jacks
 

i've had to use my stock car jack before in my driveway in it was the biggest pain. if i ever got a flat on the highway, the last thing i would want is that pos. do ya'll still have those in the trunk in case of an emergency, or is there a portable hydraulic one i could buy?

I agree with you 100% that the 'emergency' jacks in cars are total junk.
I helped a lady change a tire on a Tarus and her jack bowed under the weight of the car.
I found out that thru the mid-80s Mazda pick up trucks came with a jack that has a gear reducer and a nice wide base. I got 2 of them from a local junkyard.
The gearing is great, I don't even have to put in the crank handle to lift my Yota truck, just turn the screw by hand.