High-Lift Jacks

[marakasmalan]

Hello Forum members,

I need some advice here, I am planning a DIY rear bumper project and was looking at some designs and ideas. One of the topics that crossed my investigation is the high-lift jack points.

Being somewhat novice, having only been patrolling for two years and during these years only footing the fuel bill, I have never been able to afford one of these jacks, hence never used one.

We are eager to mount accessories and gadgets, contributing more weight to the already heavy patrol. the highlift jack has a fair weight contribution and an even bigger price tag. I have encountered situations which rendered my jack useless due to reach/terrain, if it was not possible to move to more suitable terrain I just drove onto a rock with the flat tyre, put a suitably sized rock underneath the axle and dug out the rock the wheel was standing on. After the spare wheel is fitted I drive off. So as far as changing tyres is concerned, I do not see the need, but it may be that I do not bear knowledge of the need for a high lift jack.

As far as recovery go, I usually use a spade (tuingraaf/spitgraaf) as that is to me the cost and weight effective solution.

Enlighten me, is the high-lift jack essential and what are its benefits?

Regards

Marnus

[dieselfan]

I'm sure there are many that love hi lift jacks, personally during all my "stuck" times (thick sand and bog mud) the hi lift never worked properly and I had to use an air jack each time. Not only with less hassle but more safety. The air jack is my choice jack. In saying that there are times a hi lift is better - I've just never had those times, despite have points on my car.

The hard core guys will recommend it, for me, I sold mine. My neighbour with his LC swore by his until we both got stuck out on a farm in Feb. With two jacks we were going nowhere. I called my BIL to fetch my air jack 15 mins later we were both free. It is bigger and cumbersome to pack tough. The newer ones have nice bags. Mine is about 9 years old.

Another benefit though was when I got stuck towing the heavy 1.5t Explorer caravan. We struggled to recover my car and caravan out of a river bed with hi lift. Eventually using the air jack it was unhitched very easily 2 mins and I got out and dragged the caravan on it's nose. We had the sand plates etc, but the sand was just too deep and coarse for the hi lift. You'd walk and sink. The whole recovery took from 4pm to 9pm. Infact we slept there till the morn. When I got stuck again later the next day, alone no convoy, air jack out and off we went.

I've got some video too ;)

[ChristoSlang]

A Hi-Lift jack can be used as a hand-winch to pull you out of trouble, other jacks can't

I prefer my standard Nissan Patrol bullet jack on flat surfaces though. A Patrol's excellent articulation means that you have to jack, and jack, and jack before the wheel lifts off the ground...

[Tinus lotz]

I use the hi lifft to move the car when needed but yes air also has it place. ...
I. Have never needed it in sand.... But on rocks pleanty when car slipps toward a tree ect I use it to push also

[offroadbiker]

Marakas if you really want a high lift come and visit me some time I might just have an extra one lying around

[marakasmalan]

Thank you everybody,

But you need a dedicated High-lift jacking point on the vehicle?

I prefer my standard Nissan Patrol bullet jack on flat surfaces though. A Patrol's excellent articulation means that you have to jack, and jack, and jack before the wheel lifts off the ground...

Why do you jack the vehicle and not the axle? For the GQ the diff is specified as a jacking point and I have at times used my axle as jacking point to change a wheel. With the 33'' tyres it means you need to get the flat wheel onto something ±50mm high (plank, flat rock etc) for the jack to fit underneath the axle.

Marakas if you really want a high lift come and visit me some time I might just have an extra one lying around

Thank you ORB, I will sample it and then return to / purchase from you. I still want to come and have a look at your monster, but it is mayhem at work and Friday I'm off to Europe for a week, a little "verjaarsdag" at HQ - lekker inni k*k...

Regards!

Marakas

[Herrie]

I just use the high-lift jack with a wheel-buddy to lift the wheel - much easier then to lift the body.

[ChristoSlang]

Why do you jack the vehicle and not the axle? For the GQ the diff is specified as a jacking point and I have at times used my axle as jacking point to change a wheel. With the 33'' tyres it means you need to get the flat wheel onto something ±50mm high (plank, flat rock etc) for the jack to fit underneath the axle.

That's exactly what I meant! The bullet jack does indeed go under the axle, so there's very little lifting necessary to change a wheel. Where the articulation becomes a problem is when you use the Hi-Lift which lifts the body, not the axle! Some folks suggest fastening the axle to the chassis (a tow strap is apparently ideal for this) before you start jacking. I think it could be very dangerous to crawl underneath your vehicle to do this when you're stuck in a river, or against a steep incline...

I just use the high-lift jack with a wheel-buddy to lift the wheel - much easier then to lift the body."

Kobus, I've always wondered about those wheel buddies! When you attach that to a wheel, how do you stop the car from falling down when you remove the wheel? Or do you have to shove a tressle/axle stand under the axle once you're done lifting the vehicle?

[Kagiso II]

In all my years I have had the need to use a hi-lift jack but once ... Pietpetoors made me a 2-ton trolley jack on a steel plate -- and that is what I use [also, i carry two bottle jacks and two trestles with wheel chocks to make sure my vehicle does not fall on me or one in my group.
But I still carry the hi-lift jack too -- b'cause it's like a parachute -- if you DO need it and it you don't have it you are in deeeeep shirbert bru ...

[Russ Kellermann]

If you planning on using a High Lift jack the "Wheel Buddy" is the way to go. Absolutely brilliant piece of kit. Keeps vehcile stable and lift only the one wheel so packing can be placed under very easily and quickly. Ps: YOU CANT CHANGE A WHEEL WITH A WHEEL BUDDY.its application is for placing packing/branches/rocks etc under the tyres to extricate a stuck vehicle with a spinning tyre(s).

Using my high lift on a few occasions without wheel buddy can sometime be scary when you on anything but a flat surface as the vehicle tends to "lurch" to the slip side.Not a comforting feeling.

I have no problem jacking up and pushing the vehicle off the problem, but only had to do this twice in my life when my Rear blades were hung up on some gum tree stumps rendering me immobile, front tyres were just slipping in the wet forest track. Jacked up the entire rear from the hitch point and pushed the rear to the left, clean off the stumps.

I have never owned a airjack. From others that own them they seem to be very effective. I would not change a wheel under one unless you have some kind of packing once its raised the vehicle, and that goes for high lift too, neither are suitable in respect of safety for this task, but i guess when there's nothing else you do what you have to do.

The Humble Bottle jack can do amazing things, and is a reliable piece of kit if well maintained. If you get a 2tons or 4ton bottle jack and a carry a good 2" timber base board for it, you will probably get yourself out of crap 9 times out of 10.