There are few things as inconvenient and frustrating as getting a flat tire. However, that situation can be made immensely worse if you do not have all of the equipment and tools to be able to change that flat tire. While everyone is fairly well aware that a jack is required to left the vehicle up, not everyone knows that a jack stand is often necessary as well.Best Jack Stands of 2020
| Product | Capacity | Height Range | Warranty | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torin T46002A Big Red (Editor's Choice) |  | 2, 3, 6 ton (4000, 6000, 12000 lbs) | 15.3" - 23.8" | 1 year, limited | Check Price |
| Powerbuilt 620471 Unijack |  | 2, 3 ton (4000, 6000 lbs) | 11" - 21" | 1 year | Check Price |
| Torin T41202 Big Red |  | 12 ton (24000 lbs) | 18.5" - 28" | 1 year, limited | Check Price |
| Sunex 1410 10-Ton |  | 10 ton (20000 lbs) | 28.1" - 46.5" | 1 year | Check Price |
| Camco 44561 Olympian RV Aluminum |  | 3 ton (6000 lbs) | 11" - 17" | 1 year, limited | Check Price |
| Strongway B00UAOK42A Farm Jack |  | 3.5 ton (7000 lbs) | 5" - 40" | 1 year, limited | Check Price |
1. Torin T46002A Big Red – Best All-Around Value Jack Stand
Torin is one of the heavy-hitters in the jack stand market as their jack stands are not only some of the most well-known and respected within the automotive community, but this company above all others is generally the one that budget-minded competitors choose to copy. The iconic red base with a black holding bar can be found on numerous imitators that hope some wayward consumer mistakes their pale copy for the strength and reliability of a Torin.
Build
First, this jack stand is made of steel and features a fairly large base to provide plenty of stability. While this jack stand may not necessarily blow you away with the best weight capacity or height clearances, it meets all necessary standards for the average user. One thing to note, it seems as though the welds on this jack stand are a bit quick and dirty, but they have not as of yet shown a propensity to outright fail – though they may make some consumers nervous.
Mechanism
One of the biggest qualities that allow the Torin to stand out is its locking mechanism. This is one of the few jack stands we reviewed, which features a dual locking pawl. This is important because it ensures that the Torin will not suffer any of the stability issues that some lesser ratchet jack stands suffer from. Beyond having two locking mechanism, the 3 Torin’s locks are also self-locking, so you do not have to worry about fiddling with it once you have it set up. Finally, the ratchet bar is a single piece of forged iron, so it is incredibly durable.
Specification
- Brand: Torin
- Model: T46002A
- Item weight: 29 pounds
- Product dimensions: 18.1 x 11.4 x 10 inches
- Folding: No
- Capacity: 6 ton (12000 lbs)
- Lifting Range Min.: 15-3/8 inches (39 cm)
- Lifting Range Max.: 23-13/16 inches (60.5 cm)
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2. Powerbuilt 620471 Unijack – Best Hydraulic 3 Ton Jack Stand For Cars
Powerbuilt is another brand on our list that might make you wonder a bit, though it is certainly not due to its business organization. Instead, Powerbuilt stands out as a company because it is not at all focused on providing jack stands in particular or even automotive tools in general. Instead, Powerbuilt provides a wide variety of tools and is known as a mid-tier manufacturer that offers excellent durability but may not always impress with the features. Of course, that does not at all apply to this product.
Convenience
There is arguably no product that we have reviewed that is technically more convenient that the Powerbuilt Unijack. This is because this is literally the only all-in-one jack set on our list. Essentially, whereas the other products only provide you with a set of static, if sturdy, jack stands to ensure that your lifted vehicle does not budge and come crashing down, the Powerbuilt Unijack is the only jack stand we saw that can actually lift the vehicle up for you. Thanks to a built-in hydraulic bottle jack, this product can quite literally do it all.
Build
Beyond the hydraulic bottle jack, the Powerbuilt does have a couple notable features, though most of the product’s qualities are more in line with the industry standard than excelling above the competition. One area where this is notably different is with the minimum clearance. For your standard jack stand, the Powerbuilt is tied for having the lowest clearance of 11”. While its maximum height is a touch under 2” and its weight capacity is only the industry average of 6 tons, this jack stand should be a breeze for most consumer vehicles.
Specification
- Brand: Powerbuilt
- Model: 620471
- Item weight: 22.7 pounds
- Product dimensions: 9.9 x 9.8 x 11.5 inches
- Capacity: 3 ton (6000 lbs)
- Folding: No
- Cover included: 6000Lb Unijack
- Height range: 11 inch to 21 inch
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3. Torin T41202 Big Red – Highest Capacity Jack Stand
For those of you already in the know, it should not be that surprising to see Torin once again on our list considering it is one of the most popular brands for products within this market for both professionals and consumers alike. In fact, it should be noted that Torin actually specializes in these products and even makes both jacks and jack stands that are used by professional racecar crews. Still, this jack stand makes a list for its sheer strength.
Weight Capacity
This is easily one of the more impressive jack stands we saw, but its true value comes for those whose vehicles are a little bit heavier than the rest. Whether the vehicle itself is inherently heavier than others or whether you have loaded it with tools or other equipment, the one thing you will not have to worry about with this Torin jack stand is its weight. That is because the Torin comes with the greatest weight capacity on our list at 12 tons. That is large enough to accommodate some of the smaller industrial vehicles.
Dimensions
Beyond simply being able to securely hold vehicles that are significantly heavier than those that any other jack stand we reviewed can, this jack stand also sets itself apart from the rest for a variety of dimensions that it notches. For instance, while it is not the tallest standard jack stand that we saw, the Torin 12-ton does provide a maximum height clearance that is a just over 2 ⅓’. On top of that, the base for this jack stand is nearly 1’ x 1’ which makes it one the largest in this category as well.
Specification
- Brand: Torin
- Model: T41202
- Item weight: 60.5 pounds
- Product dimensions: 22.4 x 12.6 x 11.4 inches
- Folding: No
- Capacity: 12 ton (24000 lbs)
- Lifting Range Min.: 18-5/16 inches (46.5 cm)
- Lifting Range Max.: 28-1/8 inches (71.5 cm)
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4. Sunex 1410 10-Ton – Tallest Jack Stand
Sunex splits the difference in terms of what kind of company it is. While it may not specialize exclusively in jacks and jack stands like Torin, neither does it stray too far from the course like some of the other brands on our list. Instead, Sunex offers a wide variety of tools that are designed for automotive mechanics. This gives Sunex a good idea of how to manufacture their products, and this jack stand tops the list.
Clearance
Specifically, the Sunex jack stand offers the tallest maximum height clearance from a standard jack stand on our list. At almost 4’ in height, you can get all the way underneath every part of your vehicle to reach even the most cramped areas. That said, this jack stand is not simply notable for its height clearance. The Sunex jack stand also comes with the second highest weight capacity on our list at 10 tons.
Build
One of the best and worst things about the Sunex jack stand is its construction. This is, by far, one of the most stable jack stands that we reviewed. While the weight capacity alone is fairly impressive, this jack stand also comes with the largest base that we saw too. At 15 ½” x 15 ½”, not only will you be able to get underneath every part of your vehicle, but you should feel fairly confident while you are under there that the jack stand is not simply strong enough to keep your vehicle lifted, but it is stable enough as well.
Specification
- Brand: Sunex
- Model: 1410
- Item weight: 105 pounds
- Shipping weight: 115.6 pounds
- Product dimensions: 38.3 x 17.3 x 18.2 inches
- Capacity: 10 ton (20000 lbs)
- Number of Handles: 1
- Batteries Required?: No
- Low height: 28.1″
- High height: 46.5″
- Height intervals: 10 x 2″
- Base: 15.7″ x 15.7″
- Sandle size: 3.1″ x 5.1″
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5. Camco 44561 Olympian RV Aluminum – Best Aluminum Jack Stand
Camco is another company on our list that seems to be a bit like a ship without a rudder in that it does not have a distinct specialization. However, unlike some of the other companies we reviewed, this brand does not simply have a broad focus. In fact, it does not focus on a type of product at all. Instead, Camco focuses on products related to RVs and other outdoor vehicles. While that might seem great for jack stands, the results themselves are actually a bit mixed.
Comfortable
One of the better qualities about the Camco jack stand involves its dimensions – though it may do so in ways you do not anticipate. To wit, the dimensions of the Camco jack stand are not larger than their competitors – in fact, this jack stand has the smallest dimensions on our list. While this means that you may not necessarily feel quite as comfortable holding heavier vehicles off of the ground, it does mean that moving these jack stands for a full day’s work will be much easier.
Construction
The Camco Olympian jack stand stands out for a couple of other reasons as well. For instance, this is the only jack stand on our list that is made of aluminum. While it is true that aluminum is not as strong as steel, that does not prevent this jack stand from having a weight capacity of 6 tons. Beyond the material, this jack stand distinguishes itself with the use of a screw lock. Though not nearly as convenient as the other types of locks, the screw lock is noted for being one of the more secure and reliable.
Specification
- Brand: Camco
- Model: 44561
- Item weight: 4.58 pounds
- Product dimensions: 11 x 7 x 7 inches
- Low height: 11″
- High height: 17″
- Capacity: 3 ton (6000 lbs)
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6. Strongway B00UAOK42A Farm Jack – Best Farm Jack Stand For Trucks
Like other companies on our list, Strongway is not actually its own business but is instead a brand owned by a larger corporation. While Northern Tool may not specialize in jack stands or jacks, they do allow Strongway to focus more on those types of products than any other – though they are not truly specialized either. That said, this jack stand differentiates itself from all of the others on this list primarily through its intended use. Specifically, this jack stand is not designed to be used by consumer vehicles.
Purpose
Instead, the Strongway jack stand is meant to be used on agricultural vehicles on a farm. In fact, the Strongway is not actually a jack stand at all but is truly a jack with an integrated stand. For farming equipment, this makes the Strongway a life saver since you do not have to worry about carrying incredibly heavy jack stands as well as the jack in order to lift and hold large farm vehicles off of the ground. That said, this jack stand would be extremely awkward to use for vehicles that did not sit multiple feet off of the ground.
Mechanism
Still, if you do need a jack and stand for farm equipment, you would be hard-pressed to find a better product than the Strongway. For instance, this jack uses a ratchet and lever system in order to hoist the vehicle. While this is not at all revolutionary, the fact that this same jack stand can also reverse the mechanism to safely lower the vehicle is pretty nice. On top of that, the top Clevis clamp with will serve as the saddle is adjustable, so you do not have to worry about trying to shove or jimmie the Strongway under the vehicle.
Specification
- Brand: Strongway
- Model: NTRA8485
- Item weight: 33 pounds
- Lift Range: 5 – 40 inches
- Capacity: 3.5 ton (7000 lbs)
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Buyer’s Guide
Material
This is by far one of the more important qualities when it comes to selecting a jack stand as the material will determine the build quality – though there are other factors that influence this as well. On top of the overall build quality, the material of the jack stand will determine how heavy the item it. This can be important when you have to apply two or more jack stands to lift your vehicle. That said, it should be noted that virtually all jack stands are made out of metal, and you should avoid any jack stand that heavily features plastic or other similar materials as part of its construction.
Steel
This is by far the most common and popular material used for jack stands and for a good reason. When it comes to a jack stand, the most important quality is that when you put it up, it stays up. As such, durability and strength should be seen as primary factors – if not the most important considerations when buying a jack stand. In this regard, steel is by far the best material to use for a jack stand as it is the strongest and most durable material used.
That said, steel is not without some downfalls as well. For instance, this is by far the heaviest material used for jack stands. This may not be a big deal if you do not regularly use jack stands, but if you find yourself constantly using a jack stand to get underneath one or more vehicles, a lighter jack stand that is still stable can make the work go by a lot easier. Still, steel is actually also the least expensive material used for jack stands, so you should be able to find a good deal.
Aluminum
There is no way to sugar-coat it, so it is best to simply start the discussion of aluminum jack stands by stating that they are not often the best jack stands to use – especially for vehicles that are extremely heavy. That said, aluminum skirts the line of so many different factors that it can still be an attractive jack stand material, even if it will only work best for a smaller segment of users. In this case, mechanics are liable to get more benefit from aluminum jack stands.
This may seem a bit counterintuitive, considering that steel is significantly stronger than aluminum. However, aluminum is much lighter than steel, which thus makes it a great material to use if you expect to be lifting and moving pieces of equipment numerous times throughout the day. On top of being lighter, aluminum is actually naturally rust and corrosion-resistant. Steel, on the other hand, is susceptible to rust and must be pre-treated with chemicals as well as coated with a fine powder to prevent rust.
Jack
Though it is not too terribly common, there are some jack stands that are coming out as a complete, all-in-one kit. What this means is that the product is essentially both a jack stand and a jack at the same time. This does not mean that both functions are accomplished by the same components, however, as that would present too much unnecessary risk. Instead, the jack and the jack stand are both mounted to the same base. This makes the product far more convenient to use than other jack stands, which still require a separate jack. This can actually also make the purchase cheaper – though that depends on what kind of quality jack you need. That said, all-in-one jack stands are not necessarily noted for having the strongest jacks – though they are not noted for being the weakest either.
Conversion table (tons to lbs)
| Tons | Lbs |
|---|---|
| 0.5 | 1000 |
| 1 | 2000 |
| 1.5 | 3000 |
| 2 | 4000 |
| 2.5 | 5000 |
| 3 | 6000 |
| 3.5 | 7000 |
| 4 | 8000 |
| 4.5 | 9000 |
| 5 | 10000 |
| 6 | 12000 |
| 10 | 20000 |
| 12 | 24000 |
Lock
Outside of the material, the next quality that most people should pay the greatest amount of attention to is the lock. This is because the lock can affect both the overall quality of the jack stand in question as well as the convenience of using the jack. That said, the type of lock itself will not inherently tell you whether or not it is a more stable jack stand than a competitor using a different type of lock. In this case, the type of lock can give you a clue, but the manufacturer itself will ultimately determine how much effort it puts forth to provide a secure and reliable locking mechanism.
Pin-Lock
This is one of the more common as well as older types of jack stand locks available. With this locking mechanism, you are expected to adjust the jack stand either by a lever or by hand. Then once you have the jack stand properly positioned, you use a pin – generally made out of steel or iron – to slip between the bar and a slot in the base. On the surface, this might seem like a wildly inconvenient type of locking mechanism, and to be fair, it is certainly not the quickest or easiest locking mechanism to use. However, the pin-lock system is noted for being incredibly durable and stable.
Ratchet Lock
The ratchet lock system is easily the most convenient of the 3 different types of locking systems, but it is also locking the system that presents more opportunities for it to fail. That said, there are plenty of manufacturers who have refined the ratchet lock system over the years to reduce the chances of a lock failure to negligible risk. When you consider that the lock system is now close to as stable as the others, the fact that you simply adjust the height of this type of jack stand by using a lever, it should come as little surprise that ratchet locking jack stands are quickly becoming the favorites or professionals and casual consumers alike.
Screw Lock
The final type of locking mechanism is also, unfortunately, one of the less common – though this certainly has nothing to do with its quality. In terms of stability, the screw lock is likely just slightly less stable than the pin-lock system but is actually a bit more stable than the ratchet lock system. The primary problem with the screw locking system comes from how you have to set it up. Basically, a screw locking system has a holding bar that is threaded like a screw. In order to extend the holding bar, you must unscrew the bar from the base of the jack stand.
While this is relatively easy to accomplish, it is also time-consuming and can lead to more frustration than the flat tire is already causing you – especially if you have to readjust the height.
Conclusion
As we can see, the best jack stands for one person is likely not going to be the best jack stands for everyone. For instance, if you need a jack stand of heavy industrial or farm equipment, chances are you will need a different jack stand than the one you would purchase for a standard motor vehicle. On top of that, you may want a specific type of jack stand or one that pulls double duty.
For your basic jack stand, we recommend the Torin Big Red as it covers all the bases and comes in at a fairly low cost. Made of solid steel, this jack stand features a double locking pawl, so you do not have to worry about the jack stand coming loose. On top of that, this jack stand has a maximum height of just over 2” and is a self-locking jack stand to reduce the effort and hassle of set up.
Of course, if you are looking for a jack stand that can almost quite literally do it all, then we recommend you get the Powerbuilt. Beyond providing a decent jack stand, the Powerbuilt also goes the extra mile by including a hydraulic bottle jack as part of the package. For good measure, this jack stand with a weight capacity of 6 tons has the lowest clearance we saw and offers a competitive maximum height as well.