High Lift Jack How to use them

Hi Wayne, a high-lift jack can be useful for rare recovery situations but there are limitations too.

Firstly they should never be used for wheel changing or any maintenance task on or under the vehicle. They are mainly to raise a vehicle's wheel to permit inserting packing under the wheel if bogged or in a deep rut.

They can also be used to lift front or back to allow a sideways shift out of a rut. To do this you really need special lift points on strong bumpers, bull-bars or drawbars. The body curvature of modern vehicles does not allow lifting under the chassis.

An alternative is an attachment which hooks into a wheel and connects to the jack and safely allows lifting the wheel, but obviously not to change it!

wayne

basically you need to have jacking points built into your front and rear bullbars

as shown on this ARB bullbar


or use a 'lift mate'




Hope this helps

A high lift jack can cause serious injury if not used correctly.Vehicles need to have properly installed brackets fitted to the front and rear which will take the lift pad on the jack without slipping.Most vehicles do not have suitable lifting points for a high lift jack so these need to be added.Also when using the jack on uneven ground it can become very unstable if lifted too high.The jacks are a great tool for recovery purposes but must be used with respect and some practical experience goes a long way in avoiding injury.

Ok that all sounds a little risky. Although the Lift Mate looks ok.

PLAN B. Exhaust Jack whats your thoughts on these. We use to call them Bull Bags.

Thanks again
Wayne B

Wayne

If you get a hi lift jack find a good spot in the shed where it won't keep falling over and leave it there.

I was taught how to use a kangaroo jack as a kid, and used them all through my teen years. You need to be shown how NOT to use them more then anything. Have changed many tyres with a roo jack, jacked bogged vehicles up, straightened fence posts, and never ever have i come close to being injured. I wouldnt be without one as long as your vehicle has safe and strong lifting points. Always carry a good size jacking plate also.

They are very easy to use as long as you use common sense. Keep it lubed up and stored ni a cover prefereably and it will give you years of service.

Don't forget you can get stuff made, I do for my daily driver all the time.

Like an extension bar that accepts a high lift but fits and locks into the tow bar. My ute tray covers the tow bar so I get a certified welder to make me something up. Those wonderful accessory shops aren't the be all of 4x4 knowledge.

My alloy bbar only has air intake slots to the side of the number plate. If is use them for the Hi-lift it twists the bar into the grill a bit. So I lower the number plate a bit, drill and file a slot in the middle of the bar, and now have a equalised no slip point for the Hi-lift hook (pic above) to work with if needed.

Also check first to see if the Hi-lift hook (pic above) will fit your wheels, they don't for some apparently.....so I have been told.

Lastly, be prepared to do a bit of digging to level and ground the jack. Hard work in a rut or mud, but that's all part of the avenger, or learning curve.

8os are easy to get the hub lifter for
IMHO they are by far and away the best way to use a hi lift

bumper mounts are next to use less as they are too high and you need to lift the whole suspension

Hi lifts should only be used for recovery and never for changing tyres

Yair...new around here Guday! Highlift jack is probably the most useful bit of gear you can carry. Fit your rig up with lift points front and back. Shure saves groveling around in the dirt. You can even use them as a puller for getting out of bogs.

If you drive a "propper" vehicle i.e. a trayback with a steel body you can beef up the tie rail and lift the whole side of the truck out of a bog or for changing wheels.