Topic: Honest Opinions about Hi-Lifts....

[RikRong]

Hey all, I have researched and read and read again until my eyes were bloodshot, about which jack I should take on off-road trips.  I'm asking now because I'd like to purchase a Hi-Lift prior to MR, if it's the best option.  Now, I know you have the recovery benefits that come with a Hi-Lift, but is there really any other reason?  I currently have an aluminum floor jack that I'd like to combine with a thick wood plank and pack for trips.  I'd remove the wheels and probably find some way to attach the jack to the plank.  Now, I also see some people suggesting a bottle-jack, but I feel these are a little bit harder to pack because they have the potential to leak fluid if not stored upright. Of course, you run into the safety issues associated with a Hi-Lift.  Personally, I think the floor jack is the best option, but what say you, people of SCCX? 

[ultrapc40]

If you are on a rocky trail a floor jack is almost useless. For Mohave road floor jack is fine, but you are also fine with a scissor jack.

For some of the high speed trail, the less weight the better, if you can't secure it, don't bring it.

[Ghost65]

Hi lift...because it can lift you with rock stacking out of high clearance situations.

Sand base is also a key operating tool for my Hi Lift Rick.


Sent from Cygnus X-1

[Alex]

A Hi-Lift for sure while on the trail. And - I don't know how recommended it is in the official books - but I use it all the time for jacking up on the sliders while working underneath the truck, secured on jackstands of course.

[RikRong]

I didn't even think about the clearance situations or trying to use a floor jack in rocky situations. I've been looking at the mounts for the roof rack, but I need to measure and see if a 60" will fit under the rear seats. If it'll fit, it's going there.

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[JeffBett]

Just curious, how many have actually used their high lifts on the trail?  Also, if you used the high lift how many times could it have been done with a bottle or scissor jack?  Does most of the usage end up being to change a tire?  If you are not mega rock crawling do you need to lift high?

[knightrider]

Rik, a 48 will fit under the seats, I don't think a 60 will

Sent from my rooftop tent while stargazing

[steve c]

Just curious, how many have actually used their high lifts on the trail?  Also, if you used the high lift how many times could it have been done with a bottle or scissor jack?  Does most of the usage end up being to change a tire?  If you are not mega rock crawling do you need to lift high?

Honest Opinions about Hi-Lifts....

Dual tire blowout on the Mojave Road.
The abundance of high lifts turned an hour job with a scissor lift into a 15 minute job.  (FWIR)

I have no experience with a bottle jack.

I've used my high lift on the side of the road! 

Honest Opinions about Hi-Lifts....

[RikRong]

Rik, a 48 will fit under the seats, I don't think a 60 will

Sent from my rooftop tent while stargazing

A 48" should be enough to lift my truck, I think? The pic Steve posted looks like 48". There's no way you're that much taller than a 60". Ha-ha

Steve's jack looks like a 60".

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[JFanaselle]

I have a 60" and it will not fit under the rear seats. 48" is more than long enough for our rigs. The only time you'd need the extra foot would be if you're really teetering on something high, and you're tyring to lift off of a higher point on the rig, such as the front bumper for example. When I got my dumb *ss high-centered, I would have probably needed the extra foot to lift the front end and tip my rig backwards using the shackle points high up on my current front bumper (note that I didn't even have the bumper yet in this photo):

 [ You are not allowed to view attachments ]

The only reason I bought the 60" is because it was actually like $25 cheaper on Amazon than the 48" for some strange reason. I mount it sideways on the side of my roof racks, the extra lenght wasn't an issue for me. Now that I've acquired a new rear bumper with hi-lift mount, I have a feeling (I haven't installed the bumper yet) that the beam on the jack is going to be too tall and be sticking up like 6" higher than the roof rack, which is bad news if I ever snag it on something. I'll know for sure once I get the bumper mounted up.

[ultrapc40]

48 is really more than enough. I have used it on rocky trails, Mohave.  If you keep it outside keep the pins lube. A stuck pin will do you no good.

[Riz98]

I will often use the floor jack in my garage to lift my X under the axles and then floor jacks when doing maintenance.  I always take the Hi-Lift with me on road trips and when hitting the trails because you really never know what will happen.  The Hi-Lift has also worked out well when I needed to extend my front coilover to take off the springs for some adjusting.  This would not have been achieved with a standard jack as the springs would have been to compressed.  I keep mine mounted to the roof rack and spray it with lubrication every so often so keep it moving freely like ultrapc40 mentioned.

Honest Opinions about Hi-Lifts....

Extending the coilover all the way to remove the springs

Honest Opinions about Hi-Lifts....

Springs removed

[RikRong]

Thanks for the input. I'll compare prices and see what it looks like for the two sizes. I'll need to take a look and see if the tube mounts will fit around my Hep's rack and the roof bars. There's no gap between the basket and roof rack. If I do decide to mount outside, it won't stay there all the time, there are a lot of heavy fingers around here.

edit: Ordered a 48" and JakJaw.  I went with 48" because I want to keep it inside the truck.  I think the JakJaw looked like the best solution for an all-around tube adapter.  If the tube mounts will fit the roof rack, I might throw some on there to mount the jack outside while off-roading.

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[ultrapc40]

I have a hi lift handle isolator for you when ever I meet you.

[RikRong]

I have a hi lift handle isolator for you when ever I meet you.

Dang, I ordered one of those too.