17 replies to this topic

[bunch1980]

I have some axle stands from a friend soon for free and after a jack now, i like look of bottle jacks and they are more compact taking up less space when not in use, my garage is very full with mini and motorbike and tumble dryer lol.
Apart from I will need to make sure it is low enough to go under mini is there any reason not to get a bottle jack over a trolley type?

[HARBER07]

A trolley jack is WAY more stable.

[bcjames]

A good trolley jack is much better if its your only jack. I use a couple of bottles for moving suspension etc when the car is jacked up, but im not sure theyd actually fit under to jack it up from the ground.

[Pooky]

What's the max lift of the two you're looking at? Also how low will they go? I'd imagine a trolley jack will start lower and finish higher.

[The_Mistro]

i would of said trolly jack! and for a mini you wont need a very big trolly jack, 2 tonne would be more than enough! and if you remove the handle there not that bulky at all! could be left flat against the wall! i have always been under the impression bottle jacks were used for much larger, heavier applications as we have one rated at 22 tonnes at the farm! only ever used for jacking up under tractor axels when changing tyres etc everywhere else we use trolly jacks!

[bunch1980]

Thanks all not really thought of the stability of either of them really but of course a trolley jack would be more stable i can imagine. Never really jacked up a car either so probably safer going for trolley.
Now motorbikes i have 2 differenet stands for them lol to hoist up any bike and they take up plenty of room will just have to find somewhere for trolley jack to!

Thanks always get an informative answer on here no matter what question is.

[bmcecosse]

No problem with room for a trolley jack - keep it in behind the driver's seat! Bottle jacks are useless !

[Kam]

Dont bother with the bottle jack, go for the trolley one instead, you'll appreciate it in the long run

Link from here - only click if your interested

My bottle one is still sitting here looking pretty and I think thats where it'll stay, doesn't do anything else?

[Ipod]

Store your future trolly jack on your bike lift....I would

thats if your talking about a ramp lift not moto stand or paddock stand

[Scallywag630]

Trolly jack everytime.

[Robert]

I agree with everyone else. Trolley jack every time. Bottle jacks have their uses - but I don't have one.

I do have a scissor jack in my daily driver because it is better than the useless one legged effort that the car came with - but otherwise I use my trolley jack.

[AVV IT]

A portable scissor or bottle jack is great for emergency use at the roadside, but for anything else (planned work maintainance etc) I would only ever use a trolley jack, in fact I sometimes use two (or even three) of them together (a trick I saw used at kwikfit) to safely remove two (or even all four) wheels at once.

[Ipod]

A portable scissor or bottle jack is great for emergency use at the roadside, but for anything else (planned work maintainance etc) I would only ever use a trolley jack, in fact I sometimes use two (or even three) of them together (a trick I saw used at kwikfit) to safely remove two (or even all four) wheels at once.

Until one fails n the car collapses...the expert teams at them places only do that becouse theres not enough axel stands for all the fitters.

I would always just use a trolly jack to lift the car and then place on axel stands...

[maccers]

Try to get a "low entry" one too if you can. I got a halfords job and I need to drive onto small home made ramps to get the jack under and then pump the handle. I have seen some nice looking alloy bodied jacks at some shows.

[Ipod]

Also the ramps you drive 2 wheels onto to raise the car, if you need to work under it, are well worth the money too..