I was recently shopping for a new set of Harbor Freight jack stands when I stumbled across some Internet rumblings that hinted at a potentially serious problem with them. This caught my attention, because, as many of you will also remember, Harbor Freight jack stands were recalled back in 2020 after serious safety issues were discovered.
These new stands are the updated, and reportedly safer, versions. The new versions have a cross bolt safety pin that locks the post from dropping if the pawl fails. As their safety recall noted, this had the potential to cause property damage or serious injury. The new design is a major upgrade because of that, but the Internet complaints revolved around there being two different versions of the same product, and one of the versions was seemingly inferior to the other.
I decided to see what the fuss was about so I bought both versions of the 6 ton stands to compare them, and while I was at it, I bought both versions of the 3 ton stands, too. Jacked up jack stands in hand, I headed back to the workshop and snapped a quick picture to share with the r/HarborFreight subreddit.
Identical Listings, Different Products
What makes this issue particularly frustrating is that both versions are sold under the same Stock Keeping Unit (SKU), at the same price, with no clear way to differentiate the versions. The UPC codes are different, the SKUs are the same, some of the model numbers are the same, the price is the same, and they’re next to each other on the shelf. It’s easy to grab the wrong version without knowing any better, or worse, grab one of each version and now you’ve got 4 jack stands that don’t match.
Key Differences in the 6 Ton Jack Stands
- Lift Height: Inferior version’s maximum height is 23 ¾”; superior version is 24″.
- Post: Inferior post is rougher, 13% thinner, and 3/8 of an inch shorter than the superior version.
- Weight: Inferior stand is nearly 1 lb lighter—less material usually means less strength.
- Base: Inferior base is warped and wobbles; superior base is flat and stable.
- Handle Size: Shorter and thinner on the inferior model.
- Pin Placement: Less secure drilling in the inferior version.
Examining the 3 Ton Stands
The 3 ton jack stands also come in two versions, though the differences aren’t as extreme as the 6 ton models:
- Lift Height: Inferior version’s minimum height is 11 ¼”; the superior version is 11 ⅜”.
- Post: Superior post is 23% thicker and 28% heavier.
- Base: Superior version is heavier and sits flat; inferior version wobbles.
- Weight: Inferior stand is, again, almost a pound lighter than the superior stand.
- Handle Size: Inferior version is slightly shorter.
- Pin Placement: Superior pin hole is drilled through more material.
Even more confusing: Harbor Freight’s website lists the model number from the superior version but the maximum lift height from the inferior one.
Is the Inferior Version Unsafe?
While the inferior version may not fail under normal conditions, it’s clearly built to a lower standard. With a product like a jack stand—where safety is paramount—even small differences can be critical.
If you paid the same price for a lower-quality version, you have every right to be upset. And when it comes to lifting a vehicle, peace of mind matters.
90 Day Return Policy
If you purchased these recently (especially during a recent sale), you have 90 days to return them. I’m including pictures of the packaging of both superior versions so you know what to look for if you’re looking to buy, or know what to return if you were unlucky enough to buy the wrong version.
The easiest way to tell the different versions apart is that the superior 6 ton stand shows a maximum lift height of 24″, but the inferior version of that same 6 ton stand shows a maximum lift height of 23 and 3/4″. On the 3 ton stands, the difference is in the minimum height, with the superior version showing 11 and 3/8″ while the inferior version shows 11 and 1/4″.
But because Harbor Freight says these two different versions are the exact same product, and they’re selling them under the same SKU, anyone who is outside of the 90 day return policy could simply buy the superior version (creating a new 90 day return window) and return the inferior version.
They’re the same product after all, right?
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just about jack stands—it’s about transparency and trust. Selling two different versions of the same product under the same name isn’t just confusing—it’s misleading.
I think what’s happening here is Harbor Freight is sourcing these stands from two manufacturers and one of them is cutting more corners than the other. They likely both meet the same minimum standard, but these things cost exactly the same–might as well buy the beefy one.
