The 7 Best Pneumatic Jacks

Editor's Notes

February 09, 2021:

It was a particularly forgiving round of updates, as all of our previous picks continued to be some of the best in the category. While we did investigate several new possibilities, many (dare I say most?) of the options out there share a lot of design similarities with our existing choices, and we didn’t come across any alternatives that demonstrated significant superiority, in terms of price, lifting range or weight capacity.

The closest we came to a new addition was our near inclusion of another bottle jack – similar to the Torin Big Red – with a 22-ton capacity, which outdoes our highest-ranked selection by a solid 4,000 pounds. However, there were just too many reports of the unit giving out within the first year. Durability is always a paramount consideration for us, but it’s especially important when it comes to equipment related to dangerous work, like lifting heavy machinery. So, we decided to err on the side of caution, and leave these rankings untouched until our next set of updates.

September 16, 2019:

While designs vary considerably, from air-actuated hydraulic jacks and inflatable jacks (bladder jacks) all the way to the seemingly-questionable, though reportedly-reliable, pneumatic lifting bags, pneumatic jacks all have in common that they apply the power of compressed air to lift heavy weights in a controlled manner.

Our rankings for this category run the gamut of these devices, with options like the Zendex Tool TBT2 – that is suitable for professional mechanics, the Vogvigo Off-Road Air Bag – which is great for off-road enthusiasts, and the Mophorn Double Bag Air Jack – which we recommend for the average homeowner.

A few things to keep in mind while shopping this category:

Relaxed and extended heights: Mind these specifications as they speak directly to the option’s functional limits. Your relaxed height needs to be lower than any vehicle (or whatever else) you’re aiming to get under. At the same time, you’ll only be able to lift as high as your extended height, so you want to make sure that rating meets or exceeds the needs dictated by your intended use for the unit.

Maximum weight rating: It might seem like a self-explanatory consideration, but there are machines ranked in this category with maximum weight ratings as small as two tons and as large as 20 tons, which is, needless to say, a massive differential in utility. Make sure the model you pick is up to whatever tasks you’re planning to throw at it. As a general rule, expect air-hydraulic jacks to lift more than inflatable jacks – but also expect to have a much easier time operating the latter (so long as you have easy access to a decent air compressor).

Convenience of operation: Depending how often you plan on putting this jack to work, consider the total unit weight, and also any conveniences that have been incorporated into respective designs. The BestEquip 3 Bag, for example, has a dolly-style design, rolling on two wheels and housing its control valves at the end its long handle – for easy connection and disconnection.