Aluminium trolley jack?

[Ton-up]

I have a couple of Bluepoint 2.5 ton trolley jacks that I have had 25 years or so. They are superb, great quality but really heavy. I had to lift one into my van today and really struggled to lift it because I have hip trouble. I was looking at the aluminium, so called, racing jacks.

Has anyone got one? They look nice and light, but do they last? I need to lift my VW Transporter when servicing it so will need the 2.5 ton one.

The SGS one looks good -

2.5 Ton Lightweight Aluminium Chassis Racing Trolley Jack

2.5 Ton low profile, lightweight aluminium chassis trolley jack with 460mm max lifting height. Quick lift to fully raise the jack in just 8 handle strokes. Free next day delivery!

www.sgs-engineering.com

The Sealey one -

Sealey RJAS2500 2.5tonne Low Entry Aluminium Trolley Jack Rocket Lift/Lifting - PrimeTools

Mix of steel and aluminium not only makes this jack lightweight but incredibly strong. Large saddle with jacking pad. Rocket Lift with twin piston design enables saddle to be brought up to jacking point with minimal pumps. Lifting bars are fitted either side of the anodised aluminium chassis...

www.primetools.co.uk

Halfords 2 ton one-

Halfords Advanced 2 Tonne Aluminium Trolley Jack | Halfords UK

Shop the latest Halfords Advanced 2 Tonne Aluminium Trolley Jack at Halfords UK

www.halfords.com

Any experience of these please.

 

[JOEPRO]

If your lifting vans may not be ideal. If your lifting cars within a nice powerfloated garage floor I'd say they are perfect.

I've bent steel trolley jacks lifting S classes on tarmac so the alu ones wouldn't last too long with my usage IMO. But when I get my new garage with decent floor sorted maybe I'll try one too.

 

[Erie Fred]

I have a couple of Bluepoint 2.5 ton trolley jacks that I have had 25 years or so. They are superb, great quality but really heavy. I had to lift one into my van today and really struggled to lift it because I have hip trouble.

I wonder if a change to the van would be better all around.
Can you fab up a little fold down ramp ?
Maybe bolt it to the floor with a large hinge on it.

Open the back door/hatch, swing down the ramp and slide stuff up/down.

8"-12" wide maybe all you need, and sliding sure beats lifting.

 

[Mick Annick]

I’ve got a 15 year old Michelin branded one bought when they first (got in my experience anyway) made an appearance, though it looks the same as all the others. It didn’t have a lot of use for the first ten years but has been used a lot more since, no leaks and works well. For the first ten years it was stored in a damp barn, the only ill effects being some rusty nuts which I’ve replaced. The side handles make it easy to lift and carry.

 

[hotponyshoes]

I've had a couple of aluminium ones, 2.5t. Sealey I think, some sort of deal at ecp.

Both dead now but lasted just as well as the steel ones.

Echo the point about the smooth floor, they are actually a bit too light if you're dragging them accross a rough yard as they bounce around and don't dig themselves into gravel.
Light enough to pick up and carry but no fun doing so as they are an awarkward shape.

Basically, the only real advantage I can see to them is if you need to pick them up regularly to stick them into a van or something.

 

[Turbo]

To get an ally jack that is going to be as good as even a cheap steel jack you are going to have to spend a lot of money. I've tried a cheapish ally jack & it didn't fill me with confidence!

 

[James1979]

Sod’s Law says I can’t find it but on Pinterest I’ve seen some cantilevered contraption for stowing a trolley Jack in a van from ground level. RAC or AA vans have them in.

As far as original question, I don’t own one but I’ve used on occasion a Clarke one. It’s not bad. It’s got a solid roller across the front, not wheels. It’s used on an epoxied garage floor. Which the guy is anal about.

Possibly one to avoid.

The rollers. I mean.

 

[500e]

Got 2 here you can have, them neither work rescued from skip i has no wheels
1 Red, 1 Blue, Free but only collect

 

[Ton-up]

Thanks for your replies. Just to be clear my van is a kombi and not used for work, so athough heavy, its not full of gear. I have drawers in the back with a bed for my dogs on top, so I its almost waist height for a ramp. Got in side door today, but I have nice flooring, seats etc in there..
It will normally get used on my block paved drive, so might not be ideal….

@500e, very generous of you, are the jacks you have the 2.5 ton ones? Where are you please?

 

[Erie Fred]

Dogs are gonna need the ramp in a few more years too....

 

[CompoSimmonite]

If you already have a good jack, and only problem is lifting into your van, then what about a mobility scooter hoist. I've bought a couple (paid £15 & £30 off eBay) and they can be got cheaply if you search

 

[Kram]

How much does your steel jack weigh? Im sure my 2T isnt all that heavy.
The alu ones you linked are 19-27kg!! Im not sure they will save much weight other than looking slightly nicer.

 

[TEO]

I have a couple of Bluepoint 2.5 ton trolley jacks that I have had 25 years or so. They are superb, great quality but really heavy. I had to lift one into my van today and really struggled to lift it because I have hip trouble. I was looking at the aluminium, so called, racing jacks.

Has anyone got one? They look nice and light, but do they last? I need to lift my VW Transporter when servicing it so will need the 2.5 ton one.

The SGS one looks good -

2.5 Ton Lightweight Aluminium Chassis Racing Trolley Jack

2.5 Ton low profile, lightweight aluminium chassis trolley jack with 460mm max lifting height. Quick lift to fully raise the jack in just 8 handle strokes. Free next day delivery!

www.sgs-engineering.com

The Sealey one -

Sealey RJAS2500 2.5tonne Low Entry Aluminium Trolley Jack Rocket Lift/Lifting - PrimeTools

Mix of steel and aluminium not only makes this jack lightweight but incredibly strong. Large saddle with jacking pad. Rocket Lift with twin piston design enables saddle to be brought up to jacking point with minimal pumps. Lifting bars are fitted either side of the anodised aluminium chassis...

www.primetools.co.uk

Halfords 2 ton one-

Halfords Advanced 2 Tonne Aluminium Trolley Jack | Halfords UK

Shop the latest Halfords Advanced 2 Tonne Aluminium Trolley Jack at Halfords UK

www.halfords.com

Any experience of these please.

I had been wondering the same thing as my 2.5T jack is a back breaking weight. Then spoke to a mate who's been running a T2, 4,5&6 spannering business for years, he's tried them broken them & reverted to proper steel ones.
I can barely lift my tool box but that can be split into 2 or 3. I'm not sure what the answer is, maybe the solution depends upon frequency? & Set up of your van. If it's something you have to lift in& out many times daily then it's worth putting £ towards the solution. If you only put it in the van occasionally then a ply ramp would. Get it in without too much effort.
The solutions could be:
- buy an ali jack & be prepared to buy again.
- One of the little cranes used for wheelchairs, usually into the boot of a car. This has the advantage of helping with other heavy loads.
- Ramps of some variety
- borrow Sven when ISIHAC is not recording - I'm sure he'd be happy to push it in for you

 

[500e]

Don't know @Ton-up ones red other blue think they need seals 1 no wheels or handle.
In South west

 

[500e]

Only 10 miles different NDIY, M5 J22
Will never get round to looking at them want them gone FREE
Collect only

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I have a 3ton high lift steel jack...pretty sure that's the weight of the jack not the lift capacity!

I also have a blue aluminium jack for when I'm out and about helping people...I think it's a Clarke one. Been used and abused for about 20 years....nice and light which I like plus the front has a full roller which helps the stability.

 

[James1979]

I have a 3ton high lift steel jack...pretty sure that's the weight of the jack not the lift capacity!

I also have a blue aluminium jack for when I'm out and about helping people...I think it's a Clarke one. Been used and abused for about 20 years....nice and light which I like plus the front has a full roller which helps the stability.

That’s the one I was on about ^^

Would be about the same age as well

 

[James1979]

Can’t find a better one but the orange thing pulls out and down.

Strap the Jack to it and it lifts up and in.

I think it’s got some sort of cantilevered thing to make the lifting part easier.

 

[Mick Annick]

I have a 3ton high lift steel jack...pretty sure that's the weight of the jack not the lift capacity!

I also have a blue aluminium jack for when I'm out and about helping people...I think it's a Clarke one. Been used and abused for about 20 years....nice and light which I like plus the front has a full roller which helps the stability.

Sounds like the one I have - full width roller too.

 

[Ton-up]

Thanks for the answers, but I do not need to lift it in more than a few times a year as most of my use would be at home. I dont want a ramp or contraption for lifting it in. Unfortunatly I dont have any scales (the bathroom scales are glass, that wont end up well putting a trolley jack on them!) to weigh my jack but its all 6mm plate!

I was really asking about if the ally ones are reasonable quality and are as good as they sound. Seems like mixed opinions on them.