Trolley Jacks Test

September 2008

If you are planning to save a little cash by doing your own servicing, you won’t get far without a jack. Replacing brakes, rotating tyres, even oil changes on some models require the car to be off the ground – and the jack that will make life easiest is the trolley version.

These products are quicker, safer and easier to use than the kit supplied in the boot – and they won’t break the bank, either. But which do you choose? We tried 10 jacks, all of which could lift around two tonnes, to pick the best.

The Test

Assessing jacks is all about highs and lows, so we measured them closed and fully open, then counted how many pumps were necessary to reach 20cm – about the height of most cars’ jacking points. Next, we looked at how much effort was required to lift our Peugeot 307 test vehicle. Marks were also given for features like a case and a quicklift facility – where a single pump takes the saddle to the jacking point – plus build quality and price.

Contacts

Clarke: 01992 565300, www.clarkeinternational.com
Draper: 023 8026 6355, www.draper.co.uk
Halfords: 0845 762 6625, www.halfords.com
Screwfix: 0500 414141, www.screwfix.com
Silverline: 01424 717453, www.toolsbypost.com

Verdict

The Clarke CTJ 2QM offers everything you could want from a jack. It comes with a case and a user-friendly quicklift, and doesn’t cost a lot more than lower-spec rivals. Chain store giant Halfords takes the runner-up spot – its 2 Tonne jack is really easy to operate. For those on a tight budget, look no further than the Silverline. It will set you back less than £20, but still includes a case.

Top 3

1. Clarke CTJ 2QM
2. Halfords 2 Tonne
3. Silverline 633935

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