Home Depot's version of a hi-lift

[Zaskoda]

I was searching around for a hi-lift jack today and ran into this on Home Depot's site:

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...de=cii_5784816

Seems like an awesome jack for less money... Anyone know any obvious reason why this isn't a better option than a hi-lift branded jack???

[webbmac]

I saw essentially the same thing at Harbor Freight the other day, this just reminded me.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... umber=6530

I was wondering exactly the same thing. Great post.

[Mahukaawe]

Nice price. I wonder if its branded "Rigid" like all the other chinese stuff they sell?

[yvrr]

The Home Depot jack is from Black Bull. Although I didn't see any such reference on their website, Google says "Buffalo Tools is a premier wholesale importer of a wide range of quality products for home and industrial uses at affordable prices." In other words, I suspect that they sent a Hi-Lift jack to China and had them develop a cheap clone. Yes, it is cheaper but Hi-Lift has a great reputation and I would want to made sure that my jack gets the job done when I really need it. If I had a light-weight Jeep, I might consider it. With a 5-ton SMB, I wouldn't...

[mb309]

We use a hi lift as well as a generic around the ranch. When they were new, they worked about the same.

After several years of occassional use, the knockoff seems to gum up as often as not. The hi lift seems to perform as new.

In my very un-scientific experience, the branded product works much better. YMMV.

[stkshooter]

tractor supply has the same jack as home depot. Harbor freight is a cheaper version for the same price.

[jage]

Hi-Lift has two versions, one is cast steel and one is stamped for some of the pieces. The stamped is cheaper, and I can't remember if it has a lighter weight or not.

Once upon a time, round about '00, I drove to Hi-Lift in Southern Indiana and bought all their cast-steel refurbished jacks. I think I had like 8 at one point, and I intended to sell them. I'm think I have 4 or 5 left, having given 3 away as gifts. Nobody wanted to pay more than $40 when there was a $39.95 chinese jack at the farm store, and I've found it way to convenient to have several to give them away for that. My point, I guess- the $40 knock offs are nothing new.

The important thing is you want the shear pin to go before anything else on the jack- that's when you know you almost got fubar'd, and if the cheap chinese jack goes before their shear pin you are fubar'd. Jacks (even with a light Jeep) aren't something to cut corners on and save a few bucks, IMHO.

[scatter]

Originally Posted by jage

Jacks (even with a light Jeep) aren't something to cut corners on and save a few bucks, IMHO.

You are SOOOO right Jage. Anything holding something up, or used to tow with, is a serious accident waiting to happen. Use the best money can buy. Much cheaper then a coffin....

[daveb]

CellularSteve had to use his HD model on our Last trip. It saved the day. I'm gonna get one for sure now but it was sure scarry to use. For these heavy vans you better get the best.

[OldBear]

Shear pin first; same same outboard motor.