Hi Lift Jack

I recently got one of these. Bottle jack and jack stand combo. Seems like a good idea and the price was right. Also goes a couple inches higher than the HF jack. Haven't had a chance to try it on the trails yet though. IMG_3599.JPG
 
Ddays said:
Better yet, ditch that hi-lift and get a $40 20 ton bottle jack from HF & be much more safer. Might not look as cool but it won;t bust your chops either. Keep it in a bag in the back of the Jeep and it'll stay nice & clean! :thumb:
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^^ Also good advice. Or use the stock scissor jack with a 4x4 block of wood. Heck you could even keep the Hi-Lift on the back just for looks :)
 
Stotch said:
^^ Also good advice. Or use the stock scissor jack with a 4x4 block of wood. Heck you could even keep the Hi-Lift on the back just for looks :)
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This, I put mine on there nearly 5 years ago and have never taken it off...haha. The only reason I have one is it was given to me. I carry a bottle jack, blocks of wood and some cheap plastic wheel chocks.
 
Ddays said:
Better yet, ditch that hi-lift and get a $40 20 ton bottle jack from HF & be much more safer. Might not look as cool but it won;t bust your chops either. Keep it in a bag in the back of the Jeep and it'll stay nice & clean! :thumb:

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Yes, of course you are right. Highlift jacks can be terribly unsafe. Before I hit the trail next time I do plan to buy a bottle jack. The factory jack that came with my jeep, like all factory jacks I have used, are cheap and frustrating to use. But I like a highlift jack because a)I'm old school-- or just plain old! b) it has come in handy once or twice, and c) I use it for other stuff, like leveling a shed, etc. Plus, it looks like it belongs there. :)


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So I kinda feel the need to add my two cents in here since I have a lot of experience with them ( I work training other military folks in what we call tactical ground movement) and teach guys how to drive off-road, recovery if they get stuck and how to fix their shit when they break it. We have hi-lifts on all our stuff, and are they ok? Yeah. They work. But we call them widow makers because if you don't know what your doing, aren't paying attention or it slips, it can seriously injure you or kill you [emoji58] if you can, find a good bottle jack with the height you need, or they make air jacks that are super portable and really easy to use, if you add a compressor. For me personally when I'm the mechanic for a work trip I carry air jacks


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Kenthejeepguy said:
Yes, of course you are right. Highlift jacks can be terribly unsafe. Before I hit the trail next time I do plan to buy a bottle jack. The factory jack that came with my jeep, like all factory jacks I have used, are cheap and frustrating to use. But I like a highlift jack because a)I'm old school-- or just plain old! b) it has come in handy once or twice, and c) I use it for other stuff, like leveling a shed, etc. Plus, it looks like it belongs there. :)


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LOL, sounds like you're old enough to remember the old POS bumper jacks from back in the 60's & 70's too? I hated those damn things. Hi lift is same except on steroids! They definitely look cooler than a dumb old bottle jack mounted on the rear bumper though. Unfortunately they're not the best tool to change tires with.
 
I never used mine. However, decided to get one after a friend I was wheeling with got stuck on a tree stump. The trail angle, his Jeep's position and where the stump got stuck did not allow for using the winch. However, the jack easily allowed us to move his Jeep sideways to free it up. I got mine when we returned from that ride.

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Ddays said:
LOL, sounds like you're old enough to remember the old POS bumper jacks from back in the 60's & 70's too? I hated those damn things. Hi lift is same except on steroids! They definitely look cooler than a dumb old bottle jack mounted on the rear bumper though. Unfortunately they're not the best tool to change tires with.
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I remember those bumper jacks...but I wish I didn't...


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I've carried a hi-lift for many years. The majority of the time I use it to hand it to others to use for their rigs. On my old TJ, once I was high-centered on a rock and alone with no winch. Hi-lift jack seemed like a viable option, jacked up the rear to bring the front tires to touch the ground. Pulled forwards, and that was the end of my non-crushed in tailgate. I've seen another time where nobody could winch or pull this truck out of a mud pit who was stuck with a stump in front and a tree behind him. Jacked up the front to let his truck get over the stump, he had to run over the hi lift and drag the stump along the underside of his truck. No clue what he broke but I bet it was something. Sometimes hi-lifts seem to be the only option you have, but i don't think it is ever a great option.
 
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fiend said:
I recently got one of these. Bottle jack and jack stand combo. Seems like a good idea and the price was right. Also goes a couple inches higher than the HF jack. Haven't had a chance to try it on the trails yet though. View attachment 273603
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I have that same jack combo. Worked great for a few times in the driveway but now it's kind of shaky and i don't trust it so much - not sure i would use it on the trail.

I replaced it with a Safe Jack kit, I've used it several times and like how sturdy it is. you can buy just parts that fit on any bottle jack.

when I was looking for an axle cradle to fit my 20 ton bottle jack there were a couple of vendors that offered weld on axle cradles.

The SafeJack is a 6 ton and seems plenty for the Jeep

if you have welding/fab skills, an axle cradle seems pretty easy to make.
 
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jeeeep said:
I have that same jack combo. Worked great for a few times in the driveway but now it's kind of shaky and i don't trust it so much - not sure i would use it on the trail.

I replaced it with a Safe Jack kit, I've used it several times and like how sturdy it is. you can buy just parts that fit on any bottle jack.

when I was looking for an axle cradle to fit my 20 ton bottle jack there were a couple of vendors that offered weld on axle cradles.

The SafeJack is a 6 ton and seems plenty for the Jeep

if you have welding/fab skills, an axle cradle seems pretty easy to make.
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Safe Jack stuff looks nice but very pricey.
 
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