What exactly do you do with a Hi-Lift jack?

[farmerjon]

that high lift you have looks really old. THese things are somewhat dangerous. If they are not lubed properly and well maintained they tend to stick and then just drop the entire vehicle. Just BE CAREFUL. THis is why i alway urge people to buy actually high lifts not the HF farm jack.

We use them all the time when wheeling, and honestly i think they are more useful than a winch. I have used mine at least 50 times or out on the trail in the past few years. It generally is one of my friends without one needing to use it. And i will occasionally use it in the garage. They are good for changing cv's But just make sure it works really good and you trust it before you attempt to work on you vehicle when on the high lift.

As J-Money said, it's a very useful tool but you really need to know how to use it properly and maintain it, just like you would your vehicle. Farmerjon, I would look into a Hi-Lift rebuild kit for your jack. They are pretty cheap and replace all of the critical locking/ratcheting components on the jack.

It might sound stupid, but it's good to practice with the jack at home before you need to use it out in the bush/trails. Learn how it works with no weight on it, then practice on your sliders. Remember to keep your head out from between the jack shaft and the handle at all times, as essentially, the entire weight of the vehicle is leveraging on that handle. When your lowering the vehicle down, if you let the jack handle go, it will smack against the jack shaft and could really hurt you, if your caught in between. I've seen it happen and it isnt pretty....

Thanks a lot guys for the advice, I appreciate it. I will look into a Hi-Lift rebuilt kit, hopefully they won't cost too much, hopefully I can come out ahead than $77 for the 48" on Amazon.

And rickashay, that actually doesn't sound stupid, to get to know it at home before actually using it, I was just thinking about it. I did get the guy who sold it to me to show me a little bit of how it works, but I definitely plan to practice more and rebuild it...

Thanks for the quick answers! Sorry OP didn't mean to thread jack!!

No worries man, we're all here to learn and teach others This thread is for all of us

OP, I've used mine for changing tires, clearing obstacles, and I know how to use it as a hand winch if I ever have to (haven't had to yet). I've also seen them used for straightening bent/crushed cabs so a rig can be driven off the trail, I've seen them used as hoists, they're incredibly handy. Anything they can do, there's something else that can do it better and safer, but I don't know of any single piece of recovery equipment you can carry that will do as much as a hilift.

If you don't have hard points on your rig to jack from, get your hands on a wheel mate and carry a jackstand. Don't listen to the anti-posers who will tell you they're worthless - they're just as bad as the re****s that carry theirs on a roofrack to cruise the mall.

You need to clean up yours - get a rebuild kit to make sure the pins and springs are in good shape, get it painted, and keep it oiled and out of the weather. There's several youtube videos on how to use a hilift safely, watch them.

Thanks Kid for the advice, will do... as for keeping it out of the weather, that might be hard, I don't really want to keep it inside my rig, it's big and bulky and space is at a premium already... But I should, to keep it from rusting and all...

it's called auto jacking, keep your head back from the arm when using....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzPUZM7Y2N4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwAStmsouaw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61Hwm0ei1UM

Thanks izzardking for the posts, those videos sure make a powerful point. YIKES! :redbrick:

Thanks again guys! Appreciate it!

 

[KidVermicious]

Thanks Kid for the advice, will do... as for keeping it out of the weather, that might be hard, I don't really want to keep it inside my rig, it's big and bulky and space is at a premium already... But I should, to keep it from rusting and all...

Just don't tool around town with it hanging off the outside of your daily driver, and be sure and oil it every time it sees weather (or dirt - dusty and sandy roads can clog these things quickly). I strip mine down and clean it at the end of every summer.

 

[farmerjon]

Just don't tool around town with it hanging off the outside of your daily driver, and be sure and oil it every time it sees weather (or dirt - dusty and sandy roads can clog these things quickly). I strip mine down and clean it at the end of every summer.

Because someone will steal it or just so that I don't have to carry it around town?

 

[KidVermicious]

Because someone will steal it

This, and because if it's out in the weather and dirt 24-7 it's much more likely to be dirty/rusty/hard to use when you need it.

 

[rickashay]

How do you do that and prevent the truck rear from moving to one side or the other? There's really nothing to keep the truck from pivoting on the front wheels...

I've never lifted from the hitch, personally, but I have seen people do it. They had a shackle receiver on the hitch and lifted the truck via the shackle. The hi-lift was centered in the rear and they chocked the front wheels, lifting both rear tires. Not saying it's the best method, or you should do it this way, but in a pinch you could probably use the hitch as a jacking point in one way or another. It's simply sturdy enough to hold the weight of the vehicle...

This, and because if it's out in the weather and dirt 24-7 it's much more likely to be dirty/rusty/hard to use when you need it.

^^As he said. You can also buy those Hi-Lift sleeves that keep the running gear covered at all times when stored. It will still get dirty if you roll around with it on your rig all the time, but it's a good way to try and keep it as clean as possible when your out wheeling, and it's on the outside of the truck.

 

[theizzardking]

Fyi those vids were just to make people aware of the dangers , the hi lift jack is a great tool and imo is a must have for a trail run , at least one in the group , but like any good tool if not aware or informed on proper use can become very dangerous, lethal even , I say go buy one but practice and keep it in good working order , I found one on the cl for cheap local , rehab kit and I was done for $50 total . I say get one It's an awesome tool with lots of uses , just be aware when using it .

 

[shootmymime]

watch this video! pretty funny and useful with a hi lift.

4runner Rollerover accident - YouTube