Wile.E.Coyote
New member
Just wanted to share this with you guys in case anyone was looking for a way to mount a hi-lift with the factory rack. I searched around a while and found some a few ways to mount a hi-lift on a 4th gen- there's options if you have a rear bumper obviously and then there's a Yakima mount for the crossbars but I was looking for something that would work with my Thule Canyon basket and I found a nice solution. Hi-Lift sells a tube mount in 2 sizes:
http://www.amazon.com/Hi-Lift-Jack-TM-700-Adjustable-Mount/dp/B003CEODQI
I thought that maybe I could mount it on a diagonal off the roof rack rail to clear the basket, but I wasn't sure if it would spin under the weight of the jack. I have a 2004 Sport with the body colored rack, the rails on this rack are not circular, they have flat sides to the underneath and inside then a convex side to the outside like a quarter of a circle, so I did some measuring and hoped that since the U-bolts on the Hi-lift mount have flat bends instead a true semi-circle perhaps they'd match and prevent the mount from spinning. I bought the 1-2" size of the mount and it worked perfectly.
As you can see the mount matches up with the rail nicely. I put some rubber in between to keep from marring the rails. (Cut up an old bicycle tire). Now the jack clears the basket perfectly and the mount is definitely secure. In order to clear the basket I had to mount the ass-end of the jack forward, otherwise I could put it on the drivers side but wanted to try to balance weight.
Turned out nice!
Couple notes: the mount is expensive but nicely made. They sell a locking nut to prevent the theft of the jack:
Amazon.com: Hi-Lift HM-LK Hood Mount Locking Knob: Automotive
Right now I don't have it because I just have a generic farm jack that I picked up for $30, but if I buy a hi-lift brand jack I'll probably spend the $20 for the lock. I'd actually be more upset of someone took the mount...
http://www.amazon.com/Hi-Lift-Jack-TM-700-Adjustable-Mount/dp/B003CEODQI
I thought that maybe I could mount it on a diagonal off the roof rack rail to clear the basket, but I wasn't sure if it would spin under the weight of the jack. I have a 2004 Sport with the body colored rack, the rails on this rack are not circular, they have flat sides to the underneath and inside then a convex side to the outside like a quarter of a circle, so I did some measuring and hoped that since the U-bolts on the Hi-lift mount have flat bends instead a true semi-circle perhaps they'd match and prevent the mount from spinning. I bought the 1-2" size of the mount and it worked perfectly.
As you can see the mount matches up with the rail nicely. I put some rubber in between to keep from marring the rails. (Cut up an old bicycle tire). Now the jack clears the basket perfectly and the mount is definitely secure. In order to clear the basket I had to mount the ass-end of the jack forward, otherwise I could put it on the drivers side but wanted to try to balance weight.
Turned out nice!
Couple notes: the mount is expensive but nicely made. They sell a locking nut to prevent the theft of the jack:
Amazon.com: Hi-Lift HM-LK Hood Mount Locking Knob: Automotive
Right now I don't have it because I just have a generic farm jack that I picked up for $30, but if I buy a hi-lift brand jack I'll probably spend the $20 for the lock. I'd actually be more upset of someone took the mount...
