What Size Floor Jack do You Need for the Ford F150?

You probably already realize that your Ford F150 truck is not lightweight both figuratively and literally. Coming in at between 4,000 – 5540 pounds depending on trim level lifting that truck is no mean feat so you need something that is up to the task.

Those numbers of course are just the curb weight so they assume that the truck is completely empty which may not always be the case. If you had a load in the truck and had to change a tire the vehicle could weigh considerably more so this needs to be taken into account.

In this post we will look at some of the factors which make a good floor jack suitable for your truck. We will also look at a couple of good options that you may want to consider when choosing your floor jack.

What Is a Floor Jack?

Jack?I always feel it’s prudent when talking about something in an article to make sure that all readers understand the topic so we will start with a brief description of what exactly a floor jack is. There are actually several devices known as a floor jack, one of which actually can be used to support a sagging floor.

The other two are connected to the automotive world, one of which is used in professional garages while the other is commonly used by the everyday vehicle owner. It is a manually operated device that you can roll underneath your truck.

This then can be used to give you mechanical assistance to raise a portion of your truck off of the ground giving you the ability to access the underside of your vehicle. With this access you can change tires and repair a variety of issues that may be affecting your truck.

Not all floor jacks are created equal though as some are designed for lighter loads. Elements such as size, design and materials all play a pivotal role in determining how much weight a floor jack can lift. We will of course get into more detail regarding this as the article progresses.

What Size Floor Jack Is Needed for a Ford F150?

As mentioned a completely unloaded Ford F150 truck has a curb weight of up to 5540 lbs. Now when it comes to a floor jack we are not looking to lift the entire truck off the ground. That is more the domain of a mechanic who will have a huge hydraulic floor jack that you literally drive the truck onto.

The message is then, if we don’t need to lift that entire weight on one floor jack then you would think that perhaps you do not need too much capacity from the jack, right? Actually no, it is still suggested by experts that you should have a 3 ton or 6000 lb jack available for your truck.

You may be wondering why if you do not need to lift the entire vehicle you would need a jack that can carry that capacity. The answer is simple, you never want a floor jack to be anywhere near its maximum capacity if you are beneath the vehicle. It could take a slight bump or something breaking in the jack to leave you in the way of the falling corner of a very heavy truck.

Generally speaking the heavy duty floor jacks that are suitable for a Ford F150 will use a hydraulic system over the standard lever or crank handle designs most people have for their road cars. Even a larger car like a Toyota Camry only has a curb weight of 3075 – 3680 lbs so you can see why you need to go heavy duty with a truck.

These 3 ton capacity hydraulic floor jacks are bigger and have a better lift range so they can allow you plenty of room to work under the truck. When used on one of the truck jack points this type of jack will keep you safe and secure in the knowledge that the truck is up and staying up until you let it back down.

The general weight expectations for lifting the truck at the front or rear require that your jack should be rated for at least 75% of the truck's total weight. So an unloaded Ford F150 at its top weight of 5540 lbs requires a jack that can lift at least 4155 lbs. in order to raise the rear end.

If you were to have 1500 lbs. of cargo in the back of the truck this would mean the combined weight would require a floor jack with at least 5,280 lbs. capability. Even if you are only lifting one wheel off the ground your jack needs to have at least the capacity to lift 33% of the truck's total weight which for an unloaded maximum weight Ford F150 would be 1,828 lbs.

Given those minimum numbers it makes sense that you need a floor jack capable of holding at least 6,000 lbs. There is no point taking a risk with a vehicle of that weight when you need to jack it up off the ground.

How to Choose the Best Floor Jack for a Ford F150

There is more to consider beyond the lifting capacity when it comes to choosing the correct floor jack for your Ford F150. In this section we will look at some of the other factors that you need to consider when picking the correct jack.

Materials

When it comes to heavy-duty floor jacks there are two main materials that are used for the all important lifting arm of the jack. They are either steel, aluminum or a combination of the two. There are benefits to both steel and aluminum so to help you out a little let's discuss that.

Floor jacks that use steel for the lifting arms tend to be heavier, more durable and often less expensive than aluminum options. Overall aluminum design jacks are much lighter, not as durable and are more expensive.

There are of course hybrid floor jacks that make use of both materials so you get the lighter design, the durability and a more middle of the road price point.

Weight

I know we have already discussed the weight but it bears repeating that you need to factor in the potential highest weight your truck may reach. As mentioned, curb weight is a completely empty truck with no cargo or passengers inside. You need to factor the possible gross weight of the truck and plan accordingly. You shouldn’t have anyone in the truck when you are jacking it up as their movements might cause an accident. Sometimes however it is not feasible to remove a cargo before jacking up the truck. It is estimated that the maximum gross weight of a Ford F150 could be as high as 7050 lbs.

If you had to lift the rear end of this fully loaded Ford F150 you would need a floor jack that could lift at least 5,287.5 lbs. As mentioned just enough lift power is never enough if you are going to be lying beneath the truck making repairs. That’s why the cushion is over 700 lbs. a 6,000 lb. the floor jack offers is important.

Lifting Height Range

The potential lifting height of the floor jack is an important consideration when you are picking the best option for you. A typical car vehicle jack will usually allow you to lift it 12 – 14 inches off the ground. Trucks however need a little more clearance this is why most heavy-duty jacks give you at least 16 inches of lifting range.

Look for a rating in excess of 16 inches of clearance so you know you can comfortably get beneath the truck to make the repairs you need.

A Couple of Suitable Floor Jacks for a Ford F150

There are plenty of great heavy-duty floor jacks out there to choose from so you should definitely shop around a little. To get you started however let us offer up a couple of options to help you know what you should be looking for and what’s out there.

Arcan ALJ3T 3 ton Floor Jack

The Arcan ALJ3T floor jack is a well built, lightweight, dual-piston floor jack which is rated for 3 tons or 6,000 lbs. This should be more than enough to lift a Ford F150 truck at either the front or rear ends even when carrying a substantial load.

This unit is light in comparison to some floor jacks of this type but still weighs a hefty 56 lbs. It is its aluminum body construction that keeps it on the light end of its competition. Despite the lighter design it can easily manage a Ford F150 and can lift the required section of the truck up to 18 inches from the ground.

The ALJ3T costs around $299 but offers a 2-piece handle, reinforced lift arm, side mounted handle and overload valves. The full lift range of this unit is 3.75 – 18 inches off the ground.

BIG RED – T83002, 3 ton Floor Jack

The BIG RED – T83002 is a cheaper option than the Arcan jack coming in at around $218 and may be worth a look for those on a budget. Rated at 3 tons or 6,000 lbs, it’s perfect for a Ford F150 and has a very durable steel body construction.

This is heavier than the Arcan at 78 lbs. so is a little more unwieldy but obviously has a stronger design which is a bonus. BIG RED also features improved ground clearance up to 20.5 inches which can give you a little more room to work under the truck.

The 360-degree swivel casters make it a very mobile jack which you can easily position as needed under your truck. This is a good thing because the general weight of this unit may make it tough to handle otherwise.

Which Is Best Steel or Aluminum?

There is a reason options exist and this is because we all have preferences and requirements. As an example you would think steel must be the best option. It’s cheaper, it’s more durable and in theory you can rely on it to last longer.

That’s all fantastic of course but steel is also a much heavier material which means the jacks are also very heavy. Some people may need a jack that is more lightweight but can still handle the load required. A strong steel jack is no good if you can’t lift it and maneuver it into place because it’s 20 – 30 lbs. heavier than an aluminum alternative.

Conclusion

Your Ford F150 is a heavy beast so it needs a powerful jack to help lift it when you need to make repairs. At a minimum you should be looking to get a 6,000 lb floor jack to handle the potential weight of this truck. You could perhaps use something lower rated in a pinch but you should only do so if you are just lifting one corner and you do not have any load onboard.

I hope this article has been helpful and urges you to be careful when working under your truck. Don’t skimp on your floor jack because it may be the only thing keeping a 2.5 ton truck off of you.

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