Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator

Bottle Jack Useful Accessory Build (Or - Bye, Bye High Lift!)

Super cool and innovative! Thanks for sharing!

If you happen to figure out some sort of rust prevention, please update us. Working on a project now and have the same issue with steel tubes sliding into each other without paint since it’ll make it so they don’t fit.
 
@NashvilleTJ do you have a base to set the bottlejack into for stability and to keep it fro sinking into muck?

I’ve been thinking on that, but no good solution yet. I actually have a heavy plastic base for the high lift, but I have not carried it in years because it’s bulky. I may dig it out and consider.
 
I’ve been thinking on that, but no good solution yet. I actually have a heavy plastic base for the high lift, but I have not carried it in years because it’s bulky. I may dig it out and consider.

I use a base that I made up years ago. Two pieces of 3/4" high density overlay plywood (HDO) glued and screwed together. I believe it's 6" x 10". Its not too heavy and can be shoved anywhere.

The nice thing about it is that if I forget it in the woods, I can always build another one.
 
Now that the paint has cured a bit, I fooled around with storage options.

I mentioned earlier that all the pieces slid inside the extensions in a nice little package. But they rattled quite a bit. So I dug around my grommet drawer and found two plastic caps that fit on each side of the pump handle tube...

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...and fit perfectly inside the extension spacer and the upper part of the extension. And no more rattles.

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I also dug out an elastic velcro strap to hold it all together. I can easily store it like this either with or without the saddle.

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(And, yeah, I spent time addressing a tiny little rattle. Now you know it's really me and that my account has not been hacked.... :rolleyes: )
 
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@NashvilleTJ do you have a base to set the bottlejack into for stability and to keep it fro sinking into muck?

I'm also giving some thought to Ricky's comment about a base to add stability / anti muck-sink.

As I mentioned I've had this high-lift base for almost 20 years, although I have not carried it in the rig for many years as it is a bit bulky.

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The jack actually fits nicely between the top rails of the base, and would require only a little clearance-ing for the release valve.

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So I'm giving some thought to how to secure it to the base for use, but make it easy to remove. Any thoughts?

The downside is that it weighs three pounds, and is a bit bulky - although the scalloped design of the side rails makes it not too bad. My thought is that a steel plate strong and large enough to work would likely weigh much more.

Do you think it is worth pursuing?

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Nice work. I've switched over to the Safe Jack a few years ago. Only had to use it once on a buddies rig. We did have an issue with the jack sinking into soft ground we were on so I added a steel plate base to my bag and have plans to add some risers on it to keep the jack stable

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I found out about these a while back, and still need to order one.

I do not have the shop/resources to build it like @NashvilleTJ did... Great work!
 
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And finally, a little paint. I did not paint any of the surfaces which require insertion, as the fit is tight enough that paint would have affected the fit, and also would simply scrape off during use.

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I've looked into a few coating methods that would provide rust prevention, but not add thickness to the parts. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Maybe bluing? Does that provide rust prevention?

Dry lube?
 
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View attachment 495355

So I'm giving some thought to how to secure it to the base for use, but make it easy to remove. Any thoughts?

Maybe mill down the internal webbing enough that some ball pins or quick release pins could go through each side over the jack base to secure it... the webbing could be milled out just enough to allow the jack base to slide in. Looks like you'd only be able to use one QR pin though... maybe some locking lever latches just to keep it pressed in?
 
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You guys are too quick. Thanks for the ideas.

With nothing to lose, I hit it with the die grinder and sure enough, the jack drops in like it was meant to be there. It fits perfectly between the two rails.

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Now I'll give some thought to how to secure it. That's for the ideas, Artsi.
 
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Toggle clamps may hold it to the base. I'd still mill the internal webbing a little so the jack base sits into it and can't just slide...

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Toggle clamps may hold it to the base. I'd still mill the internal webbing a little so the jack base sits into it and can't just slide...

View attachment 495369

Agree on the milling. I’m planning to route a recess for the jack to sit in. I thought about throwing it at the band saw and removing the outer rim - as the bottle jack would not need it - and reduce the vertical height by a 1/2” for storage, but I still want to be able to use it for a high-lift in a pinch.

I actually have a bunch of those toggle clamps which I use for woodworking - and I thought about that as well - but I want to keep the base as compact as possible for storage, and they would stick out a bunch.
 
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Great work. Also really like that brake press setup, wouldn't mind grabbing one for my press.
 
Agree on the milling. I’m planning to route a recess for the jack to sit in. I thought about throwing it at the band saw and removing the outer rim - as the bottle jack would not need it - and reduce the vertical height by a 1/2” for storage, but I still want to be able to use it for a high-lift in a pinch.

I actually have a bunch of those toggle clamps which I use for woodworking - and I thought about that as well - but I want to keep the base as compact as possible for storage, and they would stick out a bunch.

how tall is the internal webbing? maybe you could mill it down flush with the outer foot area, and use a couple door latches to hold the bottle jack in place, and make a spacer to raise the level for hi-lift use... use the latches to hold that spacer in place too...

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Great work. Also really like that brake press setup, wouldn't mind grabbing one for my press.

Thanks. I use that press brake a bunch. It’s in a 30 Ton press, which helps a lot.
 
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how tall is the internal webbing? maybe you could mill it down flush with the outer foot area, and use a couple door latches to hold the bottle jack in place, and make a spacer to raise the level for hi-lift use... use the latches to hold that spacer in place too...

View attachment 495402

Good idea. That’s intriguing.
 
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Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ radiator