It's always laughable to see posts or webpages showing how a Hi-Lift can be used as a winch. There was a good article testing that usage in 4Wheel Drive & Sport Utility Magazine years ago and they came to the same conclusion. Possible in some situations if you use a chain but impossible with straps and ropes. And too much work to consider it being useful for anything but an emergency situation where it's that or die lol.I always laugh at these comments and mostly blame the marketing...
Has anyone actually tried to use a farm jack to rescue a rig? Let me tell you, it's completely exhausting and frustrating. I did it once to help rescue a rig (there was no good way to get a proper winch line run without risk of the rescue rig getting stuck). It took probably >2 dozen resets on a 60" jack to get to the point where we could finally run the winch line to. By the end, I was beat and plain exhausted. Mind you now, this was in college - back when I played D1 football and was running sub 7-minute miles (as a 6'3", 315lb d-lineman). There is no f*$#(@$ way in hell I'd ever consider this a viable benefit nowadays... I'd rather gather supplies, make shelter, and become feral before winching my ass out with a farm jack