This scissor jack is about as simple as it gets, ... The collapsed scissor mechanism sits at 4 inches and can extend to 15.2 inches while holding up to 3,000 pounds.

Scissor Jack. A scissor jack ($25-$80) is the basic, diamond-shaped jack that came with your car or SUV. Its main purpose is to allow you to change a flat on the side of the road.

The scissor jack is what most people are familiar with, ... Hi-lift jacks use a fairly simple ratchet mechanism to move the support up a post, rather than pivoting a mechanism off the floor.

The scissor jacks that come with most new cars, trucks, and SUVs are woefully inadequate. Relying on one risks your own safety and damage to your vehicle, and could leave you stranded due to a ...