High Lift Jacks

That is correct! Only as safe as the person using them....Take care...

High Lift Jacks are safe as the person using them.

If you do stupid things with them they can bite you. If you are careful when using them, they can save the day. Just take your smart pills with you....lol

One night I got my Suzuki's front wheels stuck over a log in a rising creek. The electric winch wouldn't work and I had to do something in a hurry. So I used the Hi Lift Jack to jack the front of the little car up and then push if off the jack. Did this about 10 times in quick time and got out of trouble.

These days I carry a Bottle Jack, a Trolley Jack and a Hi Lift Jack to cover all occasions.

Cheers

They are certainly as dangerous as you want to make them but are a tool that is extremely versatile. (bead breaker, winch, clamp, jack, stump puller) Have clobbered myself on the head when the pin didn't locate but that was probably just a reminder to me that it needed cleaning & a bit of lubrication ;-) In tough offroad situations 5 minutes with a High lift jack can often save an hour of winching.
2 hands on the handle at all times, don't put your head over the jack, don't get under a suspended load, use a base plate on soft ground & keep the jack clean. Should work fine then.
Cheers Craig............

Chain saws are dangerous ... soldering irons are dangerous ... high lift jacks are dangerous. As everyone else has said, it depends on the user. I carry a high lift and it got me out of a difficult situation near Kalgoorlie when I was seriously bogged and well out of the path of any passing help.

The fact that you can tip them off, when used correctly, is a bonus, as it was for me.

Obviously you would never get underneath a vehicle that was held up by a high lift.

Jack

As others have said they can be dangerous when used without care but can be the best thing ever when the need arises.Make sure that your vehicle has the proper support brackets for their use as without this you will not only have the chance of personal injury but you will almost certainly damage your vehicle.Make sure the jack is kept clean and well lubricated and ALWAYS make sure the handle is in the down position before moving the up-down lever.

One of the handiest tools I have around, I have two, use them for lifting out fence posts, tree stumps, bogged vehicles, straightening bent gates or machinery,use like a tirfor, etc, etc.
Like others have said they are only as safe as the operator. Just as dangerous or as safe as a motor vehicle I reckon. If you consider your vehicle safe or dangerous it`s up to you. One thing I think is essential is to ALWAYS have the handle in the vertical ( closed ) position before changing the direction lever.
cheers
Scrubcat.

If you're inexperienced, Hi Lift Jacks can seriously damage you.
They require constant lubrication and cleaning to get the best out of them when needed.
I've used one to break a bead, and to re build a sink hole and get the vehicle out.
Some people find them difficult and hard to carry.
Make sure it's a good quality one and not a cheap bit of you know what.

Gday,
I never go any where without one.
But as everyone has said......In the wrong hands???...Look out!
Cheers

To make mine stable, I have dedicated Hilift jacking points on all 4 corners.

Its also the only beadbreaker I take these days. And it backs up the barely adequate 1800kg mechanical jack that comes with the vehicle.

more dangerous if you arnt bogged If you are theings stay put much better. if you have a cruiser then get hub lifters as that increases the safety of them. high lift jacking points are of limited use on a coil sprung vehicle and a standard hight jack.
I have used them fo Boggings and hangups wouldnt remotely entertain the thought of going bush with out one as the last time i did i had to walk 40k

???????????????

The Rambler says;
"ALWAYS make sure the handle is in the DOWN position before moving the up-down lever."

Scrubcat says;
"ALWAYS have the handle in the VERTICAL ( closed ) position before changing the direction lever."

Who's right?

hz75,
HiLift jacks have lots of uses. They can be dangerous and I wouldn't use it to just change a tyre. But have used mine as a bead breaker and as a hand winch. With care they can be a useful tool.

Steve

Basically what they all said ... great bit of kit, but use with your brain in gear.

Cheers

I don't reckon they are worth the effort of carrying them just for the 4wding that most people do ie. back country touring. If you are really into the hard yakka then you will find a heap of uses for them. If you don't fully understand what some people are refering to when they say the jacks are dangerous then seek out someone who can show you. Once seen never forgotten !!

I carry one but if your concerned take an exhaust jack. it will do many of the functions of a hilift but not all.