Harbor Freight Floor Jack

I’ve bought a lot of inexpensive hand tools, parts and accessories from Harbor Freight, knowing that for the low price I didn’t have much to lose. For the most part, the tools at Harbor Freight have held up pretty well.

Harbor Freight Tools are Not Made in Pittsburgh

Don’t be fooled by the name, Pittsburgh. These tools are built in China, not America. Is that not a brilliant marketing ploy, using the name of a familiar, U.S steel city to make you think you’re getting the kind of quality, old-fashioned tools your Grandfather used? Regardless, the Pittsburgh sockets and wrenches seem to be well made. The one exception is the 3/8″ Torque Wrench which I never could get to work. I guess sometimes you really do get what you pay for. So on to the Harbor Freight floor jack, which is one of the more expensive tools I’ve purchased from this store.

 

Harbor Freight 1.5 Ton, Lightweight Floor Jack Specifics

This could be considered a small risk. The price, which is normally $89.00 was on sale for $59.00, so I took a chance and bought it. I don’t have a lot of experience with floor jacks, but I’ve been very happy with this purchase so far. It is light-weight as advertised, but feels very solid. The wheels roll very nicely on my driveway and the aluminum handle, which is removable, screws in and out easily. Hydraulic floor jacks do use fluid, but leaking was not a problem. Well, how does it work for jacking up a car?

Can a Cheap Hydraulic Floor Jack Lift a BMW?

Harbor Freight 1.5 Ton Capacity Floor Jack

At 3750 pounds my BMW 540i, really tests the limit of the 1.5 weight capacity. I did seem to discover its weight limit one time while attempting to lift up the entire front end which is something I wouldn’t do very often. For oil changes, it’s best to use ramps and jack stands. Changing tires and lifting one side at a time is a breeze with the Harbor Freight Floor Jack.

Floor Jack Pros and Cons

The Harbor Freight Floor Jack is a good product – my only complaint is that it can’t handle the weight of my old, Bimmer.
Pros

• Light Weight
• Well Made
• Easy to use
• Rolls on the cement well

Cons
• 1.5 Ton Weight Limit

  One thing to be aware of; not all Harbor Freight Floor Jacks are created equal. I bought the blue aluminum one which is rated at 1.5 tons.