Thread: Hi-Lift jack vs exhaust jack vs hand winch

Hi lift jack ,can be used as a winch aswell albeit slow but it does work...
So many uses for a hi lift.

tight call...

the hi lift gives you more options but they come with inherent dangers and tend to get sticky and jam at very inconvenient times.

the hand winch gives you a lot of options when it comes to recovery and encourages good driving technique. its also a lot more tolerant of neglect.

the exhaust bag jack is the fastest of the lot for lifting a vehicle. but only on flat ground and they are subject to blowing out, rolling under or leaking down from poor valving.

Provided you have a bit of brain one about you and are willing to look after your gear a highlift jack with a decent base plate, pair of drag chains and a set of rated shackles is hard to go past.

I'd go the hand winch,isn't the standard county jack as good as a high lift?

Highlift jack looks like one rigged piece of equipment strapped to the front of any rig.
I do often wonder when I see one on a new vehicle with absolutely no fixing points for it.
I used one once and yes it was great, thanks for that to an old member on here.
I carry 2 snatch straps and an airjack, found them less of a heavy tool to secure and my personnal preference.
Itried tirfor handwinches too but it just took so long and slow. I literally watch the sun set and rise.

Airbag i pump up, fill bogs and lift next wheel and keep going till done and that just chuck on roof rack or in back. I like it, been reliable and keeping in mind though you have to have an engine running, be it yours or a mates.

I've never used our hand winch to recover a vehicle, but it has pulled out tree stumps and moved tons of rocks around the garden!

Very handy tool to have for the active gardener.

Maxtrax now would be my choice particularly if you do sand work . There is a cheap version which is just hessian bags that you fill with dirt for $30-40.
Unless you have a Defender with jacking points and a mount I would avoid a high lift. They are so heavy and very few modern cars have anywhere to lift without doing damage. And do not put one inside unless you have a very substaial mounting point. They would kill you in a crash.

I have used a bull bag often and never punctured my 20 year old one. It is a great "second method" in really severe stucks where a winch will not move a car. I have only had rolling out problems in deep mud where the sill is on the ground.
I now have a portable 5000Lb electric winch, a bull bag and Maxtracks.

Regards Philip A

hand winch.....not that i have one but if i didn't have twin locker and a pto winch a hand winch would be my pick

i have carried a highlift around for five years and never used it

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Maxtrax now would be my choice particularly if you do sand work . There is a cheap version which is just hessian bags that you fill with dirt for $30-40.
Unless you have a Defender with jacking points and a mount I would avoid a high lift. They are so heavy and very few modern cars have anywhere to lift without doing damage. And do not put one inside unless you have a very substaial mounting point. They would kill you in a crash.

I have used a bull bag often and never punctured my 20 year old one. It is a great "second method" in really severe stucks where a winch will not move a car. I have only had rolling out problems in deep mud where the sill is on the ground.
I now have a portable 5000Lb electric winch, a bull bag and Maxtracks.

Regards Philip A

I agree with Philip, I've used them all, and I reckon a shovel and some tracks would be the most versatile option. Unless you tip the car over, then a hand winch.