*DONT BUY A* Hi-Lift jack questions answered

...this is why there are so many recommendations to use a simple bottle jack under the tube, the second that jack makes contact with the tube it begins lifting the tire so to change it you only need to jack it up an inch & boom, the tire comes off; at that point the odds of something bad happening due to the jack slipping or bowing or whatever else can go wrong with a maxed out high lift are extraordinarily low
Unlike this. :)

Hi-Lift Bent.jpg
 
A tube adapter, offroad base, and a strap for an axle make the farm jacks much safer. But they should still be the tool of last resort. Other than a crane, nothing goes wrong quite like a farm jack can.
 
We can all agree on one thing - the words 'hi-lift jack' in a post will always evoke a spirited discussion, shall we say...o_O

They're like Jack's magic beans.

Yep he might has well started the winch versus locker debate.

The highlift is a tool and some myself included would call the most dangerous in America. But all tools have a time and place just like an axe, a winch or a firearm. Give them the respect they deserve you can get work done.
 
Only if the new debate is going to be whether those who carry axes are posers. :)

After all, axes are dangerous and aren't manly power tools and everyone knows that experienced jeepers who run the tough trails never carry an axe because that is a sign of being a clueless newbie.


BTW - I was on a snow run near Lassen National Park on Saturday and one of the guys had a lithium ion battery powered chainsaw that really came in handy preparing a downed tree for being winched off the trail. What kind of chainsaw would you recommend for carrying in a jeep? Gas or battery? Length? Any particular brand/model?
 
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Only if the new debate is going to be whether those who carry axes are posers. :)

After all, axes are dangerous and aren't manly power tools and everyone knows that experienced jeepers who run the tough trails never carry an axe because that is a sign of being a clueless newbie.


BTW - I was on a snow run near Lassen National Park on Saturday and one of the guys had a lithium ion battery powered chainsaw that really came in handy preparing a downed tree for being winched off the trail. What kind of chainsaw would you recommend for carrying in a jeep? Gas or battery? Length? Any particular brand/model?
ok so let me get this straight, ax= poser, lithium ion battery powered chainsaw= good idea. in all seriousness that guy is pretty smart. that seems like a good thing to bring plus if it rechargeable he could bring the charger with him on the trail. thats my vote. but id say a hatchet backup wouldn't be a bad idea either.
 
Only if the new debate is going to be whether those who carry axes are posers. :)

After all, axes are dangerous and aren't manly power tools and everyone knows that experienced jeepers who run the tough trails never carry an axe because that is a sign of being a clueless newbie.
The vast majority of these type discussions would go so much better if the older more experienced folks who know how to use an axe, high lift, winch, lockers, etc. would step out of their own tiny little sphere of awareness and contemplate the same in others.

If and I mean this is one of the bigger ifs out there, if the experienced would simply take a moment and consider that they did not always know how to operate a hi lift or axe safely and that the very steep learning curve has a very high risk factor with severe consequences for a simple mistake, then no-one would be getting their fucking feelings hurt.

The other side of that big fucking if is do you (the experienced) really want to tell someone that it is okay to carry an axe, hi lift, etc. without the caution that if you don't know how to use it, get some help, learn the tool and do all of that before you ever get into a situation where it is needed?
 
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Good point. I never knew how dangerous a Hi-Lift could be until I started reading these threads here. I've only used it once and didn't injure myself but I had no idea how bad things could have gone. Now I have watched a bunch of videos, some of which are quite chilling, and I see the problem. I am still debating whether to remove mine or just keep it and be very careful about its use. I like my shovel though.:)
 
Good point. I never knew how dangerous a Hi-Lift could be until I started reading these threads here. I've only used it once and didn't injure myself but I had no idea how bad things could have gone. Now I have watched a bunch of videos, some of which are quite chilling, and I see the problem. I am still debating whether to remove mine or just keep it and be very careful about its use. I like my shovel though:)
well im glad i started this thread because i didn't know either lol.
 
If you don’t know how to use a hijack lift why would you carry one? Same as ppl that throw bumper ornaments on their front bumpers and never use them. If ppl want to deck their jeep out to be a serious crawler and then only drive it on the street I guess have at it. Seems silly to me, but there’s a lot of that going on. Not just on this forum but everywhere.
 
If you don’t know how to use a hijack lift why would you carry one? Same as ppl that throw bumper ornaments on their front bumpers and never use them. If ppl want to deck their jeep out to be a serious crawler and then only drive it on the street I guess have at it. Seems silly to me, but there’s a lot of that going on. Not just on this forum but everywhere.
well i was going to learn how to use it because i thought it was the best solution to my problem.
 
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Only if the new debate is going to be whether those who carry axes are posers. :)
Nope, axes are for campers and posers. :) I carry a bow saw for tail clearance (unless area regulations require carrying an axe). Takes up less space and will do more work, more safely, in less time.
 
There have been plenty of times I wished I was carrying a chainsaw. One time I went 90 minutes down a forest service road before I was forced to turn around by a fallen tree. I could almost see the pavement from that point. Added an extra hour to my trip. A chainsaw would have made easy work of it.

There hasn't been a single time I wished I had a hi-lift. I've used them a couple of times before doing non-jeep related stuff. I wouldn't say they are completely useless out on the trail, but anything they can do can be accomplished with a winch or a regular jack. Most of the time I see them used in pretty stupid ways (like in the photo below).

hilift-jpg.jpg
 
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There have been plenty of times I wished I was carrying a chainsaw. One time I went 90 minutes down a forest service road before I was forced to turn around by a fallen tree. I could almost see the pavement from that point. Added an extra hour to my trip. A chainsaw would have made easy work of it.

There hasn't been a single time I wished I had a hi-lift. I've used them a couple of times before doing non-jeep related stuff. I wouldn't say they are completely useless out on the trail, but anything they can do can be accomplished with a winch or a regular jack. Most of the time I see them used in pretty stupid ways (like in the photo below).

View attachment 73607
FAED88E1-A3A2-4D8E-932F-A299488C6D69.png
My dad asking for my nursing opinion. I won’t own a chainsaw lol
 
Here is another inherently dangerous alternative to both the axe and bow saw. A bit spendy, but they are impressive to watch in action.
:icon_popcorn:
61Tm2IQFsWL._SL1500_.jpg

Silky Saws 710-65 Off-Road Folding Saw, 650mm, Black/Silver
Price:$269.00 & FREE Shipping
  • Largest folding saw on the market
  • Allows for 2 handed operation
  • 25.6" blade has 13" cutting capacity
  • Ideal for off-road adventures on snowmobile, ATV, motorcycle, or horseback
  • Comes with over the shoulder carrying case
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RD9JCS2/?tag=wranglerorg-20
 
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