Is the Hi-Lift with a Lift-Mate any good?

[David Harris]

I mentioned I use a Lift-mate with my Hi-Lift and got some skeptical response. So I am interested to get some feedback from actual users. I haven't used mine much so far, but it seems designed well and works OK so far as I can tell. It was designed for those like me who don't have a good way to lift off of the rockers, bumpers, etc.

Any advice? I know real jacking points are the best, but this thread is about the Lift-mate per se. So keep that in mind before posting.

 

[Toy-Roverlander]

I too am interested to hear any feedback about these things.

Mine has ridiculous articulation, so it would be handy to be able to lift it from the wheel...


Spill it out jack-mate users:sombrero:

 

[Colorado David]

I think you mean Lift-Mate, the accessory for lifting from the wheel using a Hi-Lift Jack. I carry a Lift-Mate in my recovery bag and have used it to recover a pickup that was buried up to the axles. We were able to free the truck from the muck, use some shovel power, and pull the truck out. That is the only time I've used it and I used it with extreme caution. It worked as advertised. As with anything that can kill, injure, or disfigure you, use maximum caution.

 

[David Harris]

I think you mean Lift-Mate, the accessory for lifting from the wheel using a Hi-Lift Jack. I carry a Lift-Mate in my recovery bag and have used it to recover a pickup that was buried up to the axles. We were able to free the truck from the muck, use some shovel power, and pull the truck out. That is the only time I've used it and I used it with extreme caution. It worked as advertised. As with anything that can kill, injure, or disfigure you, use maximum caution.

Thank a lot for the correction on the name! Jack-mate must be the footing plate or something.

 

[Rexsname]

I have a Lift mate and while I have only used it once, it did its' job well. We needed to lift a Jeep out of a bit of a hole and there wasn't enough travel on the 60" Hi-Lift jack to pick it up. We lifted the wheel upt about 18" or so and put rocks under it. It crawled right out.


REX

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: I don't have one, my jeep has HiLift points all over ,but

I've heard nothing but GOOD about the lift-mate and you just have to be careful in HiLift placement, same as normal

Although, I can't really see the reason for one, I think-if you have an off-road vehicle and a HiLift Jack, you should have recovery/jack points for various situations !!

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO

 

[J*C*M]

:sombrero: I don't have one, my jeep has HiLift points all over ,but

I've heard nothing but GOOD about the lift-mate and you just have to be careful in HiLift placement, same as normal

Although, I can't really see the reason for one, I think-if you have an off-road vehicle and a HiLift Jack, you should have recovery/jack points for various situations !!

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO

The big argument would be if you have a lot of articulation then in some cases it would be safer to lift just the axle from the tire 15-20" rather then 45+from high lift point. Plus it would shift the weight of the vehicle less lifting from the axle.

 

[David Harris]

The big argument would be if you have a lot of articulation then in some cases it would be safer to lift just the axle from the tire 15-20" rather then 45+from high lift point. Plus it would shift the weight of the vehicle less lifting from the axle.

I carry a jack stand and some squares of heavy plywood with me so that I can use the Lift-mate to change a tire as well. Just lift wheel, put the jackstand/plywood underneath the axle, and lower the vehicle onto the jackstand. Remove the Hi-lift and change the tire. When finished, reinstall the Lift-mate and lower the vehicle with the Hi-lift. As mentioned above, you can change a tire this way without having to lift the vehicle very high off the bumpers or sliders to unweight the wheel.

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: I understand what you're saying, but

The big argument would be if you have a lot of articulation then in some cases it would be safer to lift just the axle from the tire 15-20" rather then 45+from high lift point. Plus it would shift the weight of the vehicle less lifting from the axle.

I have "Trussed" the axle on the side if the HiLift use, to gain plenty of wheel height !!

I have, besides recovery straps, "snatch" straps, ropes. I also have a short variable length chain that I've used around the axle !!

That leaves the tire area free and if the tire is (flat,blown bead,destroyed), what good will the Lift-mate do ??

:costumed-smiley-007:bike_rider: JIMBO

 

[David Harris]

That leaves the tire area free and if the tire is (flat,blown bead,destroyed), what good will the Lift-mate do ??

Read my above post (two above), about changing a flat tire with a Lift-mate.

David

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: --OK , if it works for you, thats good !!

Read my above post (two above), about changing a flat tire with a Lift-mate.

David

Good luck

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO

 

[mongosd2]

I carry a jack stand and some squares of heavy plywood with me so that I can use the Lift-mate to change a tire as well. Just lift wheel, put the jackstand/plywood underneath the axle, and lower the vehicle onto the jackstand. Remove the Hi-lift and change the tire. When finished, reinstall the Lift-mate and lower the vehicle with the Hi-lift. As mentioned above, you can change a tire this way without having to lift the vehicle very high off the bumpers or sliders to unweight the wheel.

so you need a 60" hi-lift to change a stock tire on a stock rig...it useless to even begin to discuss this with you. The Life mate was designed for off-road use, not changing tires.

 

[David Harris]

so you need a 60" hi-lift to change a stock tire on a stock rig...it useless to even begin to discuss this with you. The Life mate was designed for off-road use, not changing tires.

Well, I won't always have stock tires/lift. In a couple of weeks I am installing an Old Man Emu 3" lift and 32's. I am choosing equipment with my end build and uses in mind. Seems more efficient to me that way. If it works, why not use it that way? I thought we were having a discussion on the pluses and minuses of the Hi-Lift and accessories. I am taking your opinions into account as well, and I get your points, and thank you for them. Just because I am making my own decision on this doesn't mean that I don't respect your position.

 

[mongosd2]

You'll change your mind about the hi-lift when it releases on the down stroke for no a reason. Seen it happen to many times and with hi-lifts that were stored in the truck, in perfect shape. Buy a floor jack and use that to change your tires or work on the truck around the garage. Save the hi-lift for when you really need it



You may think I just busting your balls, but I've seen the end result of hi-lift accidents. Both times, when lowering the truck the jack released, the handle popped both guy's in the jaw. Both were shattered and one was almost ripped off... It's not pretty...

 

[David Harris]

You'll change your mind about the hi-lift when it releases on the down stroke for no a reason. Seen it happen to many times and with hi-lifts that were stored in the truck, in perfect shape. Buy a floor jack and use that to change your tires or work on the truck around the garage. Save the hi-lift for when you really need it



You may think I just busting your balls, but I've seen the end result of hi-lift accidents. Both times, when lowering the truck the jack released, the handle popped both guy's in the jaw. Both were shattered and one was almost ripped off... It's not pretty...

Points taken. I use a nice 3 ton floor jack for all maintenance, etc. I agree on safety and you could probably write a book on the number of Hi-Lift accidents that could happen. A lot of these happen because someone just bought the jack and tried to use it without proper understanding or training. For instance, if you watch Bill Burke's training, he recommends keeping your hands on the handle with your weight behind it throughout the jacks movement, just in case it releases suddenly. Of course, stay out from under the vehicle while jacking just in case. I do this with my floor jack as well as any other jack.