If you require a quick answer, the best trolley jack we recommend is the Sealey 2001LEHV. This is because it’s a low-profile jack that provides a wide lifting range that starts from 74 mm and lifts to 514 mm. However, if you don’t need a low-profile trolley jack, the Sealey 1153CX is the best alternative that offers better value for the money.
To rate the trolley jacks within our roundup, we based our recommendations on testing, our experience of using multiple jacks, the latest research and several factors. Some of the factors that we considered included the lifting range and capacity, build quality, additional features, the safety of the jack, warranty and value for money.
Best Trolley Jack Overview
- Best Overall: Sealey 2001LEHV
- Best 3 Ton: Sealey 1153CX
- Best Low Profile: Draper 31481
- Best Budget 3 Ton: Autojack Hydraulic
- Best Lightweight: Liftmaster TT600K
- Best Budget: Silverline 633935
Depending upon the vehicle you own will determine the most suitable trolley jack for you. For example, most sports or lowered cars will require a low-profile trolley jack because they won’t catch the sill of the car and are generally far easier to use. However, for standard vehicles, the heavy-duty alternatives are more than ideal and often much cheaper too.
Below is a list of the best trolley jacks that are easy to use and available in heavy-duty or low-profile designs.
The Best Trolley Jack
1. Best Overall: Sealey 2001LEHV Low Profile Jack
Sealey is a highly reputable tools brand in the UK and they produce a range of trolley jacks. This 2001LEHV model in particular is one of the brand’s most rated and it’s a low-profile trolley jack with a clearance height of just 74 mm, which makes it suitable for most sport or custom cars.
Included with this jack is the desirable twin-piston “Rocket Lift”, which brings the saddle to its max height in 6 strokes.
- Lifting range from 74 to 514 mm
- 2 tonne lifting capacity
- Twin piston Rocket Lift
- Heavy duty steel chassis
- Available in green, blue, orange or red
- Overload valve for extra safety
- Hydraulic oil bypass system for ram protection
- Backed by a one year guarantee
- More expensive than the alternatives
- Quite heavy at 32 KG
Although more expensive than most of the alternatives, the Sealey 2001LEHV is an excellent all-round trolley jack that’s built to last, easy to use and suitable for most sports or lowered cars. It also includes the desirable quick lift feature, which makes lifting the car on the jack much faster.
2. Best 3 Ton: Sealey 1153CX Heavy-Duty Jack
Another Sealey trolley jack is the 1153CX, which is a heavy duty 3 ton option that comes at a more affordable price.
Whether you are a mechanic, recovery driver or enthusiast, it’s a durable jack that won’t disappoint. The heavy-duty design, long chassis and high capacity make it suitable for lifting a wide range of vehicles.
- Lifting range from 140 to 432 mm
- 3 tonne capacity
- Heavy duty one-piece hydraulic unit
- Rubber grip pumping handle
- Backed by a one year guarantee
- Available in red or green
- Relatively lightweight at 19 KG
- Wheels are quite small for a 3 tonne trolley jack (can dig into the floor with heavy loads)
- Probably isn't suitable for lowered cars
If you don’t require a low-entry jack, the Sealey 1153CX is a more affordable option when compared to the 2001LEHV above. It can also handle far more weight, which may be a requirement for large cars or SUVs.
3. Best Low Profile: Draper 31481 Trolley Jack
If you are an enthusiast or work as a mechanic, the Draper 31481 is a professional-grade option. It’s a low-profile trolley jack with an entrance height of 72 mm and is designed specifically for vehicles with reduced clearance.
As with the Sealey 2001LEHV alternative, this trolley jack also has a powerful twin-piston setup with a quick-lift feature, which is a highly desirable feature.
- Lifting range of 72 to 500 mm
- 2 tonne capacity
- Quick lifting via the twin pistons
- Heavy duty 680 mm chassis
- Integrated rubber cushioned saddle pad
- Safety valve to prevent overloading
- Two piece handle with EVA foam bumpers
- Manufactured to EN1494 specification
- Expensive to buy
- Quite heavy at 32 KG
To conclude, the Draper 31481 is the ultimate low-profile trolley jack that’s built to the highest of standards and won’t disappoint. The main drawback is the premium price but it has been built to last and is a worthwhile investment.
4. Best Budget 3 Ton: Autojack Hydraulic Trolley Jack
One of the cheapest 3-tonne trolley jacks is by the Autojack brand and it’s perfect for those on a tight budget. It’s ideal for home or hobby use and has a lifting range from 140 to 432 mm, which is ideal for lifting most vehicles.
- 3 tonne capacity
- 625 mm chassis length
- Net weight of 19 KG
- Swivel rear wheels for easy movement
- Rubber comfort grip
- Safety overload system
- Backed by a one year warranty
- Higher level of entry when compared to other trolley jacks
The Autojack Trolley Jack is by far the best value 3-tonne option on the market and is backed by a one-year warranty for peace of mind. Unlike similarly priced models, it comes with a range of extra features such as a one-piece hydraulic unit, heavy-duty pump bracket and much more.
5. Best Lightweight: Liftmaster TT600K Low Entry
If you require an affordable low-profile trolley jack that’s actually worth buying, the Liftmaster TT600K is the best option. The lifting range begins at 85 mm and it lifts to 365 mm, which isn’t the largest range but it’s able to hold more weight than many of the alternatives.
- 2.5 tonne capacity
- Lightweight at just 13 KG
- 565 mm chassis
- Integrated handle for portability
- Safety valve for overload protection
- Heavy duty steel construction
- Limited lifting range (max 365mm)
Overall, if you require a low-profile trolley jack that’s capable of lifting to 2.5 tonnes, the Liftmaster TT600K ticks all the boxes. The affordability, high build quality and low entry of the jack are perfect for most people’s requirements.
6. Best Budget: Silverline 633935 Hydraulic
If you are on a tight budget, the Silverline 633935 is one of the cheapest trolley jacks on the market that has a robust construction and is capable of reliably lifting most cars. It’s a 2-tonne option that has a lifting range from 135 to 335 mm and even offers the desirable quick-lift mechanism.
A great benefit of this particular model is that it’s also highly portable with a net weight of just 9 KG and an integrated carry handle in the middle of the jack.
- 55 mm swivel saddle
- Integrated carry handle
- Conforms to EN1494/A1:2008
- Very easy to transport as it weighs just 9KG
- Limited lifting range and capacity
Overall, it’s a cheap trolley jack that you can rely on to lift various vehicles and remain sturdy for many years to come. It cannot be beaten on price and for the money, it won’t disappoint when compared to similarly priced models.
How We Rated
As we are car enthusiasts, we tend to use trolley jacks regularly whilst performing maintenance or general repair tasks on our cars. Therefore, over the years, we’ve owned multiple that are made by some of the best brands in the industry. The reason why we require multiple is because each provides its own practical reason for using them.
For example, our Draper low-profile jack (as pictured below) is mostly used for sports or lowered cars whereas our heavy-duty alternative that we’ve owned for years is used for heavier cars. We also own a smaller portable trolley jack (the Silverline 633935 as rated above) and we use this when we need to travel with the jack in the boot.
If you would like to see them in action, we wrote a guide on how to use a car jack, which is a great read if you are buying your first trolley jack.
Below is a video that we posted on our YouTube channel that shows us testing a low-profile trolley jack. As you can see in the video, the jack has plenty of room to get under the car and lifting the car with the handle was very easy to do.
To keep up our commitment to reviewing and testing the latest trolley jacks (for this article), we are continually testing the latest offerings from top brands in the UK. This means that when we notice a brand has released a new and improved model, we will attempt to buy it and put it to the test (where applicable).
As well as testing and having plenty of experience using trolley jacks, we also based our recommendations on the latest research and several factors. Some of the factors that we took into consideration included the lifting range and capacity, build quality, additional features, the safety of the jack, warranty and value for the money.
Conclusion
Investing in a high-quality trolley jack will provide you with peace of mind that you are safe whilst working underneath your car. The majority range from 2 tonnes to 3 tonnes in capacity and most brands will also offer low-profile options that are designed for lowered, sports or custom vehicles.
To avoid disappointment, we strongly recommend investing slightly more in a higher-quality trolley jack. They are long-lasting tools in general and if you buy the best, they should last at least 5 years at a minimum.
If you require further information regarding any of our trolley jack recommendations, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.
Trolley Jack FAQ's
Trolley jacks are designed to lift your car from its jacking points, which are reinforced metal ribs that are specifically designed for lifting the vehicle. Usually, these jacking points are located behind the front wheels and ahead of the rear wheels.
In short, bigger cars will require a bigger jack and it’s crucial that you use a jack that can handle the weight of your car. As a general rule, you should use a jack that’s rated at three quarters of your car’s total weight. This is because the jack is only used to lift a car from one corner as opposed to the entire weight of the car.
As with any other heavy-duty tool, maintaining it correctly is an essential part of ensuring that it remains safe to use and provides a long service life. Although trolley jacks require minimal attention, it’s still advised that you keep them clean and regularly inspect them. The most important parts that you should inspect include anything that moves as well as the rollers.
Another maintenance task that you’ll need to keep track of is the jack’s hydraulic fluid. Without enough hydraulic fluid, it’ll struggle to reach its maximum lifting height. Therefore, you’ll want to keep it topped up using the correct hydraulic oil (which will be stated in the manual).
