Sunex Tools 66035SJ 3.5 Ton Low Profile Steel Service Jack with Rapid Rise Technology

When I was a kid, I worked in a full service Chevron station where we had full mechanic services (this was back in the old days). I learned how to diagnose and wrench on cars, and I also learned how to use "real sized" professional automotive tools and diagnostic equipment. As a homeowner, I've used a variety of automotive jacks like the ones you can get at Sears or Home Depot for $100 (usually rated at 1.5 tons). They tend to work, but they tend to use inefficient pistons, require a full stroke to move the piston a tiny bit, and are bulky for their rating, often not fitting into tight spaces because they are too thick.

This beast, on the other hand is very big, very heavy (about 100 lbs) but slides around on the ground very smoothly and is low enough profile to get under the front of my E500 even with the air suspension all the way down. But at the same time, with a few strokes it will lift the entire rear axle of my lifted Jeep and get both 35" tires off the ground, which many ordinary jacks are incapable of doing without feeling like they are going to break or blow a seal.

I'm going to warn you though - you're going to need a good size workshop to use this - it takes up a lot of space, and there is no way you're going to "stow" this thing anywhere - as I said it weighs about 100 lbs. The handle is about 5' long so pushing it around by the handle is the way to go. Pushing it into a corner, you can lift the handle up and over the top of the jack so that it stands up straight or leans back a bit to save space.

Speaking of the handle, the lower portion has a nice foam rubber section to prevent scratching or damage to the car body while jacking from the front or sides with the jack deep under the car.

Bottom line if you have space for a 100 lb behemoth of a floor jack and want pro-grade performance (it will lift to its max height in 6 strokes of the handle), and seems to made every bit as well (or better) than the $700 Snap-on ones I looked at recently (and used to use 25 years ago) this is a good value and a very solid piece of equipment.

We do a good bit of work on our vehicles here on the homestead. Now I've owned service jacks in the past that I've been fairly happy with, like the Blackhawk 3.5 ton. Fairly durable and dependable. But I do have to say that we were all really impressed with this Sunex brand. Normally, I limit my Sunex purchases to tools we use around our home, or for fixes around our land. I couldn't be happier that I decided to give the Sunex service jack a shot.

So easy to use. Easy to maneuver around, despite its weight. We're able to get the truck up quick, and get it back down quickly and safely. This bad boy is rugged, strong, durable. The only thing that I'll say for now is that you really need to keep it on the ground. It weighs just north of 100 lbs. So if you have a service vehicle you plan on taking it around in, or expect to keep it in your personal vehicle, just know that it's heavy. So while it's absolutely perfect for vehicle repair, you probably don't want to be loading it and unloading it on a daily basis. Not unless you want your back angry with you later. But it absolutely gets a thumbs up from all of us here at the homestead. If I had anything outside of positive feedback to add, it would only be that it does seem a tad bit high-priced compared to other service jacks. But on the other hand, when you own one, you'll understand where the extra money went.

I've been making do with a cheap travel jack for years. First a scissor jack, then a cheap Torin floor jack from Walmart that was better, but not awesome. Working on my car with those was frustrating. This one, by comparison, is a beast, and works fantastically well. It's not at all portable, but it does exactly what I need it to, really well. Lifts my car significantly higher than any other jack I've owned, making it easier to work under the car. Very quick and easy to get my car up, so I'm likely to work on it more often. It's probably overkill for many home mechanics, but I've been eyeing the ones this size at Harbor Freight for years, and this one is that size, but built better. It was delivered in perfect condition. A bit tricky to move a hundred-plus pound box to my garage by myself, but I managed. Quick and easy to get it ready for use. Once it's where you want it to be, it rolls around easily, and lifts just like it should. If you have a permanent space (garage) and want an excellent auto jack, this is a great one to get.