Before I got my Bump it Off Road rear swingout bumper, I thought about this. Only issue is if you drop off a rock and it comes up quick, it's going to snag your Hi Lift and either bend/break the mounts or damage the jack.
-Phil
Where to mount my Hi-Lift jack?
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Before I got my Bump it Off Road rear swingout bumper, I thought about this. Only issue is if you drop off a rock and it comes up quick, it's going to snag your Hi Lift and either bend/break the mounts or damage the jack.
-Phil
Valid point.
If there is enough room above the bumper to not interfere with the tailgate/liftgate function then thats an option. Just lock it up and its still out of the way of rocks and ledges on departure.
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For what do you guys really need the hi-lift?
On the new-to-us '80, I'm not sure there's gonna be one.
Don't get me wrong: I've faithfully schlepped a hi-lift around in my K5 for over a dozen years, and that's on a lot of trails in the desert southwest. I can count on one hand the number of occasions where I had it out. On every one of these occasions (basically cut tires...) it turned out that the wimpy factory jack (I run with Toyotas guys, so a K5 jack is wimpy by definition...) was superior to the hi-lift in terms of stability and functionality.
I know, not having a hi-lift on a trail truck is anathema. I've read all the magazine articles about what cool things you ca do with a hi-lift. After all these years, I'm just questioning the practicality of that thing for the kind of 'wheeling that I do, and I don't see the 80 doing anything different once it's getting pressed into trail duty.
On the new-to-us '80, I'm not sure there's gonna be one.
Don't get me wrong: I've faithfully schlepped a hi-lift around in my K5 for over a dozen years, and that's on a lot of trails in the desert southwest. I can count on one hand the number of occasions where I had it out. On every one of these occasions (basically cut tires...) it turned out that the wimpy factory jack (I run with Toyotas guys, so a K5 jack is wimpy by definition...) was superior to the hi-lift in terms of stability and functionality.
I know, not having a hi-lift on a trail truck is anathema. I've read all the magazine articles about what cool things you ca do with a hi-lift. After all these years, I'm just questioning the practicality of that thing for the kind of 'wheeling that I do, and I don't see the 80 doing anything different once it's getting pressed into trail duty.
I could have used mine a couple of times last year before I bought it. One time detained in mud up to my axles and the other with my front end in a ditch hidden by snow. The snow took five hours of digging and stuffing. The mud took one hell of a yank from CreeperSleeper.
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How would you get the axles out of the mud with a hi-lift? You've got the tire/wheel attachment? On my K5 with a rather soft/flexible suspension, lifting at bumper or slider I know it won't happen. On my '80, it might work, just because that one will remain at 2" lift.
I said the same thing about my winch until i got it- Winched out two neighbors down the street off a slippery embankment ($200 saved in towing fees). I winched a 500lb boulder out of my sisters front yard (landscaping fees saved) and pulled out a severely dented bumper of another friends rig with the winch all in the first few months of buying- subsequently ive winched a few trees blocking a trail and saved myself once or twice..........paid for itself.
Hi Lifts are a cheap tool that ive never doubted carrying for those moments when you are in the middle of nowhere and would trade your left arm for a $50 tool that you wished you had.
Hi Lifts are a cheap tool that ive never doubted carrying for those moments when you are in the middle of nowhere and would trade your left arm for a $50 tool that you wished you had.
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Agreed on the winch. On the hi-lift, not so much.
I'm never without a hi-lift. Have used it countless times to free both my rig and others from stupid situations. They are dangerous as hell and as soon as you forget that you take a handle to the jawbone 2200 miles from home.
Mine is kept outside on the rear IPOR bumper. I check it and spray some lube on the mechanism before every outing.
Mine is kept outside on the rear IPOR bumper. I check it and spray some lube on the mechanism before every outing.
I'm with you Chasetruck .. in all matters about flat tires .. there is nothing easy and reliable as the old bottle jack under your housing .. there are some other situations that your hi lift might help .. when it's about tires .. bottle jack ..
While a 2" lift may not be the problem larger tires can be. My bottle jack won't touch my axel in certain situations. Using limiting straps for eliminating help as well for flexy trucks. Just my .02.
Mounting on bumpers seems like a chance for disaster, if for some reason you bump into a tree (or rock/boulder) and damage the jack that wouldn't be good. inside or behind the tire on a swing out tire rack seems like my best choice.
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Mine is attached to my IPOR now but before the bumper I had a short ConFer roof rack on my LX that I had a bitching Hi-Lift mounted added. Held on by three bolts. Needed a 5/8" wrench to take it off and on.
