High lift jack - want one, but do I need one? If yes - what for...

[FeatherWeightDriver]

The age old question of wants and needs for the brains trust... :angel:

Does anyone who has a high lift jack use it frequently and/or as a tool of last resort? If yes, what for?

I want to buy one, but I'm not convinced I need one, and certainly don't want an(other) ornament to carry around.

Given my driving is mostly touring rather than extreme 4wd work, the main scenario I can see it being useful is gaining clearance under the vehicle when in deep ruts to pack things under the tyres.

Most other scenarios I can think of would be covered by the stock jack and/or an exhaust jack (that I already have - but that does not work if the engine isn't running).

The idea of using one for winching does not thrill me, and I'm planning on getting a winch soonish anyway.

Thoughts suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
FWD

[weeds]

My fender had one on as an accessory when I purchase.....I carried it around for two maybe three years than retired it to the garage.

The main thing to consider is do you have solid enough lift points to actually use the hi lift??

Mine is now used everytime I service the rig......it levels the fender up as my front lawn is on a slight slope

I was up the beach on the weekend and it seemed like every second car had one on the roof rack....they seem to be a fashion accessory these days

[JDNSW]

Like Kelvin, I have had one for many years - gets plenty of work in and round the shed, but in over fifty years of driving Landrovers (and other four wheel drives) on and off road I have never used one "on the road" or needed one when I was not carrying it.

John

[rutmutt]

I love them and use one almost exclusively. I've changed tyres on the highway, in the bush, the backyard & on sloping driveways. It has been the most essential tool in mud recoveries when maxtraxx and winches have failed ( big day.. 6 hour recovery on the canning stock route). The only thing I've never done with it is to use it as a hand winch but I carry the chains just in case. I wouldn't tour without one and definately wouldn't go remote or solo without it.

[Tusker]

It's a love / hate relationship with these things.. but when you need them, you need them.

As mentioned, have you got enough lift points (Not under the tow bar!) I've got a steel rear bumper on my Defender, so all four corners go up. Plus under the rocksliders.

A couple of things to keep in mind..

- They're rated to say 7000 lbs. But that's only the bottom 6" or so. The top 6" is say 10% of that. I've had my hi-lift at the very top, at the rack was bowing severely, but it dis the job. Got the front wheels out between rocks.

- Throw the top clamp away, fit one of these

Rescue 42 ROC JackMate? (http://www.rescue42roc.com/jackmate.html)

I imported mine years ago. Opposite Lock are now stocking them I think. Anyway, it makes the hi-lift much more versatile. They can be fitted either end, and on the bottom, the four prongs do bite into Sydney sandstone. Handy for recovering hung up Jeep Wranglers.

- When they jam, they jam when up. That is you have a vehicle in the air and can't get it down without kicking the jack over. Lubricate before use! WD40 works for me.

- All those hi-lifts hanging off the rear wheel carrier have never been used. They live in dust, and then jam.

- They are dangerous. If you get it wrong and it chatters down itself, I think the handle would have enough force to break your jaw.

- I've used mine for straightening a bent track rod, sleeving another track rod with the hi-lift handle, tying off a vehicle with chain on a side slope, tyre changing in mud with a base board, turning a D1 around in it's own length, lifting the bodywork so a popped spring will slide back in, etc.

What else - splitting wood by clamping it, jacking up a trailer under the tow bar, so a race car can get off without bottoming, there'll be more I've forgotten.

It's a bit like health insurance - the best scenario is to have it, but never need it.

Regards
Max P

[loanrangie]

I bought one ten years ago and the only use it has had is to remove fence posts, other than that it sits in the shed.

[Bushy049]

Got mine when I was 17 I'm 33 now got me out of trouble and others more times than I can remember. Very good tool but be aware they are bloody dangerous if not used with a bit of skill and care. I don't go bush without it

Sent from my HTC_PN071 using AULRO mobile app

[austastar]

Hi,
really could have used one here.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/03/320.jpg

Got pulled out by a really old Toyota passing by.

Oh the embarrassment!

cheers

[Any]

I wouldn't go bush without one, I've used it countless times. I've also used it to jack roof trusses up, re-shape body parts on a ute that my foreman rolled, tighten wires on a sixteen strand game fence. I clean it before I go on a trip, lubricate it with spray n cook and wrap it in clingfilm to keep the dust off, and I've got a canvas cover for it.

[olbod]

Mine lives permanently in Me Disco and I have used it quite a number of times helping myself and others.
It is also good for doing stuff around the property.
Over the last few years I have used it in preferance to a jack.
I bought an attachment that slides onto the high lift with two enormously strong straps each with a solid hook on each end.
I just loosen the wheelnuts a little, attach the hooks to the wheel and lift it with the high lift, then just slide a stand under the axle and lower. It only takes a couple of minutes, no getting down and dirty trying to get the jack under the thingy and it works on any surface anywhere.
Saw it advertised in a 4x4 mag and I think I paid about 50 bucks.
I found it useful on a couple of occasions when some blokes had forgotten or had busted jacks.
In fact on trips now i throw a jack stand in behind the seat.

[Blknight.aus]

useful but dangerous if you dont know what you're up against.

Depending on what other gear youve got and what you want to be able to do with it as an example an exhaust bag jack will give you a quick easy lift if you want to pack up under wheels.

The highlift is a jack of all trades and (yes, that was intentional:angel:) a master of none. No single other tool is as flexable in its taskability as the highlift but then the highlift is not as good or as safe as the right tool for the job.

[travelrover]

Hey Olbod, you don't have a photo of that thing? Sounds very useful.

And yes I agree, they can be be very dangerous if you are not careful and no doubt could break a jaw or even a leg if the angles are right! I recall a Malcolm Douglas show years ago where he was using three at a once to get out of a bog!

Cheers

[AdsLandies]

As most have said they're a great versatile tool to have. I've had mine for over 15 years, but have never used it to recover my vehicle! Was great for breaking the bead on those sh*tty Dunlop tubed tyres I had years ago, pulling out star posts and stumps, compressing and spreading things apart........ and it goes on. I always carry mine on a trip but it gets way more use around the home. I'd say definitely get one.

[loanrangie]

Unless you have suitable lifting points they arent much use, and they hurt when the handle comes down on your head :o , when i make a new rear bar i will incorporate lifting points so then it might be worth carrying.

[stealth]

Best use I've had out of mine

[Didge]

Use mine all the time and as has been said before dangerous in the hands of the ignorant; simple, robust if maintained, versatile, but too damn heavy :)

[FeatherWeightDriver]

Thanks all, looks like I am off to the shop for a new toy. ;) May as well get a 60 inch as it fits inside a Defender 110 with ease...

Understood re. the downsides and risks of the high lift. Gear fear has been a hobby of mine for quite a while, and these certainly deserve respect.

The JackMate looks interesting, versatile and cheaper than buying a jack with a lifting and clamping head. Thanks for the tip.

[TheTree]

I bought an attachment that slides onto the high lift with two enormously strong straps each with a solid hook on each end.
.

Hi

That looks like a very very handy attachment, they seem to call them "lift mates" and there are a couple of designs

Another addition to my shopping list :D

Steve

[TheTree]

Hi

Can anyone recommend a good brand and the size I should get for my P38?

Thanks
Steve

[Blknight.aus]

Its good, Its Australian, proofs In the promo video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Nlb32KFRD7I

just pay attention to the 44 second mark.

[TheTree]

I wonder which lift mate design is best as well

there is this style

Lift Mate 4x4 High Lift Farm Jack Mate 4WD OFF Road Recovery KIT Tyre Lifter | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Lift-Mate-4X4-High-Lift-Farm-Jack-Mate-4WD-Off-Road-Recovery-Kit-Tyre-Lifter-/360792928067)

I think this style looks better though

4x4 HI Lift Jack Mate OFF Road Recovery Wheel Lifter THE Perfect Jack Accessory | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/4x4-hi-lift-jack-mate-off-road-recovery-wheel-lifter-the-perfect-jack-accessory-/191122267691)

Steve

[AndyG]

A real man would get an antique H.D Trewalla, only weighs 98 pounds, but would probably lift a D3 (Caterpiller).

[TheTree]

Hi

Looking at another thread on the subject here, I have decided to make sure that the jack complies with the relevant ANZ standard and that the figures are quoted correctly

Something like this perhaps
HI Lift Farm Jack 48" High Lift 4x4 4WD Offroad Recovery LOW Trolley Race Blue | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/111359054406'ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649)


Steve

[ramblingboy42]

hmmm , very interesting differing comments.

I , too, carried one for over 2 years...it was bolted across the rear of the tray and only moved to allow a load to slid onto the tray.

I often carry a long chain come-along.....now that is very useful for a quarter of the weight.....

btw , for those of you who use yours for tyre changes.....what are they? I have never had a puncture since Darwin, post cyclone Tracy rubbish everywhere.

[olbod]

[QUOTE=travelrover;2155334]Hey Olbod, you don't have a photo of that thing? Sounds very useful.

Yes I still have pics.
I took these when I first got it and sent pics to The Bro.
It is a Jack Mate with a 5000 lb capacity.

The backing plate has a rubber gasket glued on and it rests against the wheel when you lift.
The hooks are wide and plastic coated so they can be used with alloy wheels but tatke up the pressure slowly.
Once you lower it onto the jack stand you can then undo the already loosened wheelnuts without the wheel turning.

You can see the advantage if you want to lift the vehicle to put something under the wheel in a sand or mud condition. No suspension droop.
I carry a board to place under the highlift to broaden the base.

[Xtreme]

A real man would get an antique H.D Trewalla, only weighs 98 pounds, but would probably lift a D3 (Caterpiller).

Do you mean something like this -

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/06/1557.jpg

[Hogarthde]

Trewhalla Jack , The type we used in the bush had the ratchet in the middle of three bars and twin prongs at top and hook at bottom ,to roll/ lift logs although yours looks of similar vintage and weight. Lugging that dash thing about made you think thrice before getting bogged

dave

[Old Farang]

When I was a kid growing up on a farm those things were called "Kangaroo Jacks". One of their functions were for jacking old tree stumps out of the ground. A lot of farming country had been cleared by either early logging, or just as the method of clearing at the time, resulting in many big stumps being left in the ground.
They were definiatly not for use by young boys!

[austastar]

Hi olbod,
I'm curious as to why you loosen the wheel nuts.
Is it to enable the hooks to fit in the wheel holes?

Cheers

[AndyG]

Do you mean something like this -

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/06/1557.jpg

That's the bad boy, I suppose someone had a bright idea and made the hilghlift jack from that concept. There were bigger models available, 10 ton I think.

[olbod]

Hi olbod,
I'm curious as to why you loosen the wheel nuts.
Is it to enable the hooks to fit in the wheel holes?

Cheers


No Mate.
It is damned hard to loosen the nuts first up with the wheel off the ground.
So I loosen them first and just re tighten them a little so that the wheel is sitting firmly on the studs and wont move during the lift and damage the thread.
It is easy then to just hold the wheel and remove the nuts.

[Didge]

Only gotta take a wheel off once learn that one :)

[jackiec]

Its always needed when you are not carrying it.

[NavyDiver]

I have one had been using it frequently changing from AT to MT and back again on my D3. It takes all of my weight and then some to get the car up and that is in on nice easy concrete base. I am about 80kg and 6ft.
Never used my for winching. The lift points are a sore point on my D3. I can use my rock sliders but the ARB bull bar points are to close to the centre IMO and half the car comes up. discussed here. http://www.aulro.com/afvb/recovery/156641-high-lift-jack.html

My winch is used a lot and I would suggest that is required unless you travel off road with others Going with others is of course a good idea and allows snatching if bogged negating the need for a winch. Actually my winch "was" used a lot before I put MT tires on for the fun stuff:D

[donh54]

A real man would get an antique H.D Trewalla, only weighs 98 pounds, but would probably lift a D3 (Caterpiller).

I've got one! Never tied a D3, but I used it to change track rollers on my BTD6 :D

[Barefoot Dave]

If you want to see some VERY effective applications of the hiift, check this out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nakSPmLpWsI

There are a few bespoke mods but not muuch that couldn't be improvised.