Jacks

The Types of Jack in This Category

Service and garage jacks (manual hydraulic)

These are the rolling, long-chassis jacks most shops call a floor jack. The AME DK series covers 1.3 to 5 tons: the DK20Q is a 2 ton (4,400 lb) jack for passenger cars and vans with a 3.15 in. minimum height and a 19.49 in. maximum, while the DK50HLQ is a 5 ton (11,000 lb) high-lift unit for trucks and agricultural machines. Sunex adds the 6602RJ (2 ton) and the aluminum 6603AJ (3 ton); OTC adds the LDJA2 2 ton (4,000 lb) aluminum racing jack. Zinko contributes the ZNLG-15 (1.5 ton), ZNSG-2DX (2 ton) and the ZSJ-15A6 aluminum racing jack, which starts at 3.5 in. and reaches 17.5 in. in six pump strokes, but those Zinko listings are not currently set up for online ordering, so ask us for availability before you plan around them.

Bottle jacks

Vertical rams with a small footprint, used where a long chassis will not fit. The category carries the OTC BT12 (12 ton), BT30 (30 ton) and the air-assisted BT12P, BT20P and BT30P, plus Sunex 4412S (12 ton), 4420S (20 ton) and the air/hydraulic 4420AH (20 ton). Gaither's GT-20MS Moore-Safe is a 20 ton air bottle jack shipped with two interchangeable heads, a "Y" head for round and square surfaces and a round head for U-bolts. Note a labeling inconsistency worth knowing before you order: several OTC BT and Sunex 44xx listings carry "Hydraulic Floor Jack" in the title, while their own product copy identifies them as bottle jacks. The description text is the accurate one here. These bottle-jack listings publish a capacity but no height table, so ask us for the minimum and maximum height of the specific model before you order.

Air/hydraulic service and axle jacks

The workhorses for trucks, buses and trailers. Shop air drives the pump, so the operator is not stroking a handle under a 40,000 lb axle. Single-stage models such as the AME 25-1 (25 ton, 13.6 in. maximum) suit a fixed lift range; its listing gives the minimum height as 8.6 in. in the spec table and 8.70 in. in the features, both against 220 mm, so allow 8.7 in. Multi-stage telescopic models trade a low collapsed height for a tall reach: the AME 40-4 is rated 40 tons to 5.71 in., 27 tons to 7.09 in., 16 tons to 9.06 in. and 10 tons at its 10.83 in. maximum, starting from 3.94 in.; the AME 50-3 covers 50/25/10 t from 5.94 in. to 13.2 in. Mahle's CAJ line is purpose-built for commercial axles, with the CAJ-25 at 50,000 lb from an 8 in. start height and the CAJ-35 at 70,000 lb.

Aluminum cylinder jacks for OTR and mining tire work

These are high-tonnage rams meant to be driven by a separate hydraulic pump. ESCO's 10312 (55 ton, 6 in. stroke) and 10314 (55 ton, 10 in. stroke) ship completely assembled with valve, coupler and an 8 x 8 in. base. AME's Blackjack Pro Series covers 55 ton in 6 in. (13120, 13121) and 10 in. (13140, 13141) strokes, and those 55 ton models include an aluminum base plate. AME also lists a 75 ton (13005) and a 100 ton (13000) aluminum jack in the same 6 in. stroke format; both include a shut-off valve that lets the pump be removed with the ram extended, and neither listing states a base plate. The selling point is weight: the ESCO 10808 lifts 50 tons and weighs 26.4 lb.; the AME 13120 lifts 55 tons at 29 lb. One technician can carry them into the field.

Mining and OTR wheeled jacks

The heavy end. AME's 100-1, 100-1H, 100-1L, 150-1, 150-1H and 150-1L are 100 and 150 ton wheeled jacks for off-road machinery, with an all-steel chassis and large rubber tires, 2.5 in. of ground clearance and two lifting eyes for transport. The ESCO Mammut range, the AME Rhino II and the AME 65-1 are the ones that list pneumatic wheels. Above those sit the Rhino II (RJ2-10027 and RJ2-15027), the SuperLift SLJ range from 100 to 250 tons, and the Pow'r-Riser PRASA20016L and PRASA20027L at 200 tons. ESCO's Mammut range is the air/hydraulic equivalent, with a standard remote control so the operator lifts and lowers from away from the load.

Component jacks: transmission, clutch, forklift, differential

Component jacks hold a single assembly rather than the whole vehicle - transmissions, clutches and differentials - and are rated in pounds. The Mahle ATJ-1000H is a 1,000 lb high-rise transmission jack that runs air on the first stage for speed and hydraulic on the second for precision, and tilts 40 degrees forward, 20 rear and 10 side to side. The CCL-300 and CCL-300H clutch jacks are rated 300 lb with a 360 degree rotating head, as is the Challenger CLHM-HR-300. Zinko's ZNSD-300L is a 0.3 ton differential gear jack with a saddle that tilts fore, aft and side to side, and is one of the Zinko listings not currently set up for online ordering. Forklift jacks sit in the same section but lift the machine itself rather than a part, which is why they carry much higher ratings: the AME 14350 at 4 tons with a 2.25 in. minimum height, the Mahle CFL-4 and CFL-4A at 8,000 lb, and the CFL-7A at 15,442 lb.

Mechanical jacks: toe jacks and wedge jacks

No hydraulics at all. Load-holding threads lock the load at height mechanically, and the all-metal design tolerates high working temperatures, which is why the Zinko ZHJ-2513 listing cites nuclear power plants, shipyards and power generation as applications. Zinko's ZHJ toe jacks run 6, 10, 15 and 25 tons, with a 1.18 in. toe height on the ZHJ-0615, and the ZWF-31 and ZWF-32 wedge jacks are rated 32 tons with a 0.24 in. minimum height and a 1.34 in. maximum, designed to penetrate and open a joint - the listings name rescue work as the application - rather than to lift a vehicle. The Zinko line is listed here but is not currently set up for online ordering, so contact us before you plan a job around one.

Lift-mounted and pit jacks

The Tuxedo RAJ-7K-H and RAJ-7K-L are 7,000 lb air/hydraulic rolling jacks that ride on a lift's jack rails, with telescoping locking arms and two locking height positions. The high-mount version is for low-position jack rails and the low-mount for high-position rails; the RAJ-7K-L body copy describes it the opposite way, so go by the model name and the feature list. The Scorpion PJ20DHE is a 20 ton (40,000 lb) electric-hydraulic pit jack with dual independent rams, dual-speed lifting and a hydraulic locking system. Its listing states a minimum pit opening of 36 in., up to 48 in., and it includes low and high adapters. Confirm your pit dimensions against the model spec sheet.

Read the Capacity Twice: Metric Tonnes vs US Tons

Several European-built jacks in this category are named in metric tonnes while their spec tables list the higher US ton figure. The Gaither GT-4532 is titled 45/20 Ton, and its table reads 49.5/22 US tons. The ESCO 91001 Mammut is titled 30/60 Ton, and its table reads 66/33 US tons (60/30 t). The Gaither GT-20MS is titled 20 Ton and tabled at 22 US tons. This is not a discrepancy in the equipment, it is a unit convention, but it matters when you are matching a jack to a written capacity requirement. When the title and the spec table disagree on a number, the spec table is the one to size from: the AME DK50HLQ title says a 39.13 in. maximum height while its table says 38.39 in. (975 mm), and the AME RJ2-10027 title says a 15 in. stroke and 42 in. maximum where the table says 15.5 in. and 42.5 in. One conflict runs the other way: the AME 25-1 title and feature text give a 8.70 in. minimum height while its table says 8.6 in., both against 220 mm, so allow 8.7 in.

Height Is the Spec That Decides the Job

Capacity is usually easy. Height is where jacks get returned. Minimum height has to clear your lowest lift point: 3.15 in. on the AME DK20Q and DK20HLQ, 3.94 in. on the AME 40-4, 2.25 in. on the AME 14350 forklift jack, 2.3 in. at the lift-arm notch on the Mahle CFL-4. Maximum height has to reach the work: 72 in. on the Mahle ATJ-1000H transmission jack, 80.5 in. on the CCL-300H clutch jack, 65 in. on the AME SLJ25038, 50 in. on the TSI TJ-110.

Multi-stage jacks exist precisely to solve both ends at once, and their capacity falls as they extend. The AME 25-2 is 55,000 lb at 10.83 in. and 22,000 lb at 14.84 in. The AME 50-2 is 110,000 / 55,000 lb at 13.39 in. and 17.72 in. Size to the capacity of the stage you will actually be working in, not to the headline number.

What Your Shop Needs to Supply

Air. Air/hydraulic jacks state a working pressure range on the listing, and the spread is real. The AME 14140 air service jack operates on 80 psi. Mahle's CAJ-25 wants 90 to 120 psi, the ATJ-1000H 90 to 160 psi, the CSJ-6A and CSJ-10A 90 to 175 psi, and the CAJ-35 110 to 200 psi. The Gaither GT-3531, GT-3531-AG and GT-4532 run 115 to 205 psi; the GT-20MS and G432024 listings do not publish a working pressure, so check the model spec sheet. ESCO Mammut jacks run 145 to 174 psi. The Mahle CLS-15 air lift and CBJ-10A both call for 200 psi. Volume matters as much as pressure on the big units: AME's 25-1, 25-2, 50-2, 50-3, 65-1 and 65-1H list 350 l/min air consumption, the ESCO Mammut jacks 600 nl/min, and the AME 100-1 and 150-1 mining jacks 1,200 l/min.

Hydraulic power. The ESCO and AME aluminum cylinder jacks are rams, not complete jacks. The ESCO 10312 and 10314 are specified for use with 10,000 psi pumps. The ESCO 10808 and 10809 locking collar cylinders list a 10,000 psi maximum working pressure; confirm pump compatibility on the model spec sheet. If you do not already have that pump, budget for it.

Electrical. The Scorpion PJ20DHE is the only jack here sold as electric-hydraulic. Its listing does not publish a voltage or phase, so confirm the electrical requirement on the model spec sheet before you plan the pit installation. The AME SuperLift jacks list an optional electric power unit.

Floor and space. Long-chassis commercial jacks need room to maneuver. The Mahle CSJ-10A measures 21.9 x 101.8 in. with a 93 in. overall reach; the CSJ-6A is 18.5 x 95.3 in. The Mahle ATJ-1000H occupies a 41 x 41 in. footprint. The AME 100-1 and 150-1 have a 65.9 in. frame, 26.9 in. width at the wheels and 2.5 in. of ground clearance; the SuperLift frames are 96 in. long and 29 to 32 in. wide. Weight also drives handling: the AME 100-1 is 1,050 lb, the SLJ25027 is 1,415 lb, and the ESCO 91004 Mammut is 626 lb. Listings that do not publish a footprint should be checked on the model spec sheet before delivery.

Standards and Safety Features the Listings Declare

Not every listing in this category names a standard, so treat the ones that do as the verified set and check the model spec sheet for the rest.

• ASME / PASE. The Norco 76721A states that its safety bypass and overload systems prevent use beyond the ASME/PASE load-limiting standard. The Norco 81050 trailer stand is designed to meet the performance and safety requirements of ASME PASE.
• OSHA. The Norco 81050 states it meets OSHA requirements for stabilizing loaded and unloaded trailers, with a 100,000 lb static load capacity and 15,000 lb lifting capacity, adjustable from 39 in. to 51 in. The ESCO 10751 through 10754 support plates cite OSHA 29 CFR 1926.305, "Blocking for a Firm Foundation." The ESCO 10808 and 10809 locking collar jacks cite the same regulation because the collar lets the jack act as its own support.
• European aviation standards. The AME 65-1AP aircraft jack states it is designed and manufactured to EN1915:2001 and EN12312:2005.
• Overload and dead-man controls. Built-in safety overload valves are listed on the AME DK garage jacks (DK13HLQ, DK20Q, DK20HLQ, DK50HLQ) and on the AME 25-1, 25-2, 50-2, 50-3, 65-1, 65-1H, 100-1 and 150-1. Hand-operated dead-man controls are listed on those models and on the 40-4 as well. The Mahle CFL forklift jacks use a hold-to-run release knob for a controlled descent rate.

Model Comparison

Multi-stage models: the headline capacity applies only to the first stage. The ESCO 91001 and the Gaither GT-4532 publish a single minimum and maximum height for the jack rather than a height for each stage, so confirm the working height for the capacity you actually need.

What Ships With the Jack, and What Does Not

Read the difference between "includes" and "for use with" carefully, because it changes what arrives on the pallet.

• Included. The AME 14140 includes one each of 1 in., 2 in. and 4 in. extension saddles. The AME 65-1 includes two extensions, 3.94 in. and 7.87 in. The AME 40-4 includes two extensions, 1.97 in. and 3.94 in. The AME 13120, 13121, 13140 and 13141, the 55 ton Blackjack Pro models, include an aluminum base plate. The ESCO 10312 and 10314 ship assembled with valve, coupler and base.
• Sold separately. The ESCO Mammut accessory line is explicitly sold separately, and each part is keyed to specific jacks: the 91026 through 91028 extensions are for the 91000 and 91003, while the 91029 through 91031 are keyed to the 91004 (and to the 91005, which is not stocked in this category). The Mammut safety locking device sets follow the same pattern. Zinko ZJTB traverse beds are accessories for Zinko ZJJ journal jacks, matched by model. Match the accessory to your jack's exact model number rather than to its tonnage, and ask us before ordering a part keyed to a jack we do not list.
• Support, not lifting. ESCO 10751 to 10754 support plates double the surface area under a jack on soft or uneven ground and are rated separately, from 20 ton to 100 ton depending on the plate. Jack stands in the category include the OTC S03, S04, S06, S020 and the aluminum SA02, GearWrench GWJS2T through GWJS12T ratcheting pairs, and the Challenger TP4000 tripod underhoist stand (2 ton, 55.5 in. to 76 in.). The four GearWrench listings word their rating differently: the GWJS3T states the capacity is at each stand, the GWJS2T states it per pair, the GWJS6T per pair, and the GWJS12T per set. Confirm the per-stand rating on the model spec sheet before you size them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much capacity do I actually need?

Size to the load the jack will carry, not the vehicle's gross weight, and then leave margin. A jack lifting one corner or one axle carries a fraction of the total. Where a listing gives both, the pound figure is the least ambiguous: the Mahle CAJ-25 is 50,000 lb, the CAJ-35 is 70,000 lb, the CSJ-10A is 20,000 lb. For multi-stage jacks, size to the stage height you will work at, since capacity drops as the stages extend.

What changes between a bottle jack, a service jack and an air/hydraulic jack?

A bottle jack is a vertical ram with a small base: high capacity, minimal footprint, higher minimum height. A service jack rolls on a long chassis and reaches under the vehicle to a lift point, with a much lower start height. An air/hydraulic jack is either format with shop air driving the pump, which removes the physical work and speeds the lift cycle. Several models keep a manual option for when air is not available: the Mahle CSJ-6A and CSJ-10A list Air/Hydraulic/Manual power and include a manual pump, the CSJ-3 can be ordered with a manual or an air/hydraulic pump, the Norco 76721A states its design allows for manual operation when air is not available, and the ESCO 91003 and 91004 can be fitted with a manual emergency pump on request.

How much shop air does an air/hydraulic jack need?

Between 80 psi and 205 psi depending on the model, and the flow rate matters as much as the pressure. A 350 l/min jack like the AME 25-1 is a different demand from a 1,200 l/min mining jack like the AME 100-1. Check the working pressure and consumption on the listing against your compressor's rated output before ordering.

Can I leave a load resting on the jack?

As a general rule, no. Support the load on stands once it is at height. Three exceptions in this category are designed to support: the ESCO 10808 and 10809 locking collar jacks act as their own self-contained support stand, the Mahle CLS-15 is an integrated 30,000 lb lift and support stand that removes the need for a separate stand, and the Mahle CBJ-10A has a built-in vehicle support stand. Everything else pairs with jack stands, and the category stocks them from 2 ton up to 20 ton.

Which jacks fit under a lowered or low-clearance vehicle?

Look at minimum height first. The AME DK20Q and DK20HLQ start at 3.15 in., and the AME 40-4 at 3.94 in., the lowest start height of any rolling air/hydraulic service jack in this category. Lower still, for different jobs: the AME 14350 forklift jack starts at 2.25 in. and the Mahle CFL-4 lift-arm notch at 2.3 in. For low-clearance trailers specifically, the Norco 76721A is a lower-profile air/hydraulic bottle jack made for car haulers, with a 7.75 in. low lift height. Sunex also lists a 4-pack of Tesla lifting pads for protecting lift points on vehicles with shallow pinch welds.

How do these ship?

Freight terms vary by model and are shown on the product page. The Tuxedo rolling air jacks, for example, list a flat per-unit freight charge to addresses in the contiguous 48 states, exclude Alaska, Hawaii and limited-access locations, and require a quote for orders of more than two units. Some manufacturers also collect sales tax in specific states, which the individual listings note. For heavy mining jacks, which run from 617 lb on the Rhino II RJ2-10027 up to 1,555 lb on the SuperLift SLJ25038, confirm your receiving dock or forklift access before ordering.

If you are unsure which model matches your lift points, air supply or bay dimensions, contact JMC Automotive Equipment with the vehicle or machine you are servicing and the clearance you have to work with, and we will match it against the spec sheets.