Jack and jack stands are handy tools to change tires and do many mechanical works of your vehicles. Jack stands are mostly made from aluminum or steel materials or both. Both of them are good, but there're several differences between aluminum vs steel floor jack.
These two types of floor jack are suitable for a particular situation. Since people's requirements vary, you may only need either of them. We'll discuss all the precise details about aluminum and steel jack stands so that you can make the right decision to purchase the best one.
Aluminum Vs Steel Floor Jack : The differences?
You might be confused about choosing between aluminum jack stands vs steel jack stands. Here is a quick summary of them.
| Specifications | Aluminum Floor Jack | Steel Car Jack |
| Primary Materials | Aluminum | Stainless steel |
| Weight | Lightweight | More weighty |
| Rust | Doesn't prone to rust | Prone to rust |
| Price | A little bit pricey | More affordable |
| Purpose to use | Ideal for DIY projects | Ideal for heavy use |
| Flexibility | More flexible | Less flexible |
| Construction Quality | Can take a decent amount of abuses | Can take an excessive amount of abuses |
| Durability | Can last a reasonable time | Highly durable |
If you want a lightweight jack stand and don't mind spending a little bit extra money to get more flexibility, an aluminum jack stand will be the best option.
On the contrary, if you're on a stick budget and can be okay with a relatively weighty jack stand that can be super durable, a steel jack appears an ideal choice.
Since there're no wheels under a jack stand, you will have to bear a lot of pressure to move the unit—mainly it is a little bit heavier. If you are not physically 100% fit, you may end up having injuries for taking extra pressure.
Additionally, you've to consider the type of vehicle or automobile you want to lift up using a bottle jack stand. If you only want to use it for tractors or other similar heavy cars, a steel jack stand appears a better option.
So, from comparing aluminum vs steel floor jack stand, you can see that both have a unique need. You have to figure out the primary reason behind using the jack stand and pick a suitable one based on it.
Aluminum Floor Jack
When mainly doing DIY projects, aluminum jack are a better choice. Since they have a lightweight construction, moving and carrying them will be easy-going. This gives you simple placement.
Though it's a lightweight car jack, its heavy-duty construction can provide ample support. So, you can place the aluminum car jack stand under various cars, lawn tractors, and small trailers.
An aluminum floor jack weighs around 4.50-5.00 pounds on average for a single time. But for two aluminum jack stands, the weight can be approximately 10 pounds or more. However, they're effortless to manage and lift.
Most aluminum jack stands have a 3-ton size, but few are available in 2-ton. Their maximum workload is approximately 6000 lb.
For example, the Harbor Freight 3- Ton Aluminum Jack Stand is 50% lighter than steel jack stands. With 6000 pounds of maximum weight capacity, it is perfect for automobiles, small trailers, small tractors, etc
Aluminum floor jack stands are highly durable. Even after using them heavily daily, they can still go a long way. They work as a long-term investment.
Aluminum car jacks are suitable to use in various garages and shops as they're not prone to have rust. One of the significant disadvantages of using aluminum floor jack stands is that they're a little pricey than steel jack stands.
But they're not as pricey as you guess. You can get a decent aluminum jack stand at less than $100. For instance, you can get the BIG RED T43004 Torin Aluminum Jack Stands for only $63.49.
Steel Floor Jack
Steel jack are made from highly dense materials, making them excessively strong and durable. The weight of a steel jack stand can be double of an aluminum jack stand.
For example, BIG RED T43202 Torin Steel Jack Stands weigh 15 pounds for two units. So, if you don't mind having a little tough and heavy jack stand, a steel unit is a better choice.
Since they're a little bit weighty than aluminum jack stands, you won't get as maneuverability as you get from aluminum jack stands. You've to make a little extra effort to move them because jack stands don't have any wheels at the base.
A steel jack is tough to beat if you want to use a jack stand in your garage or shop for everyday heavy tasks. Taking a vast amount of abuse in your busy shop is not hard for this sturdy jack stand. You should use 2 jack stands at a time.
However, the construction quality and manufacturing process of steel or metal jack stands are more important than the material itself.
But make sure you don't keep a steel jack stand in damp condition. It may show rust issues after a particular time. So, keeping the body of this type of jack clean and free from grease is also essential so that no dust builds on its body over time.
Now, you might be wonder how strong are steel jack stands are? They're so mighty that you can hit them with a hammer or drop any heavy items on them. This differences between aluminum and steel floor jack will help you to choose the required one.
FAQ
· Is a steel or aluminum jack better?
A steel jack is a better choice if you want a highly durable and affordable option —while an aluminum jack is a solid option when you prefer more flexibility and lightweight construction.
· Are aluminum floor jack safe?
Yes, aluminum jack are safe to use as they've lock features and excellent stability.
· How much does a 2 ton jack bear?
The 2 ton floor jack can sustain up to 3000 pounds easily.
· Do floor jack ever collapse?
Jacks are not generally collapse if you only load their maximum recommended weight.
Conclusion
Some crucial things need to consider when choosing a jack stand. Two critical factors are weight and price. Aluminum jack stands are a decent option if you want more flexibility in your automobile works.
Otherwise, you can choose a steel jack stand to save some money and use it for your professional purposes. Hopefully, the above discussion about aluminum vs steel floor jack gave you a better idea about these two jack stands.
