MAKE car maintenance a doddle by jacking things up a little.
Trolley jacks, scissor jacks, floor jacks and bottle jacks – there are multiple ways of getting your car off the ground.
Doing so can make car maintenance far easier.
The clearance, provided it is well-supported by chocks and axle stands, gives better access – so you can literally shine a light on problem areas.
Most cars will have an emergency-only jack in the boot of the car.
This is usually a lightweight scissor jack that, not suitable for any real garage maintenance since winding them up and down is pretty hard work.
What they are super helpful for is needing to fix a puncture at the side of the road.
Bottle jacks need a fair bit of maintenance themselves, but trolley jacks are hydraulically assisted, four-wheeled dreams that slide under the vehicle and lever into place with much less effort.
You will need to make sure a trolley jack will actually slide under your car, taking particular care if you have lowered suspension, skirts or a sports car.
Also ensure the maximum height will be sufficient if you’re an SUV driver.
Here’s our pick of the best trolley jacks, to help should you need to do more than change a flat.
Made of heavy-duty steel, this Wolf Black Jack is made to get under cars that haven’t got a lot of clearance.
Due to its ability to heave 2.25-tonne off the ground, it is suitable for most vehicles.
Extra-wide swivel castors mean it’s easy to manoeuvre into position, and (conveniently) the 360-degree jack handle doubles up as a wheel brace – great value-for-money.
It weighs about 14 kilos, so it’s better suited to garage use, and ito ffers additional sockets.
Top tip: add a bit of tape if you want to use it as wheel brace, for better grip on both ends.
A bit pricier than the Wolf Black, the bright red colour of this well-constructed Clarke’s Strong Arm jack is joyfully identifiable among the other clutter in a garage.
It’s saddle height is 10mm lower than Wolf Black – a result of using smaller wheels – and respectively the maximum height is 10mm less, but it’s worth noting the manoeuvrability isn’t as smooth.
Like its rival, the Clarke CTJ2250LP comes with a dual-purpose lever and double-ended socket, enabling users to remove a variety of wheel nuts.
The handle also positions to make the whole thing easier to carry, too.
This Draper 02082 is a low-entry trolley jack, capable of supporting two tonnes.
The Draper design in brand-match blue means the front of the jack has a much lower saddle height, at 85mm – only five millimetres higher than the Clarke Strong Arm.
It sweeps up towards the handle, giving more stability without compromising access.
It weighs half a kilo less than its two rivals, but it doesn’t come with the additional sockets.
There’s a conveniently placed carry handle and the rear swivelling castors help position it in the right place before applying the lever.
It has a safety valve to prevent overloading, too.
If you’re serious about getting some work done on the car and not just tinkering, Halfords 5-piece lifting kit has everything you’ll need.
A two-tonne trolley jack, two axle stands, supporting heights of 365mm maximum and a padded creeper – the official name for the skateboard-like bed you lie on – and a 19” wheel wrench.
The maximum height of the trolley jack is 34cm and its minimum height is 14cm, suiting trusty family workhorses.
Great value-for-money, provided you aren’t reliant on a low-profile jack.
Van driver with a heavy load? Or do you regularly get away with the caravan?
you might want to spend a little more on getting that extra half tonne support.
Suitable for loads up to three tonnes, this Halfords hydraulic trolley jack can raise vehicles from 14cm to 43cm.
The trolley jack stores well, as it has a clip for the lever and the bright Halfords branding (black and orange) is both smart and easily identifiable.
The wheels aren’t swivel castors, but nonetheless where you lose out on manoeuvreability you gain on durability with the basic but rugged wheels.
Looking for more motoring recommendations? Check out our dedicated Sun Selects motoring section.
If you’re looking to carry out your own maintenance, why not check out our car battery buying guide?
To browse our full range of Sun Selects recommendations, be sure to head back to the Sun Selects page.
