Hi-lift on rear bumper

[David Harris]

Here is a pic of my Hi-lift installed on the stock rear bumper. I don't have a roof rack or strong front brush guard yet, so I mounted it here with 4xRAC mounts. It has worked well here so far, but it was a PITA to get to the nuts on the back of the bumper when I mounted it. It would be easier, maybe, to just remove the bumper and reinstall it after adding the mounts. I flip it up the other way when off-road to give a little more departure clearance. However, given the stock hitch, it doesn't decrease departure in most circumstances. I may move it to the top of the brush guard, when I install the ARB I have planned.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Well, that'll definitely deter people who park using the braille method.

 

[David Harris]

Well, that'll definitely deter people who park using the braille method.

Yes. If it doesn't also destroy my jack, then that's all right. Of course with the plastic bumper covers on most vehicles today, I think the Hi-Lift would win. It will probably miss their bumper altogether and take out their headlights.

My main concern with this location is that it will really pick-up the crud in the winter. Although, if it were on the front, the vehicles in front of me would also throw crud on it. The roof would be better, but there's no good place to mount it up there until I get my roof rack built. Maybe crossways on the factory rails? I don't know if I'd like the look of that. Inside is good in the elements, but it's a 60 inch, so I can't fit it in there without folding the seat. It gets washed with the truck, which is frequently, and I keep it well-lubed with WD-40, so I'm not really concerned about rust. I like to carry it with me full-time.

Any other ideas out there?

 

[mongosd2]

Here is a pic of my Hi-lift installed on the stock rear bumper. I don't have a roof rack or strong front brush guard yet, so I mounted it here with 4xRAC mounts. It has worked well here so far, but it was a PITA to get to the nuts on the back of the bumper when I mounted it. It would be easier, maybe, to just remove the bumper and reinstall it after adding the mounts. I flip it up the other way when off-road to give a little more departure clearance. However, given the stock hitch, it doesn't decrease departure in most circumstances. I may move it to the top of the brush guard, when I install the ARB I have planned.

seeing how you've posted this here too...that thing is 100% useless. You have no sliders or aftermarket bumpers, so you have absolutely no place to jack from...and good luck after one winter with that thing outside....

 

[cruiseroutfit]

..Inside is good in the elements, but it's a 60 inch, so I can't fit it in there without folding the seat. It gets washed with the truck, which is frequently, and I keep it well-lubed with WD-40, so I'm not really concerned about rust. I like to carry it with me full-time.

Any other ideas out there?

48" and store it inside. The only more dangerous than a Hi-Lift, is a dirty Hi-Lift. 48" is plenty for vehicles under 37" tires, simply carry a ratchet strap and make your jacking experience safer from the get go. Unloading 100% of your suspension to swap a tire for example is unsafe, thus the ratchet strap comes into play. Where will you jack from with the hi-lift? Sure there are theoretical situations where the 60" might be needed but I've personally never run into them.

 

[David Harris]

48" and store it inside. The only more dangerous than a Hi-Lift, is a dirty Hi-Lift. 48" is plenty for vehicles under 37" tires, simply carry a ratchet strap and make your jacking experience safer from the get go. Unloading 100% of your suspension to swap a tire for example is unsafe, thus the ratchet strap comes into play. Where will you jack from with the hi-lift? Sure there are theoretical situations where the 60" might be needed but I've personally never run into them.

I don't have any rock rails, etc to jack it from on the body, but plan on adding them in the future. The ARB I am adding can be used with the jack and I am going to add a new rear bumper which is Hi-Lift compatible as well. Right now, I use it to jack directly off the wheel with the Hi-Lift Jack Mate. I carry a single jack stand to support the axle while changing a tire, etc. This is safer than supporting the vehicle with the jack while changing the tire, IMO. I also don't have a winch yet, so purchased this with the winching function in mind. The 60 inch is better than the 48 inch for this. Bill Burke says that he carries his Hi-Lift on the front of the vehicle all the time, and always has for decades without any problems. Keeps it well-lubed as I do. How many really carry their Hi-Lift inside anyway?

 

[mongosd2]

I don't have any rock rails, etc to jack it from on the body, but plan on adding them in the future. The ARB I am adding can be used with the jack and I am going to add a new rear bumper which is Hi-Lift compatible as well. Right now, I use it to jack directly off the wheel with the Hi-Lift Jack Mate. I carry a single jack stand to support the axle while changing a tire, etc. This is safer than supporting the vehicle with the jack while changing the tire, IMO. I also don't have a winch yet, so purchased this with the winching function in mind. The 60 inch is better than the 48 inch for this. Bill Burke says that he carries his Hi-Lift on the front of the vehicle all the time, and always has for decades without any problems. Keeps it well-lubed as I do. How many really carry their Hi-Lift inside anyway?

wow...safe and hi-lift in the same sentence...keep it the garage until you actually have a relatively safe point to jack from, carry when you wheel and left it the garage when you don't. You've have no lift so the bottle jack will work fine if you get a flat on the road, even on a dirt road. Hi-lifts are bad news and I've put people in recuse helicopters when they almost got killed by one...

 

[David Harris]

wow...safe and hi-lift in the same sentence...keep it the garage until you actually have a relatively safe point to jack from, carry when you wheel and left it the garage when you don't. You've have no lift so the bottle jack will work fine if you get a flat on the road, even on a dirt road. Hi-lifts are bad news and I've put people in recuse helicopters when they almost got killed by one...

Got to be used with care as any tool, but can be useful when you do so. I'm well aware of the necessity of safety when using it.

Does anyone out there have any feelings on the safety of using a Jack-Mate to lift from the wheel? If used correctly, it seems pretty safe to me. As I said, I use a good jack stand under the axle when actually changing the wheel.

I know a lot of people out there don't like Hi-Lifts in general though.

 

[benlittle]

Mongo is right.

In addition, with the stock rear bumper and no lift you'll be dragging that thing over everthing. It'll act like an anchor.

Bad. Very bad.

 

[David Harris]

Mongo is right.

In addition, with the stock rear bumper and no lift you'll be dragging that thing over everthing. It'll act like an anchor.

Bad. Very bad.

Actually, the factory hitch hits first. Like I said, when I off-road, I flip it up the other way. Then, it's sticks no further down than the bottom of the bumper.

 

[mongosd2]

Got to be used with care as any tool, but can be useful when you do so. I'm well aware of the necessity of safety when using it.

Does anyone out there have any feelings on the safety of using a Jack-Mate to lift from the wheel? If used correctly, it seems pretty safe to me. As I said, I use a good jack stand under the axle when actually changing the wheel.

I know a lot of people out there don't like Hi-Lifts in general though.

dude...it's a last resort trail tool, has it's place, but not a basically stock truck. The jack mate, maybe, if your stuck in the middle of nowhere, in the mud, or in a place where you and can't use a bottle jack. You have no place on your truck to jack from even remotely safely, so put it in the garage until you do...

 

[David Harris]

dude...it's a last resort trail tool, has it's place, but not a basically stock truck. The jack mate, maybe, if your stuck in the middle of nowhere, in the mud, or in a place where you and can't use a bottle jack. You have no place on your truck to jack from even remotely safely, so put it in the garage until you do...

I also carry the bottle jack with me, and use that when conditions allow. I'm old enough to have driven cars with this sort of jack stock, and have used them many times, so I am aware of how tenuous they can be in actual use. I use the Hi-Lift with respect. I do use it as a last-resort trail tool. If nothing else it is useful as a winch, albeit slow and cumbersome one.

I think I will remove it this winter, though, unless I am off-road. Or figure a way to get it inside.

 

[Toy-Roverlander]

Can't you fit it upright on the back of the spare wheel? That's where I used to keep mine, now I've got a purpose made bracket on the hood to carry it.

I love the high-lift, has saved me many times.

This is where I used to keep it

It's quite handy as a winch, though slow to set up and use...

 

[David Harris]

Can't you fit it upright on the back of the spare wheel? That's where I used to keep mine, now I've got a purpose made bracket on the hood to carry it.

I love the high-lift, has saved me many times.

This is where I used to keep it

It's quite handy as a winch, though slow to set up and use...

Any problems with the weight of the jack breaking door hinges? I was tempted to bolt it on the spare originally. Trust me, I was aware of the limitations of putting it on the bumper from the start, as I have stated. I just have it there as a way to carry it temporarily until I have a better way.

 

[Toy-Roverlander]

My spare wheel is on a carrier, so no load on the door hinges.

I thought disco back door hinges are a bit beafier than series/defender ones. And even then, usually it's the doorframes that crack on series/defender.

I don't think it would be much of an issue on a disco.


Make sure to post up a pic of it's final location:ylsmoke: