I'm sure recommendations are buried in various threads....but I also know people like to share their preferences. So....

I'm looking to buy my first floor jack and jack stands. Don't want to break the bank....but I'm willing to pay a bit more for something well made that will really last.

What should I get?

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 157k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 175k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 144k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 70k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

That's where I'd get 'em from.

(If my next door neighbor doesn't soon return my floor jack and 4 jackstands, that's where I'll have to buy too!)

We have Craftsman stands. They do the job just fine, but I would look for ones that don't have a "lip" at either end of the part that the car actually sits on... they can get a little bit in the way on frame rails that are wider than they are (e.g., my W123). As far as floor jacks, I don't know much... I got our neighbor's floor jack when they moved to California, and it seems decent... I'll check the brand and report back to you. I don't really know much about the floor jacks, though, since I got this one for free and didn't have to shop for it.

I would say to skimp on the floor jack rather than the stands because the floor jack doesn't have to hold your car up in the air while you are under it. Also, pass on the creeper and go with a long piece of cardboard (if you want it, a camping mattress for comfort). Cardboard is both cheaper and keeps you further away from the car if it does fall... something that you NEVER want. Also, I tend to prop the jack up under another structural portion of the car so that if the stands somehow fail, the jack should hold the car long enough to scram.

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

I have one of these:
Craftsman 4 Ton Floor Jack: Get Great Deals On Tools You Need at Sears

and two sets of these:
Craftsman Professional 4 -Ton Jack Stands, One Pair - Tools - Mechanics & Auto Tools - Lift Equipment & Jacks

I also have scraps of 2x4s and 4x4s to use in different situations.

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Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

Jack stands are pretty much jack stands in my experience, but floor jacks can be a pain. Some of those Harbor freight jacks last forever, and others are just lousy right out of the box.

A few years ago, I was at a tire shop and noticed that every floor jack there was an Arcan low-profile XL 3.5 ton exactly like the ones Costco has sold for a while for around $99. The employees were dragging them all over outside, and generally beating the crap out of them, but they reported no problems with them. I went out and purchased one for myself after that. I could not be happier with it.

The only downside I see to this jack is that once it's on the floor, it stays there. The thing must weigh between 80 and 100 pounds, so you certainly don't want to try to keep it in your trunk.

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- K.C.Adams

'77 300D Euro Delivery
OM617 turbo / 4-speed swap
404 Milanbraun Metallic / 134 Dattel MB-Tex

Current status:
* Undergoing body work

My '77 300D progress thread

Thanks, guys. Any thoughts on differences between pin design and ratchet design on stands. I'm sure ratchet is safe....but somehow pin seems safer.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 157k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 175k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 144k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 70k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

pin is safer, but boy is it inconvenient. My biggest complaint about it is that you end up struggling getting the correct pin lined up often partially under the vehicle, or dragging it out endlessly to re set, whereas a ratchet you just put up.

Ultimately, my opinion is that pin style is probably safer if the car is sitting on stands for a long time and you will be doing things to it that are violent, but less safe in setting up because its a bit harder to set up fast.

Ratchet seems perfectly safe to me also though, never had a ratchet stand come down or break, and ive done some violent stuff with a car on ratchet stands.

also x 2 or 3 on the harbor freight floor jack, ive abused mine pretty bad, and its still working well.

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Always put a piece of scrap plywood between the jack stand and the car for a non slip interface.

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85 300D turbo pristine w 157k when purchased 161K now
83 300 D turbo 297K runs great. SOLD!
83 240D 4 spd manual- parted out then junked

Have any pictures? How thick of plywood? Is plywood better than a solid plank?

Have pictures? Did you make them yourself? Or have a source? I like this idea!

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (116k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (267k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K), 1985 300D (233K), 1993 300D 2.5T (338k), 1993 300SD (291k)

The ratchet ones are all likely larger and very heavy duty/reliable in how their locking=in mechanism works. That's the type of jack stands I saw being used at Madison Cadillac on Union Avenue in Memphis, Tenn. in the early '70s when an old time mechanic was working on my '71 Cadillac 'ghetto-cruiser' I drove as a young man.

I have jackstands from 30+ years ago from Sears that are pin-style. Then, I have two newer ones also pin-style from I believe Chief Auto Parts here in Dallas, TX. now out of business. All, are each 2-ton stands, if I recall correctly.

I'll post pics - if I can get them back from Alex, my car dealer neighbor........

I would think the ratchet ones easier to use, and likely heavier duty, but that's a guess on my part.....

This is why I have systematically sold all my 1-3 ton jacks except for the 5 tonners and the 12 ton air over hydraulic. The smaller jacks are all aluminum so old guys like me do not get a coronary lifting them into the truck

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

there are some that have the ratchet mechanism, along with the pin for extra safety if the ratchet fails

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1981 NA 300D 310k miles

Well made and will last?

AC Hydraulic DK13HLQ, AC Hydrhaulic DK20Q, AC Hydraulic DK20 - ACJacks.com

I have the DK 20Q. Bought it in a group buy from another list many moons ago. One of the best purchases I ever made. Highly recommended.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 400K

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Objects in closer are mirror than they appear.

I've always had good luck with jacks and stands from HF. The only piece that ever crapped out on me was one of the aluminum "racing" jacks.


The ACH jacks are so drool-worthy. If only I had the $$$

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1983 240D - For Sale!
1994 Ford Bronco - Awaiting a refresh
2012 Jetta TDI - Wife's MPG machine
2002 BMW M3 - Weekend/track toy
2014 Ford Fiesta ST - DD

I have a set of the four of the 6 ton Harbor Freight stands from when I had a truck and they still work great. I have a michelin floor jack that my brother bought me for a birthday present years ago from either Costco or Sams Club which has also held up very well. Both of these are major overkill for a W123 since they are designed for use on trucks but they do the job.