Seeking Advice for Trolley Jack

[Davidhee58]

Hi Guys,

I am looking for trolley jack mainly used for engine oil and filter change, the SGS 2 Ton low profile trolley jack looks solid and well-made, but the maximal lifting is only 359mm, I am not sure it can lift my car high enough to let me access the oil sump and filter, has any of you used this trolley jack before? could you guys give me some advice, suggestion or recommend me a better one for the job? many thanks.

   

[Rosgoe]

I have used a Halfords trolley jack and that lifts roughly the same height with enough room to get under the front of the car.

will be much easier with car ramps as they lift the car that little bit higher and you don’t have to use axle stands make sure you chock the rear wheels though

[TonyHSD]

1 hour ago, Davidhee58 said:

Hi Guys,

I am looking for trolley jack mainly used for engine oil and filter change, the SGS 2 Ton low profile trolley jack looks solid and well-made, but the maximal lifting is only 359mm, I am not sure it can lift my car high enough to let me access the oil sump and filter, has any of you used this trolley jack before? could you guys give me some advice, suggestion or recommend me a better one for the job? many thanks.

   

This one looks good to me and high enough. You can jack up in the middle of the car on the front there should be a lift up point and then secure with axles stands on the sides. Or as recommended ramps. I have some that I lifted them up with wood posts and these gives me an extra room for engine and transmission fluid changes plus coolant change for inverter and the engine.  My jack is also from Halfords old stuff 👌👍

[Davidhee58]

Hi Tony, thank you for your advice, and your Auris looks like a brand new car, you looked after it very well👍.

[Davidhee58]

1 hour ago, Rosgoe said:

I have used a Halfords trolley jack and that lifts roughly the same height with enough room to get under the front of the car.

will be much easier with car ramps as they lift the car that little bit higher and you don’t have to use axle stands make sure you chock the rear wheels though

Thanks Christopher, yes, your are right , the car ramps is much easier for the job,  the reason i choose trolley jack is  I may be able to use it to do something else in the future, BTW, can you  drain the oil properly while the front of the car is raised up with the ramps? the advantage to use trolley jack is I can remove the axle stands and leave the car on the drive to let the oil completely drained. but it may be not necessary. 

[Dimitris L.]

🙂

[TonyHSD]

4 hours ago, Davidhee58 said:

Hi Tony, thank you for your advice, and your Auris looks like a brand new car, you looked after it very well👍.

Thank you 👍 

[TonyHSD]

With the front wheels on the ramp the oil drains even better because the drain plug is positioned backwards of the sump facing towards rear of the car. No problem for gearbox oil too, although I never managed to get out more than 3ltr but this is enough for refreshing the oil. which not necessarily needs change. jack set is also useful though for wheels rotating and brake jobs, suspension etc. The plastic cover under engine has really smart window opening for oil drains and filter change, you can also use one of the clips to secure it in open position, well thought job from Toyota. 👍

[Saxmaniac]

There's an independent manufacturer of garage equipment called SGS and they do very sturdy lifting tools at a sensible price. I got a great trolley jack with a long reach and lift over 800mm which is great for the central jacking points on the auris. I think it was something like £200 delivered, (pardon my memory if I'm out a bit!)

Main thing is that the quality is much more solid than the big brand stuff.

https://www.sgs-engineering.com/

 

[Roy124]

When I use my trolley jack I then place axle stands as required and then release the pressure on the trolley jack. I don't rely on the jack alone. 

[Saxmaniac]

I realised the original post mentioned an SGS low profile jack, but the one I got was the high lift 1.5 tonne, TJH 1.5. this can reach the rear central jacking point with ease from the rear or the sides, the height is way more than you need

[forkingabout]

Halfords & Machine Mart might be worth a visit as you can usually look at the jacks on display to decide if its going to be suitable for you.

Halfords also normally have sales on at various times of the year or ask a mechanic mate if they have a trade card for a bit of discount. 

[Steve Whits]

On 10/1/2021 at 8:21 AM, Roy124 said:

When I use my trolley jack I then place axle stands as required and then release the pressure on the trolley jack. I don't rely on the jack alone. 

That's THE ONLY way a trolley jack should be used if you're intending working under the car.

[mrpj]

And only release the pressure momentarily to ensure the axle stands are fully supporting the vehicle. Leave the jack in position as a back up. If I am removing a wheel(s)I ensure that/they are also positioned under the sill(s) as a further back up.

[TonyHSD]

Or you can secure the car with both jack and stand and use the wheel as a stool 👍

[Roy124]

5 hours ago, mrpj said:

. If I am removing a wheel(s)I ensure that/they are also positioned under the sill(s) as a further back up.

Not sure that is a good idea. 

If the car does crash off stands and jack, besides the damage they might cause when the car crashes down, the wheel might damage the sill and the sill might damage the car. 

If you do need belt and braces, better to build up a wooden platform and minimise the distance it can fall. 

[shepp]

Hello, don't know if I am a bit late with this, but the 3ton low profile jack from sgs is excellent. I've had mine 8 years now and it lifts anything from celicas to range rovers. Unlike a lot of the Clarke ones, it doesn't go down slowly under pressure. Be aware it is one heavy big thing to lug around. 

https://www.sgs-engineering.com/tj3lp-low-profile-garage-trolley-jack?gclid=Cj0KCQjwnoqLBhD4ARIsAL5JedLY1bprT3pJ1z9YN0UCfwFpH5bXwhlTRyEgMcAdpCa6vBXS_3P1YKYaAqKNEALw_wcB

Regards

Shepp

[tedgillispie]

I know it's been a while, but  I get your need for a good trolley jack. I’ve been there, too, and finding the right one can be tricky. For me, durability is critical; you want something that can handle a decent weight without wobbling.

[Saxmaniac]

Look at SGS range, they do jacks that are more sturdy than most of the big brands and very sensibly priced. You'll see them in a lot of tyre fitters and small garages. I've got an engine crane and high lift trolley jack, excellent. Only thing I don't like is that they appear to use bought in hydraulic cylinders that have a rather crude mechanism for release of pressure, these rams are seen on lots of makes of jack, I wouldn't let that put you off though 

[TonyHSD]

For uk people the Halfords range of diy jacks and stands work just fine. 
I have one of these sets since probably 2010 and still serve me well. 
It’s not a professional thing that’s for sure but it’s well made and works without issues for so many years, used at least 5-6 times a year. 
If anyone is using a hydraulic jack to position under the front centre point for lifting up the car , before you go under the car yourself always places jack stands under both sides on the front so car weight is supported by the stands , or at least together with the stands for your own safety. 

[Puglet]

As above, I have had a Halford's trolley jack for many years and it worked very well, used in conjunction with axle stands. I needed a low entry trolley jack few years ago, did look at SGS as they got good reviews, but went for a Wolf low entry trolley jack in the end, again had it few years now without any problems, not as long as the Halfords one, but after I bought it it got good reviews in Auto Express.

[Saxmaniac]

For the touring sport model you really need the long reach to reach the rear central jacking point, it's in quite a long way 

[TonyHSD]

59 minutes ago, Saxmaniac said:

For the touring sport model you really need the long reach to reach the rear central jacking point, it's in quite a long way 

Same for the hatchback, but the problem is the rear jacking point in the middle is very high of the ground and those Halfords hobby jacks can’t do it. You need to use bricks or wood blocks, something that isn’t very safe on one point lift. 

[tedgillispie]

On 11/1/2024 at 4:56 AM, tedgillispie said:

I know it's been a while, but  I get your need for a good trolley jack. I’ve been there, too, and finding the right one can be tricky. For me, durability is critical; you want something that can handle a decent weight without wobbling.

 

I’ve had a great experience with a hydraulic jack—smooth lifting and reliable. Check the height range, too; you don’t want to be stuck if you’re working on something a bit taller.Also, don’t forget about safety features! A jack with a solid base is a lifesaver. If you’re open to it, I’ve heard that scissor lifts are fantastic for extra height and stability. They make working on cars so much easier. Just do a bit of research on what best fits your needs, and you’ll be golden.