LexFinally

Found this out the hard way last night. I've dealt with the dinky little scissors jack equipment on lots of modern cars, but this one takes the cake. The handle fit so poorly into the jack that it fell out on nearly every turn, and the bad design caused it to need constant removal anyway because it didn't quite take the mechanism 180 degrees, leaving it constantly out of position. My brother is an experienced and equipped mechanic, and it took him half an hour to do a straight tire change on level ground in a parking lot. It's the worst factory jack hardware I've ever seen.

My question for this august group: Anybody know of compact-sized aftermarket jack hardware that's better?

dklanecky1

I just toss an old cheap ratchet with the proper socket size, in the trunk, and toss the supplied "handle" in the recycle bin.

LexFinally

That solves the dinky jack handle part, which (yes) was yet another irritant. Now for the jack.

mikemu30

I call roadside assistance. End of worries.

bc6152

AAA

mikemu30

exactly. Cant remember last time I touched a jack.

E46CT

in my experience, they're poor on every car. even the germans. no manufacturer really wants to spend money on those things. pennies if possible. maybe a buck? that's why they're very poor quality. made in the boat loads out of the minimal materials and design possible.

IF you use it, make sure you're on completely flat stable ground and your limbs are not anywhere near where they can be crushed. put the old wheel underneath until the new wheel is secured.

mikemu30

The other answer is be thankful Lexus provides a spare and jack instead of a fix a flat kit like many cars come with these days.

E46CT

Honestly toyota probably just includes a jack to streamline and save money because of corolla, camry, avalon etc. makes sense to order 30,000 pcs of jack vs. an order of 15,000 pcs of jack vs 15,000 fix a flat kits. LOL.

in other words doubt this is out of the goodness of their hearts. we get what makes the most $en$e

RKF350

Haven’t used a jack in years.

I couldn’t even tell you what the Jack was like in my 2018 ES.

Our new 2022 NX has run flats. Jack and tools do not come with the NX.

LexFinally

I agree 100% about appreciating the fact that there's a spare tire at all instead of run-flats or a can of sealant.

I hear all of you about AAA. But what AAA can't do for me is save me if I'm on a long road trip and I have an accident like I just had, where a road hazard takes out the tire AND the wheel. AAA can change the tire and then tell me, "Welp, enjoy driving 300 miles at 50 mph or until the differential burns up / the tire blows out from exceeding the temporary spare tire's recommendation, whichever comes first!"

I think I'm gonna get a real wheel and tire for the trunk now. (I sized it; it'll fit.)

mikemu30

Oh yeah I have no thought that Toyota is being loyal to its customers. But still a benefit for us.

Danno1958

Bought this a while back and love it. Portable, powerful, and motorized. Centered at the proper lifting points, it picks up one whole end of the car without problem.

bc6152

The alternative to carrying a spare is using run flat tires which are very expensive to replace, extremely hard, and you feel every pebble in the road. I'll keep the spare and use the rest of my covered road service compliments of Toyota then AAA... Took the locking lug nuts off too...

mikemu30

The dreaded locking nuts - I also removed from my car and my wife's!