Curious why you dont recommend the hi-lift ^? With a good set of sturdy sliders on your rig, you can jack up your vehicle easily and also use it in a variety of other purposes such as pulling, winching, seperating objects, etc.
Reasoning? Did you just not use it because you didn't know its variety of uses, or not come upon any scenarios where it was necessary?
In my experience it is unnecessary for me, carry one if you wish;
Noobs, typically view them as a badge that says "I have a 4wd".. really the only reason that I have one in the garage, its a leftover.
Less experienced moderately equipped drivers normally have a winch eliminating, pretty much, any need to try to use a railroad/hi-lift jack for pulling.
After the vehicle is properly set up and the driver well experienced the use of a winch on one's self become rare to nonexistent.
Adequate line selection will let a fair driver drop the frame (instead of the vehicle rocker or more important parts) onto rocks and driving technique, adequate tire size with gearing, and lockers will prevent hang ups.
Good aggressive mud tires will help prevent getting bogged down, a winch, or snatch strap and another vehicle, will remedy high center stucks.
Hi-lifts can be very hazardous for lifting vehicles (a bottle jack is much better though still not "Safe") this tendency to fall over can occasionally be useful to move a vehicle sideways but this can be done better, IMO, with a winch, a tree and a snatch block (assuming the driver manages some how to get the vehicle in that position).
Tires With adequate "floatation" will prevent soft sand stucks... I notice a relatively recent trend towards vertical tire side walls which will lower flotation/increase the tendency to get bogged on newer vehicles (there is a reason for bulgy tires).
(note "Internal server error is restricting me to half a post)
