My Transit didnt come with a jack. And the original jacks is too expensive. Any recommendations 8 ton, 10 ton, or 12 ton? I need to fit on the stock bracket and high enough to lift the tires of the ground when changing flat on emergencies. Thanks
Stock Bottle Jack replacement
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NewToTransit
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In addition to lift height, here are two more things to consider, when selecting a non-Ford bottle jack. With greater capacity, you typically get a bigger lift point (good). But, with greater capacity, you also typically get shorter lift per stroke of the jack handle (kinda bad; less energy per stroke required, but, annoying doing a zillion strokes).
Looks like the stock bottle Jack I have is useless. It will start to lift van, then keeps slipping down before it gets the off the ground. could it be that out just needs more oil? I noticed that some leaks out when lowering. Glad I discovered this in my driveway and not on the side of the road.
Anyway, just wondering what would be a good (reliable) replacement Jack that is similar dimensions? I'd like to keep it close to the same size as the stock since it fits nicely under passenger seat even with swivel base. I thought about just buying another OEM Jack since I know its fits, but if they are crap I don't want to go that route. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!
Anyway, just wondering what would be a good (reliable) replacement Jack that is similar dimensions? I'd like to keep it close to the same size as the stock since it fits nicely under passenger seat even with swivel base. I thought about just buying another OEM Jack since I know its fits, but if they are crap I don't want to go that route. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!
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I'd look for another stock one. They're not ALL bad. Mine is fine. Have used it each time I rotate my tires -- along with an over-large Harbor Freight 20-ton (I think -- so big because it has more reach, and a larger contact pad). Two jacks allow me to lift one side or one end at a time.
I tried mine again and it does seem to work if I keep pumping. It appears that the inner piston is sticking a little?? With no weight on it, the inner rises fully, then the outer. However, if there is any weight on it, the outer rises before the inner. Once the outer piston is fully up, the inner then will rise without slipping. I repeated this a number of times with the same result.
So is there a way to fill the stock jacks with new fluid? I'm thinking mine's just a little gunked up.
So is there a way to fill the stock jacks with new fluid? I'm thinking mine's just a little gunked up.
That's what i thought at first, but it definitely is closed. Oh well, it still works....probably wouldn't climb under van with it jacked, but ok in a pinch.
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2,157 Posts
Um... don't crawl under there at all without jack stands.
No doubt...that goes without saying!
Since we are on the jacking/lifting/jack stands topic...
How to you put your transit on jack stands?
is there enough room at the jack points to jack and then insert a jack stand then remove the jack?
I had some tires installed and the techs slid normal rolling jacks under the front of the van not at the factory jacking points i don't think. They went pretty far underneath so maybe they hit the factory jack points from the front instead of the side? Maybe another viable jacking/lift point and then put jack stands at the factory lift points?
trying to get a safe strategy down for both tire rotation and brake changes/brake inspections.
Thanks!
How to you put your transit on jack stands?
is there enough room at the jack points to jack and then insert a jack stand then remove the jack?
I had some tires installed and the techs slid normal rolling jacks under the front of the van not at the factory jacking points i don't think. They went pretty far underneath so maybe they hit the factory jack points from the front instead of the side? Maybe another viable jacking/lift point and then put jack stands at the factory lift points?
trying to get a safe strategy down for both tire rotation and brake changes/brake inspections.
Thanks!
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679 Posts
Here’s what I did, but would like to know if there’s a better way. For the rear, I placed my floor jack on the springs just in front of the axle, jacked up, and then put the jackstands under the point indicated in the BEMM. For the front, I put the floor jack under the indicated jack points, and then put blocks under the tires.
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2,894 Posts
That's a good question. I have not figured it out -- key problem being that there's no frame where one would traditionally slip in a jack stand.
I've been working with the 2 jacks only, when rotating tires. Yes, I know that's not great practice.
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54 Posts
What is happening is by design. The inner cylinder (the small thin one that raises "quickly") accepts hydraulic fluid quicker to raise quicker. This allows the user to get it place the jack in a secure location before jacking up the weight of the vehicle. Once the inner cylinder raises and contacts the vehicle, the fluid transfers into the larger cylinder to raise it. Being a larger cylinder, it accepts more fluid, raises slower but, also has a much higher lifting capacity.
PS: A little fluid will leak out if you release and drop your jack too quickly. It's recommended to release hydraulic jacks slowly to avoid loosing fluid.
PPS: The open diff in the rear of the Transit will allow the van to shift on the jack if the the van isn't level. If you've got to use the jack to lift a single rear tire, throw your E-brake on....ask me how I know. :|
LOL The parking lot appeared level to the eye. But once I slapped on the spare, the van shifted. Luckily I had 2-3 lugs started and spare took the weight. I still puckered a bit.
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2,894 Posts
Good point. It's obviously even more critical when lifting both rear wheels at once, for side-to-side rotation. Wheel chocks are a must.
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3,547 Posts
I got the "opportunity" to try my jack New Years Eve . About two months ago I actually looked at my Transit to see where the jack, lug wrench, etc. were all located in case I ever needed to use them one day. It all worked well. From pulling over to pulling away with the spare was probably about 25 minutes. It was the front right tire. The jack worked well enough, but with the extension provided it limited the overall stroke. I used just one of the extension pieces and was able to get a full stroke of travel under the van.
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1,531 Posts
I did not like using the Ford jack, so I got the 3-1/2 ton scissor jack made for the HumVee and an adapter from Agile Offroad that actually fits the jacking points instead of just pushing up on a small contact pad. Of course it's bigger and needs its own home, which in this case is an 8x8x24 hinged wiring box fastened to the wall just forward of the left rear wheel well. Enough room for the jack, adapter, 12V air pump, tire repair kit, Fix-a Flat, tow strap, gloves, Hi-Lift jack Lift-Mate, and, not shown, recovery strap, shackles, Ford's lug wrench and I forget what else.
Off Road Scissor Jack w/ Axle & Frame Adaptor - Agile Off Road
The scissors jack could probably be strapped to the slots on the backside of front passenger seat base. I used that space for electrical system stuff though. The jack is about 8" wide, 22" long and 7" tall in the center.
I took the foam out of the Ford jack handle cubby under the passenger seat and filled it with a 25' x 3/8" recovery chain and more shackles.
The box is an Austin AB-8824HTG HC Trough Gray, ordered from Gordon Electric for $68 + a bit painful but fair $22 shipping. You might do better ordering through a local electrical supply shop. I replaced the screws that secure the door with small knob bolts from the hardware store. Very convenient.
![132124]( "132124")
Humvee jack and adapter
Off Road Scissor Jack w/ Axle & Frame Adaptor - Agile Off Road
The scissors jack could probably be strapped to the slots on the backside of front passenger seat base. I used that space for electrical system stuff though. The jack is about 8" wide, 22" long and 7" tall in the center.
I took the foam out of the Ford jack handle cubby under the passenger seat and filled it with a 25' x 3/8" recovery chain and more shackles.
The box is an Austin AB-8824HTG HC Trough Gray, ordered from Gordon Electric for $68 + a bit painful but fair $22 shipping. You might do better ordering through a local electrical supply shop. I replaced the screws that secure the door with small knob bolts from the hardware store. Very convenient.
Humvee jack and adapter
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167 Posts
That looks like a really nice kit. I am somewhat old school and think that scissor jacks are the way to go for a roadside flat tire jack. I’m always worried that a hydraulic jack will have leaked oil, or a seal will fail and the jack won’t lift when you need it.
They seem to be back ordered or out of stock. Do you know of any other 3 ton+ scissor jack options? Most of the scissor Jacks I had searched for only go up to 2 ton (which would probably work for the transit).
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