LR3 - off road jack options and techniques

[brickpaul65]

I am curious what jacks people are using/recommend for any needed trail repairs.

I was considering a Hi-lift but I have never used one and do not know how well it works with the LR3. I do have tactical rover's sliders with nerf bars installed. Are those a lift point? In my head I picture the wheel adapter and some cribbing would be the way to go. I have lifting experience in rescue operations but that is a bit different (body damage not a concern and typically on a road way etc.).

Just open to any advice from people who have had to actually use their jacks on the trail etc.

Paul

 

[JAK]

I have a Hi-Lift for my LR3 and have used it several times. Even with my Rover specialties sliders which are similar to the Tactical Rover's I have had challenges in getting the Hi-Lift to work well as I have scratched my doors. Even when I use the Hi-Lift load spreader the jack still pulls into the truck sometimes. I suspect it is the round nerf tubing that causes my issues. I have used the Hi-Lift on the back bumper and both sliders with no major safety or recovery issues. I also carry an X-Jack which is does a much better job in most cases and works well under the sliders or the front skids. I have inflated that using the exhaust from the LR3 by plugging up one of the outlets. The disadvantage with the X-Jack is that sometimes it simply does not fit where you need it.

Jeremy

 

[morrisdl]

I have the same experiences with x-jack and hi-lifts. I prefer the xjack, but always have inflated it off my air compressor. I cut off my tailpipes just in front of the rear axle, so thats not a good inflation option for me. Plus I never liked the idea of exhaust smell in the truck after using it. I feel like the xjack is muck more stable.

 

[brickpaul65]

That is good to know. I am looking into one of the viair compressors (debating the 300p or the 450PA - continuous duty is nice but likely holy unnecessary for 275/65 18's). So an xjack could be a nice addition. I know load shifting under airbags can be an issue. However, I am mostly thinking flat tire changes etc.

Paul

 

[brickpaul65]

Thank you both. Any good vendors for an xjack? Thinking christmas request.

 

[morrisdl]

I got mine on Amazon - was a good deal at the time. Not so much now:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RY5NTK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01

I had a cheap harbor freight 12v compressor and recently the ARB CKMA12 Air Compressor - both fill the xjack no problem.

 

[perkj]

I use the Safe Jack (http://safejacks.com/collections/bo...ack-bottle-jack-recovery-kit-with-bottle-jack) with the base plate combo kit (http://safejacks.com/collections/bottle-jack-accessories/products/bottle-jack-baseplate-combo) and then match that with their compact jack stand kit (http://safejacks.com/products/8-x-10-compact-jack-stand-kit)

 

[Bigunit]

X2. I also use the Safe Jack and one of their jack stands and a 3 ton Powerbilt truck Lift Jack. I believe in redundancy on the trails when it comes to off road jacks. http://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/Pow...earch&gslfah&gclid=CNn0iKmzickCFVJlfgod5lgNmw

 

[perkj]

I agree with the redundancy for jacks and in addition to the Safe Jack items in my previous post, I also carry a hi-lift with the Safe Jack Hi-Lift Stabilizer Base Plate (http://safejacks.com/collections/frontpage/products/safe-jack-stabilizer-lift-jack-stabilizer-48in)

 

[A.J.M]

Hi lift jack onto my sliders. Opened the door wide open to stop the jack hitting the car and hooked it onto the tree slider.

Took 2 of us to lift the D3 properly but it was rather loaded as it was running support truck for 5 Defender's. Front left blew out on a off road trail with such a bang, my tdi driving mate 30 metres behind heard it over the sound of his car.

 

[zelatore]

I too use a hi-lift on Tactical sliders or my ARB front bumper/custom rear bumper (in receiver hitch - not great as i have to have the swing-outs open). It has all the usual worries that come with a Hi-lift but so far I've not damaged anything. I do try to put something between it and the door if lifting on the sliders but a major issue would probably still result in a dent. So far so good though.

Regarding on-board air, I mounted the Viair dual 400 kit in the empty cubby box on the driver's side of the engine bay. Excellent fit, good price, and nice and fast.

morrisdl - how do you like the cut-off exhaust? I did it on mine, cutting it off after the first muffler and before the big resonator, and ended up melting some of my air lines where they run behind the heat shields toward the rear diff. I also found I didn't care for the sound - it wasn't particularly loud but it also wasn't particularly good sounding and it droned on the highway. I ended up putting the exhaust back on despite really wanting to get rid of all that low hanging stuff down there.

 

[morrisdl]

Nobody but me notices the slightly increased throaty sounds. I can only hear the 5% increase with the windows down. Its great for extra ground clearance and I have had no issues with state inspections.

Thats a great idea about opening the door - wish I had thought of that. I used my son's pillow to protect my door and got in a little trouble with the wife about the mud.

 

[zelatore]

Did you cut it before or after the 'turtle', the big resonator? I went before and just put a couple turn downs on. Like I said though, I ended up melting the intake and exhaust plastic air lines to the compressor where they cross at the back of the tunnel.

I liked not having the low hanging exhaust under the diff and loosing the 'turtle', but found I just couldn't run that way. I melted them twice!

 

[nwoods]

I used a fairly large bottle jack and an 18" square of 3/4" plywood as a base in my LR3. The plywood was painted red, and had a rope handle on it to pull out of mud or sand if it got buried. I ended up using that plywood base plate for all sorts of things on the trail, and only needed the jack once, but it was infinitely better than the OEM scissor widow-maker.

 

[nwoods]

On tires, I had a VIAIR 400C mounted into the spare battery compartment under the hood. Worked pretty well for those smaller 32" tires.