Alternative to a High Lift jack?
- Thread starter fjatheart
- Start date
Haf-E
Expedition Leader
Exhaust filled "pillow" jacks. There are also some very nice bottle jacks which reach very high levels as they have two concentric pistons that do the lifting - the Steyr Puch Pinzgauers come with a very nice one. But they get to be as tricky/scary as a high lift when jacking up to high levels - also weigh almost as much and don't offer the range of options hi-lifts offer.
cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
x2 on the exhaust jack. I rarely pack a Hi-Lift along anymore, rather I pack along the factory Toyota bottle jack and the X-Jack.
Anyone else with an exhaust jack? What conditions are you using it in? I've heard the lift height can be insufficient sometimes.
I have a Hilift. Without sliders, or bumpers with jacking points, it isn't the best. In the wet terrain here they slip and are dangerous. I was looking at the exhaust style for the beaches maybe more.
I have a Hilift. Without sliders, or bumpers with jacking points, it isn't the best. In the wet terrain here they slip and are dangerous. I was looking at the exhaust style for the beaches maybe more.
fjatheart
Adventurer
From looking around online for reviews of the exhaust jack, there are mixed reviews. Several reviews said it took way too long to inflate, others saying it didn't work at all. Obviously, some folks might not have been using it correctly.
My Dad has a baseplate for his High Lift and it helps, but I still don't want to trust getting under a vehicle with how unstable a High Lift can be. I always recommend some more support than just the jack alone.
My Dad has a baseplate for his High Lift and it helps, but I still don't want to trust getting under a vehicle with how unstable a High Lift can be. I always recommend some more support than just the jack alone.
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1leglance
2007 Expedition Trophy Champion, Overland Certifie
I love my ARB X-jack but I use a small air compressor instead of vehicle exhaust to fill it. Better control and I can watch the lift.
As for lift height you are on 33" and I have lifted rigs on 35"' no problem. And it is soooo much more stable. Also works great on sand, mud & snow.
Off camber, yeah no trouble at all
They really are worth the money and they are dead simple to pack & use.
As for lift height you are on 33" and I have lifted rigs on 35"' no problem. And it is soooo much more stable. Also works great on sand, mud & snow.
Off camber, yeah no trouble at all
They really are worth the money and they are dead simple to pack & use.
Anyone have experience with ond of these?
http://www.radflo.com/hydra_jac.htm
http://www.radflo.com/hydra_jac.htm
Attachments
cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
Yessir, we run it on our Class 5 desert car (recently ran in the Baja 1000). It is a work of art and works very well given our limited space, need for a quick deploy and massive suspension travel, ie it has a very good lift. However our car is light, like 2200lbs total so assuming we are lifting one corner or even one complete end of the vehicle, we are well within the jacks limits and its base footprint would work (admittedly have not had to use it on snow/sand type surfaces). However on a heavy vehicle, I don't see it being that practical of an option? On a lighter full-size, I think they rock.
Welding up a hinged quick-release mount for the race car:
(Before I get scolded, I was tacking... been doing it with my "auto-dark" eyes for 15 years, I nuke with the helmet. Stupid, yes... but like a homeless man once told me, there is no life without intensity
)
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Box Rocket
Well-known member
Careful Kurt, you're gonna end up like Marc before you know it and unable to read the GPS in the race car doing stuff like that (says another guy who tack with "auto-darkening" eyes).
cruiseroutfit
Well-known member
Careful Kurt, you're gonna end up like Marc before you know it and unable to read the GPS in the race car doing stuff like that (says another guy who tack with "auto-darkening" eyes).
I know, I know... I don't do it to often and I eat lots of carrots in the meantime. I can read the GPS better from the drivers seat than Marc could
That said, his helmet visor wasn't the clearest thing 
Clutch
<---Pass
I never cared for Hi-Lifts...
http://www.off-roadweb.com/tech/1009or_baja_designs_kwik_jack/photo_06.html
Or the good ol' harbor freight aluminum floor jack, they are only $70, pull the wheels and toss on a skid.
http://www.off-roadweb.com/tech/1009or_baja_designs_kwik_jack/photo_06.html
Or the good ol' harbor freight aluminum floor jack, they are only $70, pull the wheels and toss on a skid.
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fjatheart
Adventurer
I'm liking the HF suggestion. Clever.
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montypower
Adventure Time!
I agree. I've never been a Hi-Lift Jack fan. Although, I seem to always carry one due to the lack of superior options.