Tales of the Trusty Toyota Bottle Jack

[greentruck]

Some may dismiss the OEM bottle jack as barely adequate for the task at hand, especially if you're running tires considerably larger than stock tires. Keep in mind that it is one tough little tool that has other uses than changing a tire. While apps for the jack do go beyond what Toyota recommends for this tool, a little commonsense and attention to safety can transform the bottle jack into a very useful tool for purposes beyond changing tires.

What's your bottle jack story?

In my case, how about a little body work?

A bit of trail rash took off the flare and pushed the top of the fender lip in an inch or so. After contemplating my options, I realized Mr. T left a tool onboard that would solve most of the fender lip problem.

The jack crank was placed where it could be worked, along with some blocking.

The base of the jack got a block that had tapered ends cut so as to spread the force over the inside of the wheelwell and not cause
issues when force was applied to the fender lip. The outside block that pushed against the lip was a scrap of poplar stair handrail that had a nice curve to it that fit well up against the inside of the lip.

When I was done with the jack, things weren't perfect, but the fender lip was back mostly where it should be. Since I'm keeping the flares, what wasn't perfect would be hidden once the flare was back on.

BONUS: The Mr. T jack handle gives you most of what you need to proclaim your allegiance to the Blue Oyster Cult...

 

[Douglas S]

The time I put it on a shelf in my garage and never used it again, replaced by a hydraulic jack from a Land Rover.


Memories...

 

[DARKNESS]

Ha, I used mine to push out a dent in the back of the body where the tailgate hinge connects.

I also replaced the jack in my Tacoma with a taller Craftsman jack since the Toyota jack no longer was tall enough after a lift and tires.

 

[subzali]

Previous homeowner overloaded the rafters above my garage, so the joint at the peak was being pulled apart. Used a couple Toyota bottle jacks with a 4x4 placed on top of each to lift two adjacent segments of my rafters and hold them in place while we added supplemental gusseting. Worked great.

 

[Heckraiser]

I have used mine to re-route exhaust piping/muffler after it was smooshed into contact with the driveshaft. Also a handy tool for setting up/leveling DIY sliders. I tried to use it to push out my bumper after a collision, but found the tree and tow strap method more effective.

 

[landcrshr]

Used it to remove a tree stump once.

 

[ihatecrashing]

Worked great in the horizontal orientation to help remove a stuck oil pan. I spent WAY too much time fighting the thing, once I put the jack in there, problem solved!

 

[mdawg]

For front axle service on the passenger side (LHD), I used the bottle jack to support and install the steering knuckle arm to the bottom of the steering knuckle. This only applies when you don't disconnect the tie rod from the knuckle arms during the front axle service. I spent way too much time trying to coax/finagle that knuckle arm through the knuckle bolts. I finally got smart and supported the knuckle arm on the bottle jack and very precisely lifted the arm through the bolts on the knuckle. Super easy!

 

[inkpot]

I prefer the older yellow cast units.

 

[Heckraiser]

I prefer the older yellow cast units.

I've got one of those in the garage for shop duty. The 80 bottle jack fits too snugly into it's little cubby not to bring along with the truck.

 

[greentruck]

The time I put it on a shelf in my garage and never used it again, replaced by a hydraulic jack from a Land Rover.


Memories...

...Not dissingthe Rover, but does the Rover jack work on its side? Many hydraulic units just puke when you do that, thus...

Worked great in the horizontal orientation to help remove a stuck oil pan. SNIP

Something to keep in mind when getting inventive in a tough and unexpected situation.

I prefer the older yellow cast units.

Me, too, Very classy. But, alas, I left mine on the garage floor and the next year I checked it (probably a few in-between years, to be honest) it had melted. Much like the rest of that Pig, but it was probably the last part of it to succumb to Midwest rust.

Enjoying all the recollections, folks, thanks for contributing! Gotta head back to the garage, ahem, I have a truck to paint.

 

[greentruck]

SNIP The 80 bottle jack fits too snugly into it's little cubby not to bring along with the truck.

Exactly!

That's one reason I started this thread. It's such a handy tool, even leaving aside the tire-changing duty, and tucked away where it's ready to use and not a bother until you need it, that people who've chucked it in the corner might want to consider loading it back onto the truck.

 

[Seth_O]

No pics, but I used mine to spread the frame rails on my '67 M35A2 when I was trying to install the winch horns. Turns out someone before me had gotten a little too aggressive in there with something large and heavy, and the frame rail had collapsed a bit, and bent. The fact that the bottle jack collapsed so small allowed it to fit perfectly within the rail, and a couple of quick pumps straightened it right out!

 

[BILT4ME]

My Toyota jack was missing from my LC when I got it, so I bought one from a later model Tacoma. The Taco jack has another (third) section in it that the original LC one did not have.

When I took a trip in the old Studebaker, I actually threw in the Toyota Jacks because they are small enough to fit under the axle on that and they are all mechanical.

I do NOT want to get under a vehicle with any sort of a hydraulic jack or lift, as I have seen too many hydraulics fail. It can be VERY ugly.

 

[richardlillard1]

I would imagine that a certain someone will use this thread to pimp his products.

 

[Sarmajor]

My truck came with a Nissan Patrol jack. I threw it away and brought a 6 tonne hydraulic unit that fits in the stock location.
Used it to push the roof back up after trying (without much success) to drive into my garage with a ladder on the roof rack.
Pushed the mounting rail down and of course the roof as well on the rear left hand side. I dropped the roof lining in that corner and used a shaped block between the jack and the roof.
You can barely see where the damage was now.

I have a hi lift as well that only gets bolted on for long away trips.

 

[Stevesnj]

This is one of the greatest tools that come with this vehicle, from removing dents and straightening a rear lower control arm to lifting off a diff high center this thing is amazing.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I would imagine that a certain someone will use this thread to pimp his products.

Good idea but I will leave that to others Are you saying 100's of owners are wrong

The true benefit to a factory jack is it will work in any position and it can change any size tire you can fit on an 80 series safely with the right accessories.

 

[chap79]

I've used the factory jack before to give the axle the little bit of extra push it needed when installing lift springs before. I also used it to spread the frame horns just a hair to make it easier to mount my old ARB bumper. Also used it to push out the wing of the same bumper after an accident.

 

[mudgudgeon]

The time I put it on a shelf in my garage and never used it again, replaced by a hydraulic jack from a Land Rover.


Memories...

...Not dissingthe Rover, but does the Rover jack work on its side? Many hydraulic units just puke when you do that, thus...

It's from a Rover! It leaves an oil stain every where it goes whatever position you use it in