Bottle Jack Minimum Height Required to Work

[furbyland]

I know there's a thread on various bottle jacks, but (it) never really states what the required jack height is required in order to be successful if the truck is in MEDIUM height and in jack mode. Would 17 3/8" be enough? 20 ? I'm not keen on putting some sort of base/plate like wood or steel in order to bump up the height the jack could provide. I'm looking at a couple of Harbor Freight models and 2 look like they are in the range of acceptable extension. Could someone kindly confirm a model (maybe even a link) from there that would suffice ? I'm not locked into HF, but it would be my first/preferred go to if possible. Thanks.

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[jonesw67]

I had a similar question a while ago and ended up going with this one from Amazon based on feedback etc.

I have used it a number of times and its perfect. has a great range of height and I like the built in jack that you can lock off for safety.

I place the CB in Medium height and activate Jack mode

https://a.co/d/edx3eHD

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

Any recommendations on a tire repair kit?

 

[Bobo_LaDouche]

I believe my CT is 8 1/2" clearance when in Medium mode; it certainly was lower than 11". My floor jack could only go up to 16 1/2", and that was not enough to lift any wheel off the ground.

 

[LeeS]

I suggest NOT getting this one. I got it, put my truck on Medium, it didn't fit under, so I put my truck on high, then jacked it up to change a tire.

Once it was up and the tire was changed, IT WOULD NOT GO BACK DOWN.

I had to call AAA to come to my house to get my CT off this cheapo bottle jack.

YMMV, but I've ordered a Big Red 20 ton pneumatic quick lift instead, since I also got the TC BL portable tankless compressor to fill all 4 35" tires at once after airing down.

I had a similar question a while ago and ended up going with this one from Amazon based on feedback etc.

I have used it a number of times and its perfect. has a great range of height and I like the built in jack that you can lock off for safety.

I place the CB in Medium height and activate Jack mode

https://a.co/d/edx3eHD

 

[jonesw67]

I suggest NOT getting this one. I got it, put my truck on Medium, it didn't fit under, so I put my truck on high, then jacked it up to change a tire.

Once it was up and the tire was changed, IT WOULD NOT GO BACK DOWN.

I had to call AAA to come to my house to get my CT off this cheapo bottle jack.

YMMV, but I've ordered a Big Red 20 ton pneumatic quick lift instead, since I also got the TC BL portable tankless compressor to fill all 4 35" tires at once after airing down.

interesting. I have used it many times and not had any problem using the safety lock to let it down.

Going to go check it out again as that would suck to have it stay locked.

 

[TickTock]

I know there's a thread on various bottle jacks, but (it) never really states what the required jack height is required in order to be successful if the truck is in MEDIUM height and in jack mode. Would 17 3/8" be enough? 20 ? I'm not keen on putting some sort of base/plate like wood or steel in order to bump up the height the jack could provide. I'm looking at a couple of Harbor Freight models and 2 look like they are in the range of acceptable extension. Could someone kindly confirm a model (maybe even a link) from there that would suffice ? I'm not locked into HF, but it would be my first/preferred go to if possible. Thanks.

I use the "base/plate" (Several short 2x6's in the bay along side the jack). They also provide a nice, larger footprint if you are in mud/sand/etc. and can also be handy to get more traction if stuck.

 

[LeeS]

The locking bar released just fine, but it just wouldn't deflate.

It's possible I got a defective one, or I jacked it up above its rated height, but I only jacked it up exactly as far as it needed to go to get the wheel off the floor.

interesting. I have used it many times and not had any problem using the safety lock to let it down.

Going to go check it out again as that would suck to have it stay locked.

 

[Nidavellir]

This 4 Ton bottle jack is perfect

BAOSHISHAN 4 Ton Bottle Jack 10-5/8" to 24" Lifting Range

 

[boley]

I had a similar question a while ago and ended up going with this one from Amazon based on feedback etc.

I have used it a number of times and its perfect. has a great range of height and I like the built in jack that you can lock off for safety.

I place the CB in Medium height and activate Jack mode

https://a.co/d/edx3eHD

I wonder how much variance there is between trucks in medium height - not to mention when a tire is flat?
My display says the clearance is 10 inches with 50 PSI. But using a ruler and eyeballing the clearance at the jack point it looks more like 10.5 inches.

 

[furbyland]

I wonder how much variance there is between trucks in medium height - not to mention when a tire is flat?
My display says the clearance is 10 inches with 50 PSI. But using a ruler and eyeballing the clearance at the jack point it looks more like 10.5 inches.

Knowing the minimum height at which a jack point would be with a completely flat tire would be helpful... I agree.

 

[LeeS]

I'm at 9.75" on medium on my tsportline nokian Hakka LT3's @ 50PSI.

I wonder how much variance there is between trucks in medium height - not to mention when a tire is flat?
My display says the clearance is 10 inches with 50 PSI. But using a ruler and eyeballing the clearance at the jack point it looks more like 10.5 inches.

 

[boley]

I wonder how much variance there is between trucks in medium height - not to mention when a tire is flat?
My display says the clearance is 10 inches with 50 PSI. But using a ruler and eyeballing the clearance at the jack point it looks more like 10.5 inches.

Also, could you not set the height to High, lower it back to Medium on to the jack if it is a little too tall and then jack it up to change the tire?

 

[boley]

I'm at 9.75" on medium on my tsportline nokian Hakka LT3's @ 50PSI.

Mine are the Non-Foundation Pirellis. (10-10.5 inches @ 50PSI)

 

[BrockN]

I looked through the manual and understand the medium height, jack mode requirements. What isn't mentioned, however, is how much range your jack needs to be able to unload the suspension and actually lift the tire off of the ground. Has anybody found or measured this distance? Same front and back?

Spring is around the corner and I'm trying to determine if the equipment I have will actually lift the truck enough to get a wheel off...

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