I would try the stock jack out to just see how it works. A lot of the time the stock jack works just fine. Plus it has a nice storage place. If you want more pick up a 6 ton bottle jack. As for brand name, it's hard to say as most are made overseas now and its a crap shoot. They run about $20. You might look at the mini floor jack that come in a plastic case. Takes up more room, but nothing like NOT having to slide under a wet truck to place the jack
Hi-Lift or jack for heavy vehicles?
- Thread starter ExpoMike
- Start date
Dave Bennett
Adventurist
Yeah, ask Dave how he likes it currently.From what I gathered, he didn't care for it much but can't recall why.
Thanks to everyone with comment regarding using a Hi-Lift. Looking at my planning stage for space use and needed to know if the Hi-Lift will work or if I needed something else bigger/beefier.
There are situations where the X Jack might be helpful like in the sand and such. I did find out that it doesnt always have the juice te get that last few inches you need depending on how the big orange balloon deflects around what you have it on. I now carry both the X Jack and the HiLift. The X Jack wouldn't do squat on Mikes 1010 IMO.
CoronaKJ
Adventurer
I like the idea of 4x4 cribbing and bottle jack....at work we have also used low pressure air bags with a 4x4 cribbed base to extend the lift but to carry one take up quite-a-bit of room....all that said highlifts work very well when handled properly and provide more than just lifting capabilities.
Spikepretorius
Explorer
I use a regular hydraulic bottle jack and keep a few short offcuts of scaffold planks to use as spacers if needed.
I've had an air bag for many years but it's a seldom used passenger.
I also had a high lift jack for many years. Never used. Not once. I gave it away to a friend who was leaving on an expedition.
Murphy's Law kicked in and soon after that I desperately needed one in a hectic recovery situation and promptly got a replacement high lift jack.
Summary:
Must have- Bottle jack for normal wheel changes.
Nice to have- Air bag is handy in specific situations. Not a necessity
Nice to have- High lift is handy in some situations, and is a life saver in some recovery situations. However it needs supplementary equipment, needs skill to use it, can damage your vehicle, is very heavy.
I've had an air bag for many years but it's a seldom used passenger.
I also had a high lift jack for many years. Never used. Not once. I gave it away to a friend who was leaving on an expedition.
Murphy's Law kicked in and soon after that I desperately needed one in a hectic recovery situation and promptly got a replacement high lift jack.
Summary:
Must have- Bottle jack for normal wheel changes.
Nice to have- Air bag is handy in specific situations. Not a necessity
Nice to have- High lift is handy in some situations, and is a life saver in some recovery situations. However it needs supplementary equipment, needs skill to use it, can damage your vehicle, is very heavy.
cellularsteve2
Adventurer
Bottle jack or floor jack for changing tires.
Hi-lift with wheel lift accessory for lifting up tires to put rocks underneath.
Hi-lift with wheel lift accessory for lifting up tires to put rocks underneath.
Never seen one of those, we just run a strap under the axle to the frame holes before jacking. But normally your pulling the tire. If I'm driving a stock rig I stack as I go. In my Scout stacking is a nono. You just need to pick a different line :0
Not sure I could get the strap through the rim,as I have big brakes.
Not sure I could get the strap through the rim,as I have big brakes.
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cellularsteve2
Adventurer
yeah, it is well worth having in the toolbag. this is the main reason I use the hilift on the van.
scarysharkface
Explorer
The wheel-lift accessory looks great. I might *need* to acquire a Hi-Lift after all.. 
John
John
dzzz
™
The blocking/cribbing for heavier vehicle takes more space/weight/thought than the actual jacking device. I've been working on what I need for a medium duty truck and I need another truck to carry it all.
Bottle jacks for a high lift vehicle require a lot of cribbing. I would use a high-lift jack unless it was unsafe. But I'm certainly no expert.
WILLD420
Observer
A hi-lift is most useful when stuck or having a flat in a bad spot. I carry a 4 ton bottle jack with a couple 2x4's and a hi-lift jack. If I have an issue with a tire on good hard ground, I normally use the bottle jack. If it's soft ground, I often jack a bunch of the weight off the tire with the hi-lift, then throw the bottle jack under the axle and get the tire high enough to work on.
A hi-lift (Real one, not the Cheapo Chinese versions) jack is very capable of lifting more weight than you will ever want to lift with it. I've lifted in excess of 10K lbs with one on several occasions. It took all of my 240lbs on the end of the handle to lift the weight. It shortens their service life, but it works and if you are careful it's fairly safe. Just make sure that you remove the handle clip and handle when you are at the height you want. The last thing you want is for the pin to slip and that handle to go beating around looking for something to kill with that much weight on it.
For lighter loads, I leave the handle clip in and use it like you are supposed to.
Stay away from the 20K and up bottle jacks unless you have a semi truck. You don't need all that bulk or weight to lift your rig. A good 6 ton jack will lift anything you want on a rig that grosses 10K total weight since that weight is usually spread around to 4 tires.
A couple 2x4's are more useful than a 4x4 block since you can stack them at your needs, vs having to dig into pavement if your 4x4 block is too tall.
A hi-lift (Real one, not the Cheapo Chinese versions) jack is very capable of lifting more weight than you will ever want to lift with it. I've lifted in excess of 10K lbs with one on several occasions. It took all of my 240lbs on the end of the handle to lift the weight. It shortens their service life, but it works and if you are careful it's fairly safe. Just make sure that you remove the handle clip and handle when you are at the height you want. The last thing you want is for the pin to slip and that handle to go beating around looking for something to kill with that much weight on it.
For lighter loads, I leave the handle clip in and use it like you are supposed to.
Stay away from the 20K and up bottle jacks unless you have a semi truck. You don't need all that bulk or weight to lift your rig. A good 6 ton jack will lift anything you want on a rig that grosses 10K total weight since that weight is usually spread around to 4 tires.
A couple 2x4's are more useful than a 4x4 block since you can stack them at your needs, vs having to dig into pavement if your 4x4 block is too tall.
dzzz
™
Plenty of people here with vehicles in the 15K-30K lb range. Bottle jacks and lots of cribbing is probably the most common way to go. Airbags if affordable may be the best/safest.
bobcat charlie
Adventurer
For years I've carried a short length of 3/8" chain with a 1/2" open center links. On one end is a shallow "L" shaped piece of 4"L X 1/4"T X 1 1/2" W steel with a 1/2" hole to bolt to the chain, and a 9/16" hole in the other end to fit a wheel lug. When I end up with a wheel digging a hole, I remove the top lug nut, slide the shallow "L" 9/16" hole over the stud, re-apply the lug nut. Move in the High Lift Jack, attach the chain end of the chain/shallow "L" bracket to the end of the High Lift Jack paw with a 1/2" bolt (there is already a 1/2" hole in the end of the jack paw) and jack up the wheel, filling the hole under the wheel with rocks/limbs etc. I have used this many times since the mid '70's. The 'official' High Lift strap and hook arrangement to attach to the wheel just speeds up the process.
BTW, I have added the High Lift strap/hook to my kit but I still have my chain/bracket!
BTW, I have added the High Lift strap/hook to my kit but I still have my chain/bracket!
