Scissor jack vs trolley jack

[Thrashsmith]

I need to get a higher rated jack for my Vauxhall Vivaro for the sake of punctured tyre changes, I've only ever used scissor jacks but trolley jacks seem to be the more available option. What are trolley jacks like on non-ideal surfaces like muddy roadsides or in confined spaces car parks? I get the impression they're mainly for planned works rather than emergencies...?
Thanks

 

[Ashley Burton]

Still usable from my experience. You just don't want to be lugging a heavy jack around when you do need it

 

[frank horton]

I use a small 1,1/2 ton hyd trolley jack, they are quite small and can be carried in 1 hand....not as good A PROPER HYD GARAGE JACK but 100% better than the standard rubber variety supplied when new......
as for bad ground always carry a peice of 3/4 ply to use ........for cars they get high enough but the transit size vans u'll need a block of wood to gey the hight.....
PLUS a small axle stand.....
Our VW transporter wont get high enough with the standard scissor jack and when fully loaded it even mpore precarious.....
so I carry both plus said axle stand......
I change my tyres when down to about 30% left......rarly ever get a puncture......

 

[Anguz]

old fashioned screw jack is a goog compromise

 

[zx9]

old fashioned screw jack is a goog compromise

^^^^^^^^ WHS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Screw jack or hydraulic bottle jack, plus the axil stand as above.

 

[R-D-R]

Swapped out the flawed scissor jack on my disco for a merc sprinter bottle jack. Very good quality for not much money and has the high lift you need for vans and 4x4s

 

[stuvy]

Swapped out the flawed scissor jack on my disco for a merc sprinter bottle jack. Very good quality for not much money and has the high lift you need for vans and 4x4s

That’s what I’d go for and just have a piece of wood that’s bigger than the base to spread the load

Make sure you have a decent torch and preferably a head torch so your hands free so to speak!

It’s the benefit of vans having extra space

 

[Domdom]

Anyone who’s ever owned a Discovery 3 or 4 will tell you that scissor jacks are not the best. Most of us replace them with a Mercedes Sprinter bottle jack as it fits in the same place but is infinitely safer.
No jack is safe on muddy ground without something to spread the load which is why I keep a piece of 6x2 wood in the car.
I also keep a small trolley jack in the caravan with a similar bit of wood incase we ever get a puncture whilst towing the van.
That said, the OEM scissor jack in my Skoda Superb is fine. Much better quality than the Land Rover one. I’ve used that a few times without issue and again, similar lump of wood kept in the boot.

 

[Wildefalcon]

I keep a foot square piece of plywood in the Landrover to place the jack on, it makes all the difference on the road side.

 

[steviec_lj]

I keep a foot square piece of plywood in the Landrover to place the jack on, it makes all the difference on the road side.

^^^ this, means you can use the jack ALMOST anywhere.

 

[mtt.tr]

I kept the screw Jack's from my blown up rangers real handy and will not collapse but wont fit under a vivaro

Unlike my hydraulic jack that kept creeping took me a while to figure out why my engine mount didnt fit

 

[CompoSimmonite]

old fashioned screw jack is a goog compromise

I "collect" then and have quite a few of varying types and ages. One came with an Austin 7 and despite being nearly 100 years old is still in perfect working order

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I kept the screw Jack's from my blown up rangers real handy and will not collapse but wont fit under a vivaro

Unlike my hydraulic jack that kept creeping took me a while to figure out why my engine mount didnt fit

The early Range Rover came with a stubby screw jack which still goes under most vehicles.

 

[4String.]

Wouldn't trust a scissor jack a quarter of the distance I could throw it.

Have a 2 ton trolley jack and a 6 ton hydraulic jack in the van, along with the aforementioned piece of 1" plywood. I also carry a dozen short lengths of 3x2, 3x3, 4x4, and some short lengths of 3/4" pallet wood. These are used as packings while jacking up the van so that if it ever slipped off the jack, which it hasn't , it wouldn't have far to drop. Seen too many injuries caused by cars falling off of a jack due to muppetry...

 

[Robotstar5]

I kept the screw Jack's from my blown up rangers real handy and will not collapse but wont fit under a vivaro

Unlike my hydraulic jack that kept creeping took me a while to figure out why my engine mount didnt fit

So you haven't heard of the old trick of driving onto your spare wheel to create clearance to get the jack under?.

 

[mtt.tr]

So you haven't heard of the old trick of driving onto your spare wheel to create clearance to get the jack under?.

Used it off reading and racing never considered it on road side good idea
Not sure if it would work on the vivaro easily as to how close the wheel is to the wishbone jack point

 

[sg66]

Good quality air jack, soft ground not an issue, height not an issue, not heavy.

More expensive than other options, that may be an issue.

 

[Anguz]

So you haven't heard of the old trick of driving onto your spare wheel to create clearance to get the jack under?.

if the vivaro spare is in the cage underneath like mine... there ain't enuff room to get it out without jacking first

 

[premmington]

Everybody fights over early Mitsubishi Shogun orange bottle jacks.

Two stage ram - with a screw as well.

Low profile - but they go very high.


A few bits of wood make all the difference at the road side.

 

[Ashley Burton]

A few bits of wood make all the difference at the road side.

Yes they do!