*DONT BUY A* Hi-Lift jack questions answered

I've never owned a hi lift jack or had a desire to. My reasoning is that they look and work too much like an old bumper jack for a '60s car. Except the car bumper jacks usually had a larger foot for support. Even that didn't help their stability very much. One of the main reasons you don't see them in newer cars is the inherent instability. The things were dangerous as hell. I've had them a few times fall over with the car on it while changing out a flat tire on the side of the road. That was on pavement. Now add mud, dirt, loose gravel as a surface to support the jack and you're pouring gas on a fire.

Nope, no way for this kid. I've always had a healthy aversion to getting hurt.
 
We should never buy or use Jeeps, they are dangerous....
Jeep crash.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Drizit and ac_
I had a Hi-Lift on my JK because I liked how it looked hanging off the Jeep (yeah, I know, I know) and thought it'd come in handy at some point. That and the little scissor-jack that came with the JK did nothing to lift it up after I had 35s. I did use the Hi-Lift once after my floor jack broke so I could work on my brakes... that was about it. Had I known what I know now I would have just got a good bottle jack and thrown it in the Jeep instead.

Best use I ever had for the Hi-Lift though was pulling posts out of the ground. Works wonders there!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Willys LJ
I just used my hi-lift to pull my jeep out of the ditch last summer, engine wouldnt start because of a bad starter, got back on the road, then I was able to roll 4 miles down the mountain without a running engine...and I was still 30 miles from pavement. I used a hi-lift to hook on my rock slider to change a tire, works when terrain wont allow a bottle or floor jack. Also used one to pull the track back onto a D-6 that threw a track in a swamp in Alaska in the winter. Come a long wasnt strong enough. They have their uses and limitation. Tim
 
  • Like
Reactions: JLLJ
I use my Hi-Lift more than my bottle jack, but rarely on vehicles. I get very few flat tires anymore and the hi-lift is very versatile with light equipment and recovery (yeah I know it's a bit off-topic because I'm not on as many trails). I always carry a bottle jack and it's easy to carry my mounted hi-lift on my bumper. I carry a shovel, ax, Katana Boy, fold up bow saw, the winch is mounted, pistol, rifle, etc. Sometimes I'll definitely grab a chainsaw if I know there's stuff I have to cut.

Hi-lift is the last tool I try and I'm tense every second, but so often it's the only thing around that seems to work without crawling under a piece of equipment and jacking from beneath it. Floor jacks are great and I use them in the shop very often. I have a bottle jack with integrated jack stand that is my favorite to use if it'll work. When I'm able to fix one of our tractors with a front end loader, I'm really hoping this will lessen the use of the hi-lift.

I suggest you don't learn to use the jack when you're stuck and by yourself. You'll quickly find out how dangerous they are when you're on flat land in a controlled setting. If you're using it like a winch you'll learn there's a bunch of stuff you need and that handle is pretty scary. I have learned lessons when out in the field though. If you really want to be safe just watch others have fun.

This may be a tool for some to stay away from. I wouldn't ever see this around a job site, but they'll bring enough equipment/cranes that to rent for a day is more than my salary. I find there's 2 big issues with these jacks, the handle and the stability of the load. The handle is very prone with and without your input to flail on its own and it's not stable at all. It's more useful for equipment than a vehicle, but it's versatile.

In my truck I've started to carry a portable hydraulic kit and all of the above. I haven't used it for off-road type stuff, but I feel like there's a way to integrate some bases and adapters on the top have some versatility. Again this is more for equipment.

Always think about the range of the handle and where the load will fall and stay away from both areas. If you want to get rid of your jack for incredibly cheap, I could probably use 1 or 2 more.

Farm Jack (Medium).jpg
 
I use mine often, usually just to lift the rocker to take shocks off. I prefer the gantrys I made, but in my own garage I usually grab the HiLift. Just like any other tool, need to be careful, not let it get side loaded. I don't take it in the Jeep, it stays in camp.
 
Wow this went viral. I use my hijack for anything I can. I have even used it for changing a tire. I know it isn't ideal, but it is what it is. It is a tool and most tools are dangerous. I mean I see others give examples of other kinds of jacks, but this will stretch and push and pull. I have even straightened out a drag link once with one. I have always and will always own one.

I am not dissing anybody that doesn't, I see why they are hated, but I won't discount anything if I am stuck in the backwoods. I have even used one to drive on for traction in the mud.

I have yet to be smacked in the jaw, but I could see how that could happen.

Yeah it is pretty worthless if you buy it to only use as a jack, but I have used it for much more than a jack. It takes up little space and is useful.

It's all good though, if I am out and about and I find one of you need one, I will lend it to you.
 
It's all good though, if I am out and about and I find one of you need one, I will lend it to you.
Early on I got my first dose of what how folks replace brain cells with testosterone. We came across from the 62 via Pioneertown road to Big Bear. Guy in front gets hung up on a rock trying to get up a ledge, not a very hard spot, just bad driving. We dug, stacked, hi-lifted, and worked way harder than we needed to jack him off that rock. 10 feet in front of him was a perfect anchor tree for his winch. Today, it would take about 30 seconds of conversation to say you either drag out the winch line or you're doing this all by your lonesome.
 
Early on I got my first dose of what how folks replace brain cells with testosterone. We came across from the 62 via Pioneertown road to Big Bear. Guy in front gets hung up on a rock trying to get up a ledge, not a very hard spot, just bad driving. We dug, stacked, hi-lifted, and worked way harder than we needed to jack him off that rock. 10 feet in front of him was a perfect anchor tree for his winch. Today, it would take about 30 seconds of conversation to say you either drag out the winch line or you're doing this all by your lonesome.

Don't get me wrong. I have dual batteries and a winch. My hilift is bolted onto my rear bumper. It is not my first go to, but it is there just in case.

One time up in Washington. Granite Falls to be more specific, we were out snow wheeling up in the mountains. There was this rather steep hill with a moderate sized tree across the trail diagonally. A couple of the bigger trucks made it over the tree no problems, but the Scout and my jeep had to bounce over the tree. When the front end came down it bent my drag link. Not too bad, but enough that I couldn't adjust the toe out. My friend with the scout bent it so much it horseshoed into the fan. it actually stalled the motor.

We winched him down and took both of out drag links off and started a bon fire. We heated them up enough where we could use a couple of hilift jacks to straighten them back out enough to drive them again. It was nice to have. You just never know what you can use them for.

I think I remember seeing a picture of @Jerry Bransford's friend using one on a Tj or Cherokee with a broken axle to keep the wheel on, if my horrible memory serves me correctly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lowranger
I just used my hi-lift to pull my jeep out of the ditch last summer, engine wouldnt start because of a bad starter, got back on the road, then I was able to roll 4 miles down the mountain without a running engine...
Tim since you couldn't start the engine due to a bad starter motor, why did you roll 4 miles down the hill without using that downhill momentum to start the engine? Pop the clutch or shift to Drive with the ignition switch on will start the engine when the starter motor isn't working
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jon Wildes
Tim since you couldn't start the engine due to a bad starter motor, why did you roll 4 miles down the hill without using that downhill momentum to start the engine? Pop the clutch or shift to Drive with the ignition switch on will start the engine when the starter motor isn't working

Well I hope he has a stick. I pray for our spices he has a manual. Are you suggesting to shift a auto to drive from nutral with the key on in a auto ?
 
  • Like
Reactions: BugoutJeep
Well I hope he has a stick. I pray for our spices he has a manual. Are you suggesting to shift a auto to drive from nutral with the key on in a auto ?
I didn't understand any of that. Yes a Jeep with an automatic can be roll started if that's what you were wondering. And were you saying pray for our species that he has a manual? Why? Most of us rock crawlers long ago converted to automatics. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: BugoutJeep
I never knew an auto would roll start. Neutral to Drive with the ignition on?

And yeah autos are great, especially for you all crawling rocks.
 
I didn't understand any of that. Yes a Jeep with an automatic can be roll started if that's what you were wondering. And were you saying pray for our species that he has a manual? Why? Most of us rock crawlers long ago converted to automatics. :)

Sorry for my ramblings, I can jump start a manual, I've never jump started a auto, and I'm in disbelief it can be done.