I need a Jack today so I'm going to harbor freight to get a dark Jack (hi lift) and cannot understand how they work..

I passed up buying one recently because I cannot figure out how they don't scratch your vehicle? The base swivles so how in the he'll does it stand up? I need to know if this is correct asap

Why do you want a high lift? You need aftermarket bumpers or sliders to have somewhere to position them.

Check out youtube for instructions and examples.
YouTube - Hi-Lift Jack Operating Instructions

Really I seen people use them on their 4runner without sliders

The lifting foot is only about 6 inches long, so if you use it on the rocker panels (which are NOT designed for lifting) the main shaft will more than likely contact the doors and scratch/dent them.

Maybe you can go and try one out in the store parking lot before you buy it and see if you think it will work for you.

Read these threads too.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/off-ro...s-hi-lift.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/off-ro...ft-mounts.html

yea i believe you need sliders or tube bumpers of some sort to even use the high lift.

also...are harbor freight tools safe? i dotn really trust them at times.

Oh yee of little faith

Their tools are junk!! I stopped going there because everything I bought from there ended up breaking.

Well we still got tools from there that still work and all..but im just scared its goign to break..like we have a giant air compressor, and at times i just pray that the welded cap doesnt explode when the pressure is soo high. their tools are really cheap though...last month i bought an orbital buffer 6'' one for 10 bucks! wow.

HF jacks work fine. Just be sure not to get underneath the vehicle until you have properly secured it with jack stands. I'm actually going to pick up a regular jack from them since my old jack of 10 years is about to give out. Many people I know have used it for years without any issues.

So Spencer, did you get a high lift or what?

Agreed. They will work fine with some vehicles that have an available mounting position. Make sure to KEEP your face away from the handle when you are raising or lowering the vehicle and you should ALWAYS secure the vehicle with jackstands before working on it, as you should with any jack.

BTW, the best way to keep your hi-lift in proper working order is to NOT store it on the outside of the vehicle. Regular exposure to weather will cause the pins (the lifting mechanism) to stick. Soooo, yes, all of those people who you see with them mounted to their bumpers are in for a surprise if they ever try to use them.

With all of that said, I still prefer a regular bottle jack or floor jack and will only use a hi-lift as a last resort. They are, however, a great offroad tool. They can be used as a come-along or to lift a vehicle and drive off of the jack if necessary.

I gotta chime in on this one. Harbor Freight sells THE worst-made tools you can find in America. They are in a league of their own with no competition. A jack is one of those things that you don't want breaking on you for obvious reasons. I know what you guys are saying, that you only use it as a last resort and immediately put it on jack stands, but the Hi Lift is first and foremost for "on the trail" uses, where it's always a last resort and where jack stands aren't an option.

If I'm in my garage, I would rather just use a normal floor jack and put it on stands so the Hi Lift is kinda pointless there. The only place I actually need it is when I'm off road, on uneven ground, with nothing else to hold the weight of the truck from falling on me and killing me when I'm trying to R&R a CV or something. Your life is worth more than the $40 you might save, so spend the effin' money and get something of better quality than dog poo. Or get crushed under your truck when that cheap Chinese iron folds like a taco. Just saying... do yourself and your momma a favor!