Is a Hi Lift Jack Absolutely Needed?

Wild Duck said:
X-Jack, Maxtrax, shovel, axe, 6,000 lb come a long, bubba rope and a few chains and nylon slings. I used to have a High Lift in the 80's as a kid but there is way better technology out there for the same price. I'm finally going to spoil myself with a nice 10k Warn winch soon but I have drug out 2 Suburbans, 1 1st gen 4Runner, 1 K-5 Blazer and a Chevy Luv out of a ton of snow sand and mud and never had a High Lift. Come to think of it it was only when I had my Jeep as a kid I needed one.......hmmmmm.
Click to expand...

The only thing in your list that will actually lift the truck is the xjack. After a quick run of the Google machine that does not seem to be "better technology for the same price", for the cost of the xjack I got nearly all that other stuff and the high lift. It certainly may be better tech, but you are paying for it.
 
Jhalko said:
[MENTION=112177]4RnR Grl[/MENTION] I believe your truck got lifted by a high lift jack on the receiver hitch when you got high centered at the cove, I have the pic to prove it! As pointed out it was only the rear weight, not the whole truck. Ideal? Maybe not, but it was effective and no puppies were harmed in the recovery operation.

To the OP's question, I have one, I have yet to need to use it but for the low cost it's nice to have it on the roof just in case... I generally don't leave it up there unless heading off-road.
Click to expand...
Yes I was lifted via the receiver hitch. No aftermarket rear bumper and my sliders were likely not the best option as I was high centered. The hi-lift was essentially used to give the rear end some oompf to push it over the edge of the bank. It didn't take much and I was off and rolling again. Many thanks to [MENTION=132027]OneGreenTaco[/MENTION] for his expertise!
 
Jhalko said:
The only thing in your list that will actually lift the truck is the xjack. After a quick run of the Google machine that does not seem to be "better technology for the same price", for the cost of the xjack I got nearly all that other stuff and the high lift. It certainly may be better tech, but you are paying for it.
Click to expand...

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Bushranger air jack is absolutely worth the price of admission. It's a much safer way to lift the truck, especially on soft/loose surfaces. It's quicker and easier too.

That doesn't mean it's perfect though - it's not nearly as versatile or reliable as the Hi Lift. I carry both.
 
DesertCanyons said:
So far you're the only person saying this. Several people here have disagreed with you and given simple explanations.

I hope no one else is convinced that you're right and try using the trailer hitch as a lifting point.

Suite yourself though. You're free to do anything you like to your truck.
:ballchain:
Click to expand...

hes not the only one, Jetboy and someone else has sided with him, and i am too.

500lbs of dynamic weight is a LOT more once you rate it as static, and of course the hitch is designed for upward movement - the use of a trailer applies upward movement at the hitch constantly in application. also, there is no qualifier listed in the owners manual stating that 5000lbs is the limit when ONLY using a brake that has trailer brakes, more importantly the 4Runner does not come equipped with a trailer brake controller. and even if you're using a trailer with surge brakes, all of that weight still has to violently force itself against the hitch of the truck to activate

the hitch assembly is made from steel many times thicker than that of the frame rails, attached directly to the frame rails - its more than strong enough to support the entire weight of the vehicle suspended.

the 500lb tongue capacity isn't the strength of the receiver, its what the suspension can handle. the rear suspension has to be strong enough to support the max carrying load less the 500lbs. most of that carrying load is going to be on the rear axle. every bit that that rear suspension compresses lifts the front little by little off the ground. that aims the headlights up, and creates lightness in the steering that cannot be corrected. that weight shift is the hazard - your steering isn't as capable, your brakes can't stop as well - and that dynamic load keeps edging you closer and closer to an unsafe limit.

the trucks 110" wheel base, rear suspension, and near 50/50 weight balance are the factors that have determined what the tongue weight is.

in closing, the hitch is a perfect recovery point and is more than capable of supporting the entire weight of the truck single handedly.
 
Some of you are forgetting that the OP is new and inexperienced at this and we are far from being on topic. With that said let me interject some reality:

If you have never used a hi lift jack before please go take a course in recovery first. All you have to do is watch a few youtube videos to realize how quickly things can go wrong using one incorrectly. They are just like any other tool: They can be very useful when used by someone who knows what they are doing and downright dangerous when used by someone who has no experience with it.

Yes, using the hitch as a jacking point is acceptable and has nothing to do with tow ratings and everything to do with number of bolts in shear, mounting location and strength of materials. With that said it is probably one of the worst locations to use for recovery. Why? Balance. You are depending on a central point of single support to lift. Any slip or imbalance will cause a uneven loading condition and thatcan cause the vehicle to drop and crush anything or anyone under it. There are many safer jacking points than the rear hitch.

Lastly, you guys with lots of recovery experience please remember your audience here. Many of them have never even gotten a vehicle stuck before much less recovered one on their own. Try to keep your comments in a thread such as this to "Recovery 101" level and save the advanced discussion to threads specific to veterans of off road. Otherwise I am going to start forwarding my pm's from new guys to some of you lol. Just imagine you are teaching a recovery class. Are you going to start with using a hi lift under a hitch on a off camber patch of trail? I don't think so...
 
KidVermicious said:
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Bushranger air jack is absolutely worth the price of admission. It's a much safer way to lift the truck, especially on soft/loose surfaces. It's quicker and easier too.

That doesn't mean it's perfect though - it's not nearly as versatile or reliable as the Hi Lift. I carry both.
Click to expand...

you also have to be conscious of where you put it, a very hot exhaust could melt it pretty quick.
 
To lift or not to lift? At the hitch?

marshal said:
hes not the only one, Jetboy and someone else has sided with him, and i am too. ...
Click to expand...

Yes Marshal, I saw that after I posted and responded to his comment too. So a few of you think this is a good idea. It's your truck. Do what you like.

As for me, I started thinking of ways to lift the 4Runner without using the hitch. I came up with a frame device that some of you may want someday. And it utilizes a 2" square tube, just not centered at the back of the bumper.

And this is the question the OP posed. Where do you lift a 4Runner with a hi-lift jack? [MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION] is right. We all got way off-topic. I still don't know the answer and am not convinced I need a hi-lift jack. :offtopic:
 
DesertCanyons said:
Yes, unfortunately I read this one too. :caked:

I've learned a few good ways to use a high-lift jack. None of them include using the trailer hitch. But suite yourself.
Click to expand...

You were given an excellent way to lift a stock 4Runner with a Hi Lift on page one, well before you took us all on this exciting detour about your ignorance regarding hitch receivers. I'm going to go ahead and leave this right here, and then I'm going to stop beating my head against the brick wall that is your reading comprehension.

hi-lift-lift-mate-533-p.jpg
 
Jhalko said:
The only thing in your list that will actually lift the truck is the xjack. After a quick run of the Google machine that does not seem to be "better technology for the same price", for the cost of the xjack I got nearly all that other stuff and the high lift. It certainly may be better tech, but you are paying for it.
Click to expand...
Hi Lifts are an interesting tool. They can do many things, but are really good at almost nothing. I still carry one, but there are clearly better choices for specific scenarios. Even changing a tire... I consider the hi-lift my tool of last resort.
 
wfo9 said:
Hi Lifts are an interesting tool. They can do many things, but are really good at almost nothing. I still carry one, but there are clearly better choices for specific scenarios. Even changing a tire... I consider the hi-lift my tool of last resort.
Click to expand...

as anyone should, they're super dangerous.

that said, there are a few scenarios that happen from time to time that it is impossible to get through without the abilities of a hi lift, and in those moments it really pays to have one


my favorite is when the *******s in Jeeps have their jack on their hood. total poser cunts. i'll laugh the day they get into an accident and that thing flies off their hood through their windshield. i can only hope that no one is their passenger.
 
marshal said:
my favorite is when the *******s in Jeeps have their jack on their hood. total poser cunts. i'll laugh the day they get into an accident and that thing flies off their hood through their windshield. i can only hope that no one is their passenger.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately it will probably fly through the window of the vehicle they ran into.
 
Serious question - has anyone with long travel rear lifted with a 48" jack? Does it have enough travel to get off the ground? I find that in my Land Crusier the 48" size often isn't tall enough to get the tires off the ground, and it's only about 12" travel on each end, but starts just a bit higher.

Having a 48" jack is a bummer when you need 49" of lift....
 
Jetboy said:
Serious question - has anyone with long travel rear lifted with a 48" jack? Does it have enough travel to get off the ground? I find that in my Land Crusier the 48" size often isn't tall enough to get the tires off the ground, and it's only about 12" travel on each end, but starts just a bit higher.

Having a 48" jack is a bummer when you need 49" of lift....
Click to expand...
I don't have excessively long travel, but my truck is TALL.

to combat the very situation you are talking about, I run a ratchet strap from the frame, down around the axle housing. thus making a temporary limiting strap preventing the suspension from dropping. it works very well.
 
KidVermicious said:
You were given an excellent way to lift a stock 4Runner with a Hi Lift on page one, ...

hi-lift-lift-mate-533-p.jpg
Click to expand...

Thank you, Your Ignorance.

:focus:

That's one of the ways to lift a vehicle I was talking about in my post above. If you read my posts, rather than just trying to bash me personally, you'd comprehend that.
 
added safety for the jack

I don't have a lot of experience with a hi-lift, but I do follow instructions and like my face in-tact. That said, a little extra safety doesn't hurt.

I bought one of these:


From here:
Safe Jack - Off road, 4X4, 4WD accessories and products.

Here is the video. it also shows some of the dangers and limitations of using a hi-lift with no base on loose surfaces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdfKrBAMMAI

It's a little more weight in your recovery gear bag / box, but it seems to be much safer than any other base. Just another layer of security for a dangerous tool. I've only used it in practice in the driveway and yard, but so far so good.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 507 (members: 2, guests: 505)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,316
Messages
3,554,112
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top