Comparison Intertool GT0400 vs Intertool GT0022

— Vertical (bottle). In accordance with the name, these jacks have a vertical layout and look like a bottle. Most of these models use a hydraulic lifting mechanism (see below); this ensures high efficiency and allows you to achieve an impressive load capacity - up to 100 tons. In addition, among the advantages it is worth noting the smoothness of movement and the accuracy of fixation at the desired height. On the other hand, hydraulic bottle jacks are difficult to transport because... To avoid leaks, they must always be in an upright position. Mechanical models of this type are relatively rare. It is worth considering that all vertical jacks have a large lifting height, which is why they are poorly suited for vehicles with low ground clearance.

— Screw (diamond-shaped). One of the simplest and most popular solutions, the vast majority of modern passenger cars are equipped with such jacks. The basis of the design is a diamond-shaped frame, the height of which changes due to the rotation of the screw. The main advantages of this type are simplicity of design and use, compactness and low cost. On the other hand, the use of screw models is limited to passenger cars: the maximum load capacity even in the most respectable models does not exceed 2 tons, and the efficiency is low - which means you will have to spend a lot of effort on lifting.

- Hooked. Such j...acks are similar in design and operating principle to bottle jacks (see above), but differ in the presence of a side hook located at a low height. Due to this, they are indispensable when working in tight conditions for which a classic bottle jack is unsuitable (for example, if you need to lift a heavy car with low clearance). At the same time, many toe jacks are also equipped with upper platforms and can be used similarly to bottle jacks (although the lifting height is generally somewhat lower). Note that most of these models are professional level and are designed for specific tasks, such as servicing heavy warehouse forklifts.

- Roll-up. Jacks with a hydraulic, pneumatic or pneumohydraulic lifting mechanism (see below), made in the form of a characteristic trolley. The cylinder in such units is located horizontally, which makes it possible to achieve a pick-up height of just a few centimeters; and the load capacity in the most powerful models can reach 70 - 80 tons. At the same time, the structure itself turns out to be very bulky and heavy, and for its safe use it is very desirable to have a flat, hard surface. In light of this, trolley jacks are used primarily in car repair shops, service stations, large enterprise garages, etc.

— Scissor rolling. A type of trolley jack (see above) that, when lifted, takes the shape of the letter "X", similar to how scissors open up (hence the name). Moreover, on the one hand, such a jack, as a rule, has a hook with a low pick-up height (and a small lifting height), on the other, a working platform capable of lifting a load to a large height. This design allows you to lift “low-slung” heavy loads high: first the hook works, then the load is placed on a stand and jacked up on the other side. Thus, scissor jacks are very versatile, but their price is high.

— Inflatable portable. Jacks of this type are actually inflatable cylinders made of soft and durable material, equipped with a valve system. The load is lifted by inflating the balloon; The source of pressure, depending on the model, can be a compressor, an external pump, compressed gas cylinders or even the exhaust system of a car. One of the main advantages of inflatable jacks is their very low pick-up height: the folded shell can be pushed even into a fairly narrow gap. In addition, cylinders work well on soft, loose soils and in mud, which is especially important for off-road driving enthusiasts. The lifting capacity of such a jack can reach 4–5 tons, and lifting is carried out in a matter of seconds. On the other hand, pneumatic models in general are not very stable, and a sharp object (stone, knot, protruding part on the bottom) can puncture the shell, which can lead to serious trouble.

— Rack and pinion (High-Jack). Structurally, the tool consists of a stand equipped with slots and a hook with a lever/handle. The load capacity of most of these models is about 3–4 tons. The main advantage of “hijacks” is the large lifting height (up to 1 m and even more); in addition, they are very reliable and work well even off-road. On the other hand, the rack structure is considered quite traumatic and requires strict adherence to work techniques; and the tool itself turns out to be bulky and poorly suitable for the trunks of passenger cars. Rack and pinion models are popular primarily among owners of SUVs, pickups, and light trucks.

— Repair stand. In accordance with the name, such devices are designed not so much for lifting a car (or other load) “from the ground”, but rather for maintaining an already raised car in the desired position. True, most of them have a movable rod and a mechanism similar to the Hi-Jack described above; however, such a mechanism is intended only for height adjustment, and its adjustment range usually does not exceed 15 - 17 cm. However, the stand allows you to unload the jack used for lifting and use it for other tasks. This can be indispensable in car repair shops and other places where you have to deal with several cars at the same time (especially since such a device is much cheaper than a full-function jack).

— Transmission rack. A jack in the form of a high (often more than a meter) stand on wheels, equipped with a retractable piston with a special stand in the form of several characteristic petals. Such racks are designed for use in inspection pits or with stationary car lifts. And the mentioned stand facilitates the removal and installation of parts and assemblies that need to be reached from the bottom - primarily the gearbox (hence the name). However, some jacks of this type allow the standard stand to be replaced with other devices.

— Transmission dolly. A type of jacks that combines the features of rolling models and transmission racks (see above for both). Externally, such a tool looks like a classic trolley jack, in which, instead of a platform, a special stand is installed for the safe removal of the gearbox and other similar parts. The advantage of such a unit over a classic transmission rack is that it does not require an inspection hole or a car lift - it is enough to lift the car with a regular jack. True, this format of work is considered less convenient and safe than using a stand, but in some cases there are simply no other options.

— Moto/ATV. Devices for lifting and maintaining in an upright position motorcycles or four-wheeled off-road vehicles with handlebars and motorcycle-type seating (ATV - All Terrain Vehicle). As a rule, they are a compact type of hydraulically driven trolley jacks (see relevant paragraphs). However, there are other types of jacks for motorcycles and ATVs.

— Rolling crane. A specific type of trolley jack (see above), equipped with a retractable boom for moving loads. The crane in the design of such jacks reveals the potential for multi-tasking equipment - the design can be used in the process of performing diagnostic, maintenance or repair work. Due to the adjusted location of the center of gravity, proper stability of the rolling crane is ensured, and with a minimum outreach, the device has a high load-carrying capacity.

According to the principle of action on the lifting mechanism, modern jacks are divided into the following types:

— Mechanical (manual). In such models, the force required for operation is provided by the user himself — usually by shaking or rotating a special handle. And this force is transmitted to the lift by means of a mechanical transmission — usually screw or rack and pinion. Mechanical drives are good because the jack does not require external power sources to operate. And they compare favorably with hydraulic ones in simplicity and low cost, but they are inferior in terms of efficiency and load capacity and are intended mainly for occasional use (for example, replacing a punctured wheel). For technical reasons, this option is used mainly in screw and rack models (see "Type"), although it is also found in bottle models.

— Hydraulic. Like mechanical jacks, hydraulic jacks are powered by the physical force of the user (both handles and foot pedals can be found here). However, the force in this case is transmitted by the hydraulic system, which allows you to achieve higher lifting capacities and makes work less tiring. The main disadvantages of the hydraulic drive are higher cost and more weight than the "mechanics".

— Pneumatic. This type of mechanism does not require any physical effort from the user to lift the load, but it does require a...source of compressed air or other pressurized gas to operate. A cylinder, a compressor, or even a car exhaust pipe can be used as such a source. The pneumatic mechanism is by definition used in inflatable jacks, but can also be found in rolling models.

— Electric. Jacks driven by their own electric motor. Usually, such models are diamond-shaped (see "Type"), and the engine rotates the lifting screw; power is supplied from the cigarette lighter socket. The electric drive makes the design more cumbersome and expensive, but significantly saves the user's effort.

— Pneumohydraulic. Combined version that combines pneumatic and hydraulic operation. In other words, part of the force is provided by the user through hydraulics, and the rest is taken over by the pneumatic system. This combination provides high load capacity with significantly less effort than in the case of "clean" hydraulics; on the other hand, it complicates and increases the cost of the design. As a result, pneumatic hydraulic jacks are rare, mainly among professional rolling models.

The maximum weight the jack can lift. The perfect option is considered to be such a carrying capacity that exceeds the weight of the car (or other load lifted by the jack). At the same time, do not forget that the load on the jack usually does not have to be lifted entirely, one side of it is most often on the ground. This means that only part of the mass falls on the jack, and the maximum load may well be somewhat less than the total weight of the car being lifted: for example, for a one and a half ton passenger car, a 1 ton model is considered quite sufficient. For each class and weight category of machines, there are rules for choosing jacks according to the minimum load capacity; More details about these rules can be found in special sources.

The parameter shows the minimum allowable distance between the supporting surface (ground, floor) and the jack in the lower working position, that is, the minimum height from which the machine starts to be raised. Before buying a tool, it is important to correlate this parameter with the minimum vehicle clearance.

This parameter shows to what maximum height the jack can lift the load. Usually, on average, this parameter is in the range from 30 to 50 cm, which is quite enough to change the wheel or access the handbrake cable. At the same time, rack jacks are capable of lifting loads to a height of up to 1 metre, although such tasks do not occur so often in domestic use.