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Post by Belfast on Dec 8, 2005 20:39:34 GMT -5
So I had a flat tire today when I came out of work and I had to use that pitiful thing Jeep calls a jack. I have to say the small size is great for storage, but isn't the most functional.
Has anybody found a good replacement? I know the obvious answer is a Hi-Lift, but I have heard just as many bad things as good.
Any suggestions/personal experience would be great.
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Mars
Trail Guide
Sit vis nobiscum
Posts: 169
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Post by Mars on Dec 8, 2005 20:43:28 GMT -5
What bad things have you heard about the Hi-Lift?
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Post by larryb on Dec 8, 2005 21:00:03 GMT -5
Get a bottle jack. Hi lifts can be life savers but be very cautious and use common sense with them as they can be very unstable. I would feel much better using a bottle jack to change a tire than a hi lift. If you choose the hi lift route be sure to carry a ratchet strap or piece of chain to to wrap from the axle to the frame so the suspension doesnt droop while you are jacking up the vehicle.
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Post by Belfast on Dec 8, 2005 21:54:22 GMT -5
What bad things have you heard about the Hi-Lift? Just that they can be more harm than good at times. I know that any time you are lifting that amount of weight you have to be cautious, but search any Jeep forum and you can find people saying Hi-Lifts can be dangerous. I would rather have something take me twice as long than to lose a finger or worse. |
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Post by moneypit on Dec 8, 2005 22:06:50 GMT -5
I agree with everything that has been said about the HI-Lift jack. I believe they are more of a last resort recovery tool. I bought a larger bottle jack at Walmart that I carry in place of the stock jack. My wife drives a Liberty and had a flat. The stock jack could not even lift the Jeep high enough to get the tire off before it quit. It would not go up or down. Then I got the LJ and it comes with the same crappy jack the Liberty had. Also if you lift the Jeep the Jack needs some extra height as well. I bungeed the new bottle jack under the seat and it fit fine.
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Post by salyers890 on Dec 8, 2005 22:13:28 GMT -5
worked for me. where'd you place the jack?
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Post by treeofliberty on Dec 9, 2005 10:04:18 GMT -5
I may be a simpleton, but I always use my Hi-lift, especially since I got my rock sliders. That rail on the side is perfect for lifting one side off the ground. Yes, you do have to be careful, and be sure the brakes are all set, but that is true with any jack.
I did use the stock jack once, when our camper blew a tire. There was no place to hook up the Hi-lift on the camper.
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Post by nwquadriders on Dec 9, 2005 15:55:58 GMT -5
I carry a couple of blocks of wood (12"x12" squares of 1.75" LSL/engineered wood) with me to put under the bottle jack, that gives me an additional 3.5" of lift if I need it.... the high lift is a second choice for me.... heard too many stories of people not watching what they were doing and having the handle of the jack come back and get them. If you strap your jack in place so that it won't slide on you, and strap the handle of the jack to the jack itself while you do the work it is perfectly safe....
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Mars
Trail Guide
Sit vis nobiscum
Posts: 169
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Post by Mars on Dec 9, 2005 17:46:13 GMT -5
Agreed, the Hi-Lift requires a more caution. I thought you were referring to a design flaw or manufacturing defect that I hadn't heard.
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Post by jelojeep on Mar 4, 2009 23:07:37 GMT -5
Anyone use that inflatable thing from ARB? I'd give it a try if it were'nt so dang expensive.
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