Am I crazy to consider a floor jack and jack stands from HF? Or are these tools “simple” enough that I don’t need to worry about HF quality issues? Looking at the Pittsburgh “brand”.
I bought a harbor freight engine hoist when I was on the road a couple of months ago and needed to Load an Engine. I didn’t need another hoist but I was stuck because the guy I bought the engine from didn’t have one or anyway to load. I was extremely disappointed with the quality of the hoist. It was missing parts and the ram or I should say the cylinder is a very poor quality. I would assume the floor jack would be the same. The stands may be OK.
I’m using their heavy duty jack stands with no problems yet (knock on wood). My HF floor jack is about ready to be retired though, after only a few years of use.
I think that if you consider the 2 ton jack stands, and you use 1 at each corner of the car, you are only putting ~ what, maybe 1 ton on each stand at the most? That should be WELL within the capabilities of a 2 ton stand.
Now, if I were using them frequently, and on larger / heavier vehicles, I would probably step up a grade or two. Or just pony up the extra dough for industrial strength stands made in the US.
…which would probably be a good idea anyhow. I mean, how much is your life worth to you? Is it worth an extra $100 toward a set of “not Chinese” jack stands? Maybe another extra $100 for the “good” jack too? Would you feel foolish for spending extra on something if you could get by with cheaper? …I bet not as foolish as if you went cheap and it bit you in the @ss :-/
On that note, I think I’m gonna take my own advice and pony up the dough for a “good” jack.
I like the cirlcle you just talked yourself in Mike! I am doing the same thing. 
Since you talked yourslef into it I’ll follow as well!
Now the question becomes what high quality brand? 
For occasional garage use they are just fine. I typically hate buying anything from harbor freight but they do have a place on some things. I wish I could go out and buy a US made floor jack and jack stands but I bet your close to $1k for a 3 ton floor jack and 4 2 ton stands.
In still using a floor jack my dad bought rack in the 79s. I know Harbor Freight has several models of floor jacks. Maybe the top 9f the line might be good I don’t know. I have several sets of stands. Not sure where they came from now as the newest set is over20 years old. I do have several items from H/F, but you get what you pay for. I have junked several items I got there. But no complaints for the price.
My car has spent the last 2 winters sitting on HF jack stands, and the 2.5 ton low profile has been my go-to floor jack for a number of years. Haven’t had a problem with it yet.
I purchased their Daytona 3 ton floor jack over the holidays. It’s the honkin’ huge yellow one. I couldn’t get a Sears jack to last more than 2-3 years. And each one lasted shorter than the previous.
This Daytona is by far the best unit I’ve owned. Yeah, it big and heavy. But I like that it’s really low and fits under all my lowered cars. The pad raises to make contact in only a pump or two and it seems very solid. Obviously, I can’t verify how long it will last yet… but it’s been compared to the Snap-On version of the same.
Jackstands… don’t have any from HF. I have 6 three-ton units that I’ve gotten at different times from different vendors at different swap meets. But they were new in boxes. Four of them, I’ve had since the early 90s and have often had my car upon them for more than a year’s time during the last two rebuilds. Never once have I ever felt uncomfortable under the car that was supported by them. At $40 a pair/I can guarantee they were made overseas as well. The reason I got two more is so I can work on something like for an oil change or some brake work while the other four were already in use.
I also have four more smaller stands that came with the last two floor jacks I got from Sears. A pair came with each. So at least I still have those after their companion jacks took a crap. I use them more for supporting stuff like exhaust systems and stuff while I’m mocking the systems up etc.
I consider HF the KIA of tools. You’re making the right choice to pony up, a little extra and get something better. Shop around, most things aren’t as good as they used to be.
Whatever you do decide to purchase I would recommend that you get a floor jack with the large saddle, something like a 6" or 8". A lot of the cheap jacks only have a 3" saddle.
Randy Goodling
CCOA #95
We played around with the companies money buying different model floor jacks at a reasonable price to see which one was good
We found the Arcan xl35 works great at a reasonable price. Now all of us here at work own one. Google the name as their are a lot of different place to buy it. Arcan xl35
https://www.amazon.com/Arcan-Quick-Rise-Professional-Service/product-reviews/B000Y9YGX4
I bought their huge orange one at least 15 years ago, man it is heavy, only had to refil the fluid one time in all those years, as some leaked out once, like 10 years ago, most of my air tools are from there, I have no complaints on any of there stuff
Call me cheap…:shrug:…I have the HF 2.5 ton rapid-pump floor jack, and have had no issues in…five or so years. However, stands make me nervous, so I have a Kwik-Lift instead of stands.
I have a relative that works for snap-on on the manufacturing side and he confirmed that harbor freight daytona jack is the exact same jack as the snap on. snap-on buys them from the same supplier and has theirs painted red.
Thanks for the confirmation. 
I have a set of torin big red 3-ton stands and only paid about $35. A Craftsman 3 ton jack ran me about $100.
Not sure I want to get under my car with a cheap set, so get something that appears solid & don’t forget a set of wheel blocks (came with the jack I bought)…
Of course… Where do you think Heap came from?
Unless stated otherwise, jack stands are sold in pairs and given a weight rating based on what the pair of them can support together. For example, a pair of 2-ton jack stands are rated for loads up to 1 ton per stand.
That is good to know! …and quite deceptive >.<
Randy - why the larger saddle? Is that for stability or to prevent frame damage at the jack point?