Trolley Jack over bottle jack

[cardiff_gareth]

Just out of curiosity, what do you prefer, trolley jack or bottle jack

Only asking as my bottle jack that came with my Disco likes going up but don't like going down to much  :lol:

I've looked around and also in LROi this month there was a feature of trolley jacks with the clarke one looking good but it only lifted to 38cm.
Now I have looked at the bottle jacks on Machine Marts website and for the same money as a trolley jack I could get a 8 or 10 ton bottle jack that'll go up to 42cm, so that looks a better option....but do you agree....... :?:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/range/guid/965F1C73-4C78-4371-AE7A-14940D122511

[Bush Tucker Man]

If only for stability at home, the trolley-jack comes out on top.

Downside, a good one is bl**dy heavy (think mine's a 3-tonner)

[redhand]

I'd agree with Bush Tucker Man. But i'd also add that which ever you choose don't forget to get a good strong pair of axle stands and always use them if your working underneath any vehicle.

[Wanderer]

Like everything else each has their own properties. A trolley jack can be hard to use on some ground if you don't have something to give it a base to spread the load (on soft ground) whereas a bottle  jack can be easier to find something to spread the load.
Trolley jacks dissappear in mud and ruts which is where a good hi-lift comes in.

Ed

[Drift]

Just bought a new trolly jack yesterday  :shock:  blew the seals on the old one  :oops: .
I also have a bottle jack and the Mrs's  siccor jack from her  car   just the farm jack and Im covered  :lol:  :lol:

[666]

A trolley jack is far better than bottle jack when at home, but would you be prepared to carry it around instead of a bottle jack? if yes then go for a trolley jack.

personally i use a 3 ton trolley jack at home and a hi-lift when out and about!

Cheers

Mark

[cardiff_gareth]

I wanted to know as I wouldn't carry it about with me, it'd be used for home as i've just got those 2" lift springs and was going to jack the front/back up high, support chassis on axle stands, then support the axle on the trolleyjack/bottle jack so I could lower the axle to change the springs over.

Not sure about trolley jacks as you'd have to jack the axle up on the diff and then I'd be worried about damaging it, where as a bottle jack has the halfmoon shaped cup that would sit the axle in so I could jack it up where LR recommend :?:

Your thoughts please gentlemen........ :lol:

[666]

I jack mine up on the diff or on the spring hangers, never had a problem!
Im sure your landrover diffs can take it!

Cheers

Mark

[auf_wiedersehen_pet]

Bottle jacks are excellent for changing springs.

Chock wheels, axle stand chassis, trolley jack under axle, take wheel off, take off the bump stop, lower trolley jack, put the bottle on the axle and use it to force the axle down more.

Watch you don't invert the Roll Bar or stretch your Brake Pipes.

Fine for standard and plus 2" but you need to disconnect brakes and use spring clamps for anything bigger.

[hrox]

personally i perfer the bottle jacks but then i i always have axel stands in addition,  mainly because the trolly jacks dont go high enough for the axel stands to clear the 2nd notch and i like a lot of room when underneath as im a really big bloke and need the space!!

[BigA]

I use a trolley jack when working on the Disco at home, the halfords one in the survey, and find that a nice piece of 4 x 4 between the jack and axle, helps with the height restriction. Axle stands too once jacked up.

[hobbit]

Again I have all 3, bottle, trolley and a hi lift, one good item to carry especially with the bottle type is a block of hard wood, gets around the problem of not enough reach on some of them.

Axle stands and ramps also get a lotof use from me too

Another thing to remember with these vehicles is the handbrake is useless when you want to jack up, so a pair of chocks are very handy, anything from a house brick (secondary handbrake) to the proper things

It may go without saying, but before you consider jacking up, chock a wheel, and let the handbrake off for the thing to settle, better then than later when you see it moving on the jack.

Another point is to put the vehicle into diff lock or four wheel drive for series

Boots & braces is better than a wandering 3 legged motor, especially if your legs/body are in the vicinity

[Terranosaurus]

THIS set from machine mart is good value. Lifts to 490mm too.

The cheap hobby trolley jacks with the small chassis aren't really up to any proper work nor are they very stable. A full size jack will probably out last your landrover. The Ratchet style axle stands are a touch heavier but so much easier in use, worth paying a touch extra for them.

As for bottle jacks, personally I'd keep them for changing wheels by the side of the road a proper trolley jack will out perform them almost anywhere, even in mud etc, where a full size chassis will act as its own spreader plate.

[Range Rover Blues]

I have both, but as said it makes little difference as you should be using axles stands anyway.

My trolley jack sinks into tarmac, let alone soft ground so I've taken to using bottle jacks recently but they are not as stable and I had one slip on me the other day jacking one side of the axle up.