You’ll need a minimum of 2 ton jack to lift the lightest Ford F-150 (2020 Ford F-150) without any cargo. In contrast, you’ll need a 3 ton jack to lift the heaviest Ford F-150 (2021 Ford F-150) with cargo. The rule of thumb is to choose a jack that has least 1.5 times the capacity of the total weight you will lift.
However, jacks are rated 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3 tons, each with a different lifting height range. Still, wondering what size jack for a Ford F-150 you would need? Let’s explore this further.
What Size Jack For A Ford F-150? Detailed Guide
Whether you only want to lift the front or rear end of your F-150 to replace tires or inspect underneath, it’s always best to use jacks with higher than 3-ton load capacity to reach the margin of safety.
Also, OEM technicians suggest that if you want to lift ford Front or rear end alone not the entire vehicle you need jack that has about 75 % capacity of the total truck weight.
Your jack need to have 1.5 times the capacity of the total truck weight to lift the entire truck or 75% of the total truck weight to lift any one end (front or rear) of the truck.
But most importantly, the jack must come with adjustable height ranging from at least 5 to 24 inches so you can jack your vehicle as your situation requires.
With this rule, here I am showing the size, capacity, minimum and maximum lifting height range of a jack required for lifting Ford F-150 from 11th-14th gen based on weight with and without cargo:
| F-150 Generations | Gross weight (lbs) | Curb weight (lbs) | Required jack size capacity with cargo | Required jack size capacity without cargo | Minimum required lifting height (in.) | Maximum required lifting height (in.) |
| 11th Gen (2004-2008) | 6050-8200 | 4758-5875 | 4538 – 6150 lbs or 2.3-3.1 tons | 3569-4407 lbs or 1.8-2.3 tons | 5.5 | 13 |
| 12th Gen (2009-2014) | 6950-8200 | 4707-5639 | 5213 – 6150 lbs or 2.7-3.1 tons | 3530-4229 lbs or 1.7-2.2 tons | 6 | 13.25 |
| 13th Gen (2015-2020) | 6010-7850 | 4000-5700 | 4507-5888 lbs or 2.3-2.9 tons | 3000-4416 lbs or 1.5-2.3 tons | 6 | 22.5 |
| 14th Gen (2021 to present) | 6750-7850 | 4069-5697 | 5062-5888 or 2.5-2.9 tons | 3052-4273 lbs or 1.5-2.2 tons | 6 | 21.5 |
Note that the curb weight of Ford F-150 doesn’t include the cargo weight. On the other hand, the gross weight of a Ford F-150 includes the weight of cargo and all the equipment. Thus, based on that, you’ll need to choose the jack’s size/load bearing capacity.
What Size Jack Stands For A Ford F-150?
In order to lift an F-150 with a curb weight of 5,280 lbs, you would require a stand with a loading capacity of at least 1.98 tons, and the height must be adjustable from 8 inches to 24 inches.
This is because you need a jack stand that supports all four corners of your F-150 and allows you to climb in the bed and slide in and outside the undercarriage with confidence.
The receiving prongs of the jack stand must be wide enough to accept the frame rails of the Ford F-150. If the prongs/the frame cradle isn’t wide enough, the rail can slide off the jack stands.
Factors to Consider When Choosing The Jack Size For Ford F150
Here are the factors that you need to consider when choosing the jack size for your Ford F-150:
Ground clearance
The ground clearance of your F-150 is a super important factor that determines what size jack you would need.
If the ground clearance of your Ford F-150 is under 11 inches, you will require a jack that stands less than least 11 inches to fit under the vehicle. Otherwise, it won’t fit under the truck or will be too tight and won’t give you enough working clearance.
That said, the 2023 Ford F-150 comes with a ground clearance of 13.1 inches. Thus, the height of the jack must be less than 13.1 inches.
Weight of the truck
It’s best that the load capacity of the jack is at least 75% of the curb weight of your F-150.
For instance, the curb weight of the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor ranges from 4,021 to 5,886 pounds. In order to lift the 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor, you’ll require a jack with 6,031 – 8,829 lbs or 3 – 4.5 ton load-bearing capacity.
Required lifting height range
Most 1.5 – 2 ton jacks can lift 12 inches – that’s just over a foot and won’t give you ample working space. On the other hand, most 3 – 4 ton jacks come with a lifting height of 18 inches, making it safer and easier to maneuver underneath the vehicle.
Portability
You would want a compact jack that you can lug around. Consider opting for bottle jacks as they are lighter in weight and much easier to move and store compared to scissors and floor jacks.
How to Jack Ford F150?
You must follow all safety precautions and manufacturer guidelines when jacking your Ford F-150. But here’s the general guideline on the F-150 jacking process:
Step 1: Park your F-150 on a level surface, engage the brake, and switch off the engine.
Step 2: You can see the jacking points in the Ford F-150 owner’s manual. Usually, they are located near the front and rear wheels.
Step 3: Place a chock or block of wood behind the wheel to prevent the vehicle from rolling.
Step 4: Assemble your jack and pump it to the appropriate height. Make sure the jack is placed directly under the recommended jacking point.
Step 5: Slowly lift the truck by turning the jack handle, and continue until the wheel is off the ground.
Step 6: Once the wheel is off the ground, secure the vehicle by placing a jack stand beneath the recommended jacking point.
Step 7: Slowly lower the truck onto the jack stand by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
Step 8: Ensure that the truck is stable and secure on the jack stand before starting any operation on the vehicle.
To lower the vehicle:
- Lift the truck slightly off the jack stand by turning the jack handle clockwise.
- Remove the jack stand and slowly lower the truck to the ground by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
Step 9: Remove the jack and stow it securely in your vehicle.
Now that you know how to jack an F-150, you must be struggling to decide between scissors, floor, and bottle jack. Well, don’t worry because I have listed the most recommended jacks for the F-150 right in the next segment.
Best Jack Sizes For A Ford F150
Here I am recommending the best jacks for Ford F-150 based on customer reviews and ratings from Amazon. Also, these jacks are most preferred among F-150 users and multiple retailers. Most importantly, all of these jacks will fit almost all F-150 models and lift the vehicle safely:
| Jack Types | Best Scissor Jack | Best Floor Jack | Best Bottle Jack | Best Jack stand |
| Product Name | Camco Eaz-Lift 24-inch Set of 2 | Pro-Lift G-737 Speedy Lift | Powerbuilt 3 Ton Bottle Jack and Jack Stand All-in-One | Pro-Lift Heavy Duty 6 Ton Jack Stands |
| Material | Alloy steel | Alloy steel | Aluminum | Alloy steel |
| Load Capacity | 3.75 tons/7500 pounds/34019 kgs | 3.5 tons/ 7000 pounds/ 3175 kgs | 3 tons/ 6000 pounds/2,721 kgs | 6 tons/12,000 pounds/5,443 kgs |
| Maximum lifting height (inches) | 30 | 22 | 21 | 23.5 |
| Minimum height (inches) | 4.4 | 5.5 | 11 | 16 |
| Base size (inches) | 4.4 x 8.9 | N/A | 9 x 9 | 10.5 x 9 |
| Product dimension(L x W x H in inches) | 5.5 x 28.47 x 12.6 | 30.12 x 6.89 x 15.75 | 9.75 x 9.75 x 12.25 | 18 x 12 x 10 |
| Product Weight | 24.6 pounds | 90 pounds | 22.45 pounds | 26.4 pounds |
| Price | $109 | $234.09 | $69.79 | $61 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How high does a jack need to go for an F-150?
All F-150 from 11th to 12th generations are supplied with scissor jacks with a lifting range of 12 – 14 inches. Evidently, that’s the recommended lifting height for jacking 2004 to 2014 F-150.
Will a 2-ton jack lift an F-150?
Yes, a 2-ton jack will lift most F-150 with regular cab and super cab. The weight of an F-150 with regular and super cab ranges from 4,021 lbs to 4,598 without any cargo. And, a 2-ton jack comes with 4,000 lbs load bearing capacity. Thus, a 2-ton jack is sufficient to lift the rear or front end of a F-150 weighing 4,500 lbs approximately.
Will a 1.5-ton jack lift an F-150?
A 1.5-ton jack has a weight capacity of 3306 lbs, and most Ford F-150s’ curb weight ranges from 4000 to 5867 pounds. Thus, you shall require a set of two 1.5-ton jacks to lift the front or the rear end of the F-150 weighing over 4000 pounds.
Conclusion
Finally, let’s summarize what size jack for Ford F-150 you would need.
You can safely opt for 3.5 – 6 ton floor jacks with adjustable lifting heights ranging from 5.5 to 24 inches. We’ve shared with you a list of recommended jacks for F-150 within that range and from the best and most reliable brands in the States.
