Hi lift jacks

Hilift jacks can be dangerous.. 2 times we used one, both times car fell off.

Do you NEED a high lift?? they are mainly used for recoverys out of deep ruts and crap.

Trolley jack.. how much room do you want to take up??

A good quality Bottle Jack is the go.

Hilift jacks can be dangerous.. 2 times we used one, both times car fell off.

Do you NEED a high lift?? they are mainly used for recoverys out of deep ruts and crap.

Trolley jack.. how much room do you want to take up??

A good quality Bottle Jack is the go.

Obviously your friend only changes tyres on a concrete driveway!!!

A hilift jack has soooo many other uses, like bead breaker, hand winch (with correct chains), sideways walking of car plus its use as a jack to change tyres. Ever tried changing a tyre thats peeled of a rim while stuck in a gully half way up a hill, try that with a trolley jack.

As for a wider base, I always carry a bit of 12mm formwork ply as a jack base. Even a trolley jack would sink on sand.

Cheers

Mark

Ann & Steve, Nothing personal but I think your friend is mad, only jokin. What do you want the jack for?
If it is for the garage then he or she is not mad but if it is for out and about then the news is not good!!
You can use : a) Hi Lift jack- If you have somewhere to lift the vehicle from and can be unstable. can be used for other tasks.
b) Bull bag - Good in sand
c) Bottle Jack -Good with base plate and something to run the flat tyre onto so that you can get the jack under the axle.

All depends on what you need.

Regards

Mark

Hi,
i think you hit the nail right on the head. I bought a Highlift, tried it out a couple of times at home until I realised the thing was inherently dangerous by design. Now I carry a trolley jack wrapped in an old blanket behind the seat. Its far less dangerous, much easier to use and I'd reckon if I ever encountered mud (not a likely occurence around the Isa and Boulia) it'd be a lot easier to pack-up to stop it sinking into the ground.
I reckon the Highlifts are only good for one things, SHOW.
However, if you change your mind I've got one going cheap only used twice, never in anger.
Paul

Carry a Hi lift jack and a Trolley Jack and a Bull bag....no worries.

As said before...a Hi lift jack has many uses. They are potentially dangerous if you drop one on someones head :-))) Don't climb in under the vehicle while jacking with a Hi lift. It is all a matter of common sense.

Cheers,
Willem

Always going somewhere

Ahhhh the old hi lift debate an oldie but a goodie not unlike the fats V skinny's, tubeless V splits, minnies v tight jeans, ya gotta love it.

If you only use a hi lift a couple of times then yes it probly is dangerous for some, but with some commonsense, practice and an idea of your vehicles balance they are easier and much, much faster than anything else (change a tyre in 43'+ with 4'000 flies in your face, ears, nose etc in less than 5 mins, incl putting the spare back and you learn to use and love your hilift) it is also very versatile as indicated above. It is also for my money a lot better than putting your bottle jack underwater.

The bottle jack also is a good piece of kit better on hills than a hi lift and can also be used to panelbeat in restricted spaces.

Personally I wouldn't include a trolley jack unless you have physical problems geting under the vehicle, or the vehicle is much much heavier than yours and you don't mind wrestling a trolley jack in the sand or dirt. Or are 100% on the blacktop and for some reason prefer it.

I would reccomend carrying both hi lift and a bottle jack esp. if in remote areas.

Thanks for the feedback. Actually, the guy who advised us is a retired driller & has spent the best part of the last 30 years in the outback in WA- we were just surprised at his advice as it was the first time we had heard of using a trolley jack. It's given us food for thought, anyhow.

It comes down to weight. You can carry all sorts of gear that you may never use, if weight weren't a problem. I used to carry a high lift jack but I have found that for remote desert and rough road use it has no advantage over the lighter and more compact bottle jack. On one occasion, despite my best efforts at chocking etc, the car slid sideways off the H/L jack and bent the shaft. For me the best compromise is to leave the H/L at home.Bob

Guys , I only use the hight lift to take the major load off the smaller jack , I pick up the weight of the vehicle without lifting the wheels off the ground , then I use the factory jack with a piece of ply Venus Bay

Ann & Steve,
I am a firm believer in a highlifter and a bottle jack. Highlifters are heavy, dangerous, and when you are seriously stuck, one of the best things to have.

Change tyres with the bottle. The purpose for which it was designed. A trolly jack will do this to but was never designed for recovery.

If you go a highlifter, purchase a jack adaptor bracket that will allow you to safely locate the jack and lift off the wheel/hub assembly. Only about $30 and saves having to lift the vehicle body numerous times just to clear the suspension from an object.

Practice at home, read the instructions, and wear gloves and boots.
Cheers
Craig

I’ve fabricated a bigger baseplate / car stand for the hi lift jack and its solves most of the stability problems if necessary.
Charlie

I’ve fabricated a bigger baseplate / car stand for the hi lift jack and its solves most of the stability problems if necessary.
Charlie

Anne & Steve

We have a troopy that I have purpose converted to a pop top camper; that when loaded for a trip comes in at 3.5t ( plus sometimes).

Space & weight have always been a problem when putting it together over the past 3 years and as a result of the 'give & take comprise' that goes with this situation we carry a high lift and air bag/jack. (Plus a heap of other recovery gear)

I carry a piece of Aluminium Chequer plate to increase the 'footprint' for stability, however have never had to use the c/plate to date.

Also I have never had it 'rocking around where it gave any indication that it was going to slip sideways. I am a aware of and know how to carry out the 'side movement' manouver thats been mentioned, however I would have to be scraping the bottom of the option bin before I used it though. ( mainly from a potential damage situation rather than safety)

CT'S post above is spot on, especially about having the correct lift points or lift accessory kit to fit your vehicle. I have a KAYMAR rear bar which you can use a high lift anywhere along it, or if the vehicle has sunk so far, or is in a difficult situation I use that $30 lift attachment that CT mentioned. I have a purpose built lift attachment for the front TJM bar. (Bolts onto left and front tow positions)

I also have an attachment to fit the Troopys wheel hubs that allows for a CONTROLLED vertical lift out of holes etc. (The key word here being CONTROLLED)

Also as Willie mentioned, use your self preservation mode combined with common sense and the High Lift is a magic piece of equipment.

Abuse it and it will bite you on the arse.

Ours fits out of the way in dust bag on the KAYMAR spare tyre carrier.

Anyway at the end of the day its 'horses for courses' and what you feel is best for your situation and what you can handle.

Hope this gives you a few more ideas/clues to ruminate on.

Regards

Ken Robinson

I HAVE A HI-LIFT JACK ....
IT COULD BE DANGEROUS IF YOU USED IF WRONG ..
I CUT AND WELDED HOLES IN THE BULL BAR - REAR BUMPER ETC
THAT HOLD THE JACK FROM SLIPPING OUT ..
I GOT MYSELF THIS JACK BECAUSE I GO BEOND K-MART -COLES ETC CAR PARK..
WHERE I GO YOU WOULD BE LUCKY TO SEE ANYONE FOR DAYS
RACQ IS N.F.G OUT THERE.. THATS IT YOU KNOW WHERE ARE ANY WAY ...
I HAVE 2 HI-LIFT JACKS AND 1 OF THEM IS FOR SALE
RING ME ON 07 46696639

Hi lift jacks are for show ponies who want people to think they are realy cool off roaders.

Realy cool off roaders dont use them tho.

Trolley jacks ok if you got the room, if not a couple of bottle jacks take up no room.
A screw type bottle jack is always handy as well as a scissor type jack.