using a highlift jack

[concretejungle]

Changing the tire on the 80 last weekend on the trail with the stock jack got me thinking. I do not have sliders, arb bull bar or a steel rear bumper. I was having trouble getting the stock jack to lift the truck up high enough to get the tire off. I have some 33's on the way. If i had a high lift jack, where would be my jacking points? With 33's will the stock OEM jack even get the tire off the ground high enough? Thanks.

alex

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Hi-lift makes an attachment that hangs over the tongue of the jack and has two chains with hooks. The idea is that you hook the chains to the rim and lift the truck that way.

Wouldn't work at all for changing a tire though. Your best bet would be to pick up a bottle jack.

 

[Junk]

concrete, go to Sears and pick up a cheapo bottle jack. This is one of the first mods anyone should make to their 80. Ditch the crap oem jack and spend the $10-15 on a decent bottle jack. Plus they still fit in the stock location etc. (don't toss the oem jack though like I did ).

 

[Doc]

The OEM bottle jack will lift a 80 series on 33's, if you're on level ground. I'm not sure that it would be much help in the 'field'.

 

[concretejungle]

I had a heck of a time changing my 31" on the trail with the OEM jack. Actually had to use my friends taco OEM jack to get me started, then had to put a flat rock under my jack to get it high enough to get the tire off. Then pulled him out of the ditch. A good jack is a necessity. I will look at sears for a taller bottle jack. Thanks.

 

[clownmidget]

Ditch the crap oem jack and spend the $10-15 on a decent bottle jack. Plus they still fit in the stock location etc. (don't toss the oem jack though like I did ).

Come on, Junk. You've got to be kidding me. I for one am a staunch supporter of the oem jack AND adding a hydraulic bottle jack AND using your highlift for what it does best - pull out t-posts, poles, etc. For one, the fully mechanical design of the oem jack, when properly maintained, is damn hard to beat for dependability and funtionality. Cheapo hydraulic bottle jacks are just that, cheap and are bound to start leaking and/fail when you really need it. I've seen plenty of neglected oem jacks all rusted and frozen soaked with some PBblaster work just fine.

Also, as far as the bottle jacks not being enough to lift your 33" off the ground I guess it depends where you're placing it. The last really crappy stuck I had the axle housing was only about an inch or two above the ground so I actually had to excavate quite a bit to get the bottle jack in there and I was glad that's what I had. The oem one also had a much longer handle so in those circumstances where the vehicle really wasn't in the most stable position I was not stuck under the truck jacking up and down with that little 18" handle on the hydraulic models.

A lot of folks love their hi-lifts but they can inflict damage to your truck and to you. The 60" model is gnarly when you've got 7K lbs resting on it and the handle is about chest height.

Just my thoughts but it's your noggin'
Mike R.

 

[Junk]

clown - you are mixing in way too many variables including an apparent pipe.

The OEM jack is a joke. Who wants to sit there cranking away on the short thing? You wife? Not me thank you. Spend the few coins on the bottle jack. They will come in handy when changing tires for a road flat etc. On the trail, I usually use a hi-lift and at home I usually use the floor jack. I have a $15 bottle jack in the OEM storage spot that is wicked better than the crankiecrankie oem and also have a 20 ton air bottle jack in the back.

hi-lifts are nice and come in handy in the right situation, but used in the wrong situation or not maintained and they can turn into a WMD.

 

[concretejungle]

I'm talking about trail use only. I have a nice floor jack at home for jacking while in the driveway. But i'm talking on the trail, in sketchy positions.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

In sketchy positions on the trail, a hi-lift may be your only choice. Like Junk says, those things are more likely to kill you than help you. But there are times where you'll need the height a hi-lift gives you, and you'll need some way to anchor it to the truck (bumper, sliders, etc.) And, hi-lifts are tools of many uses. I saw one used for some fine body work just this weekend.

Get the bottle jack. I use a 20 year old Sears one that's awesome. Change out the seals and add oil every now and then, no problems.

 

[WolfpackTLC]

High-lift's are SCARY, but an unfortunate necessity... I carry a 60" and a base plate for it... I use the handle as a breaker bar more than anything else...

 

[97 FZJ80]

Anyone used an airbag jack?

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I have to agree with Clownmidget on this one. I have changed many tires on the trail with the bottle jack. It is the least scary way to raise 1 corner even with 35 inch tires. It does help to set it on that high lift plastic base which gains a bit of height and a stable surface to push against. If this pic works, this is my FJ40 at Rubithon, with a flat, supported by the stock toyota bottle jack, with a jackstand on the frame for added safety.

 

[clownmidget]

Andy, I KNEW I missed out a lot of drama on that run! I think you pointed out a something that wasn't clear from other posts in this thread, it's about raising one corner and which corner that should be. There's always more to learn on vehicle recovery and trail repairs so I don't discount folks have some good methods for using bottle jacks and hi-lifts but the important thing is to use them safely - great shot of the jack stand.

Junk, I've got a sears hydraulic piggy-backed to my oem jack in the rear holder - I don't trust either one enough to have just one - oh, and then slap the hi-lift in there if alone. I stopped carrying mine on most group runs as everyone had one.

Mike R.

edited for : Andy, what brand of tire did you blow there?

 

[Cruiserdrew]

edited for : Andy, what brand of tire did you blow there?

MT/R but fortunately, not the tire. You probably remember that uphill "V" pinch rock just past Buck Island Lake as you are climbing toward the top of Big Sluice. Right in the pinch, I caught the valve stem and sheared it right off-instant flat. I chugged the 30 feet to a level spot and changed the tire as you saw in the pic. Despite what others with strong opinions say on this board, I have been very impressed with the Goodyear MT/R's. They work great in the conditions here in the West and the sidewalls are very, very tough.

 

[pismojim]

I've cut two sidewalls on the MTRs and I changed them both using a 60-inch Hi-Lift - so THERE.

Seriously, I also carry a 3 Ton Bottle Jack, the stock jack, and some jack stands. (And I really like the MTRs). The bottle jack is great for changing tires.

 

[IdahoDoug]

I've never needed anything but the stock jack and have always found them of very high quality. I've gotten unstuck, bent sheetmetal away from a tire after an Elk hit (another in our group), and used it as a hammer for tent stakes. Granted, its not going to help with big tires and hard core stucks, but toss a couple chunks of wood and some jackstands in the truck and you'll be good for 95% of the stuff a mere mortal would encounter.

DougM

 

[alia176]

Try to find a bottle jack from a Land Rover (RR or Disco). They have real long travel and a cradle on top to prevent slippage. I wish I had a pic. They also come with two 2.5' handles.

Ali

 

[cruiserdan]

Hy-lifts scare the hell out of me That is why I moved my license plate. I can't mount a hy-lift on my Slee carrier now because of my license bracket so I get to leave the dangerous bastard in the garage

 

[mabrodis]

I have a $15 bottle jack in the OEM storage spot that is wicked better than the crankiecrankie ..

Whoa there, 'wicked better'?? I have many relatives in Vermont, Maine area, everytime I'm up there they start calling things 'wicked good', I have heard it for years now and it makes me laugh everytime. I was just up in Camden Maine, got a chef's apron that says 'Wicked Good'...I couldn't pass it up, everytime I see it, reminds me of my cousin who can start/stop an accent better than anyone I know. Now, due to my feeble mind, whenever I hear 'wicked' or see my apron I will think of Junk...Damn you Junk, Damn you!!!