Using Hi Lift Jack without armor

[socal-4runner]

Is there any way to use the hi lift jacks without armor to remove a wheel? I know with the jack mate I can lift the car but won't be able to remove the wheel for obvious reasons but I was wondering if anyone has any ingenious ideas as to how to jack a car that doesn't have front/rear armor or sliders. Should I get sliders to get ready for an expedition?

 

[CXS]

Just get some sliders. If you don't and go over a big enough rock you'll have damage exceeding the cost of sliders. I'm guessing the jack mate connects to the wheel, you could lift one side, slide some blocks under it, lower it then lift the flat tire side I suppose. Sliders make things easy.

 

[grave]

hi lifts can work with a tow hitch, right? i guess that'd only be good for rear wheels, though.

 

[alia176]

Is there any way to use the hi lift jacks without armor to remove a wheel? I know with the jack mate I can lift the car but won't be able to remove the wheel for obvious reasons but I was wondering if anyone has any ingenious ideas as to how to jack a car that doesn't have front/rear armor or sliders. Should I get sliders to get ready for an expedition?

Skip the hi lift and use your factory jack. Yeah, I know, I know, it's not "expedition worthy" but trust me, it's much safer and easier to use. Lifting a whole vehicle just to swap out a tire is idiotic IMHO. Lots of posers running around with their hi lifts strapped to the roof rack or roof rack rails looking all cool and shit.

I got a hi lift too but it mostly sits in the garage. I still use a hyd bottle jack on the 6" lifted landruiser for tire removal in the field. It's a PITA to carry A hi lift jack safely inside and I don't have to worry about the elements and road grime gunking up the mechanism when it sits outside the rig. I do carry a 2x8 for under the bottle jack for additional height producing capacity.

 

[grave]

Skip the hi lift and use your factory jack. Yeah, I know, I know, it's not "expedition worthy" but trust me, it's much safer and easier to use. Lifting a whole vehicle just to swap out a tire is idiotic IMHO. Lots of posers running around with their hi lifts strapped to the roof rack or roof rack rails looking all cool and shit.

I got a hi lift too but it mostly sits in the garage. I still use a hyd bottle jack on the 6" lifted landruiser for tire removal in the field. It's a PITA to carry it safely inside and I don't have to worry about the elements and road grime gunking up the mechanism when it sits outside the rig. I do carry a 2x8 for under the bottle jack for additional height producing capacity.

is there a hydraulic bottle jack you recommend? or do they all do the same job?

 

[alia176]

is there a hydraulic bottle jack you recommend? or do they all do the same job?

For the 4Runner, I still use the factory mechanical bottle jack. I only have a 2" lift so I don't think I'll need anything else.

For the 80 series, I use a LR bottle jack that's hydraulic and rebuild-able. I like this jack because it has an axle cradle up top and has three stages for extending pretty high. https://www.google.com/search?q=lan...npXSAhUM0WMKHWbUBJgQ_AUICSgC&biw=1536&bih=736

 

[HiVel-JR]

Yeah, ditto... high lift jacks were made for farmers to pull up fence posts and stumps. Somehow they got re-branded as an off road cant live without tool.

Any other use like lifting up your car to remove a wheel is playing with death.

Or better yet putting dents in your doors.

 

[alia176]

Oh dude, that SUCKS. I think I have a dent in my shin from a hi lift from back in the late '80s, LOL!!!!

I use my Hi Lift a lot around the property. Three years ago I used it to lift up one corner of the back deck so that I can swap out a 6x6 support column. I'm also used it as a pull pall in the past in dire emergency. It actually works quite well as a pulling device. Then there was the time in band camp when we had to use a hi lift + a portapower to pull out the B and C pillar in a landcruiser......

 

[CXS]

I watched a guy break his ankle using one in Moab. I'm sure he had plenty of time to review the errors he made on his drive back to CA wearing a cast and driving a stick.

I have red paint on a fender from the time I had to use one. I don't carry one any more. Stock jack and a 4x4 work fine.

 

[duffdog]

Yes, you can and its pretty simple.

You need a 12" 4x4 piece of wood at a minimum and a couple other pieces of 4x6 pieces of wood.

Put the 4x4 in the top of the fender, jack up truck. Place the 2 4x6 pieces of wood under the ball joint, remove jack with 2x4 from fender. Take off wheel, put on new wheel, place 2x4 back under fender and jack up to remove 4x6 pieces of wood.

don't try this by just using the jack- I have seen a truck fall off the hi-lift before.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I think the main problem is people don't realize how dangerous a Hi-Lift is and that you actually need to practice/understand how it works. It's far more versatile and useful, but it requires some semblance of training and understanding like any other tool.

 

[socal-4runner]

Thank you for all the replies guys. You guys saved me $150+ bucks