cars as well. And the lifting operation is smooth as butter. All you have to do is position the saddle on the right spot and then pump using the handle.

Lifting a 3-ton vehicle shouldn’t take more than 12-15 pumps, thanks to the fast lift technology. And the handle can be pressed down very smoothly as well.

Not only ease of use, but the manufacturer has also taken safety into consideration as well. A built-in internal safety valve and vent plug are equipped in this jack which makes sure the lifting operation goes safe.

This jack also features a 4-diameter swivel saddle which is very easy to position. And the saddle has a decent surface area as well which will add a little bit of extra stability.

Talking about stability, the footprint of this jack is big hence you don’t need to stress at all about the jack's stability as long as you have positioned it on an even surface.

Furthermore, to keep the jack safe from over pumping damages, the manufacturer has used a bypass device as well which works as it should.

In terms of durability, this Blackhawk gets 10 on 10. It is constructed with alloy steel which is one of the best materials for jacks. Having that said, due to the material this jack is slightly heavy as well.

It weighs around 85 pounds which can be a little difficult for a person to handle this jack. The weight of this jack is the only flaw that users have pointed out so far. 

What Makes It Stand Out?

  • 5"- 22 inches lifting height range allows you to lift most of the vehicles
  • A swivel saddle makes saddle positioning easy
  • Fast lifting features enable you to lift vehicles faster
  • Alloy steel construction makes it extremely durable
  • A wide footprint makes the jack stable
  • Safety valve and vent plug make lifting safe
  • Bypass device protects from over pumping damages

What Are Not The Ideal?

  • This jack is slightly heavy

2. Best for Easy Maneuverability: Arcan 3 Ton Aluminum Floor Jack

Product Specifications:
  • Brand: ARCAN
  •  Material: Aluminum
  • Load Capacity: 3 ton 
  • Jack Weight: 56 Pounds.
  • Min. Lifting Height: 3.75 inches
  • Max. Lifting Height: 18 inches
  • Color: ‎Green

Want the best portable jack for a pickup truck? We got the Arcan aluminum floor jack for you that comes with a lift height range of 3.75” - 18”. That much lift height should be good enough for small pickup trucks.

That’s not all, this very unit is extremely lightweight as well, credit goes to the aluminum construction which is a lightweight material. One adult should be able to handle this jack all by himself.

Hold on! Do not judge the capability of this jack based on its weight. Even after being a lightweight model, it still can lift up to 3 ton or 6000 lbs of weight.

It comes equipped with a dual pump piston which not only allows you to pump the jack easily but also lifts the vehicle faster. Moreover, the reinforced lift arm increases the chassis torsion control and lift strength.

This jack features side mount handles that help in positioning the jack easily. And a wider footprint gives the needed stability. It also meets the ASME PASE 2019 safety standard as well.

The price seems pretty fair, it’s in a reasonable range. And this jack is available in several variations as well.

However, this Arcan floor jack struggles a bit when it comes down to durability. Since it is made of aluminum, it isn’t as durable as steel-made jacks. But still, if used repeatedly with proper care, the jack should last at least 12-months.

What Are The Good Sides?

  • A lightweight jack, easy to maneuver
  • Super easy to lift the vehicle
  • Delivers good lift height range
  • Can lift up to 3 tons, good enough for small pickup trucks
  • A wide footprint makes it very stable

What Are The Drawbacks?

  • Might not last long enough if repeatedly used

3. Best All-in-One: Powerbuilt 640912 3 Ton Bottle Jack

Product Specifications:
  • Brand: Powerbuilt
  •  Material: Aluminum
  • Load Capacity: 3 tons
  • Jack Weight: ‎22.4 pounds
  • Min. Lifting Height: 11 Inches
  • Max. Lifting Height: 21 Inches
  • Color: ‎‎Black

A good max lifting height and weight, extremely lightweight design, ease of use, stability, and affordability, this Powerbuilt 640912 packs everything that an ideal jack should come with. And that’s why we are calling it All in one jack.

It is a bottle jack that has a min height of 11 inches, which means it is not at all a suitable option for low-profile vehicles. And the max height is 21 inches making it a perfect jack for lifting trucks.

This bottle jack is extremely portable weighing only 22 pounds. The weight of this jack makes it a perfect model for roadside emergencies. That’s not all, along with being lightweight, this very jack is super easy to lift.

It comes with a comforting lifting bar, and it doesn’t take much pumping to lift a vehicle. The jack also has an extra wide base that makes the jack very stable.

What’s more satisfying is, pulling a ratchet handlebar allows you to lock the jack bar at a raised position. Not many bottle jacks offer this feature. Moreover, with this unit, you will get two different saddle or lifting surfaces, concave and flat.

The maximum load it can take is 3 tons which makes this jack suitable for SUVs, pickup trucks, and off-roading vehicles. And this jack meets ANSI & PALD standards which is a label of reliability.

Plus, you won’t need to pay an arm and leg for this jack. It comes at an extremely low price, enabling everyone to get their hands on it.

With all the pros, there is a drawback of this jack as well which is durability. It is an aluminum-constructed unit therefore if used very often this might not last very long. 

What Are The Good Sides?

  • Extremely lightweight bottle jack
  • Allows to lock the jack at a raised position
  • Super easy and fast to lift the vehicle up
  • Can lift up to 3-ton load
  • The max lifting height is 21-inch
  • Comes at an affordable price
  • Offers two different shaped saddle

What Are The Drawbacks?

  • Not a very long-lasting jack

4. Best Safety Standard: BIG RED 3 Ton Torin Hydraulic Floor Jack

Product Specifications:
  • Brand: BIG RED
  •  Material: Alloy Steel
  • Load Capacity: 3 Ton
  • Jack Weight: ‎66 pounds
  • Min. Lifting Height: 5.1 Inches
  • Max. Lifting Height: 18.31 Inches
  • Color: ‎Red

If you are looking for the best portable hydraulic jack to lift a truck, check out this BIG RED 3-ton floor jack, it should not disappoint you. The lifting height range it offers is 5” to 18”, which should be able to lift all cars, mini pickup trucks, and ATVs.

The max load capacity of this jack is 3 tons or 6000 lbs making it a suitable unit for cars, SUVs, minivans, pickup trucks, and ATVs. This floor jack comes equipped with a dual piston quick lift pump that allows the user to lift the vehicle very easily at a faster pace.

It also comes with a built-in safety overload system which will let you know if you are overloading the jack. This overload protection feature is quite impressive.

Talking about protection, the handlebar of this floor jack is wrapped with foam so that it doesn’t scratch the vehicle. Plus, the foam makes it feel very convenient in hand.

What’s more convenient is, two large steel casters and two small swivel casters attached to the base of this jack. The casters make maneuvering very smooth. That being said, the weight of the jack might be a problem.

This jack weighs around 66 pounds, though it seems heavy, most of the floor jacks weigh around that.

The factor that influences the weight of floor jacks is the material. This one is constructed with alloy steel, one of the top-notch materials for floor jacks. Alloy steel is heavy but it is extremely durable as well.

The base of this jack is wide enough to be highly stable. And it was factory tested for safety and reliability, and it meets the ASME standards.

Integration of a few features could have made it hold the top spot such as a bypass valve to mitigate the over-pumping damage, a safety valve, and a vent plug for the safe lifting operation. 

What Are The Good Sides?

  • Extremely durable floor jack
  • A wide footprint adds good stability
  • Offers a lifting height of 18-inch
  • Casters make maneuvering smooth
  • Features built-in overload protection
  • Easy and fast to lift a vehicle

What Are The Drawbacks?

  • No bypass valve for over pumping damage protection
  • No safety valve and vent plug

5. Best Electric: E-HEELP 5 Ton Electric Hydraulic Jack

Product Specifications:
  • Brand: E-HEELP
  •  Material: Alloy steel, plastic, Stainless Steel, Aluminum
  • Load Capacity: 5 Ton
  • Jack Weight: 20 Pounds.
  • Min. Lifting Height: 6 Inches
  • Max. Lifting Height: 17.7 Inches
  • Color: ‎‎Orange

Here comes a completely different type, E-Heelp electric truck jack. Hands down, it is one of the most versatile electric jack packages that is full of surprises. And the surprises are, with this jack you get a tire inflator and an impact wrench as well. It is like a complete vehicle troubleshooting kit for long rides.

It is one of the high load capacity jacks. This jack takes up to 5 tons of weight, a perfect jack for cars, SUVs, ATVs, Trucks, and minivans.

As you know, it is an electric jack hence you are not required to do any kind of cranking or pumping. It comes equipped with a highly powerful engine which enables the jack to lift up to 5 tons of weight within just 2 minutes.

The lifting height range is 6 - 17 inches, that much height should be enough to take a truck’s wheel off the ground. This jack is equipped with two LED lights that will help you find the lifting points of the vehicle and will light up the area near the jack so that you can work properly.

On top of that, there is an overload protection system as well which will prevent you from overloading the jack.

Carrying this jack is effortless. First of all, it is an extremely lightweight unit, weighing only 20.4 pounds. And then it comes in a case which is super comfortable to carry. You can keep the entire case in the truck, it won’t scratch the vehicle at all.

And as you already know, this jack comes with a tire inflator. Using the tire inflator is super easy, you just connect the inflating cord to the tire and turn the machine on. The display will show the tire pressure.

What Are The Good Sides?

  • Comes with a super portable carry case
  • Can take up to 5 tons of load
  • Extremely stable electric jack
  • LED lights make finding lifting points easy
  • Features overloading protection
  • Comes with a tire inflator and impact wrench

What Are The Drawbacks?

  • The manufacturer could have used better quality plastic.

6. Best Combo Set: BIG RED T82001S Torin Hydraulic Floor Jack

Product Specifications:
  • Brand: BIG RED
  •  Material: Alloy steel
  • Load Capacity: 2 Ton
  • Jack Weight: 32.9 Pounds.
  • Min. Lifting Height: 5 inches
  • Max. Lifting Height: 13 inches
  • Color: ‎Red

Another floor jack from the BIG RED, but this one is a combo package. Check out this BIG RED T82001S Torin floor jack that comes with a trolley jack and 2 jack stands. It comes packed in a classy plastic case as well.

It is a 2-ton floor jack and can be used to lift up corners of small pickup trucks. This is not a jack made for heavier vehicles, so be very careful when using it. The lifting height range of this jack is 5 - 13 inches, which is also a suitable height for small pickup trucks.

The jack stands that come with the jack, can also handle 2 tons of weight. And these are actually very helpful, if you want to keep the vehicle raised for a long time, set a jack stand. Since they have a pyramid base, they are stable as well.

Talking about stability, a few users are not very happy with the stability of this floor jack. According to some users, the casters move constantly making the jack unstable and unsafe. But if you can jam the casters with something, then they might not be able to move.

This jack has 360-degree swivel casters at the back, and one perk of these casters is, they make maneuvering pretty easy. And since this jack weighs only 32 pounds, overall it is highly portable. And not to forget, the plastic carry case increases the portability even more.

And lastly, to make this jack safer, the manufacturer has integrated an overload protection valve. 

What Are The Good Sides?

  • The safety valve gives overload protection
  • Comes with two 2-ton jack stands
  • Very easy to lift vehicles up with the bar
  • Comes at a very low price
  • Swivel casters make maneuvering easy
  • Lightweight and carry case makes it highly portable

What Are The Drawbacks?

  • Casters make the jack unstable
  • Only for small pickup trucks

7. Best Easy to Move: BIG RED Torin Pneumatic Air Hydraulic Jack

Product Specifications:
  • Brand: BIG RED
  •  Material: Alloy steel
  • Load Capacity: 20 ton
  • Jack Weight: ‎32 Pounds
  • Min. Lifting Height: 5.1 Inches
  • Max. Lifting Height: 18.31 Inches
  • Color: ‎Red

This BIG Red Torin pneumatic air hydraulic jack is the only model on this list that can take a whopping 20-ton load. Does the size give any hint of that? It doesn’t! This heavy load capacity makes it the best jack for lifting even some bigger trucks and vans.

The lifting height range of this model is 10 - 20 inches, an incredible height as well. Anyone looking for the best portable jack for lifted trucks or off-roading vehicles, trust us, you don’t want to miss out on this one.

And the best part of this jack is it can be operated both manually and pneumatically. Therefore, you are not running out of options if the pneumatic mode isn’t working. In pneumatic mode, the jack can lift up a vehicle within a few seconds.

The jack comes equipped with an automatic dual spring-controlled lifter lowering system that lowers the lifting bar smoothly. Not only that, but this jack also has a safety valve that gives you overload protection.

This jack’s pneumatic mode has an air pressure range of 100 PSI - 175 PSI, and there is a button with which you can increase or decrease the lifting speed.

Hydraulic lifting jacks come with hydraulic oils, and most of the time, these oils cannot withstand high and low temperatures. Unlike those, hydraulic oil used in this jack can withstand up to 140 degrees and -13 degrees F temp.

It is heavily constructed with alloy steel, so you do not need to worry at all about its durability. Allow steels are incredibly durable, hence they can take heavy abuse.

What Are The Good Sides?

  • It is a highly powerful jack
  • Can lift up to 20 inches
  • Allows you to operate it both pneumatically and manually
  • It can lift vehicles within seconds
  • Carry case and low weight makes it portable
  • The base is highly stable
  • Comes at a low price

What Are The Drawbacks?

  • The pumping handle design could have been better
  • Might start losing air pressure with long use

8. Best Two in One: Powerbuilt 620471 Portable Black UniJack

Product Specifications:
  • Brand: Powerbuilt
  •  Material: Metallic-Fiber
  • Load Capacity: 3 Ton
  • Jack Weight: ‎22.7 pounds
  • Min. Lifting Height: 11 Inches
  • Max. Lifting Height: 21 Inches
  • Color: ‎Black

If you are on a very tight budget and searching for a well-performing jack at a low price, the Powerbuilt 620471 jack is for you. From the price perspective, this very jack delivers a lot.

Construction, to begin with. The manufacturer has used metallic fiber material in the construction which is a pretty durable one. This material is lightweight at the same, the jack weighs only 22 pounds. Therefore, you are getting a jack that is durable and extremely portable as well.

It can lift up to a 3-ton weight, and offers a lifting height range of 11 - 21 inches. And that makes it a perfect jack for lifting SUVs, ATVs, Mini trucks, minivans, and some cars.

Due to 11 inches in height, this jack can’t be used for low-profile vehicles. The jack comes with a pumping bar, which you will be attaching to the jack. And it doesn’t take more than a minute or two to lift a vehicle up.

With this unijack, you get a jack stand as well, this is why we are calling it two in one. The jack stands attached to the jack and it can take the same weight as the jack.

The base of the jack is wide enough to be highly stable. But make sure you don’t place the jack on an uneven surface, that can be risky.

This jack features a safety bar lock system that allows you to lock the lifter bar at a raised position.

What Are The Good Sides?

  • Comes at an incredibly low price
  • Metallic fiber construction makes it durable
  • The jack weighs very light, which makes it portable
  • A jack stand comes attached with the jack
  • A wider base gives stability
  • Can lift up to 3 tons of weight
  • Very easy to lift vehicles

What Are The Drawbacks?

  • Over time the lifting bar might get jammed

9. Best for Versatile: Powerbuilt 620422E Triple Lift Jack

Product Specifications:
  • Brand: Powerbuilt
  •  Material: Metallic-Fiber
  • Load Capacity: 2 Ton
  • Jack Weight: ‎79.2 pounds
  • Min. Lifting Height: 5.25 inches
  • Max. Lifting Height: 17.75 inches
  • Color: ‎Silver

The powerbuilt 620422E is a completely different jack than other units on this list. It is a triple lift jack with the capacity to lift up to 2 tons of weight. Though it’s not a very powerful one, it should be good enough for lifting a corner of small trucks.

It can lift vehicles up to 17-inch and that makes it suitable for most of the vehicles. That being said, it might not be a suitable one for highly lifted vehicles such as off-roading ones.

This lifting jack comes with an extra wide footprint which makes the jack pretty stable. For better stability, you can tie the loops that come with this jack.

With this jack you won't feel the need for a jack stand since it is integrated with a safety bar, you just slide the bar in and the lifting bar will be locked at whatever position you want.

This tripping lift jack shines bright in terms of durability as well. It is constructed with metallic fiber material which promises to last long.

In this jack, you can remove the lift rails and lift the saddle if you want. And can add saddles and rails of your liking. The way this very jack is designed, it is suitable for various vehicle frames.

One thing we would want to warn you about is the descending of this jack. According to fee users, the lifter doesn't come down slowly, it kind of slams down.

What Are The Good Sides?

  • It can lift a vehicle up to 17 inches
  • Lifting vehicles is safe and easy
  • A wider footprint increases the stability
  • Heavily constructed and highly durable
  • The lifter design suits many vehicles frames
  • The safety bar allows you to lock the lifter at raised positions

What Are The Drawbacks?

  • Slightly heavy
  • The lifter doesn't come down slowly

10. Best Low-profile: Torin T83505W Hydraulic Steel Racing Blackjack

Product Specifications:
  • Brand: Torin
  •  Material: Alloy Steel
  • Load Capacity: 3 Ton
  • Jack Weight: ‎75.8 pounds
  • Min. Lifting Height: 3.7 Inches
  • Max. Lifting Height: 18.07 Inches
  • Color: ‎

And we are down to the last jack of the list which is the Torin T83505W. It is a floor jack that is suitable for low-profile vehicles and it is specially designed to lift racing cars.

The minimum height is 3 inches and the max lifting height it can offer is 18 inches. This range should be good for both low-profile cars and small trucks.

It can lift up to 3 tons of vehicle weight, and it is enough to lift a corner of medium-sized trucks. An extended footprint makes this jack highly stable.

The manufacturer has used Alloy steel in the construction which is why the weight of this jack is a little heavy. But since the material is top-notch, it is worth the sacrifice.

But still, if you are looking for a highly portable unit, this might not be your thing.

Moving on!

This jack comes equipped with a single piston quick lift pump, enabling the user to lift the vehicle up very easily within a minute or two. The saddle of this jack has a good surface area and it grips pretty nicely.

Moreover, the jack comes integrated with a built-in overload safety feature as well, so there is no chance you will be overloading the jack.

The handle makes pumping the jack easy, and the foam wrap all over the handle prevents it from scratching the vehicle and at the same, it feels very comfortable in hand as well.

What Are The Good Sides?

  • Min height of 3” makes it good for low-profile vehicles
  • Comes at an affordable price
  • The convenient handlebar makes pumping easy
  • Doesn’t take more than 1 or 2 minutes to lift
  • Heavy duty alloy steel construction
  • Features overload safety mechanism

What Are The Drawbacks?

  • It is a heavy floor jack.
  • After months of use, it might leak hydraulic fluid

Things to Consider Before Choosing the Best Portable Jack for Truck

As mentioned before, there are a lot of things that you need to keep in mind before making a purchase decision. And in this section, we will be taking you through all those crucial factors that you need to know.

Type & Weight of the Vehicle

There are different types of trucks that weigh differently, the weight of a small pickup truck won’t be the same as a big truck. Hence, before you go shopping for the lifting jack, first determine the weight of your vehicle.

On average trucks can weigh anywhere between 3 - 6 tons, there are some trucks that are even heavier. It is the weight of an empty truck, if it's loaded then the weight can be more, depending on what’s loaded on the truck.

And you would have to pick a jack that has the ability to lift that weight. The load or weight capacity of the jack should be labeled on the body or on the packet.

The weight plays the most crucial role here, choosing a jack with low weight capacity will not only waste your money but also can lead to deadly accidents. So, you can get a jack with the highest weight capacity but never ever pick one that can’t match your truck’s weight.

Jack Material

Once you know what weight capacity jack you would need, now it's time to get the material right. Trucks are heavy so you need a jack that can withstand the weight. And as a rule of thumb, the high-quality the material and construction are, the longer the jack will last.

So which material should you go after? Well, there are a bunch of materials that are widely used in jack constructions, let’s take you through all of them to find the suitable one for you.

1. Steel Jacks:

The most durable and long-lasting material for jacks is steel. It is the oldest material of lifting jack and in terms of durability, no other material has come close to it.

Not only that, it is the cheapest jack material as well. So overall, steel jacks are highly cost-efficient. 

Having that said, steel material is also the heaviest material that can be used in jacks. And that’s why steel-constructed jacks aren’t portable at all. These jacks are mostly seen in the dealership store and professional garages.

2. Aluminum Jacks:

They are more expensive than steel material and also less durable. If used repeatedly, a good aluminum jack might not last more than 6 months. And if rarely used then it can last for 1-year or so. So why do people go after aluminum jacks?

Portability! 

Aluminum-constructed jacks are extremely lightweight, you can carry them anywhere you want.

3. Hybrid Jacks:

These jacks are the most popular because they are a mixture of aluminum and steel. The manufacturer uses steel on the crucial parts of the jacks and uses aluminum material for the rest.

In that way, the jack becomes durable and not very heavy. 

Not only that, the price of hybrid jacks is reasonable as well due to the steel mixture. Overall, hybrid jacks are a good balance of weight, durability, and price. And if you are looking for portable jacks, then a hybrid jack is your grab.

Lifting Height Range

If you are looking for a jack for lifting a truck then a car jack might not work. Because cars have a much lower ground clearance than a truck. Plus, trucks come with a lot of suspensions, so when you lift the chassis, the truck suspension will expand.

And this means you are going to need more lifting height in order to get the wheels off the ground. On average, normal lifting jacks offer a lifting range of 12 - 14-inches which is suitable for low-profile vehicles like cars.

But for trucks, you’ll need something that can deliver at least 16-inch.

Size of the Saddle

The part of the jack that connects with the vehicle’s chassis to lift it is called the saddle. And the size of the saddle (surface area) matters. If the saddle has a big surface area, it will be more stable than a saddle that has a very small surface.

However, if you are lifting a vehicle slightly just to get the tire off the ground, then the saddle surface area won’t matter much. But it matters a lot if the vehicle will be lifted high.

Types of Jacks

There are different types of jacks, to get your hands on the suitable one, you will need to know all of them. Though there are more than 8 types of vehicle jacks, here we will be taking you through the 4 most popular types.

1. Bottle Jack:

They are also known as Piston jacks. These jacks have been used for decades and are still one of the best types. The reason why they are called bottle jacks is because of their shape, it’s like a bottle.

These jacks are extremely portable and that’s why they are one of the most popular jacks. Most vehicles have one of these stored in their trunks.

Furthermore, they have a small yet highly stable footprint as well. That being said, for stability you will have to make sure you place the jack on an even surface.

Moreover, bottled jacks aren’t suitable for low-profile vehicles due to their bottle shape design. The lifting capacity of these jacks is incredible, their height range is good enough for most trucks as well.

And since it is a hydraulic jack, it is pretty easy to use as well.

2. Scissor Jack:

It is another highly popular jack for vehicles, it is also very portable and easy to store. Scissor jacks are extremely lightweight and the best option for load-side emergencies.

These jacks are designed to lift one corner of the vehicle and they are best suited to cars. The height range of scissor jacks is very low which is why they are not a good option for trucks.

On the other hand, operating scissor jacks are sweaty as well. You will need to spin a screw to lift or collapse the jack.

3. High Lift jacks:

For jacking up off-roading vehicles and trucks this is one of the best options. They offer a great height range that is higher than the bottle and scissor jacks.

These jacks are tall and very slim which makes them easy to carry, like most of the other jacks, they can also be stored in the trunk. One flaw of this jack is, it doesn’t have a footprint. Since it is very slim, you need to be very careful when lifting the vehicle up because it would not be as stable as a bottle or floor jack.

That being said, as long as you jam the wheels of the vehicle so that it can’t move even an inch, you should be able to lift the vehicle up easily.

4. Floor Jacks:

This is a very easy-to-use jack that is suitable for different types of vehicles. You can use it for low-profile sports cars and some types of trucks as well.

These jacks are like a small skateboard having a long handle attached at the back. Floor jacks come with wheels as well which makes them easy to position. Once positioned, you use the handle to lift the vehicle up. And it is very easy to lift a vehicle with floor jacks.

However, floor jacks aren’t very portable but they can still be used for roadside emergencies. It is slightly heavy but one person should be able to handle the weight. And even though car trunks might not accommodate this jack but in trucks, there should be enough space for this jack.

Lifting Mechanism

Lifting jacks use a different mechanism to lift the vehicle up, some use an electric motor, and some use air. And some require manual strength, these are jacks that are widely used for roadside emergencies. Let’s have a look at how they work.

Electric Jacks:

These jacks come equipped with an electric motor that operates the pump to lift a vehicle. In most cases, these jacks are powered by the 12-volt electrical system of the vehicle.

Pneumatic Jack:

They are also known as air jacks because they utilize air to lift vehicles. These jacks come with a compressor that delivers the needed compressed air. Most of the pneumatic jacks come with a manual option as well.

Manual jacks:

It is very hard and sweaty to use a manual jack. As the name suggests, these jacks are operated manually where a person would either crank or twist a screw or pump a handle to lift the vehicle up.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of jack should I use for a truck?

Floor jacks or bottle jacks would be perfect for lifting trucks. However, don’t forget to check the weight capacity of the jack that you will be using on trucks.

How powerful a jack do you need for a truck?

It depends on the weight of the truck. If your truck weighs 3 tons, then a jack with a 2 or 3-ton load capacity should be fine.

Are bottle jacks better for trucks?

Bottle jacks usually have higher lifting height which is why they should be good for lifting trucks. That being said, high lifting jacks can offer an even higher lifting height than bottle jacks.

Will a 3-ton jack lift a truck?

If the truck weighs anywhere between 3 - 6 tons, then a 3-ton jack should be able to lift one corner of the truck,

Will a low-profile jack lift a truck?

Usually, low-profile jacks don't offer a very high lifting height, hence, they might not be a suitable option for trucks.

Final Verdict

Choosing the best portable truck jack can be effortless if you know the right trick. And the trick is to understand each and every factor of jacks. If you know what to look for, then it's a child's play for you.

However, we hope the list did help you choose the right jack for your needs.

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