Used HiLift

[Stuck CAPS]

I have a 4x2 '04, and have not found out, until recently, that the HiLift Jack is a great recovery tool. My question mainly lies with, how reliable would a USED hi-lift be in:
1. Excellent condition (I'll assume perfectly fine, like a new HiLift or one that you bought new and have used a bit): As in, no damage to it, no rust, no visible paint scratches, etc.
2. Good condition: Some paint scratches, maybe paint gouges, etc.
3. Ehhh1 condition: Paint scratches, maybe missing a few sections' paint, maybe a few little gouges in the actual metal.
4. Ehhh2 condition: No gouges in metal, but a bit of surface rust.
5. Old, beat up, used condition: Combine "Ehhh1" and "Ehhh2." Missing paint, gouges in metal, surface rust, etc.
6. Crap: Nearly fully covered in surface rust.

Note: With all of these, I don't mean any that are rusted through, etc.

Thanks in advance!

 

[thegray1]

HiLifts are tough. The paint is purely cosmetic, as always. Gouges in the metal would not affect performance.

As long as the mechanical parts aren't damaged or rusty I would say it's safe.

 

[KidVermicious]

Assuming there's no structural damage, they're all fine. They're made to be taken apart and serviced. $17 on Amazon gets you replacement pins and springs, and everything else can be stripped down, cleaned, and painted. Good as new.

 

[unlimitedFJ4]

My Hi-Lift is essentially pure steel, the only way they would not work if they were bent or some sort of mechanical failure with the working components. I would jack up my rig with the used Hi-Lift I intend to buy and if it gets my rig off the ground then its 100% good! It's pretty hard to ruin or damage a hi-lift I have seen some really old hi-lifts and they all still work good as they day they were purchased though some paint may have chipped off and they may have kissed a rock our two...It's incredible hard to damage one so test it before you buy it!

 

[Stuck CAPS]

Alright, thanks for the advice guys! I found one about an hour away for $40 obo. Maybe I can talk him down to $25/$30. Anywhere besides classifieds(as in I'm already aware they exist ) and CL(weary about meeting random people not necessarily part of a great community like t4r) that I could get a great deal like that?

 

[nevada]

Alright, thanks for the advice guys! I found one about an hour away for $40 obo. Maybe I can talk him down to $25/$30. Anywhere besides classifieds(as in I'm already aware they exist ) and CL(weary about meeting random people not necessarily part of a great community like t4r) that I could get a great deal like that?

$40 is a great price. if its an actual HILIFT. there are a few fakes out there. not sure how good they are tho, same basic design I think. not sure if they are made from the same quality of materials, but I doubt it.

 

[Stuck CAPS]

$40 is a great price. if its an actual HILIFT. there are a few fakes out there. not sure how good they are tho, same basic design I think. not sure if they are made from the same quality of materials, but I doubt it.

Advertised as "HiLift," so I guess I should give him a call and see whether or not it's a HI LIFT branded jack?

 

[JD914]

$40 is a great price. if its an actual HILIFT. there are a few fakes out there. not sure how good they are tho, same basic design I think. not sure if they are made from the same quality of materials, but I doubt it.

I have a "fake" high lift from Smitty Built which was about $25 cheaper than a true High Lift brand. It seems to work just fine, but it's slightly different. For example, I got one of the bases to distribute weight in soft surfaces, and it didn't fit... Until it met my grinder! I'm not sure what other accessories will or won't fit at this point, including the rebuild kit. Sometimes saving a buck or two up front just isn't worth it. We shall see...

 

[KidVermicious]

$40 is a great price. if its an actual HILIFT. there are a few fakes out there. not sure how good they are tho, same basic design I think. not sure if they are made from the same quality of materials, but I doubt it.

Alright, thanks for the advice guys! I found one about an hour away for $40 obo. Maybe I can talk him down to $25/$30. Anywhere besides classifieds(as in I'm already aware they exist ) and CL(weary about meeting random people not necessarily part of a great community like t4r) that I could get a great deal like that?

I've been using a Harbor Freight copy for the past couple of years. It doesn't play nicely with HighLift accessories either, but it's been perfectly functional when I needed it to be.

I'm going to replace it though. I just picked up a real highLift for $25 from a local guy the other day. It's rusty as hell and non-functioning but I can fix that. I'll try and remember to post up some pics of the rebuild for you.