High lift jack alternatives.

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kcjaz

kcjaz

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10 Year
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I want to delete my high lift and replace it with something safer and easier to use. I still carry the OEM bottle jack and use it if at all possible over the high lift. The ARB jack is the first thing I am considering but the cost of it gives me some pause. I’ve found several alternatives that are nor economical. Any one have experience with any of these?

www.mojaboffroad.com

CarbonPro Compact Hydraulic Jack MLH 40''

Discover the CarbonPro Compact Hydraulic Jack MLH 40'', featuring a lightweight carbon fiber handle and max lifting height of 32.25''.
www.mojaboffroad.com

BUNKER INDUST Hydraulic Lift Jack, Powerful Offroad Recovery Jack Heavy Lifting Farm Jack with Lift Mate Storage Bag, 4,409lbs Capacity Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDNVGZNL?ref=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_TFJR1PHAM7TJVMJPR43R&ref_=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_TFJR1PHAM7TJVMJPR43R&social_share=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_TFJR1PHAM7TJVMJPR43R&language=en-US&csmig=1

BUNKER INDUST Portable Hydraulic Jack Lift Recovery Jack with Lift Mate, 19,400 lbs Lifting Capacity Compatible with SUVs, Off-Road Vehicles Amazon.com: BUNKER INDUST Portable Hydraulic Jack Lift Recovery Jack with Lift Mate, 19,400 lbs Lifting Capacity Compatible with SUVs, Off-Road Vehicles : Automotive - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPWW4J3X?ref=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_ZVXS9MGN5DD77XHC84RC&ref_=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_ZVXS9MGN5DD77XHC84RC&social_share=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_ZVXS9MGN5DD77XHC84RC&language=en-US&csmig=1

Go Rhino XG-RJ50010B El Gato EG1 Hydraulic High-Lift Recovery Jack, Black Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7BDFFCS?ref=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_EAVP3KBWG8GQA4NVQZG2&ref_=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_EAVP3KBWG8GQA4NVQZG2&social_share=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_EAVP3KBWG8GQA4NVQZG2&language=en-US&csmig=1

BILLET4X4 ARB X-Jack (Off-Road Vehicle Recovery) Amazon.com - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BEJS7LA?ref=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_W726ZRTCQN111J8G3P5M&ref_=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_W726ZRTCQN111J8G3P5M&social_share=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_W726ZRTCQN111J8G3P5M&language=en-US&csmig=1 (There are lots of cheaper versions of this type of jack). Not sure I want only this jack but I could see having this as part of the overall recover kit.

The cheaper Bunker jack looks interesting but I don’t see how it would be used without the lift mate. I generally would want to lift on a bumper or slider.
 
I have the badlands 3 ton off road jack. I wanted a floor style jack. With the knobbie tires I’ve had no issue using it in sand, dirt, and rocks. The saddle extension gives almost 30” of height. It takes up a little more space in the back but for the piece of mind it’s worth it to me. I picked it up during one of HF’s sale coupon weekends for about $220.

www.harborfreight.com

3 Ton Off-Road Jack

Amazing deals on this 3 Ton Off-Road Jack at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
www.harborfreight.com www.harborfreight.com
 
dudemancool1904 said:
I have the badlands 3 ton off road jack. I wanted a floor style jack. With the knobbie tires I’ve had no issue using it in sand, dirt, and rocks. The saddle extension gives almost 30” of height. It takes up a little more space in the back but for the piece of mind it’s worth it to me. I picked it up during one of HF’s sale coupon weekends for about $220.

www.harborfreight.com

3 Ton Off-Road Jack

Amazing deals on this 3 Ton Off-Road Jack at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.
www.harborfreight.com www.harborfreight.com
Click to expand...
I also have this jack. It is awesome. I didnt want to carry it around in the truck though. I have seen people make cases and it would be a great jack to use off road. Much safer than the Hi-Lift and ARB. My not wanting to carry it is a personal choice

I have the ARB Jack in my 200 and I also bought the similar Mojab Jack for my Tacoma CarbonPro Hydraulic Jack - https://www.mojaboffroad.com/products/ultimate-hydraulic-jack?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21528118685&gbraid=0AAAAAqBJ1GJPAHvyZKlPb202V_9jpPmzH&gclid=CjwKCAjwv5zEBhBwEiwAOg2YKIr4I_EeyzvoESSLRElRAo7WO28OrLi-Njlh-mtHkEkHg3n8ZBIqRhoCz-kQAvD_BwE

The Mojab Jack is $549 with a bag or $599 with the bag and clamps. About $400 less than the ARB. I bought the one with clamps and mounted it on the molle panels in my truck bed

I have used the ARB Jack on Trails for shock repair, tire replacement multiple times and it never disappoints.

I tried the Mojab jack in my garage and it operated the same and just as well as the ARB, but I have no trail experiance with it yet. It is made very well and it also has a bleeder valve that the ARB does not.

The Carbon Pro Jack features a silver air bleeder valve located just underneath the black lowering lever. This valve has two positions: Lock and Unlock.​
  • While the jack is mounted and in the stored position: Keep the valve in the Lock position.
  • When you start using the jack: Turn the valve to the Unlock position.
I would get the base stand with either jack. That is always how I use it, except in my garage :) E brake on and wheels chocked
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I should clarify, if you are comfortable with carrying the Badlands Jack and have a way to secure it and don't mind lifting it in and out (its heavy-72lbs) than this would be superior and safer to the ARB/Mojab Hydrolic Jack

The Hydrolic Jacks are safer and superior to the Hi-Lift in my opinion. There are other winching type things the Hi-Lift can do, but I have never used it for that as I have lots of other recovery gear.
 
Yea I agree it’s not light.
Dissent has provisions to mount it on a swing out.
Check out stellar’s “corporate cruiser” project with a pro eagle jack.

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dudemancool1904 said:
Yea I agree it’s not light.
Dissent has provisions to mount it on a swing out.
Check out stellar’s “corporate cruiser” project with a pro eagle jack.

View attachment 3959018

View attachment 3959019
Click to expand...
I have the Badlands jack to and love it (though wish it had swivel caster wheels). It’s just so big and heavy and my loaded truck is already 8100 lbs. I’ve thought about fabing some to attach to my swing out.
 
ARB Bushranger Exhaust jack is always an option.

I've met guys that used this quite extensively and really liked it. No personal experience with it.

DSC05257+copy.jpg
 
One of the most common alternatives I've seen in the SxS world is some modified version of a tongue jack. They're cheap, relatively light weight, super simple operation, and a bit safer than a high lift jack. I personally like a high lift for my own use in part because of the range of lift can be pretty useful. On my sxs on the trail, depending on the repair - sometimes I'll just tip it over on its side to work on the bottom. It's really stable that way! Can't do that on my Land Cruiser. haha. But they have plenty of safety issues. And they're dirty, oily if you keep them oiled regularly, and not easy to store inside.

Anyway - these are pretty cheap and work well as an alternative. Combine with a cordless drill and you can make them "powered" pretty easily. If you have a welder it's also pretty easy to build in hard points on your bumpers to use or use an adapter extension like this one.

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Jetboy said:
One of the most common alternatives I've seen in the SxS world is some modified version of a tongue jack. They're cheap, relatively light weight, super simple operation, and a bit safer than a high lift jack. I personally like a high lift for my own use in part because of the range of lift can be pretty useful. On my sxs on the trail, depending on the repair - sometimes I'll just tip it over on its side to work on the bottom. It's really stable that way! Can't do that on my Land Cruiser. haha. But they have plenty of safety issues. And they're dirty, oily if you keep them oiled regularly, and not easy to store inside.

Anyway - these are pretty cheap and work well as an alternative. Combine with a cordless drill and you can make them "powered" pretty easily. If you have a welder it's also pretty easy to build in hard points on your bumpers to use or use an adapter extension like this one.

View attachment 3959045
Click to expand...
I've always wanted to try this but can't weld Tauler Jack Kit - https://brennans-garage.com/collections/bee-safe-recovery-gear/products/tauler-jack-kit

What are people's thought about using the new 1.5T Badland or ProEagle jack? It's smaller/lighter then the 3T. Would it be "fine" lifting a corner up?
 
pcut said:
Kurt from Cruiser Outfitters should chime in here as I know he has used these a lot.
Kurt?
Click to expand...

@cruiseroutfit , any thoughts? TIA
 
I like the hi lift. The best part is pushing the rig off it to get out of the rut. With chain's, cables, clevises, straps its a crappy short pull winch. 6ton bottle jack for changing tires very handy.
 
pcut said:
Kurt from Cruiser Outfitters should chime in here as I know he has used these a lot.
Kurt?
Click to expand...

Yup, I've used the exhaust/air jacks a great deal in different environs, particularly those where they excel... sand and snow. I still carry one when doing big snow or dunes trips.

I don't believe jacks are a one-trick pony, i.e. there isn't a single one that does it all. If you must carry one, frankly the Hi-Lift (avoid knockoffs) is absolutely the best imo. It lifts/lowers, clamps, spreads and winches, all very practical functions. A vehicle mounted winch is great, until you need a pull from the rear or side, something easily done with a Hi-Lift and minor gear. The ability to Jack/stack & Jack/cast is harder to accomplish with others.

The issue with the hydraulic jacks such as the ARB Jack, they only work vertically, lift and lower, and while they excel at that... they offer zero utility for spreading on a horizontal basis (think trail repairs or in depth recoveries) and they don't even like to be stored horizontally long term. I recommend them for two main interests, speed and mobiliy/strength limited folks. In a race application, i.e. KOH or Baja 1000, a quick tire change could mean a huge difference in finish position. For those with limited strength, the ARB style variants are much easier to use than a Hi-Lift, from setup/rigging to actual lifting. My BIL (Trailboss Tom for those that have met him) is mobility limited, two time cancer survivor and lost 75% of his muscle in the process. A Hi-Lift can take 150-175lbs of force to lift/move a heavy load, Tom weighs 110lbs, the maths dont math. With the ARB Jack he can comfortably lift his bullt GX470 to change a tire, clear debris, etc. We've found many males and females that similarly benefit from the hydraulic jacks advantages.

Re: the price difference between the ARB Jack (retail is a whopping $979, though ping me and I can set you up for $700) and the copy/paste models on the market, obviously it's always less expensive to let someone else (ARB in this case) do all the engineering, concept and proof of market... and then come in with a lower priced China-com unit. I'm both a buy-once, cry-once AND support innovation buyer so the bulk of M*jab gear gets a hard pass from me.

Floor jacks, particularly those with skid plate bases or oversized rubber wheels do rock for lifting, but again a one trick pony. We carry one on the Canguro 200 and it's been great for tire changes. We've had some nasty silt bed stucks in Mexico that yielded the floor floor jack about useless. If your buried past the axles to the frame, there isn't anywhere to put the jack. An ARB or Hi-Lift woth appropriate base or X-Jack would have paid dividends... that time. 😄


Edit: full disclosure, it's not uncommon for me to have an ARB Jack and X-Jack (and factory bottle jack) in the Cruiser and a Hi-Lift on the rack. I'm a belts and suspenders kind of guy. I rarely pack a Pro Eagle but do on occasion (think King of the Hammers or Baja 1000 pit work).
 
Full disclosure, I spend a great deal of my life teaching/training/guiding with/for private, club, corporate, military, etc. customers... hence why like to regularly train and use on all relevant options. This is a class I hosted, we were using the Hi-Lift, ARB Jack and Bushranger X-Jack side by side for different scenarios.

Screenshot_20250728_195556_Facebook.webp


Need/want to get more training, seek out a I4WDTA trainer in your area:

Trainer Directory - I4WDTA

i4wdta.org i4wdta.org
 
teejnut said:
I've always wanted to try this but can't weld Tauler Jack Kit - https://brennans-garage.com/collections/bee-safe-recovery-gear/products/tauler-jack-kit

What are people's thought about using the new 1.5T Badland or ProEagle jack? It's smaller/lighter then the 3T. Would it be "fine" lifting a corner up?
Click to expand...

Yup. I'm building one at the moment. Here's a great article. Tauler Jack Review: Why It’s Better Than Your Jack - https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/tauler-jack-review-brennans-garage
 
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