Where are you putting the lift points

 

Sounds like your lift points are too high and the jack is not able to lift very high. I use a 3ton no issue here as well. The one I use has a adjustable saddle which allows for 21" lift height. Lift the saddle a bit and use frame to lift.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-3-...127/206696699?

 

He said he used a block of wood to change the lift angle. Sum Ting is Wong with his China Jack.

 

I have raised all my trucks under the front ball joint or the rear axle or rear differential.

Try the front or the back of your truck (whichever you didn't already do).

I am at a loss as to why the handle won't move unless it has reached full travel, however only you know if you have reached full travel (of the handle).

I'm sure my 25 year old Craftsman 3-ton is low on fluid, as I reach max height the handle is only semi-effective at the end of stroke, meaning I raise the handle and there is no lifting action until I get to the end of stroke. When the jack is lowered fully, the handle raises the platform through the entire stroke.

That jack has raised my 1993 F150, my 2003F150, my 2008 GM (smaller truck), my 2016F150 and now my small car (that was the most challenging as the jack point was the highest and I got the tire less than 1/4" off the ground at max lifting height. This is why I get confused by your comment of it is hard as a rock.... mine reaches full travel just with minimal handle effectiveness. You seem to be saying that you move the handle and it just quits moving mid stroke.

Again, switch to the rear or front to see if you have the same behavior.
Maybe your jack is allergic to pickups.

 

Thanks guys,
I know the answer. It has multiple causes... first, base on everyone experience with 3 ton jack, I think my jack is weak. Second, the jack point I chose. And also the way I use the floor jack too.
The whole time having this problem, I have been trying to jack it up at the most rear end of the "side rail" to lift up the rear wheel. At some points, I tried it at the frame too, but also at the same area. Today, I tried to lift the front wheel at the front most of that side rail, it lifted the front wheel easily. Then I tried the rear end of the side rail again, same thing happen.
On the way I use the floor jack... I always hate to raise the handle all the way up. It might be just my own problem, but I don't like the thought that the handle might accidentally hit the car; therefore, I always use proximate lower 2/3 of the handle travel. I never have problem with any car I ever jacked up, but it was the problem in this case. Today, I tried to let the handle start all the way up position and pull it outward. I could lift the rear wheel up a bit. It was still very hard, but doable.

I am borrowing this pic from the internet to show the point I meant "rear end of the side rail".

 

Do you mean right under the differential?
Like this?

 

That's the differential yes.
I would suggest to lift from under the axle on either side where the spring u-bolts are though. If you are not careful while lifting under the diff, the jack cradle can catch the edge of the cover and cause a leak.

 

Thanks.

 

I don't think my jack would raise enough to remove a wheel while lifting from the frame.
Something tells me I tried that for some reason but ended up having to raise it from the rear, support with stands and remove the wheel then position the jack to the frame. I just can't think of why I had a reason to lift the vehicle from there. Could have been a different truck from years earlier though.

I have a piece of pipe insulation around my jack handle. It is a 2-piece handle with a screw holding the 2 pieces together. The insulation helps protect that. It is not taped in place to allow me to move it up/down on the handle to where it needs to be. Sometiems it needs to be near either of the ends vs anyplace in the middle.

Still odd why your jack is difficult. The van is probably heavy, otherwise I would think you just don't know how heavy the truck is and you feel it is too difficult to lift.

Too bad we don't have anything else constructive -just sounds like an odd situation of why the handle is too hard to move (unless it really is just the case of it's normal but you don't know it). Again, I assume your van is of similar weight, enough to know the difference.

One should always support with a good stand anyway, but if there are any qualms of the functionality of a jack, you should never get in harms way should the jack fail.

 

While replacing differential oil today, I tried to jack the rear up at the differential, it went up fine, yes heavy but can be up to turn both rear wheels. I think the reason why I couldn't jack it up at the first location (on the side) was because it is a lot heavier. The jack need to be able to lift the whole 1/2 (side) of the car while my jack maybe too old and a little weak... At least I now know how to jack my truck up.

The reason I tried on the side was because I never like to jack any car at any moving parts. My plan was to jack it up on the side, put jack stand, then move to the other side and do the same. Anyway, since many people doing at the differential, and it seem to be very heavy duty. I guess I am ok.

Thanks everyone again.