Hi-Lift accessory review on OT&T

[mjmcdowell]

hi-lift accessorey.......

Oh please.. recovery bling.. use your head , think, this is useless recovery crap for the well equipt mall cruiser... come on.... :sombrero: mjmcdowell

 

[cactusjk]

Any pictures and parts you used for the conversion? Prefer SS and a good source for the parts. Thanks

I replaced the bolts securing the cables to the base with clevis pins and clips; this eases quick storage, and I can deploy the base alone when I want. I found the Safe Jack easier to store than my old ORB plastic base, which was definitely lighter but also bulkier. It would be easy to bolt to a roll cage or rear tire carrier/rack with wing nuts.

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Any pictures and parts you used for the conversion? Prefer SS and a good source for the parts. Thanks

Sure:



These are stainless items, a bit long but I had them on hand. Any hardware store should carry them. I think these are 5/16ths diameter. They fit perfectly through the bushing you can see under the cable, which was on the stock bolt.

 

[teotwaki]

http://www.overlandexpo.com/overland-tech-travel/2012/12/15/transform-your-hi-lift-jack.html

If you have a High Lift jack, be sure to read Jonathan Hanson's review of the Bogart Manufacturing Safe Jack accessory.

The review is published on Jonathan's Overland Tech and Travel blog. OT&T has become a must-read site for overland travelers.

I would agree with one of the replies at that site that the cable adjustment device looks like it interferes with a complete stroke. I would add that it also gets in the way of using a handle keeper.

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Hey Jim,

The top connector does not interfere with a full stroke of the jack handle (if it did the thing would not work at all). It does preclude the use of a handle keeper while it is in place, so while you are using the device you need to employ something else if you want to leave the jack and secure the handle vertically. I haven't faced that issue; if I did I'd simply dedicate a loop of One Wrap or a short bungee to use as a keeper. The top connector comes off for storage, so it's not in the way then.

The fact that the top connector doesn't let the handle hit the main jack beam could be considered a safety factor on its own - as you know, one of the risks of Hi-Lift use if you don't pay attention is pinching a thumb or fingers between the handle and beam while stroking. This prevents that, although you could still get pinched if your hand on the handle was in exactly the wrong spot and hit the device itself. Again, not something I've run into.

 

[teotwaki]

Hi Jonathon!

Maybe it is the definition of "full" stroke that we need to explore? To me it means that the handle can go fully vertical and parallel to the main beam. Are you thinking that it is at whatever point in the upswing that the rachet (?) mechanism "clicks", locking the lifter one notch upwards on the bar? That could be anywhere in the 90 degree swing of the arm depending on how worn or how "sticky" the mechanism is.

As the lifter mechanism is moving higher and higher, the guy wire tensioner is going to be further into the arc of the arm as it travels towards vertical, right? That means it would limit the swing of the arm more and more. This would happen sooner with a 48" Hi Lift than a 60".

I have already envisioned a better tensioner for this application that would be less intrusive. Have to figure out how to draw it. :elkgrin:

 

[Jonathan Hanson]

Jim, yes, absolutely, I consider a full stroke the minimum needed to engage the lifting pin to the next slot; don't see why you'd want to go further.

Interesting, your theory that the handle would be obstructed near the very top of the climb. I haven't gone that high yet, but I'll try it.