Last updated: May 2026

The ARCAN A20019 is a 3-ton aluminium low profile floor jack with a 3.25-inch minimum height and a reputation that was built in professional shops before it ever showed up in home garages. It lifts to 19.5 inches, weighs less than most steel competitors, and is consistently reported to hold without noticeable hydraulic drop under standard passenger car loads. If you drive a sports car, a lowered sedan, or any vehicle that sits close to the ground, this is the jack that mechanics who do this for a living reach for.

ARCAN A20019 Review: The Low Profile Jack Shops Trust

ARCAN A20019 • 3 Ton • Aluminium Body • Low Profile • Single Piston

Capacity	3 Ton (6,600 lbs)
Min Height	3.25 inches
Max Height	19.5 inches
Body Material	Aluminium — lightweight
Pump Type	Single piston
Weight	~56 lbs
Best For	Sports cars, sedans, low clearance vehicles

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Why Shops Use ARCAN

Most brands in the floor jack space are built for the retail shelf. ARCAN built its reputation the other way around — in professional shop environments where a jack that fails under a car is not an inconvenience, it is a liability. That history matters when you are choosing a jack for your own garage.

The A20019 is the model that crossed over from shop use into home garage popularity. The aluminium body is the reason. At 56 lbs it is roughly 12 lbs lighter than comparable steel jacks. For a mechanic moving a jack in and out of a bay twenty times a day, that difference is significant. For a home mechanic pulling it off a shelf once a week, it simply means less effort every time you use it.

The 3.25-inch minimum height covers most sports cars and lowered daily drivers. It will not fit under every lowered vehicle — the GAOLLY’s 2.8-inch minimum goes lower if you need that extra clearance. But for the majority of low profile use cases, 3.25 inches reaches the factory lift points without compromise.

If you drive a truck or a full-size SUV, this is not your jack. The Blackhawk B6350 handles that category. And whatever jack you use, pair it with rated jack stands before going anywhere near a lifted vehicle.

Performance Scorecard

Rated across five categories based on manufacturer specs, professional shop feedback, and verified owner reports.

Specs at a Glance

The Numbers That Matter

3.25 in minimum height — clears most sports cars and lowered sedans at factory lift points. Not quite as low as the GAOLLY at 2.8 inches, but reaches the majority of low clearance vehicles without modification.

19.5 in maximum height — covers standard wheel changes and brake work on passenger cars and sports cars. Not rated for truck axle clearance.

3 ton (6,600 lbs) — handles any passenger car or sports car at one-corner lifting loads with room to spare.

Aluminium body, ~56 lbs — roughly 12 lbs lighter than comparable steel jacks. Noticeable every time you move it.

Professional shop history — ARCAN’s track record in commercial environments is the spec that does not appear on the box but matters most.

Aluminium vs Steel: What Actually Changes

The aluminium body on the A20019 is the feature that separates it from most competitors at this price point. It is not just about weight — though 56 lbs versus 68 lbs is a real difference when you are dragging a jack across a garage floor in the dark looking for a lift point.

Aluminium does not rust. For a jack stored in a garage that sees humidity, temperature swings, and the occasional spill, that matters over a multi-year ownership period. Steel jacks can develop surface rust that does not affect function but does affect longevity if the coating gets compromised.

For guidance on picking the right jack for your specific vehicle weight and lift height requirements, the Workbench ton rating guide covers the math without the guesswork. And if you are building out a full home shop, the car lift section is worth reading alongside any floor jack decision.

Safety Rules for Low Profile Floor Jacks

Pros and Cons

How It Sits Against the Competition

The A20019 targets sports cars and low clearance vehicles. Here is how it compares to the alternatives in that category and beyond.

The GAOLLY gets lower at 2.8 inches and costs less. The ARCAN brings a longer track record and the aluminium body. For most sports car and lowered vehicle owners, both work — the decision comes down to whether brand history or minimum clearance matters more for your specific vehicle. Full category breakdown in the Best Hydraulic Jacks guide.

What Owners Report

ARCAN has enough owner data across platforms that the pattern is clear and consistent. Mechanics using the A20019 in shop environments report reliable performance over multi-year ownership periods. Home garage owners report the same things: easy to move, fits where expected, holds without noticeable settling.

The most common owner complaint across sources is pump speed — single piston means more strokes than dual-piston alternatives. Owners coming from a steel dual-piston jack feel that difference immediately. It is a spec reality at this price point, not a defect.

A smaller number of owners report that the saddle height is tight on vehicles sitting right at the 3.25-inch threshold. On some lowered cars the saddle clears the sill but leaves almost no margin. If your vehicle sits at or below 3 inches of ground clearance, the GAOLLY’s 2.8-inch minimum is the safer choice and removes that margin concern entirely.

Best Alternative

If your vehicle sits below 3 inches of ground clearance, the GAOLLY 3-ton low profile jack is the next recommendation. It drops to 2.8 inches, comes in at a lower price, and handles the clearance cases the ARCAN cannot quite reach.

If your vehicle is a truck, a full-size SUV, or anything that requires more than 20 inches of lift height, the Blackhawk B6350 is the right call. Different vehicle, different tool.

For a side by side breakdown of the ARCAN and the Blackhawk across every spec that matters, the Blackhawk vs ARCAN comparison goes deeper than this review can in one section.

Should You Buy It?

If you drive a sports car, a lowered daily driver, or any passenger car that sits close to the ground and you want a jack with a professional track record behind it — yes. The ARCAN A20019 earns its price. The aluminium body, the shop history, and the consistent owner reports across years of use put it in a different category from the budget alternatives.

If price is the primary concern and your vehicle sits above 3.25 inches of ground clearance, the GAOLLY delivers similar specs for less. If your vehicle sits below 3 inches, the GAOLLY also goes lower. The ARCAN sits in the middle — not the cheapest, not the lowest, but the most proven option in this category.

Light enough to carry. Strong enough to trust. That is the short version.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and transparency: This review is based on ARCAN manufacturer specifications, professional shop feedback gathered through Hank’s mechanic network, and aggregated verified owner reports across purchase platforms — not controlled lab testing. Safety rules referenced against OSHA vehicle lifting standards. No payment received from ARCAN. Manufacturer information available at arcantools.com.

20+ Years Experience • Hydraulics and Heavy Equipment

Hank Miller

Born in Ohio’s Rust Belt. Over 20 years fixing trucks and heavy gear taught me one thing: good tools keep you safe, bad ones cost fingers. I gather intel from fellow mechanics, dig into owner data, and make the call so you know exactly what you are buying before it goes under your vehicle. Read Hank’s full story.