Automotive · Head-to-head
OTC 12-Ton Jack Stands (S012) vs Torin BIG RED Double Locking Jack Stands, 2 Ton (T42002A)
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Jack Stands: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The S012 removes the pawl entirely: a solid steel pin drops through the base tube and the support column, so there is no tooth to slip. It costs more and starts at 17-1/2 inches, which is too tall for a low car, but for a truck or SUV it is the least clever mechanism in the group and that is exactly the point.
OTC 12-Ton Jack Stands (S012)
Buy itA pin type stand with no ratchet pawl anywhere in the load path, a broad welded base, and a printed ASME PASE-2019 statement.
- Single pin style adjustment with 12 locking positions, so there is no pawl that can sit on a tooth tip.
- Formed and welded steel base with a 12-1/8 by 10-7/8 inch plus sign footprint, the widest in this group.
- OTC prints "Meets ASME PASE-2019 safety standards for stands" on the product listing and backs it with the OTC lifetime warranty.
- Minimum height of 17-1/2 inches puts it out of reach for most sedans and low crossovers.
- A listed weight of 27.8 pounds makes it awkward to slide into place and to store.
- OTC lists the capacity as "Sold as a pair. Capacity: 12-ton" without spelling out a per stand figure on the page.
Torin BIG RED Double Locking Jack Stands, 2 Ton (T42002A)
Buy itThe cheap ratchet stand done properly: a separate locking pin sits behind the pawl so one failure mode does not become a collapse.
- Adds an independent locking pin on top of the ratchet pawl, which is the specific redundancy the 2020 recalls were missing.
- Torin prints "Complies with ASME PASE-2019 Safety Standard" and states the load capacity as 2 Ton (4,400 lb) each rather than burying it in a per pair figure.
- At 5.3 pounds each and 10.8 inches at the lowest setting, it fits under cars that a 12 ton stand will never get near.
- The 7.1 by 6.3 inch base is small, so soft asphalt, gravel and any slope are genuinely off limits.
- A 2 ton rating is thin once you account for how makers limit the pair, and it is metric tonnes rather than short tons.
- 10 ratchet levels between 10.8 and 16.5 inches means the working height is fixed in fairly coarse jumps.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| OTC 12-Ton Jack Stands (S012) Our pick | Torin BIG RED Double Locking Jack Stands, 2 Ton (T42002A) | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Truck, van and SUV owners who want the simplest possible locking mechanism and have the height clearance to use it. | Compact and midsize car owners doing brake jobs and oil changes on a flat concrete floor. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
| Stated capacity | 12 ton, listed as sold as a pair | 2 ton (4,400 lb) each |
| Locking mechanism | Single pin, 12 positions | Ratchet pawl plus separate locking pin |
| Lift range | 17-1/2 in to 27-1/2 in | 10.8 in to 16.5 in |
| Base footprint | 12-1/8 in x 10-7/8 in, plus sign flat base | 7.1 in x 6.3 in |
| Saddle | Flat top horseshoe | 3 in x 1 in notched |
| Construction | Formed and welded steel, baked enamel | Robotic welded steel |
| Stated standard | Meets ASME PASE-2019 | Complies with ASME PASE-2019 |
| Weight and warranty | 27.8 lb listed, OTC lifetime warranty | 5.3 lb each, warranty not stated |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the OTC 12-Ton Jack Stands (S012) if
truck, van and SUV owners who want the simplest possible locking mechanism and have the height clearance to use it.
Know before buying: minimum height of 17-1/2 inches puts it out of reach for most sedans and low crossovers.
Pick the Torin BIG RED Double Locking Jack Stands, 2 Ton (T42002A) if
compact and midsize car owners doing brake jobs and oil changes on a flat concrete floor.
Know before buying: the 7.1 by 6.3 inch base is small, so soft asphalt, gravel and any slope are genuinely off limits.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the OTC 12-Ton Jack Stands (S012) - A pin type stand with no ratchet pawl anywhere in the load path, a broad welded base, and a printed ASME PASE-2019 statement. Choose the Torin BIG RED Double Locking Jack Stands, 2 Ton (T42002A) instead if compact and midsize car owners doing brake jobs and oil changes on a flat concrete floor.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Jack Stands: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).