Review: MotoMaster Quick Lift Aluminum & Steel 3-Ton Garage Jack

It's wise to keep a little garage jack around. We test out the MotoMaster Quick Lift steel /aluminum 3-tonne floor jack.

The MotoMaster Quick Lift Steel /Aluminum Garage Jack is a premium, heavy-duty floor jack rated with a lift capacity of three tonnes, which should be more than sufficient to meet the needs of the average consumer or small automotive repair shop. MotoMaster products are distributed exclusively in Canada at Canadian Tire stores, and this unit comes with a one-year warranty against defects in workmanship and materials.

The Quick Lift is very a robust unit, but it is important to note that hydraulic jacks of this type are meant to lift one end, corner, or side of a vehicle at a time, and are not meant to be used to support a suspended vehicle for extended periods of time.  There intended purpose is to lift a vehicle up high enough to allow a wheel to be removed, or if other service work is on the agenda, to allow axle stands,   positioning jacks, or rolling wheel dollies to be placed.

MotoMaster Quick Lift Steel /Aluminum 3-Tonne Garage Jack

Tested: Canadian Tire’s Garage Jack Kit

In an effort to give this product a thorough evaluation I decided to lend it to a group of my friends and neighbours comprised of individuals who like to perform their own tire swaps and/or basic maintenance on their personal automobiles.  With winter coming to a close demand for the jack was high, as there was a mad rush to get the winter tires off as the temperatures begin to climb. Luckily the days get longer as well, as on one particular day, no less than seven people borrowed the Quick Lift to mount their all-season or summer rubber!

MotoMaster Quick Lift Steel /Aluminum 3-Tonne Garage Jack

MotoMaster hydraulic jack manual use deserves some precautions

It is important to note that most jack failures occur when they are used on surfaces that are not capable of sustaining the load. Perching a weighty car or truck on a potentially tippy lever is never a good idea, so a flat, solid base surface like a cement floor is recommended when using a tool, like this jack.  But failure or damage may also occur if you position the jack under a weak component or body panel rather than on the locations suggested by the manufacturer of your particular automobile.  A quick glance at the owner’s manual (or a search online) should help locate these dedicated support points which have been engineered to support the extra weight and also keep the vehicle centred / balanced.      

MotoMaster Quick Lift Steel /Aluminum 3-Tonne Garage Jack MotoMaster Quick Lift Steel /Aluminum 3-Tonne Garage Jack

All members of my volunteer evaluation team were asked to show me that they knew where these mounting points were located, and that they had a thorough understanding of the jack’s operation before I would let them perform any work on their cars. All work with the jack also took place in level garage spaces to ensure safety.    

This floor jack’s features

Solid Construction

At 26.3 kilograms (58 lb.) the Quick Lift is a heavy piece of machinery, but by using a combination of heavy gauge steel and aluminum in its construction it remains robust enough for heavy duty operation, but light enough to lift when required.

The jack rides on one-piece steel disc wheels (up front) which provide solid support for the steel body structure, while a pair of swivel rear casters (also fitted with solid steel wheels) help facilitate maneuvering the jack into place.

MotoMaster Quick Lift Steel /Aluminum 3-Tonne Garage Jack

The lower portion of the wide diameter, two-segment handle features a foam rubber wrap to provide grip comfort and reduce hand slippage. The handle can be locked to the yoke using the provided lock screw should use of the jack be a regular occurrence in your garage. There are also two side handles to assist with positioning and provide you a handy means to lift the unit for transport or storage.   

While this jack is not marketed as being a low-profile design, at its lowest setting the Quick Lift’s platform saddle sits at 10 centimetres in height (4.0 inches) which means that it will slip under the frame rails all but the lowest slung automobiles.  At full extension the saddle platform is 46.5 cm. (18.25”) in the air, which will readily work for most factory stock trucks, vans, and SUVs.

Each and every time the evaluation unit was returned I would ask the individual user about how it performed. The consensus was that it was easy to maneuver and place, performed flawlessly during both lift and drop operation, and provided a sturdy platform from which they were able to conduct the various work required on their wheels, tires or automobile.

The saddle is fitted with a slotted rubber pad that will protect the finish of the vehicle’s frame rail, but is still hard enough to hold up to the stress of the load.    

MotoMaster is the house brand of automotive products for Canadian Tire, and as such, it manufactures and distributes a wide range of products. Some of these are low cost and average quality, but this jack seems to be a quality product and of superior construction. The fit-and-finish is refined, for a floor jack, and after having being used to replace the wheels and tires of near 50 cars and trucks over the past four months, it shows virtually no signs of excess wear and continues to perform as if fresh out of the box. All the unit’s fasteners, welds, and components are holding up well, although there is some minor surface rust visible on the steel wheels. 

MotoMaster Quick Lift Steel /Aluminum 3-Tonne Garage Jack

Operation

Once assembled, operation of the jack is a simple affair. Using the jack handle the user must turn the handle clockwise until firm resistance is felt.  This will pressurize the jack’s pump and prepare it for lifting duty.  For most applications it should take between four and six full pumps of the jack handle to raise the lift arm’s support saddle into position. Once you have performed whatever task you are trying to get done the jack can be lowered by simply turning its handle counterclockwise roughly a half-turn to trigger the release of the air pressure. Once purged the jack’s lift arm will lower in a slow and controlled manner.

MotoMaster Quick Lift Steel /Aluminum 3-Tonne Garage Jack

Results and Conclusions

After a period of four months of regular use, the Quick Lift has proven to be both rugged and reliable. Each and every time the evaluation unit was returned I would ask the individual user about how it performed. The consensus was that it was easy to maneuver and place, performed flawlessly during both lift and drop operation, and provided a sturdy platform from which they were able to conduct the various work required on their wheels, tires or automobile. The word “confidence” came up more than any other, and my personal experience with the jack left me feeling the same way.

The MotoMaster Quick Lift is a wise choice for those consumers looking for a dependable hydraulic garage jack. It is well-built and designed, and I suspect that it will hold up to years of heavy use with proper care – it is suggested that users replace the unit’s oil at least once a year, which is a simple procedure. 

Price and Availability

This 3-ton floor jack sells for C$319 at Canadian Tire.

MotoMaster Quick Lift Steel /Aluminum 3-Tonne Garage Jack

Technical Specifications:  MotoMaster Quick Lift Steel /Aluminum Garage Jack

  • Model number: 009-1036-2
  • MSRP: $329.99 
  • Rated capacity: 3 tonnes (2,721 kilograms)
  • Product weight (kg./ lb.):  26.3 / 58
  • Lift range (cm/ in):  10-46.5 / 4.0- 18.25
  • Warranty: One year against defects in workmanship / materials

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Author:
Russell Purcell
Russell Purcellhttps://www.flickr.com/people/autoexposurecanada/
Russell Purcell is an award-winning automotive journalist and photographer based in Vancouver, B.C. His passion for automobiles was sparked at the tender age of six, when a family friend gave the wide-eyed first grader a ride to school in a track prepared Porsche 911 RSR. He continues to fan the flames by building an impressive library of automotive related books as well as a vast collection of interesting automobilia and motoring artefacts. Russell is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, and is active on Twitter as RoadTestRuss.