Standard or Hi Rise Bottle Jack ?

[TommyG]

I'm thinking of buying a bottle jack to install an RCI front skid plate and keep in the car instead of the screw jack. I've got jack stands that can go up to 25", though I don't think that will be necessary for the skid plate or oil changes.

The standard bottle jack goes 9 - 19.5" and shipping weight: 22lbs. (12 ton)

The Hi Range bottle jack goes 11 - 23.5" and shipping weight: 23lbs. (8 ton)

Prices are ballpark, so it's a question of height vs stronger jack.

I'm leaning towards the 12 ton standard jack and some 2x12x12 boards.

20 lbs weight isn't an issue for me. The jacks are overkill for a 4Runner, but you never know when you might need it for something else, and I like overbuilt designs. These are USJACK.

Just wanted to hear any experiences or opinions.

 

[sn_85]

Why do you need a bottle jack to install skids? Should be able to crawl underneath there and install the skids. Also you shouldn't ditch your OEM bottle jack. If you have a flat you're clearance is going to be less. You might not have enough clearance to stick an after market jack under the axle or frame. Looks like the USjack needs at least 9" of clearance or 11" for the hi range one. You're not going to have 11" of clearance under the axle or frame with a flat that's for a sure. If you want to keep the stock bottle jack and bring along another one for lifted applications that's fine but I wouldn't ditch the OEM one.


This post shows what I'm talking about. With a flat your clearance is significantly reduced and an aftermarket jack may not fit under the jack point.
Safe Jack Recovery Tools | IH8MUD Forum

 

[SpeedyKevin]

Heard using a jack helps installing the skid but I managed to install my steel rci skid without one. Took some work but I got it!

 

[TommyG]

Good points. Probably will keep the screw jack in the car.

The front skid is just behind the front bumper. Not like you have to go too far under there. Most of the youtube videos show the car on stands though. Might as well be comfortable if you have them.

Still curious whether the 11-23.5" hi range jack would be more useful than the 9-19.5" jack on the 4Runner, if anyone has an opinion on that.

 

[SpeedyKevin]

Good points. Probably will keep the screw jack in the car.

The front skid is just behind the front bumper. Not like you have to go too far under there. Most of the youtube videos show the car on stands though. Might as well be comfortable if you have them.

Still curious whether the 11-23.5" hi range jack would be more useful than the 9-19.5" jack on the 4Runner, if anyone has an opinion on that.

I haven't had any issues using the stock jack. On 33s and lifted 2 inches. Works great and haven't needed a 2x2 block!

 

[TommyG]

Yeah BlackWorksInc posted a picture of the screw jack fully extended and said it was a bit over 19". It was off a 4th Gen 4Runner.

"<<<<" posted he had no problems with his jack (not sure if bottle or floor) which went 19.75".

Sounds like either the standard or the hi range should work fine.

 

[comtn4x4]

The stock jack goes a lot higher than you think. If you think you need more height look at these:


6 Ton 3" Jack Extension – Safe Jack


and maybe one of these if you want to safely jack the axle.



6 Ton 3" Universal Lift Pad – Safe Jack


I've used this combination paired with a 14" square 1" thick piece of plywood as a base for quite a while now with no issues.



And you can leave the stock jack it's it's original location, out if the way and not rattling around.

 

[TommyG]

^^^

I think I'll pick up these:

6 Ton 3" Jack Extension – Safe Jack

6 Ton 3" Universal Lift Pad – Safe Jack

and see how the stock screw jack performs before deciding on the bottle jacks.

Thanks for the responses.

 

[Nobody Special]

and I like overbuilt designs. These are USJACK.

Just wanted to hear any experiences or opinions.

Gray is the king of overbuilt.
Sure you can get Chinese crap of the same design.
I had a Harbor Freight jackstand (not mine) split/tear a weld while under a Land Rover.
Had the jack stand leg not embedded itself in the asphalt about 1/2 inch to the crossbar, it most likely would have come completely down.

Gray Manufacturing USA

I have a few sets of these ramps in work.
Gray Manufacturing USA

 

[sn_85]

^^^

I think I'll pick up these:

6 Ton 3" Jack Extension – Safe Jack

6 Ton 3" Universal Lift Pad – Safe Jack

and see how the stock screw jack performs before deciding on the bottle jacks.

Thanks for the responses.

FYI, the Safe Jack jack extensions will not fit over the stock/oem bottle jack ram head. The opening is too small. You will have to knock off the cap on the stock/oem ram head which consists of 4 tack welds. You won't have a problem knocking it off with a hammer and screw driver, pry bar, or chisel.

 

[TommyG]

^^^

Good to know. Thanks.

The devil's in the details.

 

[Espresso_OI]

Just to confirm for the original question, I installed my RCI Skid last night (aluminum) without a jack. Stock tire size, no lift.

*Tip if doing solo, use your legs to support the skid - I put one middle bolt on, then the top two (by the bumper). With three bolts on you can stop using your legs and add the remaining three bolts.

 

[RichinRidgewood]

The factory screw jack probably wont last long based on my recent experience rotating tires and all of the noise it made when lifting the front end. My 2 ton sizers jacks from HF that I used on the cars I have/had dont extend far enough so those have become useless on the 4R. I was thinking of 2 bottle jacks that I could buy that were not made in China.

 

[SpeedyKevin]

The factory screw jack probably wont last long based on my recent experience rotating tires and all of the noise it made when lifting the front end. My 2 ton sizers jacks from HF that I used on the cars I have/had dont extend far enough so those have become useless on the 4R. I was thinking of 2 bottle jacks that I could buy that were not made in China.

Mine doesn't make noise thankfully. The OEM jack seems to be held in high regard by those in Africa and Australia. Maybe you got a lemon?

 

[RichinRidgewood]

Mine doesn't make noise thankfully. The OEM jack seems to be held in high regard by those in Africa and Australia. Maybe you got a lemon?

Interesting. I thought of buying another one or two. They are made in Japan.

 

[RichinRidgewood]

Toyota 4Runner Jack P/N: 0911160131

$192

Too expensive

 

[patkelly4370]

Toyota 4Runner Jack P/N: 0911160131



$192



Too expensive

Wrecking yard

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[TommyG]

Instead of the SafeJack, I went with LandCruiserProducts (LCP).

Jack Adapters - Land Cruiser Products - LCP

ElectroBoy made a great post about them in another thread:
Here's the link to his post.

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3363099-post67.html

 

[TommyG]

Here's a couple more pix of their product.

and a couple of approximate measurements of the screw jack:

minimum height:

extended height:

PS If you haven't done it yet, you should pull out your 4Runner's jack and check out how it all goes together before you need it. It's pretty entertaining so you won't be wasting time.

 

[TommyG]

Came across this video about measuring your own bottle jack to order a custom extension screw collar from Safe Jack. Looks like they will print one for you custom.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ypbBrodjVTg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>




This is the page on their website:

Custom Extension Screw Collar – Safe Jack