Jacks fior Changing Tires etc.
- Thread starter Grouseman
- Start date
Jonathan Hanson
Well-known member
Grouseman, the Hi-Lift jack - that is, the actual brand and model; there are several copies around - is an essential piece of kit for off-road exploration. It can be used for recovery, e.g. to jack up the vehicle and put traction aids under a spinning or unloaded tire or to actually shove the vehicle off the jack sideways to reach firmer ground, and as a winch in a pinch. Most people spring for the all-cast model instead of the cast and stamped version.
But frankly I find the Hi-Lift a pain for most simple tire changes - just too big and awkward. I carry a heavy duty (three-ton?) KYB bottle jack for that purpose, along with a base for soft surfaces.
But frankly I find the Hi-Lift a pain for most simple tire changes - just too big and awkward. I carry a heavy duty (three-ton?) KYB bottle jack for that purpose, along with a base for soft surfaces.
david despain
Adventurer
be careful
Grouseman,
while i have no idea about your prior experience and i definitly dont want you to think im coming off as judgmental it appears from your initial post that you have not used the Hi-Lift before or at least very often. So the one thing you should keep in mind is that these type of jacks can have the potential to be very dangerous if used improperly. when the handle is not fully up all the weight of the truck is in your hand and if the "ratchet" mechanism that allows you to keep pumping the handle to raise and lower the truck should malfunction and you let go of the handle it could wack you pretty good. you (meaning anyone that hasnt got a lot of practice) really should use the jack often enough to stay familiar and comfortable with it before u need it in the woods or desert or whatever. there are a number of offroad training resourses out there that cover its use very well. i think scott has done some reviews of some of them on his website. oh yes here they are http://www.expeditionswest.com/resources/resource_reviews/index.html
the bill burke stuff is reported as some of the best out there.
the hi-lifts need to be taken care of (cleaned and lubed) and used regularly
so that jack and its user can be effective when they are really needed. also they wont do you much good if you dont have a good spot on your bumper, sliders, wheels, etc to jack from. i always see some soccer mom with plastic bumpers front and rear with a hi-lift in the roof basket and wonder how they are ever going to use it let alone get it down from there with out the step ladder they used to mount it in the first place.
here is some more good info about use and products of the hi-lift jack https://www.expeditionexchange.com/hilift/
sorry if you knew this already but im sure someone reading this thread doesn't and it might get some good discusion going.
Grouseman,
while i have no idea about your prior experience and i definitly dont want you to think im coming off as judgmental it appears from your initial post that you have not used the Hi-Lift before or at least very often. So the one thing you should keep in mind is that these type of jacks can have the potential to be very dangerous if used improperly. when the handle is not fully up all the weight of the truck is in your hand and if the "ratchet" mechanism that allows you to keep pumping the handle to raise and lower the truck should malfunction and you let go of the handle it could wack you pretty good. you (meaning anyone that hasnt got a lot of practice) really should use the jack often enough to stay familiar and comfortable with it before u need it in the woods or desert or whatever. there are a number of offroad training resourses out there that cover its use very well. i think scott has done some reviews of some of them on his website. oh yes here they are http://www.expeditionswest.com/resources/resource_reviews/index.html
the bill burke stuff is reported as some of the best out there.
the hi-lifts need to be taken care of (cleaned and lubed) and used regularly
so that jack and its user can be effective when they are really needed. also they wont do you much good if you dont have a good spot on your bumper, sliders, wheels, etc to jack from. i always see some soccer mom with plastic bumpers front and rear with a hi-lift in the roof basket and wonder how they are ever going to use it let alone get it down from there with out the step ladder they used to mount it in the first place.
here is some more good info about use and products of the hi-lift jack https://www.expeditionexchange.com/hilift/
sorry if you knew this already but im sure someone reading this thread doesn't and it might get some good discusion going.
Last edited:
BajaTaco
Swashbuckler
Grouseman said:
Yes, I use the Hi-Lift jack also. Jonathan and David have provided some really thoughtful commentary that sums it up pretty well. I'll just add that in my particular case, I have been able to utilize the Hi-Lift in a way that makes it just as convenient for me as a bottle jack or floor jack can be. I have the jack mounted on the exterior of the vehicle, on the side of the roof rack within easy reach. So I can have it removed from the vehicle and ready for use sometimes as fast or faster than someone can unpack a bottle jack out of it's stow compartment or container inside the vehicle. I mounted the jack using the "Loc-Rac" mounting system.
David mentioned keeping the jack clean and lubricated. I am able to keep mine that way by using a jack cover made by Hi-Lift. It doesn't look as cool as a bare jack does, but it functions very well for it's intended purpose. When using the jack on the trail, I often get comments as to what good condition the jack is in.
As David mentioned, good mounting points for the jack are essential. I am lucky enough to have custom front and rear bumpers, as well as rock sliders down the sides of the truck. So once I have the jack off of the rack, it's only a matter of seconds before I can be lifting up any corner or side of the vehicle. This makes a huge difference in safety and convenience. To make things even better, I am using a new product by WabFab that is a Hi-Lift jack adapter that securely fits the tongue of the jack onto any round tubing. When I first heard of the product, I didn't really think it was that big of a deal (since I had used my jack for so long without one). But once I actually had the product in hand, and saw how it worked in person, I realized I had underestimated it's value. It's just plain cool. It makes the jack tongue very stable (I tried to shake the jack side-to-side to get the tongue to slide and it wouldn't budge), and a benefit I didn't realize until I used it is that it allows the tongue to be safely used on tubing that is very close to body sheetmetal. (see 3rd pic below). Here are a few pics that I took of the WabFab adapter...
Another jack that I recently got to try is the Bushranger X-Jack from ARB. This jack is really easy to use and has a tube that connects to your exhaust pipe with a heat-proof plastic cone. The exhaust gas from your engine inflates the jack (which is a heavy duty bag) and raises the vehicle. This is an ideal jack for sand and dune driving.
david despain
Adventurer
man that round tube adapter is a great idea and looks like it works really well. im really liking that thing more and more as i sit here admiring it
flyingwil
Supporting Sponsor - Sierra Expeditions
BajaTaco said:
ARB Bushranger Jack has it limits to heights (about 30 inches), but is an excellent option. I will have a review of that upcoming soon too.
Attached are a few pictures from Playing with the X-Jack:
Scott- Explaining how it works...
Hooked up to the exhaust of the BajaTaco...
Beginning to inflate, and ensuring protective cover it placed properly...
Going up...
Starting to lift vehicle's weight...
Still going...
Fully inflated...
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The BN Guy
Expedition Leader
Could the ARB jack be placed under an axle? I have revolvers on the rear and it flexes like crazy so I need to lift the axle instead of just the body/frame.
FortyMileDesert
Adventurer
Jonathan Hanson said:
Unless you are really doing something extreme; save your money. I'm at about 75 expeditions off-road in northern Nevada and the Sierras now - - I have yet to see a Hi-Lift used for anything. A couple guys in our club carry them but it's more because they got them for free than any useful purpose. Better to have some good recovery points, some straps, shackles and a second rig along.
Ursidae69
Traveller
FortyMileDesert said:
They may not be used often, I've had to change a flat only once. However, I'd test to see if your regular jack can lift your vehicle before you make a decision to not get the jack. If someone has even the mildest lift/tire combo, most stock jacks won't lift it. Hate to be stuck with a flat someplace because I didn't buy a 50 dollar jack.
Life_in_4Lo
Explorer
The hi-lift scares me. Got to respect it for sure, it can kick back on you if you use it improperly or slip into the body. However, on uneven terrain, you need something that can jack up pretty high. Bottle jack, in my case, doesn't come close.
If you jack up from the slider (wabfab adapter wabfab.com is great). A trick I learned is to strap the axle to the frame before you lift, so you dont have to jack up as far.
Hi-lift is very flexible (can be used for several purposes and also at all sides of the vehicle) so it is good for many situations you may get into.
I played with the xjack airbag too- I like it and want one! We tested by placing under the rear axle and it lifted it pretty good.
One thing to note, the FZJ80 exhaust tip has a beveled cut. The xjack needs a straight cut exhaust tip to seal up well. It was a problem w/ the 80's tip- easy fix tho.
I think the xjack is a good addition to the hi-lift and not a replacement for it. Do you guys agree? I plan on adding to my recovery gear at some point.
If you jack up from the slider (wabfab adapter wabfab.com is great). A trick I learned is to strap the axle to the frame before you lift, so you dont have to jack up as far.
Hi-lift is very flexible (can be used for several purposes and also at all sides of the vehicle) so it is good for many situations you may get into.
I played with the xjack airbag too- I like it and want one! We tested by placing under the rear axle and it lifted it pretty good.
One thing to note, the FZJ80 exhaust tip has a beveled cut. The xjack needs a straight cut exhaust tip to seal up well. It was a problem w/ the 80's tip- easy fix tho.
I think the xjack is a good addition to the hi-lift and not a replacement for it. Do you guys agree? I plan on adding to my recovery gear at some point.
BajaTaco
Swashbuckler
Life_in_4Lo said:
Yes, I agree. As I mentioned - especially if I were doing a sand or snow trip I would love to have the X-jack along. It would just be so convenient. Even on regular dirt trails and such, I think it would be great especially for folks who don't have good jacking points around the vehicle. Wil is right about the height limitation, so that is something to consider when you decide where to place the jack. LI4L, that is a great tip about strapping the axle.
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