For any job, it is essential that you only choose to work with appropriate tools to ensure smooth, safe, and efficient operations. The same also applies to the automotive industry job. Both amateur and professional mechanics often struggle concerning the appropriate tool to use for every given vehicle repair and maintenance job. One such situation is lifting up a vehicle to work on the tyres or underneath the chassis. A tool often used in this situation it a jack.

If you do not outsource your car repair and maintenance activity, then at some point you will need to lift your vehicle. A jack is basically a mechanical device that is used for lifting a vehicle to access the tucked away underneath parts. This is not only important for an oil/tyre change but also for undertaking other car maintenance and repair activities.

It is important to understand that there are several types of jacks to choose from. Two of the popular types are bottle jacks and trolley jacks. While both bottle and trolley jacks are used for generally the same thing
they have their differences which you should be aware about. Choosing the best one to suit your task may depend on the particular car repair and maintenance task required and the vehicle type. Consequently in this post we will compare bottle and trolley jacks.

Bottle Jack

As its name suggests, the appearance and shape of this type of jack resemble a bottle. A bottle jack resembles a real glass milk bottle. This hydraulic jack has a cylinder that has been mounted vertically. Bottle
jacks have a side-mounted handle and a pressure pump.

The lift capacity of bottle jacks often ranges from 3 tons to around 20 tons. You should also know that some bottle jacks may have incorporated stand with them while others do not.

Bottle jacks come with a single-piston that is vertically aligned and referred to as the bottle. The hand plunger is used for pumping oil into this bottle which results in pressure exchange causing the vertical movement of the bearing pad. Remember that some higher capacity and high-end bottle jacks are operated mechanically and not manually.

Due to their more straightforward design, bottle jacks can lift heavier vehicles to higher elevations. This is an ideal solution for truck owners because of its easy storage in a cab compartment and clearance is not an issue. Because bottle jacks are portable, it also means that they can come in handy in case of an emergency as they can be easily carried to the scene.

Pros – Bottle Jack

• Because of the vertical/cylindrical shaft mount, a bottle jack has a lift capacity that is higher when comparing the same sized cylinder. Thus, bottle jacks are perfect for tall vehicles such as SUVs and trucks.
• Lower price on average by about 50% compared to similar capacity trolley jack
• The ideal candidate for small spaces working because of the smaller footprint
• Easy to store because of their relatively small size

Cons – Bottle Jack

• Lifting may take longer because of their shorter handle
• Getting underneath some vehicles is a challenge owing to their higher profile
• Stationary footprint tends to increase the risk of a car slipping off the jack
• May not be suitable for a roadside emergency maintenance

Trolley Jack

Also known as service jacks or floor jacks, these mechanical devices are often found in professional garages and car workshops. The shaft is designed or set horizontally and trolley jacks are mounted on platforms, which are 4-wheeled, unlike other types of jacks. With the wheels, it means rolling the trolley jack to a position in an easier manner is possible.

At the back of the 4-wheel platform, you will see a long handle which is used for pumping up the jack to the height preferred. The long pump handle is important for allowing very quick and easy lifting or lowering of cars.

Trolley jacks are more stable because of their extended body. In case that your vehicle does not have great ground clearance, a trolley jack will be better suited as it can be easily rolled under a car that sits low. You can
even get low-clearance trolley jacks for cars that are extremely low.

While trolley jacks are designed for enabling lifting a heavy vehicle with minimal effort, it only allows the lifting to be done within a short time. Moreover, because trolley jacks have an elongated body, this means
that they do take a lot of space. Trolley jacks require more space for storage and maneuvering to set them up in a way that allows proper utilization of the handle.

While trolley jacks may averagely cost more compared to bottle jacks, you should remember that when they are properly maintained they can last longer. These types of jacks are suited to lifting up light loads generally between 1.5 and 3 tonnes in weight.

Pros – Trolley Jack

• Quicker and easier to move and use because it is mounted on a 4-wheel platform
• Because of the low profile, it is easier for it to fit and be used underneath most cars including sports cars.
• The longer handle enables quicker lifting or faster operation
• Risk of slipping is reduced for having larger jack saddle
• More stable due to elongated build/base which serves to help in better weight distribution
• If you have the required space, it is easier to use

Cons – Trolley Jack

• For the reason that the footprint is much larger, more space is required
• On average, it is more expensive
• Hoists much less weight typically between 1.5 to 3 tonnes.

Summary

Hopefully, looking at the features, pros, and cons of both the bottle jack and trolley jack, you can see the similarities and differences. If you have to buy either bottle jack or trolley jack, then it is a must that you know the similarities and differences, which is important for increasing your chance of buying the right tool for your automotive application.

One biggest difference is in terms of height. If your car has a high ground clearance then typically we recommend the use of a bottle jack. On the other hand, if your car has low ground clearance then a trolley jack will be much better.

Generally in profession tyre fitter garages you will find them using trolley jacks to quickly get under a car chassis, lift up the car to allow a wheel to be removed quickly and replace the tyre. Is such a situation speed is a requirement of the jacking tool they require.

Just understand that often you may need to have and use both bottle jack and trolley jack. For example, for you to change suspension components, a trolley jack may be used for boosting or jacking up the car while the bottle jack is used for keeping the suspension to one side of the car. You can, therefore, have both of these types of jacks around.