Realy ignorant question about highlift jacks

[rusty_tlc]

Here is a much more efficient, and apparently safer way to winch with a hi lift


Hi-Lift Winching

BigBob: Why would a ratchet strap between the frame and axle be dangerous?

[BiG BoB]

I'd just hate to be mucking around underneath a vehicle if one let go... Most ratchet style straps I see people using are not particularly well made, and although they will hold something down, I wouldnt trust them to hold something up!

Chains I would use however... should I ever need to (and I never have had the need, theres always been a better option)

Sean

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by BiG BoB

I'd just hate to be mucking around underneath a vehicle if one let go... Most ratchet style straps I see people using are not particularly well made, and although they will hold something down, I wouldnt trust them to hold something up!

Chains I would use however... should I ever need to (and I never have had the need, theres always been a better option)

Sean

Basicaly you strap the axle while the rig is on the ground.
Then jack and remove the wheel or chuck rocks under the tire.
No need to get under the rig while it the axle is strapped. And I'd never get under a rig on a Hi-Lift anyway.

I usually tie the slack around the whole thing anyway.
Another thing to consider is you aren't holding much weight, basically 1/2 the weight of the axle, maybe 100 - 150 # including the wheel and tire.

[BiG BoB]

Yeah, I'm familiar with the principal - I still consider it to be dangerous however

I too would never climb under a vehicle on a Hilift - when I wrote mucking around I meant digging it out of a bog, packing branches under it, things of that nature.

To change a tire, I use a hydrolic bottle jack, to get out of a bog I use a hilift.

Sean

[hydrogeo]

The Hi-Lift is an awesome tool but man, are they dangerous. Especially when lowering something, as others have stated. This thing is just waiting to take your teeth out if your not careful when lowering something heavy or letting slack out after winching. It might also be a good idea to carry an extra shear pin. I have not broke one yet but mine is bent and not looking healthy. I stop after winching about a foot and half and reset the rigging. That way the chain isn't as apt to slip off the jack pad (I don't have the fancy winching adapter).

[moomtazz]

Hi-Lift offroad Kit

I'm new to all the winching and hi-lift stuff, but I would recommend this. I got it, along with my hi-lift at 4wheel parts when I was in Houston one day.

It has 2 connections for chain that attach to the hi-lift. One goes on the lifting foot and one that attaches to the base of the jack.

I practiced with it at home and found out a couple of things. You will need to buy a length of chain for winching ( I bought 15' of 3/8 at Home depot), and you will need an extra shackle for attaching this chain to your tow point (The kit itself only comes with one shackle). You also need a strap, treesaver, or at least another (2nd) length of long chain.

The way I set it up for practice was, I looped a treesaver around a pole and secured the treesaver loops with a shackle to the Top of the hi-lift. Then I had the 15' chain from home depot attached to the lifting foot via the connector that comes with the offroad kit. Connect the other end of the 15' chain to the vehicle tow point (This is where i realized I needed another shackle).

The connector at the base of the high lift (that came w/ the offroad kit) has about a 3' length of 3/8" chain on it. This is the chain tensioner. This was probably the main reason for buying the kit.

To winch, you "jack" the hi-lift until you run out of jack. if you need to winch further, you secure the clevis hook on the winch tensioner to the 15' chain. Then you can safely (haha) move the jack foot back up the length of the jack, pull whatever slack you have in the 15' chain through the connection at the jack foot, release the tensioner clevis hook, and start jacking again.

I also bought Bill Burke's DVD and watched the youtube hi-lift videos.

Biggest advice from my inexperienced self....practice with it, get comfortable, and give yourself the chance to discover what stuff you are missing before you really need it.

I also have a 50' length of amsteel for an extension if needed. The 15' length on the chain is just arbitrary, i tried to imagine how much chain i would need to go from the hi-lift to the winch and still allow me to avoid standing in mud up to my knees. 15' just seemed a good compromise between length and weight.