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Topic: How to Operate Hi-Lift Jack

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How to Operate Hi-Lift Jack
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I have been using the bottle jack on the road when changing tyres. At home I have the floor jack. However I recently lifted the XJ and moved to Size 31 tires. I am now finding it increasingly difficult to use the bottle jack to lift the vehicle to change a tire.

I am thus considering buying the Hi-Lift jack to use on the road. But I have a few issues that I need clarified before I can go ahead to acquire Hi-Lift jack. 

1. I understand that the Hi-lift jack is used to lift the vehicle from the front or rear bumper. I hope I am right on that.

2. Do I need to install special brackets under or on the bumpers?

3. If you lift the xj from either the rear or the front bumper the suspension components will extend downwards or rather the axle will remain in touch with the ground as the body moves up. How do you overcome this or do you continue lifting until the wheels move from the ground despite the height.....

4. This is probably related to 3 above. How do you lift the xj safely without the risk that the lifted vehicle might come crashing down or the jack might move out of position thereby injuring you?

5. is it possible to use the Hi-Lift jack to lift the XJ from under the axles?

6. Any other tips I need to know about the Hi-lift jack.....

Thanks guys in advance.

Oh by the way I intend to attend some off-road event this coming weekend thats why the issue of Hi-lift jack has become of high priority all of a sudden. smile

Ed.

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GrumpysXJ
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http://www.hi-lift.com/accessories/lift-mate.html

this will allow you to lift your XJ from a wheel and not at the bumper

You can find accessories for you Hi-Lift here: http://motionoffroad.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=10_48

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LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW
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DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT use a Hi-Lift on a factory OEM bumper. It will NOT hold up and you'll bend it. If you have an aftermarket bumper with a d-ring attachment than you can use that, or if you have a set of rock rails you can use those. Otherwise you'll need the Lift-Mate that Jason linked you to earlier. However it's kinda hard to use that on the tire that your wanting to pull off...

9 times out of 10 I find the Hi-Lift useless. Maybe it's due to the fact that I run larger tires (33-35") and larger lifts but the normal length Hi-Lift is never tall enough for me. I could get the longer one, but that it becomes an issue as to where to store it in my rig. It won't work on the axle as you don't have enough room under the rig.

I do carry a Hi-Lift in my MJ when wheeling, but otherwise I don't "pack" it for a wheeling trip. I think $$$ is better spent on other things as it in my opinion is not a very "pratical" offroading tool. The stock bottle jack under the axle works well for me if I need to change any tires....






-- Edited by LEAD_NOT_FOLLOW on Wednesday 27th of May 2009 09:11:43 AM

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Have had a 8000lb JackAll for 25yrs and wouldnt be without it.

Although in my opinion ... HiLifts, Jack All etc are not vehicle servicing tools ... They are recovery equipment with lots of other potential uses.

Best used on wheel rims ... designed originally for split rims as far as I know ... so how its used on other rim styles is up to the users common sense.

Lifting on barwork is dodgy unless the barwork is very well mounted. It pays to remember - you are only lifting the vehicle by the bolts holding the barwork on ... not the solid looking barwork with the fancy company sticker.

Also a good idea to have slots / guides for the jack to fit into ... as it prevents the jack slipping and the whole lot falling down.

Have used it in situations where after lifting the vehicle ... some packing was thrown under the wheels and then driven out .... in quicker time than some have winched out.

Also great to lift the vehicle out of diff catching, deep wheel ruts and and push sideways so wheels are on the higher ground.

A bigger baseplate is a handy thing to have as well.

A bottle jack is the best for wheel changes ... theres no way I would take on that job just using a "hilift" with out packing under the axle as they are dangerous fookin things if you're not careful.




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Thank you very much for your responses.

Problem is I dont even have the factory bottle jack. What i have is some red chinese thing that i dont trust at all. no With the info I am now the wiser. I am thinking my best option is to install custom rock rails cum side steps with hi-lift in mind. Installing side steps/rock rails is a project that I have pending. Thus I will think of a way to design them with both ends of the rails with provision for hi-lift jack. Is it safe to lift the xj from the side.......

Any ideas for custom made rock rails are very much welcome.

Ed.

Oh by the way I did attend the off-road event i mentioned in my earlier post without any incident. Its basically a Range Rover and Land Rover affair but there was a Jeep in there too. Its a charity event organised in Kenya annually. Check out the website http://www.rhinocharge.co.ke/

-- Edited by PlayStation on Monday 8th of June 2009 05:26:37 AM

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ChevelleSSLS6
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LRs are pretty cool... especially the less luxurious ones (try spraying water to clean the floors of a modern land rover, and you're in for a ton of electrical issues)

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I agree Land Rovers are pretty cool. Dont know much about the new ones but the older versions used to rule my part of the world. Before Toyotas took over the empire LRs were simply the main thing. The only reason they lost out to the Toyotas must be their insatiable thirst. They are very thirsty vehicles especially the Range Rovers.

But I digress..... I changed my mind again and decided against the Hi-Lift jack. I checked around and came across a floor jack that is not heavy and can lift longer heights. Its a 2 Ton Floor Jack that can easily be secured somewhere in the XJ boot. Its actually lighter than the Hi-Lift and that is one of the reasons that made me prefer it to the Hi-Lift.

Thanks for your input guys.

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