I have an 07 4runner, and have no intrest in changing from stock bumpers. And i have no sliders either. I have had a high lift jack since way back when all bumpers were metal. But with plastic bumpers I am struggling with keeping it in the must have on board list. I know there is the wheel acc. but that is still no help in flat tire time. I only do wheeling with other trucks to assist in recovery. So what Im asking is. Do you guys with close to stock set ups still carry the high lift? And how do you use it on the truck?
Highlift and 4runner
- Thread starter tchlong03
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KidVermicious
New member
You can use the wheelmate if you carry a jackstand or something to get under the axle and keep it in the air while you remove the wheel. But if I didn't have any hardpoints I'd consider ditching the hilift for an exhaust jack. I love my Bushranger.
Unless you have a jacking point, it's really not of much use for changing a tire. You could still use it as a winch but that's about it. I've lifted from my hitch before, but that still only gets the rear off the ground.
You would be better off investing in something like a Safe Jack bottle jack.
You would be better off investing in something like a Safe Jack bottle jack.
Martinjmpr
New member
Have you had to use it since you got your 4th gen? If not, why carry all that extra weight and bulk?
Only legitimate reason I can think of for carrying one is maybe to help out someone else who's vehicle can use it (like a jeep with metal bumpers.)
I owned a hi-lift when I had my Montero (which had steel bumpers front and rear.) Carried it for years and never - ever, not once - used it. Was away from 4x4s for a while and then got a Tacoma in 2007. Was thinking of getting a hi-lift and then I thought "why?"
I've actually gotten good at changing tires on the truck using the stock bottle jack. Since I run two sets of tires, I have gotten a lot of experience changing all 4. I can do it in about 40 minutes now with the factory jack and a 4 way lug wrench. If I had a floor jack and an air wrench I could probably cut that in half.
I swear a lot of people around here just put a hi-lift on the hood or roof rack because they think it looks "salty."
Why? If you have no way to use it, don't carry it around. Sell it and use the proceeds for something more useful.
Even with all the plastic a hi-lift isn't exactly useless.
As one person already mentioned you could still use it as a primative winch. Never tried it, looks like a heck of a lot of work. If that's all you got then it's probably better than abandoning the vehicle and walking home.
Hi-Lift sells the Lift-Mate, essentially a few straps one that attaches to the hi-lift and two with hooks that attach to your wheel. Allows you to lift the car by the wheel. Could be useful if bottomed out on something, lift the wheel and jam whatever you can find under it for clearance.
I don't have a hi-lift, but if I already owned one I'd probably go with the lift-mate.
As one person already mentioned you could still use it as a primative winch. Never tried it, looks like a heck of a lot of work. If that's all you got then it's probably better than abandoning the vehicle and walking home.
Hi-Lift sells the Lift-Mate, essentially a few straps one that attaches to the hi-lift and two with hooks that attach to your wheel. Allows you to lift the car by the wheel. Could be useful if bottomed out on something, lift the wheel and jam whatever you can find under it for clearance.
I don't have a hi-lift, but if I already owned one I'd probably go with the lift-mate.
