I would like to buy myself (greedy, I know) a transmission jack that I can use under my new lift for an after Christmas gift to myself. (Very greedy pig!) My wife gave me ,for my birthday last week, a Harbor Freight $100 gift card and my son handed me one as well. Nice surprise gifts! I've also got a gift card from work for a small amount that I'm hauling around in my wallet. I noticed in the latest H.F. ad on line they sell a rugged looking one for around the 4-500 dollar range. It's got good reach and lots of adjustments to the angles. Anybody on the H.A.M.B. have a track record with one. I'm a weekend wrench and probably will only pull 2 transmissions a year and would let my pals use it when needed. I don't require a $2,000 pro unit but I need one with some 6 foot of reach.
I traded about a 1/3 jug of R22 freon for that 100 buck HF jack and it works great. I use an impact to raise and lower it. No problems so far and its been used many times.
You will use it more than you realize. The one I use is an AC Delco sold by Oriellys auto parts. Cost around 700 bucks.
Don't know about the $500 one, but the $200 one is junk, someone got me one for x-mas a few years back, it SUCKS.... look on Craigslist and get a good one used, you can rebuild the cylinder if need be, but will be better off in the long run.
The Jalopy Journal
