im looking into getting my dad a new jack for fathers day. What is the difference between a hydraulic jack and a floor jack? What would you recommend and why? Which would be better?
A floor jack is a type of hydraulic jack, if you are referring to a bottle jack vs a florr jack than floor jack all the way. A floor jack is generally the best choice for people who work in their garages, but do not forget a pair of jack stands if he is putting any part of himself under the vehicle. A floor jack has a bigger lifting surface than some other types of jacks and generally has a higher lifting height as well, which has obvious advantages.
Both mention jacks are hydraulic. I will assume you are talking about the roll around jack used in garages and the bottle jack. Floor Jack Best for general use, like working on cars Easier to use Can get lower More stable can roll around with weight on it More stable lift platform Hydraulic Jack Greatest weight lift, also called bottle jacks Greater lift potential While I have given you what my view of the best is, the floor jack, and why, your dad may do more heavy lifting than I do and need the bottle jack. I even carry a floor jack in my truck, if I get a flat on the boat trailer, it is the only jack I can get under it to change the tire.
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Bottle Jack Vs Floor Jack
The others have said it correctly. A floor jack is a hydraulic jack, but not all hydraulic jacks are floor jacks. There are bottle jacks which you place in a spot and jack them up and floor jacks which have wheels to move them around easier. Floor jacks also usually lower to a lower level than bottle jacks and have a larger gripping surface plate that holds the vehicle much more securely. A floor jack also can not tip over the way a bottle jack can. (or sink into soft ground as easily) The 2 ton or larger is usually a good size and a set of jack stands are a good additional safety item to go with the jack. They will hold the vehicle up in case the jack loses its hydraulic fluid through a leak or simply not being locked in the up position properly. A floor jack also positions the pumping lever further away from the parts that actually lift the vehicle. This allows it to be pumped up from beside the vehicle vs a bottle jack where you have to pump the handle while under the vehicle.
