Anyone who has had to change a flat tire on the side of the road knows the pain that is the factory jack. No manufacturer offers what we'd call a good jack with their cars, and some vehicles don't offer one at all. So if you're going to be lifting your Volvo in more than just an emergency, you're going to want something more stable and secure.
If you're going to be putting any part of yourself under your Volvo, then you absolutely need something better than the factory part. And jack stands. We've listened to your recommendations and consulted with our team of automotive experts to find the best jacks for Volvo owners.
Lead photo by thanom/Shutterstock.com
Powerbuilt Bottle Jack All in One
Dragging around a floor jack and jack stands is a bit of a pain. It's also not easy to find a spot where you can jack up your Hyundai and still have somewhere to place your stand. This all-in-one solution from Powerbuilt combines a powerful hydraulic bottle jack with a built-in locking stand for convenience and safety. While it won't fit under your S60, the Unijack will fit under SUVs and crossovers like your XC90. This jack can lift up to 4,000 lbs and has a maximum lift height of just over 18 inches. The stable base and dual safety locks make it a great choice for working on your vehicle.
If you're willing to spend a bit more money, it's hard to beat the Quickjack system. More like a small lift than a floor jack, it uses an electric motor and hydraulics to lift your vehicle off the ground with the push of a button. Line up the lift points with the lift points under your car and you're ready to go. At just three inches thick, the Quickjack is easy to drive over and it will take your vehicle to 21 inches in the air. It also has a locking mechanism to ensure your safety while you work on your ride. There are models to support from 3,500 to 7,000 lbs, so you can lift even the biggest models.
Torin is a big name in floor jacks, and this is one of the company's more basic offerings. But for basic at-home work, that might be all you need. A minimum height of 5 3/8 inches and a maximum height of 13 inches is enough to get a tire off the ground for brake and suspension work or a seasonal tire change. Plus this jack is small and light making it easier to store and to move it around in your garage. A safety bypass system makes sure you can't overload the jack, a handy feature on a lower-capacity unit like this one.
Sometimes all you need is a slight upgrade over the factory jack. One that will make your emergency tire changes just a little safer and easier. We understand that not everyone has the ability (or desire) to spend five minutes cranking on the stock jack at the side of the road. Vevor makes a scissor jack that raises using electric power. Position the jack under your car, plug the motor into your 12V outlet, and press a button. In moments, your car's wheel is off the ground and ready to be changed. The jack is more stable than the factory jack thanks to a wide base and can lift up to 6,600 lbs. It also doesn't take much trunk space, thanks to the scissor mechanism.
OTC Tool is best known for inventing a universal gear puller, but it makes a full line of tools and has been in business since the 1930s. Its 2-ton low-profile jack can fit under a vehicle that's just three inches off the ground, making it perfect for your lowered car. But it can lift that vehicle to 21 inches high, so it's not a low-lift jack that is just enough to make room for your bigger jack. The long nose lets you slide it well under even lowered vehicles. It also offers a double-pump mechanism to help get your car in the air more quickly.
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I have had no problems with the 3 different Harbor Freight jacks I’ve owned (4 if you count the hi-lift style one in my Land Rover). They’re cheap, work well, and I haven’t had any issues with any of them.
If you like to do any sort of maintenance on your vehicle, having a quality floor jack on hand is essential. But how do you know which floor jack is best for you?
This is where the SwedeSpeed community comes in. We figured that finding the best floor jacks would be easier if we simply asked the people that own and use them.
We will turn your answers into a resource article that the entire SwedeSpeed community can access going forward.
I bought an all aluminum hi rise 21” Jack off Amazon. It is light weight, goes to full height in five pumps, swivels nice and is a snazzy anodized green. It was 400.00 though. Prior to that I had for forty plus years a cast iron Craftsman that literally could not be picked up by one person. I got tired of dragging it around and sold it for fifty bucks about three years ago!
I am a masochist and need to use an ultra low profile jack. I have some jack that seems to be sold under a handful of brands with the same design. Wolf, Arcann, Sunnex, whoever, they all seem the same steel construction design.
If you like to do any sort of maintenance on your vehicle, having a quality floor jack on hand is essential. But how do you know which floor jack is best for you?
This is where the SwedeSpeed community comes in. We figured that finding the best floor jacks would be easier if we simply asked the people that own and use them.
We will turn your answers into a resource article that the entire SwedeSpeed community can access going forward.
Electric Eambrite, less than 200.00 works quick. I use mine often in conjunction with Arcan 58lb floor Jack. I lift the whole side at once. I can get cars up on six ton Jack stands fairly quickly.
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Used the QuickJack on: 19 Atlas, 08 C30, 03 S80, 03 GS300 & 03 Odyssey. Never felt right lifting the Atlas. Then one day I was either pulling myself underneath or a suspension part on the C30 the QJ began to twist and the car shifted into the new position. Got out from under it quick and lowered it. Decided not to use it again and wrote QJ about where I thought were poor design and iffy welds and started the Costco return.
Now have 2 floor jacks one for each side and 4 jack stands. The QJ rocked (not in a good way) but the stands with safety pins are rock solid. The safety pins, don't jack up the car without them.
Buy Pro-Lift Heavy Duty 6 Ton Jack Stands Pair - Double Locking Pins - Handle Lock and Mobility Pin for Auto Repair Shop with Extra Safety at Amazon. Customer reviews and photos may be available to help you make the right purchase decision!
I own a 3-ton low profile and a 4-ton. I use the 3-ton more because it can fit under the car much better than my 4-ton, whenever I use my 4-ton, I have to use a smaller jack or I just drive it on some big wood blocks to help. But I only use the 4-ton whenever I need to get it in the air high.
I've been using the Harbor Freight Daytona for the last few years and like it. Also have a few of their aluminum jacks as backups / part of a roadside toolkit.
I've been using the Harbor Freight Daytona for the last few years and like it. Also have a few of their aluminum jacks as backups / part of a roadside toolkit.
If you like to do any sort of maintenance on your vehicle, having a quality floor jack on hand is essential. But how do you know which floor jack is best for you?
This is where the SwedeSpeed community comes in. We figured that finding the best floor jacks would be easier if we simply asked the people that own and use them.
We will turn your answers into a resource article that the entire SwedeSpeed community can access going forward.
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