I have used high lift Jack out in the desert on the border because that's what they gave us. It kicked back once but I didn't get hit, fortunately. Another co-worker got his teeth knocked out. After that I placed a jacket over the Jack handle and kept it tight to my body all the way down and up. It's the distance and force of the kick back that can kill you. Kind of like a shotgun with rifled slug if you don't hold it tight, but that shouldn't kill you. Anyway, I had my wife get me a 60" Hi-Lift for Christmas. Then I found it wouldn't fit safely in my 4Runner. So I need to get a roof rack with Jack mounts. Not necessarily a bad thing. Probably could have made do with 48", but I didn't want to. Come up short. Also, at least on sand, solid plywood 1" thick by 12" square worked well.