Hi lift - best use and best place to buy

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jurassic cruiser said:
This is clearly a man who wheels hard-great invention!!!!
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I'm not convinced.
What happens when you lift a rig more than a couple of inches and the chassis tilts as the body leans over? Is this going to bind? Or bend the hilift like a pretzel?
Or what happens when the rig shifts forward or back or sideways and the hilift is locked to the frame? Again, pretzeled or jammed hilift?

I really dislike hilifts, but the thing that makes them so ubiquitous is the fact the are so versatile. You can use them in all sorts of sketchy AF situations, whereas this set up looks to be very inflexible.
I think it's a great idea that probably doesn't translate to reality in the bush
 
BRob2756 said:
After emptying my pockets on the 100 (doh!) and now the 200, my winch funds are long gone.

Thinking about getting a hi lift for my 80 to use in case of emergencies. Full disclosure - haven't used or seen one used in a winch or come along capacity but have read up on it.

Question is - where is best place to buy? What add ons would I need to use as a last ditch winch/get me out of crap? My current kit (left over from my Grand Wagoneer days) includes two tree savers, two snatch blocks, a 3x30 tow strap, and all kids of brackets, D Hooks, etc. Anything major I am missing once I add the hi lift?

Many thanks!

-Rob
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You do not want to be using a Hi-Lift as a winch. Be faster to walk home backwards and Bring another truck.
 
mudgudgeon said:
I'm not convinced.
What happens when you lift a rig more than a couple of inches and the chassis tilts as the body leans over? Is this going to bind? Or bend the hilift like a pretzel?
Or what happens when the rig shifts forward or back or sideways and the hilift is locked to the frame? Again, pretzeled or jammed hilift?

I really dislike hilifts, but the thing that makes them so ubiquitous is the fact the are so versatile. You can use them in all sorts of sketchy AF situations, whereas this set up looks to be very inflexible.
I think it's a great idea that probably doesn't translate to reality in the bush
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What I have seen so far is most of the people on youtube use the hi-lift to demonstrate it's capabilities in a parking lot, in a flat surface.

Now, when you go off roading, a parking lot is the last thing I see before I hit the trail.
Ideally it works well, but for every 20 videos demonstrating it's awesome capability, I only see 1 on the trail on a uneven surface.
I get it, it's useful, but you need to be an expert on using it off road in a not so ideal environment.

I guess one can argue that in some situations you can drive to a place where the ground is flatter and safer to use the lift, but sometimes you simply cant's because you are stuck.
 
The concept is definitely in its infancy still. It needs some real use and R&D for sure. I've been pretty isolated from anywhere I can wheel and tied down by work, travel and other commitments but I'm getting back out there this year and the land cruiser is going to help me do that. I hope to see some of you in So Utah once I get moved.
 
So I (again) used my hilift, this time just this morning when stuck in the mud. I wrote up a whole blog post about it, but to not be a self promoting scumbag I'll put all the pictures over here too. :)


got in deep:

aZ0as6m.jpg


chopped up some already downed wood:

VQGBduO.jpg


lifted the tail up with my hi lift and slee rear

Yg0QJqH.jpg


put all that junk under the rear

VagkyVR.jpg


same for front

6Pi0xm7.jpg



out we shot, family cheering like i'm a hero

 
lockers are underrated...:meh:
 
Dragos80 said:
What is the recommended hight for a hi-lift? I would imagine it depends upon the individual truck lift, suspension travel, etc.
48"? 60"?
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I think it definitely depends on the individual vehicle. I upgraded to a 60" when I bought my G-Wagen, but I find it hard to deal with when I am not using it. It barely fits inside, and would be a pain to mount to a rack. For stock or mildly lifted trucks I would say 48" is totally adequate. I have been using mine for routine maintenance in my driveway, it is the only jack I have that works in the circumstances :)
g.webp
 
AirheadNut said:
I think it definitely depends on the individual vehicle. I upgraded to a 60" when I bought my G-Wagen, but I find it hard to deal with when I am not using it. It barely fits inside, and would be a pain to mount to a rack. For stock or mildly lifted trucks I would say 48" is totally adequate. I have been using mine for routine maintenance in my driveway, it is the only jack I have that works in the circumstances :)
View attachment 1464493
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G-Wagen, is French for brick with wheels, no? :hillbilly:
 
I recommend the 60. You may think you need less, and you might be right. But if you want to help others, the extra height may come handy. Also, for lift and cast application, if you get high centered on a rock, will probably need the additional distance.
 
mudgudgeon said:
Yeah. Or use the pulllem-a-thing attached to the bit of dental floss poking out the front bar :meh:
But looks like the kids are having fun :clap:
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Go back 10' to traction or winch forward 100' through bumper deep mud. One truck, no cell service, hungry kids in car.

A dad's gotta do what a dad's gotta do.
 
izzyandsue said:
The hats! Got to love the hats!
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Our house is at 8k feet so it's either dork hats or cancer. I nearly always rock a hoodie with my hood up, ball cap, shades, and sun block on my face. Even then I have a hardcore goggle / shades tan.
 
DirtScaresMe said:
Our house is at 8k feet so it's either dork hats or cancer. I nearly always rock a hoodie with my hood up, ball cap, shades, and sun block on my face. Even then I have a hardcore goggle / shades tan.
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Not what I meant, I loved the little girls with the big hats, thats cool as could be at any elevation. My little girl is 22, so I miss that age.
 
izzyandsue said:
Not what I meant, I loved the little girls with the big hats, thats cool as could be at any elevation. My little girl is 22, so I miss that age.
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Ahh... gotcha. I love hanging out with my kids right now because I know it's such a small and tiny part of their lives. I'm also trying to make sure I get them into stuff like backpacking, snowboarding, etc that we can do once they're older, if they're not tired of me yet.
 
ewillis said:
lockers are underrated...:meh:
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This is true but they too have almost gotten me killed when it goes into army tank mode starts spinning like a top!
 
DirtScaresMe said:
So I (again) used my hilift, this time just this morning when stuck in the mud. I wrote up a whole blog post about it, but to not be a self promoting scumbag I'll put all the pictures over here too. :)


got in deep:

aZ0as6m.jpg


chopped up some already downed wood:

VQGBduO.jpg


lifted the tail up with my hi lift and slee rear

Yg0QJqH.jpg


put all that junk under the rear

VagkyVR.jpg


same for front

6Pi0xm7.jpg



out we shot, family cheering like i'm a hero

Click to expand...


So.... why didn't you winch out?
 
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