What is the Difference between a Portable Car Hoist and a Car Jack?

Let’s be frank: portable car hoists perform the same job as car jacks. So if they both do the same job, why are you selling a portable car hoist? To elaborate on that idea, car jacks and portable car hoists do the same basic job. Think about what it’s like to go out to eat at a really high-end restaurant: how you’re treated, the level of service, what the experience is like, all of that. Compare that experience to going out for fast food. One is cheap, found everywhere and sure to remind you of your bad decision-making in oh, say, 8 – 10 hours. On the other hand, the nicer restaurant also feeds you, but it offers a unique experience, higher-quality product, specialized service and optimized convenience. QuickJack is the "fine dining" experience of car hoists, while car jacks are the junky "fast food" of the industry.

Unlike a dining experience, which is usually a one-night event you probably won’t remember, your portable car hoist is going to stay with you for many years to come, and it’s going to perform its job with excellence every time you call on it. Car jacks, however, are most handy in emergencies, like when you blow a flat in the middle of nowhere and need to mount a spare on your wheel just to get to a shop. Come to think of it, when we’re stranded or stuck in an unpleasant situation, we think of fast food.

"This sucks. Should we just get a burger?"

The difference between a portable car hoist and a car jack is obvious to anyone who’s dumped their old jack for anything but the rare roadside emergency. Portable car hoists do a much better job getting your car off the ground: they’re faster, safer, more durable and more fun; plus, they make preventative care easy, which prevents most roadside crises from happening.

Here’s how. The QuickJack portable car hoist is a marvel of engineering that utilizes an electric-hydraulic power unit to equally power a hydraulic cylinder in each of two QuickJack frames, ensuring a fast, even hoist of 20" in less than 30 seconds. Unlike other car jacks, whether they’re hydraulic or need to be cranked, QuickJack moves up or down with the push of a button on our pendant remote control. We’re the prime rib of the car hoist industry, and it’s not too good to be true. So another difference between a portable car hoist and a car jack—the car hoist doesn’t let you down.

If you’ve ever wondered what they’re really made of, you’re in good company: so have we. Whereas traditional car jacks may consist of some sort of steel alloy, QuickJack’s frames are manufactured from high-grade 14-gauge welded stainless steel—always, always, always in the strictest factory conditions. As proof of our manufacturing superiority, consider that QuickJack is the only portable car hoist in its class to have received the CE mark by meeting the standards prescribed by the rigorous 98/37/EC Machinery Directive and the Harmonized Standard for vehicle lifts, EN-1493. This is the only safety rating that applies to portable car hoists, and no car jack/stand combination will ever be as safe as QuickJack. No crossbeams, no cranking, no pumping and no jack stands necessary. QuickJack is perfectly safe as-is.

Surely, you can’t be serious. We are serious.

And speaking of safety, each QuickJack frame has a dual-position automatic safety bar that locks at the mid and max rise levels. This is a crucial feature on our design, as it effectively makes QuickJack the safest portable car hoist on the global market. If that doesn’t get your mouth watering, we have a little experiment/homework assignment for you to try out the next time you work under your car:

1) Set a timer.
2) Hoist up your car using an old-fashioned car jack or hydraulic jack.
3) Set all four stands around your car.
4) Measure the height of your car chassis off the ground.
5) Re-time how long it takes to get your car on the ground.

When you’re done, consider the hoist times, effort and risk involved in using car jacks and stands. How long did it take you just to raise and lower your vehicle? 30 minutes? An hour? Did you have to reset any hoist points? QuickJack was designed by people who love people who love cars. (Now is a good time to brag about our fantastic customer service record.) Our portable car hoist is crafted from designers and engineers who have dedicated their careers to making your life better. We specialize in car hoists that have already improved the quality of life for thousands of our customers across the globe.

If you still have questions, give us a call or just do a little of your own research. See what’s out there. We think you’ll be convinced QuickJack is the best—and most affordable—portable car hoist around.