newbie hi lift questions

[neverestablished]

So im just starting out and plan on using a hi lift with the off road kit as my primary recovery tool for a while (hopefully wont get stuck too much). I assume for winching a, 60" jack would be better, but is there any difference between the cast/steel, all cast, and extreme jacks? And i saw a smittibuilt(sp?) one somewhere as well. The extreme has an eye for chain at the top, but the load rating is the same. So which one?

Also the off road kit claims to have everything needed to winch with a hi lift but it doesent seem to have any chain to winch along. What other supplies to i need?

Anything else i should consider?

 

[alexrex20]

the Hi-Lift Xtreme has a winching provision that raises the capacity to 5klb.

 

[LakeErieYJ]

The extreme also has ajacking weight rating of 10ton, where as my regular hi-lift was only 7ton.

Over-all id say my Extreme jack is built far superior to my old one, everything just seems to work better, and look to be better built.

 

[Clark White]

I've done a few winching operations with my high lift (my personal opinion is it's the most versatile recovery tool we have). You will need something to connect to the vehicle (chain being preferable since it won't stretch) and something to connect to your anchor (again chain being best). However, I've never had chain and have always used straps. Straps work fine, it just takes longer since you lose some distance with the stretch. The problem I find with chains is their heavy to carry and it's not practical to carry enough for the whole hi-lift winching (though having at least one is still a good idea).

Probably the most common use (for me at least) for the hi-lift is jacking up the vehicle then pushing it off the hi-lift to get the tires where they have better traction. Obviously you need to be VERY careful doing that, but I have done it hundreds of times and never had a mishap.

Clark

 

[michaelgroves]

I've always been a fan of High-lift jacks, but I must say I am rethinking my position. What I don't like about them is that they are:

• Dangerous
• Heavy
• Hard to stow
• Hard to keep clean
• Unreliable/ineffective when they are dirty
• Versatile, but don't do anything well.

Yes, it does the work of a bottle-jack, an air jack, and a come-along, but I'm thinking maybe I'm better off carrying a bottle-jack, an air jack, and a come-along. They each do their own jobs a lot better than a high-lift.

 

[ryguy]

I use a 48" xtreme as my primary jack and recovery tool. It's always worked well for me without flaw.

 

[neverestablished]

One of the reasons i wanted to go with a hi lift and assesories is that it will be cheaper then any quality come along ive been able to find.

I thought i read they were rated to lift 7000lbs, but i can find it now. Their website says that the xtreme is better for regular rugged use, but if doesent say why. If there an actual difference in the hardware on it?

ryguy, wouldent the 60 be better for winching since you dont have to reset as much? id prefer to get the 48 for easier storage (free shipping from amazon too).

I was figuring 10 - 15' of chain (grade 70 right?) and then a 3x30 strap. Add a tire repair kit, mv-50 air pump, and some tools and my kits complete. Missing anything?

 

[emmodg]

A lot of guys need to read their HiLift manuals - the Extreme AND "regular" cast Hi Lifts BOTH are rated at 5000lbs. http://www.hi-lift.com/hi-lift-jacks/instruction-manual.html

A Hi Lift is only as effective as it's user. They are wonderful tools to carry but if you don't know how to use one correctly they're the worst to carry.

As far as reliability? Yeah, if you don't take care of it, it'll be a pain in the *** when you need it! Spray the carrier/runner assembly with some water, then douse it with WD40. Keep it lubed once in a while and she'll never let you down. They hate sand but if you keep'em clean they work like a champ!

I wouldn't go using lots of chains when winching with a HiLift. You stand too damn close to the tool when there are tremendous forces at work. If a chain snaps or comes loose? That's a LOT of shrapnel flying around! Nothing wrong with using a strap, maaaaaaaaaybe one chain, and/or a winch extension.

 

[michaelgroves]

As far as reliability? Yeah, if you don't take care of it, it'll be a pain in the *** when you need it! Spray the carrier/runner assembly with some water, then douse it with WD40. Keep it lubed once in a while and she'll never let you down. They hate sand but if you keep'em clean they work like a champ!

One problem when you're in a situation like this...






... is that keeping the jack clean is next to impossible. Everything gets muddy.

I wouldn't go using lots of chains when winching with a HiLift. You stand too damn close to the tool when there are tremendous forces at work. If a chain snaps or comes loose? That's a LOT of shrapnel flying around! Nothing wrong with using a strap, maaaaaaaaaybe one chain, and/or a winch extension.

That's true about the shrapnel from chain. The snag with using a strap is that it's got more stretch than a chain. Firstly, that means that the already limited pull becomes even shorter. And secondly, the stretch stores energy, so that if anything does break, it flies so much further and harder.

You're between a rock and a hard place when you're using a come-along.

 

[rambrush]

Plus getting a bottle jack or a air bag under the frame or diffs darn near impossible. Thus a hi lift is the most viable option. Unless you have a winch and a good anchor.

 

[garrett]

The extreme also has ajacking weight rating of 10ton, where as my regular hi-lift was only 7ton.

Over-all id say my Extreme jack is built far superior to my old one, everything just seems to work better, and look to be better built.

Could you link to this information you stated?

As emmodg stated, Hi-Lifts are ALL rated at just under 5K lbs and tested to 7K lbs where the shear pin is designed to fail.

 

[I Leak Oil]

I'm hoping this capacity oversight is really just a misunderstanding between 5K lbs and 5 ton and not a serious argument that it is 20K lb capable.

 

[emmodg]

One problem when you're in a situation like this...


View attachment 33179



... is that keeping the jack clean is next to impossible. Everything gets muddy.






That's true about the shrapnel from chain. The snag with using a strap is that it's got more stretch than a chain. Firstly, that means that the already limited pull becomes even shorter. And secondly, the stretch stores energy, so that if anything does break, it flies so much further and harder.

You're between a rock and a hard place when you're using a come-along.

You have to account for stretch when using the HiLift as a "come-along". I'd rather deal with a little "stretch" than broken chain flying around at crotch-level!

 

[matt s]

chain or strap it doesnt much matter, both will mess you up. I sadly know a guy that was taken out by a strap on a constuction site. Broke his leg, messed up his back, he was never the same.

 

[neverestablished]

The main point that i haven't heard yet is whether an extreme is any different from the other ones except for the paint and top clamp piece. Does anyone have a smittybuilt, and how does it compare, and are the accessories interchangeable?

ps, if you get a 6x6 stuck, i really wouldn't expect a hilift fo help all that much.