Is buying a QuickJack mad?

[fast-ferret]

They cost a lot, is it mad to buy a pair?

I don't really know why I'm asking this to be honest, probably just because they cost a lot so I'm sense-checking myself! I'm considering doing my own servicing and maintenance (for the things I can do) on my S4 and I'm a bit a "do it the right way" type of person, so I prefer the idea of a lift which raises the car at the proper jacking points and raises all 4 corners at once. I had considered using some nice jack stands (the Rennstands) but no-one wanted to do a group buy and I was half talking myself in to buying a QuickJack anyway...

I also have polishing machines as I like to do detailing work (well I say I like it, I have an 18 month old and a 3 week old so it's not like I actually get much time to do it!) so the QuickJack would help a lot with wheels-off detailing and just raising the car to a nice workable height rather than breaking my back bending down.

Anyone got one or used one before? They do look pretty spot on and it seems like a fair few people I watch on YouTube are making good use of them. I'm about to replace all my front control arms which would surely cost me north of £500 to do, and if I do servicing myself that's another decent chunk of yearly savings, plus I need to do brake pads soon and will possibly look to do exhaust at some point and maybe lowering springs, so it all starts adding up. Plus, it's fun to do anyway.

 

[Charlie Farley]

what's a quick jack then, not seen one but then never really looked but allways open to the idea of a new tool if it was worth it.

 

[fast-ferret]

what's a quick jack then, not seen one but then never really looked but allways open to the idea of a new tool if it was worth it.

Yeh would have helped if I linked to the product!

https://www.quickjacklift.co.uk

Basically a sort of hybrid between a lift and a jack and jack stand combo - raises to about 21” very quickly and is rock solid, I’m quite interested in the safety aspect of it really.


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[fast-ferret]

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[Charlie Farley]

Now that does look handy, but I suppose unless you're using it on a regular basis it would be an expensive outlay, or buy one and rent it out aswell….

 

[no_idea]

I have looked at getting one on and off for the last couple of years.
I was all ready to buy one if they would give a slight discount. I rang them up and they wouldn't budge on the price so I didn't bother.
They are quite pricey but as you say very safe.

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[fast-ferret]

I have looked at getting one on and off for the last couple of years.
I was all ready to buy one if they would give a slight discount. I rang them up and they wouldn't budge on the price so I didn't bother.
They are quite pricey but as you say very safe.

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Yeh they’re very averse to discounts it seems! I suppose you could put that another way and say the resale value would be fairly good I expect.

I have managed to get an open box return at a slight discount (I do mean slight!) so I’m tempted. I estimate I’d use it maybe 5 or 6 times a year:

- service
- second oil change
- 2 x wheels-off detailing
- one or two other maintenance or mod things

Actually I’d maybe use it more with my
wife’s car, but not a lot. So I guess that factors to be about £85 a time over a couple of years which doesn’t seem awful. I imagine I’d have it for a while as well.


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[fast-ferret]

Now that does look handy, but I suppose unless you're using it on a regular basis it would be an expensive outlay, or buy one and rent it out aswell….

Interesting idea, reckon anyone would actually pay to rent it? Never even considered it

 

[Charlie Farley]

if you go about it the right way i'd say yes.
I have a lot of very special ducati engine tools that you need to use for specific engines, they cost me a fair bit but I use them on a regular basis.
I have had a good amount of success renting some of them out to other owners, not silly expensive rental fees and it has payed me back for a a fair few of the tools.
You just need to get the pricing right and a deposit is compulsory.

 

[boffin486]

I have a full hydraulic 'scissor' type lift that I use - a possible alternative? It cost around £1300 delivered and I consider it a 'how the hell did I EVER manage before' bit of kit. You can raise the vehicle so wheels are around chest height or anywhere in between & it can be locked in several positions.

Pics of my cars up on it.

 

[Charlie Farley]

That looks good, how stable is though as its a fair bit narrower than the cars on it .
I have a horrible vision of it toppling over …..

 

[boffin486]

It does seem that way but in practice, although you can make the car move around when applying a lot of force (seized nuts for instance) I haven't been too concerned about it. Applying force with common sense appears to work - no 6 foot tommy bars lifting or pushing at 90degrees to vehicle axis & all OK so far......... The solid ramp type ones would be more stable agreed, but you're still working almost at ground level for most jobs or lying on your back underneath with your nose against the floor pans....

 

[Charlie Farley]

Good for general repairs then, looks ideal for clutch replacements and exhaust projects......that's given me an idea.....

 

[fast-ferret]

I have a full hydraulic 'scissor' type lift that I use - a possible alternative? It cost around £1300 delivered and I consider it a 'how the hell did I EVER manage before' bit of kit. You can raise the vehicle so wheels are around chest height or anywhere in between & it can be locked in several positions.

Pics of my cars up on it.

View attachment 166211

Ah is that the Automotech AS-7630?

https://www.automotechservices.co.uk/products/as-7630-mobile-scissor-lift/

They’re actually cheaper than the QuickJack and they do look absolutely fantastic for height. Also it can lift nearly 6000lbs as opposed to the QuickJacks 5000. Also they seem more flexible when it comes to cars you can use them with, because you can swivel the arms and you get extension pads as standard - all very nice. It’s 240v too whereas the quick jack is 12, some would prefer 12 but I’d prefer 240.

The areas I think it falls down for me is that:

1. It looks big and heavy, so storing and moving it looks difficult

2. Access under the car for exhaust work looks limited

3. It possibly looks slightly less stable than the quickjack, although perhaps not at its lower height settings

What do you reckon to the above? 1 and 2 are the potential dealbreakers.



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[fast-ferret]

Ah just rang up Automotech and their scissor lifts are about 200kg for the 5500 and 300kg for the 7630 which makes them very stationary I guess! I reckon that puts them out the running for me - with the quickjack I could put it in my car to go to my parents who have a much better driveway for this, and I could do work there, but I couldn’t with the Automotech. Also it would presumably have to be stored flat, I wouldn’t be able to put it upright in my garage so that’s another issue for me.


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[no_idea]

Ah just rang up Automotech and their scissor lifts are about 200kg for the 5500 and 300kg for the 7630 which makes them very stationary I guess! I reckon that puts them out the running for me - with the quickjack I could put it in my car to go to my parents who have a much better driveway for this, and I could do work there, but I couldn’t with the Automotech. Also it would presumably have to be stored flat, I wouldn’t be able to put it upright in my garage so that’s another issue for me.


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They were 2 of the 3 major points for me . The 3rd being able to work through the clear centre section of the car if needs be. A scissor lift blocks it.

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[fast-ferret]

They were 2 of the 3 major points for me . The 3rd being able to work through the clear centre section of the car if needs be. A scissor lift blocks it.

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Yeh kills it for me I think. Also my main place to work on things would be my own house which has a tarmac drive - if I lifted my wife’s Q5 with the scissor that’s a lot of weight on a somewhat small contact area so I’d be worried about denting the tarmac on a hot day, whereas the quick jack actually would create a larger contact area than the car itself and doesn’t add much weight.


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[no_idea]

Yeh kills it for me I think. Also my main place to work on things would be my own house which has a tarmac drive - if I lifted my wife’s Q5 with the scissor that’s a lot of weight on a somewhat small contact area so I’d be worried about denting the tarmac on a hot day, whereas the quick jack actually would create a larger contact area than the car itself and doesn’t add much weight.


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We need a group buy! I know they do offer discounts at Goodwood when they are there. Not sure if they do any other shows?

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[fast-ferret]

We need a group buy! I know they do offer discounts at Goodwood when they are there. Not sure if they do any other shows?

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Heh, last time I did a quickbuy (the Rennstand jack stands) I got sod all response! I may skip it! I had heard on another forum that the group buy discount wasn't good, I'd also heard they discount at goodwood (better than they do via a group buy).

 

[fast-ferret]

Well I've bought it, I did quite a bit of umming and ahhing - when you can get a decent jack + jackstands for probably about £200, and Rennstands + jack for about £620, going up to £1200 territory is a big old leap, but I do detailing, plus I'd like to do my own servicing and all that so I can't be bothered fiddling with stands, plus the quickjack looks a hell of a lot safer, so - sod it.

Ended up getting a roughly 7% open box discount, I heard something about an £100 discount at Goodwood but my memory may not be serving me correctly, plus I need to replace control arms and brake pads now so I can't wait for that, and what I got in the end wasn't far off anyhow.

 

[no_idea]

Well I've bought it, I did quite a bit of umming and ahhing - when you can get a decent jack + jackstands for probably about £200, and Rennstands + jack for about £620, going up to £1200 territory is a big old leap, but I do detailing, plus I'd like to do my own servicing and all that so I can't be bothered fiddling with stands, plus the quickjack looks a hell of a lot safer, so - sod it.

Ended up getting a roughly 7% open box discount, I heard something about an £100 discount at Goodwood but my memory may not be serving me correctly, plus I need to replace control arms and brake pads now so I can't wait for that, and what I got in the end wasn't far off anyhow.

Well done, I am still undecided.
From what I have seen there is a bit of setting up once you first unpack it, but once that is out of the way it is very easy to deploy!
Pictures will be required obviously, once you get it that is.

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