What Size Floor Jack for a Pickup Truck?

On this page (8 sections)

1. What size floor jack do you need for a pickup truck?
2. How high does the jack need to lift for a pickup truck?
3. Which floor jack fits a stock or extended height truck?
4. Which floor jack fits a lowered truck?
5. Which floor jack fits a standard pickup on a budget?
6. How do you choose between 2 ton and 3 ton for a truck?
7. What else should you check before buying a truck floor jack?
8. The verdict

For a standard pickup truck, the size you need is a 3 ton (6,000 lb) floor jack with enough lift height to clear your frame. A 2 ton jack handles light trucks, but 3 ton gives you margin for the curb weight and the extra reach a truck asks for.

Drivers run into trouble in two ways: too little capacity for the weight, or too little height to reach the jack point. Both are easy to avoid once you know what your truck weighs and how high it sits.

This guide walks through the numbers, the lift height math and the three jacks we would pick for stock, lifted and lowered trucks. Every choice ends in a firm rule so you can stop comparing and buy.

What size floor jack do you need for a pickup truck?

A 3 ton (6,000 lb) floor jack is the right size for most pickup trucks. It covers full-size and heavy half-ton trucks with a safe margin, and the extra capacity usually comes with a taller lift range.

Here is the rough map we use. It pairs truck class with a floor jack size, based on typical curb weights and the height of common jack points.

A floor jack only carries part of the truck, but the corner you lift can see a large share of the weight. A 3 ton jack rated for 6,000 lb leaves headroom so the pump and seals aren't strained every time you raise the truck.

The three jacks in this guide all sit at that 3 ton line. The BIG RED T83006 and the AV Steel both carry a 6,000 lb rating, and the Maxority pushes it to 6,600 lb.

None of them is a 2 ton compromise, which is why each one makes sense on a real truck.

Why capacity matters more on a truck than a car

A sedan might weigh 3,200 lb, while a half-ton truck can pass 5,500 lb before you load the bed. Lifting one corner still asks a lot of the jack, and the heavier the load, the more the jack's rating matters.

The safety bypass system on the BIG RED T83006 prevents over-loading, but you never want to rely on it as your working limit. Pick a jack with capacity above the load you expect, not right at it.

The Maxority's built-in safety valve in its lift saddle works the same way: a backstop, not a lifting plan.

If your truck has a heavy front end from a diesel engine or a plow mount, size up. The same rule applies to trucks that regularly carry tools or cargo.

A 6,000 lb rating leaves a 2,000 lb cushion over a 4,000 lb corner, and that cushion keeps the pump from working at its limit.

Rule: match the jack's capacity to your truck's heaviest corner, then add margin. A 3 ton jack is the sensible floor for any full-size pickup.

How high does the jack need to lift for a pickup truck?

Measure from the ground to your truck's jack point and add a few inches for stand clearance. Most stock pickups need a jack that reaches about 18 to 20 inches, while lifted trucks need more.

The minimum height matters just as much. The jack's saddle has to slide under the frame or axle with the truck sitting at rest.

A tall saddle that won't fit under the truck is useless, and so is a short jack that runs out of travel before the wheels leave the ground.

Here is how the three jacks line up on height, using only the published specs.

The AV Steel starts lowest at 5.5 inches and tops out lowest at 18.5 inches. The BIG RED reaches the highest of the three at 20-7/8 inches.

The Maxority trades some top end for its low profile entry height.

To find your number, park on level ground and measure straight up from the pavement to the jack point. Add 2 to 3 inches so the tires clear and your jack stands fit underneath.

A 3 ton truck on tall stands may need the jack to travel past 20 inches before the stand slides in.

Write the two figures down: the lowest saddle height your truck needs, and the lift height you must reach. If your stand height plus a couple of inches lands past 18.5 inches, the AV Steel is already out.

Rule: the jack's maximum lift height must clear your jack point plus your stand height. If you plan to use tall 6 ton stands on a lifted truck, size the jack's top end to match.

Which floor jack fits a stock or extended height truck?

The BIG RED T83006 3 Ton Trolley Jack with Extra Saddle is our pick for most stock and extended height pickups. It has a 3 ton (6,000 lb) capacity and a lift range from 5-7/8 inches to 20-7/8 inches, which covers standard truck jack points with room to spare.

BIG RED builds it with heavy duty steel and an industrial finish. The single piston quick lift pump lets you raise the saddle to the truck's frame with fewer strokes, and the extra long saddle neck saves time when you're lifting higher vehicles.

That long neck is the detail that matters most on a truck, because the saddle has to travel farther before it meets the frame than it would on a car.

The jack rides on two large steel casters and two 360-degree swivel casters, so it rolls into position and turns easily under the truck. A built-in carrying handle helps you move it around the garage.

The handle is 24.5 inches long, which gives you good leverage on the pump without crowding the truck's rocker panel.

BIG RED covers it with a limited 1 year manufacturer warranty. It weighs 36 lb, which makes it one of the lighter 3 ton jacks here and easier to store on a shelf or in a corner.

The universal fit means it isn't tied to one make or model. BIG RED lists cars, SUVs, trucks and vans as compatible vehicle types, so the same jack can serve the family SUV and the work truck.

Pick this jack if your truck sits at stock height or a little higher and you want a long reach without paying for a specialty low profile design. It's the best all-rounder for a typical half-ton pickup.

Which floor jack fits a lowered truck?

The Maxority 3 Ton Low Profile Steel Floor Jack is the pick for lowered trucks and low-clearance pickups. Its low profile slides under vehicles with minimal ground clearance, which matters when your truck is dropped or has a body kit close to the pavement.

Maxority rates it at 6,600 lb and gives it a maximum lifting height of 19.9 inches. That top end still clears many truck jack points, though a heavily lifted truck may want more reach.

The long reach design helps it get to the frame or axle on a lowered truck without scraping.

RAPID PUMP technology uses a high-speed hydraulic system to raise the saddle with fewer pump strokes. On a low truck you often can't get a full stroke on the handle, so a pump that moves the saddle faster per stroke saves real effort.

The lift saddle has a built-in safety valve to prevent overloading and a stable shape to hold the vehicle while it's up. A stable saddle matters on a lowered truck, because the frame sits close to the ground and a wobbly contact point has less room to recover.

Maxority builds it from high-strength steel and covers it with a 90 day warranty.

For a stock-height truck, the extra reach of the BIG RED is usually more useful than the low profile.

Pick this jack if clearance is your problem, not height. If your truck is lifted instead, a low profile jack will run out of reach before you get the wheels up.

Which floor jack fits a standard pickup on a budget?

The AV Steel 3 Ton Single Piston Floor Jack is the budget pick for standard cars, SUVs and standard pickup trucks. AV Steel lists a 6,000 lb capacity and a lift range of 5.5 inches to 18.5 inches, which covers many stock trucks.

AV Steel is clear about its limits. The jack is not suitable for lifted vehicles, heavy-duty trucks or RVs.

On a standard pickup, the 18.5 inch top end reaches many jack points, but a lifted truck will need more height. AV Steel also notes that EVs should use a jack point adapter to line up with the manufacturer's lift points, so check that before you buy if you drive an electric truck.

It's a single piston model, so lifting takes more strokes than a dual piston jack. AV Steel points buyers to its dual piston model for faster lifting.

The heavy steel build weighs 63.8 lb, so plan where it will live and how you'll roll it. At nearly 64 lb, this is the heaviest jack here.

The large 360 degree rotatable saddle gives stability under the truck. A built-in safety valve prevents overloading, and two rear rotating wheels help you reposition it.

AV Steel covers it with a 12 month warranty and says it meets ANSI/ASME PASE safety standards. Close the release valve fully before lifting, as you should on any jack.

Pick this jack if you drive a stock half-ton or mid-size truck and want a simple 3 ton jack at the lowest cost here. Skip it for lifted trucks, heavy-duty trucks or anything that needs more than 18.5 inches of lift.

How do you choose between 2 ton and 3 ton for a truck?

Choose 3 ton for almost any pickup; choose 2 ton only for a light compact truck. The gap in cost is small next to the gap in margin and height.

A 2 ton jack rated at 4,000 lb can lift a compact truck corner, but a full-size half-ton weighs more than that before you add a driver or cargo. A 2 ton jack also tends to have a lower maximum lift height.

Capacity isn't the only difference. The 3 ton jacks here reach roughly 18.5 to 20.9 inches, while many 2 ton jacks top out lower.

That height matters when your truck's jack point sits high off the ground. It's the difference between getting the wheels clear and giving up halfway.

The 3 ton jacks also tend to have longer saddle necks and bigger saddles, which help on a truck frame. The BIG RED's extra long saddle neck is the clearest example.

A 2 ton jack is lighter and easier to move, so it still makes sense if you only work on a small truck and space is tight.

There's also the question of what you'll lift besides the truck. A 3 ton jack can handle the family SUV and the trailer without a second purchase.

A 2 ton jack leaves you shopping again the first time a heavier vehicle rolls into the driveway.

Rule: buy 3 ton unless your truck is a compact and you're sure of the corner weight. The extra margin is cheap insurance on a heavy vehicle.

What else should you check before buying a truck floor jack?

Check the saddle height, the jack weight and how you'll store it before you buy. These details decide whether the jack is easy to use every time you need it, not just on paper.

Start with the low saddle height against your truck's clearance. A jack that won't slide under the frame is a problem, especially on a lowered truck.

The AV Steel's 5.5 inch minimum and the BIG RED's 5-7/8 inch minimum both clear most stock trucks, but the Maxority's low profile is the safer bet when clearance is tight.

Then check the top end against your stand height. If you use tall stands on a lifted truck, you want the BIG RED's 20-7/8 inches rather than the AV Steel's 18.5 inches.

Look at the jack's weight if you'll carry it between the garage and the driveway. The BIG RED is 36 lb and the AV Steel is about 64 lb, so the difference shows up when you lift it onto a shelf.

Our guide to how much a floor jack weighs compares the classes in more detail.

Saddle size and reach on a truck frame

A truck frame is a long, flat surface, and the saddle needs to sit squarely on it. A large saddle spreads the load and reduces the chance of the jack slipping off the frame rail.

The AV Steel's large 360 degree rotatable saddle is built to sit flat and turn to meet the frame at an angle.

Reach matters just as much. The saddle has to get past the rocker panel and any running boards to touch the frame or axle.

A long saddle neck, like the one on the BIG RED, buys you that extra distance. On a lowered truck, the opposite problem shows up, which is why the Maxority's low profile design earns its place.

A floor jack also takes up floor space and needs to stay dry and upright. Our tips on how to store a floor jack help you keep it out of the way and in good shape.

Finally, plan how you'll lower the truck. A smooth, controlled release is safer than dropping it.

Our walkthrough on how to lower a floor jack covers the slow release technique. The release valve on each of these jacks works the same way, so the skill carries over whichever you buy.

Rule: match the jack to your truck's height first, then your storage space and your budget. A jack that's hard to move or won't fit under the truck won't get used.

The verdict

For most pickup owners, the BIG RED T83006 3 Ton Trolley Jack with Extra Saddle is the one to buy. It combines 3 ton capacity with 20-7/8 inches of lift and a long saddle neck, so it handles stock and extended height trucks without a specialty design.

At 36 lb it's also the easiest of the three to move and store.

Pick the Maxority 3 Ton Low Profile if your truck is lowered or sits close to the ground. Its 6,600 lb rating and 19.9 inch top end still cover many truck jack points, and the dual piston pump saves strokes when clearance is tight.

Choose the AV Steel 3 Ton Single Piston if you drive a standard half-ton or mid-size truck and want the simplest 3 ton option at the lowest cost. Just keep its 18.5 inch top end in mind and skip it for lifted trucks.

Whichever you choose, measure your truck's jack point height first. A 3 ton jack with the right reach turns a truck lift into a routine job rather than a struggle.

If your jack ever refuses to raise the truck, our guide on why a floor jack won't lift covers the common causes.

Frequently asked questions

Can a 2 ton floor jack lift a pickup truck?

A 2 ton floor jack can lift a light truck corner on flat ground, but it works close to its rating and has less height range. For a full-size or heavy half-ton truck, a 3 ton jack gives more lift height and a larger margin for steady raising.

Is a low profile floor jack good for a pickup truck?

A low profile jack helps when your truck is lowered or sits close to the ground. On a stock or lifted truck, a standard or long-reach jack with more maximum height is usually the better fit, because it reaches the frame without running out of travel.

How much does a floor jack for a pickup truck weigh?

A steel 3 ton floor jack for a pickup typically weighs around 36 to 64 lb, depending on the build. Heavier jacks feel more stable but are harder to move, so plan where you'll store it and how you'll roll it into place.