4' HiLift or 5 foot?

[R_Lefebvre]

Quick question. I'm picking up some stuff at a 4wd shop on Saturday (Arb bumper, etc.) and I may get a HiLift Extreme while I'm there.

I just don't know if I'm better off with a 4 foot or 5 foot model? The truck will be mild. 2" lift on 32" tires. The 5 foot is only a couple bucks more, but is it really overkill and a liability in any way?

I hate to get the 4', and find out I shoulda got the 5'. Or is it really really overkill to get the 5'?

 

[motomech]

IMO the extra foot wont hurt,and remember its not just a jack.
It's also a winch,clamp,handle can be used for other things too.
I'd say if the extra foot will not cause any storage problems id get it.

 

[Desertdude]

I've got both and its the 5' all the way - you would be using that extra foot.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Ok, the only reason I could see for getting the 4 foot is so that I can store it inside. I don't really want to store it inside anyway, so.... Unfortunately the 5 footers are backordered, so I'll have to get it another time. Too bad, 2 hour drive, so I won't be back soon.

 

[JIMBO]

:26_7_2: It's probably too late and wouldn't matter much, but--

--I've been using HiLifts, for almost 34 years , from this in 1975

--

to this, last year--

--

--I've only had two HiLifts and both were/are 48", I've never had a reason for one longer than that, had to add some extra base a couple times, but The mechanism stays in better shape, when stored INSIDE !!

--:camping: --JIMBO

 

[DaveInDenver]

I have a 48" primarily because when I bought it that was the longest that would fit where I stored it. If you can find a place to fit a 60" Hi-Lift, you will never regret the extra length.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

48" for my Taco's and Land Cruisers... never needed more. If I ever have to have anything that high, I'll stap the suspension. I suppose the 60" would be all the better for winch needs. I'll echo the others, if the 60" will fit, won't hurt.

 

[Curmudgeon]

I know I'm just repeating what's already been said numerous times, but get the 60". I have both and the 48" has been gathering dust in the corner of the shed for a number of years, unused. Better to need a 4 and have a 5 than to have a 4 and need a 5.

JP

 

[Azlugz]

T e48" Hi-lift I have will not get the Jeeps front tire off the ground so it is going in the Samurai and I picked up the new Smittybuilt taller jack for the Jeep. So far I like the smittybilt better than the hi-lift and it was a few bucks cheaper

 

[89s rule]

4' should be plenty for your rig. I really don't see how you could need that much more other than winching with only 32's. Bu tas stated above storage is probably the biggest thing. If you have the space why not.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

T e48" Hi-lift I have will not get the Jeeps front tire off the ground so it is going in the Samurai and I picked up the new Smittybuilt taller jack for the Jeep. So far I like the smittybilt better than the hi-lift and it was a few bucks cheaper

Where are you jacking from? Your roll cage? :shakin:

<insert my safety voice here>

Its my opinion that the Hi-Lift style jack should be the last jack chosen for the job. I'd much rather see a small bottle or scissor jack used underneath the axle, making exposure and "kick out" a much more unlikely issue. That being said, when using a high-lift, STRAP YOUR SUSPENSION. There is no reason you should have to lift your vehicle to the point of zero downtravel left in your axle just to swap a tire. Insane! Strap the suspension, get the tire 2-3" off the ground and limit your exposure. By strapping your suspension you only need to lift your bumper/slider hight plus ~6". Sure there are off-camber or situations where your suspension is already tweaks, those are even worse places to use a hi-lift IMO.

For those that only have space for the 48" but are worried about needing more length... I give you the Lift All Extension (patent pending).

*Modular, add as many as you need
*Allows safe jacking points, like your roof rack
*Investment cast
*Painted, so they look good
*Now shipping!

$49.99 each unk03:

(Sorry to be a smart a--, we had a very similar discussion on another forum and we all got a good chuckle out of this)

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I was thinking the highlift was mostly used to get over/around stuck situations. Wheels stuck in holes, etc. No? If it's just for changing tires, I'd think the 4' would be plenty?

As for mounting, I don't want it inside anyway, so it would stay outside, like on the bullbar, so mounting a 5' seems to not be a problem?

 

[sami]

T e48" Hi-lift I have will not get the Jeeps front tire off the ground so it is going in the Samurai and I picked up the new Smittybuilt taller jack for the Jeep. So far I like the smittybilt better than the hi-lift and it was a few bucks cheaper

Lift your vehicle correctly and safely by strapping the suspension to the frame to eliminate articulating as your vehicle raises.

I also vote 60" if you plan on using it as a winch... I usually store my highlifts inside so i go 48"

 

[madizell]

Different perspective: If 4 feet of lift won't do the job, the next foot won't either. Working with a Hi-Lift on any surface is tricky to start with, and if you really do lift a vehicle to the top of the beam, you have an accident waiting to happen.

4 feet should lift nearly anything within the load range of the jack, and if you have too much articulation to get a tire off the ground, carry a short chain so you can chain the suspension, at which point the tire will lift with the body/bumper and you will not need to lift more than 12 inches to start with. That leaves at least 3 feet of a 4 foot jack to position the assembly. If your lift point is already 3 feet off the ground before you start, you are probably not in a good place to set a jack.

I have had vehicles slide off Hi-Lift jacks frequently. They are not stable, period. A 5 foot beam only puts metal higher up on the side of your vehicle or higher on the tailgate so that when the jack does slip, the resulting gouge will be higher on the vehicle.

Anyway, I see lots of down sides to the tall jack and no up sides.

 

[FourByLand]

Different perspective: If 4 feet of lift won't do the job, the next foot won't either.

Very well put, Sir!

Which is why I cut that extra foot off, just made the thing alot easier to throw around.