Why are used factory spare tire jack kits so expensive?

Vtx531

TJ Addict
Joined
Nov 17, 2020
Messages
1,661
Location
Kalamazoo, MI
Pretty much $100+ for a used crappy factory bottle jack and lug/jack tools.

What the hell?! Who is buying these and are any of them actually selling for these prices?

I’m looking for one but not going to pay that much. It makes no sense to me why the used market is so high for these items.
 
I carry a craftsman bottle jack and I a few years ago I bought a new Mopar jack to replace one i bent the dog ears on . That was 150 plus shipping. I am not famous for being thrifty!

For a lug wrench I carry a breaker bar from harbor freight and a socket extension and a socket. I also have a harbor freight bargain torque wrench for dialing in the lugs.

One good thing about the mopar jack is it has a storage spot under the passenger seat.
 
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Right now I have a HF bottle jack that fits under the same spot and a folding 4-way lug wrench. Both of which work a lot better than the factory stuff. I just thought it would be nice to get the original parts as I am trying to return everything to stock as much as possible.

But not at those prices. I mean, come on. Every TJ that rolled off the assembly line had one of these. It’s not some highly sought after hard-to-find part. And now that thousands of TJs are succumbing to frame rot and other terminal issues...there should be a huge supply of these compared to the number of people actually looking to purchase them.
 
I found a nice guy on FB marketplace that sent me a jack kit for $35 shipped.

Everything was really dirty but it cleaned up nicely and appears to have all the pieces!

This was one of the few pieces of the puzzle that I was still missing in returning my Jeep to “stock”.

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One good thing about the mopar jack is it has a storage spot under the passenger seat.
That and the fact that they will get a 35" tire off the ground are the best features of the factory jack. One of the stages of mine stopped retracting. Happily paid whatever it was to get another one over any other options out there.
 
I may be wrong , but that Mopar jack looks identical to my stock jack in my 2500 Chevy Work Van. If it is ...those should be fairly reasonable would be my thinking.
 
I found a nice guy on FB marketplace that sent me a jack kit for $35 shipped.

Everything was really dirty but it cleaned up nicely and appears to have all the pieces!

This was one of the few pieces of the puzzle that I was still missing in returning my Jeep to “stock”.

View attachment 217727
I'm missing that rubber strap. Do you know where it goes?
 
Anybody know how the lug wrench is supposed to fit and where? I cant remember. Something to do with the little plastic clip next to the jack? That clip doesn’t seem very sturdy.

Edit: I figured it out. There was a diagram on the instructions. Doesn't’ seem right how the handle sticks out under the side of the seat though. Is it supposed to do that?

You can see my folding four-way lugwrench in the pic too. I’m going to put that in my daily driver vehicle and replace it wih the Mopar kit but it did fit nicely there in case anyone else is so inclined.

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9932F8F4-0F05-4991-88D9-73CECF785E90.jpeg
 
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I realized my jack is supposed to have the knob side up. There is a little hole in the bottom of the jack and a tab on the tub mount that goes into the hole for securement.

Fun stuff. No rusted parts, snapping off bolts, grease, oil, mud, swearing, etc...

And I lucked out because I just bought all new lug nuts. The last lug nuts that I had were a bigger wrench size but these ones fit the factory lug wrench.
 
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I can’t find it on their website but that seems like a reasonable price.

Can anyone confirm whether or not the jack handle is supposed to stick out the side from under the seat like my photo above? Seems odd

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I can’t find it on their website but that seems like a reasonable price.
When the link opens, tap “Filter”, tap the “Interior” box. 20th listing down.
You can also email them and see if they have just the pieces you need versus everything.
 
I can’t find it on their website but that seems like a reasonable price.

Can anyone confirm whether or not the jack handle is supposed to stick out the side from under the seat like my photo above? Seems odd

View attachment 217837
Mine does, not sure if it’s correct. Not sure why I leave it in there with my lift it’s worthless 😂
 
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I can’t find it on their website but that seems like a reasonable price.

Can anyone confirm whether or not the jack handle is supposed to stick out the side from under the seat like my photo above? Seems odd

View attachment 217837
My 02 has a long thin bag the handle fits in. That lays where you have that chrome wench sitting, tight up against the tub wall, under the door threshold, held in place by a couple of Velcro straps.

I believe it’s the OEM spot for the jack handle, so no, it’s not supposed to stick out from underneath the seat.