X Jack special ed user?

[Josh N]

Is this thing really as good as everyone says?

Got mine this weekend and tried it 3x. Test truck was a 2002 GMC Sonoma (my cruiser is in the shop):

1st time using only the exhaust: took an hour to fill, lifted the truck maybe an inch and a half.

2d time filled it in 5 min with my air compressor on the driveway. Lifted the truck about 3 inches. Truck started to wobble. Yes it was chocked.

3d time air compressor again, in the grass and chocked. Lifted the truck about 4 inches then the bag rolled over on me and the truck came down. No injuries or damages.

I am sure this will get some snickers and I am just not doing this right but I am about to send this $250 balloon back to Amazon. After watching every video I could find (all in sand I noted) I am beginning to feel this is not a good tool for anything short of the Sahara. Is it just me?

 

[Dell]

I wouldn't buy one...

send it back and get a Hi Lift... if you don't have one already

 

[Corbet]

I've been involved it two recoveries in Moab using the X-Jack and like it a lot personally. Its on my list of items to buy. It only took a minute or so to fill each time using the exhaust. We did not use a compressor. Both times I felt the vehicle was very stable, lifting on broken rock.

You can loose a truck off a hi-lift too. Given the choice between a hi-lift and the x-jack I would carry a hi-lift as its more versatile. But if I had both I'd personally use the x-jack more often for standard jacking procedures based on my personal experience with both.

Edit: Found a couple pictures. This FJ was high centered on the fuel tank and rear diff. We first raised the rear and winched it sideways to get it off the rear diff. Then used it under the rocker to stack rocks and drive it out. I don't have any pics of the other recovery.

 

[Josie'sLandCruiser]

Hi All:

A buddy of mine has one of these air jacks, which we have used on off-camber trails as a safer option than the tippy old HiLift jack.

The air jack needs to be placed in the correct spot under the truck to work right (this may take a few tries.) One needs to hold the filler cone *tight* to the exhaust pipe to get it to fill quickly (revving the engine doesn't hurt either!)

Regards,

Alan

 

[bosscat800]

I have one and as stated above, needs to be placed in the correct spots! I have used mine in the snow and has worked very well. Filled it with the exhuast took a couple of minutes to raise it 6 inches and started placing rocks under the tires. I would say it has a small learning curve, but once you figure it out, it works great!!