High Lift Jack Basics

[Fifthpro]

Use this to supplement the data previously supplied by JeepinSoldier who provided an extensive post on basics.

This may be the most versitial recovery item one can own.

Just like anything else you want to train with it before you find yourself in a high stress situation in the middle of the night. More than one person has recieved some nasy wounds from improper use.

Enjoy!
UPDATED on 25 JAN 09 with New HLK Manual. I also have 2 x the HLJ X-Treams and are X-Treamly happy with them. If your budget is not an issue then I highly suggest it! Money well spent.

[usnavymitchells]

Picked up the Hi-Lift Extreme at the Quadratec scratch and dent sale. When reading the manual was astonished at the capabilities this tool has.

X2 on learning before needing. We've all seen the safety bulletins on shipmates that used the Forest Gump Method "Stupid is as Stupid does"

[BomberJeep]

Picked up the Hi-Lift Extreme at the Quadratec scratch and dent sale. When reading the manual was astonished at the capabilities this tool has.

X2 on learning before needing. We've all seen the safety bulletins on shipmates that used the Forest Gump Method "Stupid is as Stupid does"

Gotta love them rocks huh. Im glad we only have a couple like that cause anymore than maybe 2 in a shop and Im ready to kill.

[MoyMch]

A Hi-Lift in the wrong hands can be a dangerous tool.

[Jerry Bransford]

Remember that a Hi-Lift should not be considered a tire changing tool, it's just too unstable to be safe. Besides, the OE factory jack is more than tall enough to change even 37" tires. I just see too many new Jeepers buying Hi-Lifts because they think their lifted Jeeps with 33/35" tires can't be lifted high enough with the OE bottle jack to change the tires.

To me, a Hi-Lift is strictly a tool of last resort when nothing else will work. :)

[ColoFreeJeeper]

Remember that a Hi-Lift should not be considered a tire changing tool, it's just too unstable to be safe. Besides, the OE factory jack is more than tall enough to change even 37" tires. I just see too many new Jeepers buying Hi-Lifts because they think their lifted Jeeps with 33/35" tires can't be lifted high enough with the OE bottle jack to change the tires.

To me, a Hi-Lift is strictly a tool of last resort when nothing else will work. :)

Agreed. We all have one but almost never use it. I do feel however it's one of those things we should all practice with before we're forced to use one.

[Fifthpro]

Remember that a Hi-Lift should not be considered a tire changing tool, it's just too unstable to be safe. Besides, the OE factory jack is more than tall enough to change even 37" tires. I just see too many new Jeepers buying Hi-Lifts because they think their lifted Jeeps with 33/35" tires can't be lifted high enough with the OE bottle jack to change the tires.

To me, a Hi-Lift is strictly a tool of last resort when nothing else will work. :)

Well Jerry, I have to disagree with your point of view on this one. I feel it is one of the most versatile tools we carry on our rigs. From using it to change a tire to conducting self extraction using it in the winch mode. Try extracting a crush victim from a rollover with a bottle jack or straighten a bent tie rod......I can and have used the HLJ in numerous applications here and while deployed. If I was restricted to carrying only one tool on the trail for the weekend or venturing into the sands of the desert, it would be the HLJ.

The key is understanding the tool much like our weapon systems. In the hands of the untrained anything can be dangerous. I think that a winch is far more dangerous and probably has been responsible for more catastrophic injuries than the HLJ. Farmers have used the HLJ for decades to extract their farm machinery.....your statement "Remember that a Hi-Lift should not be considered a tire changing tool" could not be the farthest from the truth according to history. Lets not forget a variant of it was originally used to change the wheels on wagons that set out and explored the wild west. Then there is the car jacks that were of the same design. Sure a bottle jack is more stable on a improved road surface but lets not try and scare folks from using it, rather lets promote safe and effective training and usage.

Much like yourself and some others that have posted here you have your opinion. As with anything others have different opinions and I have provided mine. Not meant to cause any animosity between us.

[IBJEEPN]

They have a use ??? :confused: I thought it was a hood ornament !!!!

[Fifthpro]

They have a use ??? :confused: I thought it was a hood ornament !!!!

Well, that too of course. Matter of a fact I had to pull my "Hood Ornament" off my Mall Crawler twice at Camp MJ to assist others. :D

[Oldschool]

Remember that a Hi-Lift should not be considered a tire changing tool, it's just too unstable to be safe. Besides, the OE factory jack is more than tall enough to change even 37" tires. I just see too many new Jeepers buying Hi-Lifts because they think their lifted Jeeps with 33/35" tires can't be lifted high enough with the OE bottle jack to change the tires.

To me, a Hi-Lift is strictly a tool of last resort when nothing else will work. :)


Not sure why you are stating this. For me the Hi-lift is a primary tool, had one ever since i was a kid and now I have two. Caution must be used when working with the jack, but that is with anything- crossing the street, driving, walking down stairs, a gun and YES even a bottle jack can present dangers when using.

As with anything, if used properly and as intended the Hi-lift is an excellent piece of equipment that has served many people, farmers, ranchers, 4-wheelers, drillers, etc... for many years.

Out on the trail on uneven ground I"ll take a Hi-lift over a bottle jack any day. Back home on level ground I'll use a floor jack with jack stands. Both locations I use common sense and ensure there is a secondary device used.

It is good that you have a "way of doing things" for yourself, however shying away from something that was designed for many uses limits your capabilities.

[warthog_cj7]

I will always carry a high lift. I won't carry a bottle jack to me it's limited in it uses, especially mud. I ran for years w/ a High lift and 2 - 75' cable as a winch. They are great for getting unstuck, jack it up an push the whole vehicle over. They can do their damage if your not payin attention, I've seen teeth fly and no they weren't mine.

[JeepinSoldier]

I just see too many new Jeepers buying Hi-Lifts because they think their lifted Jeeps with 33/35" tires can't be lifted high enough with the OE bottle jack to change the tires.

I respect Jerry's opinion, but I think that this part is the most important. Many offroaders buy the Jack because they think it looks cool or that it is just to change tires on a lifted 4x4 and never bother to learn how to properly use it. Also - like a winch, the jack itself is of limited use without accessories like the base, Jackmate, and Liftmate, and accessory kit.

The HiLift actually is a good tool for changing tires at home or on the trail if used properly. When I change from my A/T's to M/T's at home I use the base and a partner to help keep the jack stable. I use the liftmate to lift by the wheel to prevent the suspension from unloading and as soon as the axle is high enough, I put a jackstand underneath it. On the trail, I have used a HiLift for reseating a tire bead without removing the wheel by lifting by the wheel with the liftmate, cleaning out the tire/wheel, running a ratchet strap around the tire tread, removing the valve stem, and then reseating the bead with a blast of CO 2 from a PowerTank.

We have also used the HiLift with liftmate to replace a front spring that had popped out of place when the suspension flexed out. Both times we stabilized the Jeep on the jack with a winchline to a tree or a strap to another Jeep.

Finally - like I posted in my writeup on the HiLift - keep your limbs and head away from the area between the handle and the jack body. Always clip the handle in the up position when after lifting. The handle can fly up with great force under load.

[RescueJP]

I deff only use my high lift if i have to. If i can make it back to camp and use a bottle jack. That is my prefered method. However i do believe the high lift is an awsome tool

[Oldschool]

The good thing, this is America! You can use which ever jack you want. If you want to use a winch cable up to a tree branch and back down to your bumper, hey have fun and get some pictures.

Bottom line, don't discourage people for using certain types of equipment because of your particular beliefs.

[MADDMUDDER]

I used mine in my garage once to change my front coils out and i thought my wife was holding the jack and i was placing stands on the frame and BOOM jeep hit the floor no tires no shocks and no spring and yup no stands. bad night But no injuries

[Ross]

I have one. I use it to hold down my sub and other things in behind the rear seat of my TJ. I used it to put on my rocker gaurds. It is there if anybody needs it but it scares me. It does serve purpose for me so I keep it. Otheers have actually used it for recovery but I haven't. I operate the winch, the shovel,stacking rocks etc. Like many have said it is dangerous in the wrong hands.

[Jacob]

I love mine. I have used it many times for maintenance and repairs at home and on the trail. I also use it for recovery. I would take a highlift over a winch any day. It just has more uses.

[Ross]

I would take a highlift over a winch any day.
You just say that becuase you know you can always use mine, Larry's or Freds.:D

[Jacob]

I am usually just smart enough to not get myself in a position where I need to use one at all. :D

[Ross]

I am usually just smart enough to not get myself in a position where I need to use one at all. :D
The last time I had to recovery myself was when I got stuck in deep mud discing my field. I am sure I could have gotten out with a High lift but the winch is sooooo much easier.

[wow682]

i got a hilift because i didn't know the factory lift wouldn't work. I had to use it with a group of senior jeepers in FL to pull a jeep out of a huge hole. They jacked it up out of the hole on one side just enough to level the jeep out. It worked!! I thought it was safe, but maybe I was wrong....I've read the instruction acouple times

[Fifthpro]

Wow682,
Sounds like a perfect recovery using the HLJ. Vehicle recovered and no one was hurt....seems like a good recovery, and an opportunity to use the HLJ in one of its many applications. Now you have some experience and will not be so slow to use it the next time.

Got any pics? You could always drive down th Virginia and we could provide a full application and usage of the HLJ class with a dimonstartion and pratical application [to include safety aspects].

[H2OBob]

I got my first HLJ for my Trailduster back in '78, after spending a night in the woods because the bottle jack just sank into the mud. It got stolen about ten years ago, and I always missed it, because I used it around the place a lot. When I bought my Jeep, a new HLJ was one of the first add-ons. It's with me all the time. You never know when you might need it really bad. I've been in spots where it would have been nice to have just the handle in my hands.

As far as safety goes, I have one rule that I follow. NEVER touch the up/down lever, unless the handle is all the way up, and locked.

[Joe Roberts]

I like mine, I have used it to re-seat my front spring on the trail and as a come along, I especially like to send the young pups for it on the trail when they get them selfs in a tough spot. But I almost took my head off while using it to put my body lift on. As with most tools it is valuable when needed however safety is a must and like stated earlier stay out of the area between the handle and jack at all times and clip the handle to the jack when it is holding a load to ensure it doesnt drop and spring up from the weight of the load.
I personally would still use my OEM bottle jack to change a tire if needed.

[SquiDMonkeY]

I got my first HLJ for my Trailduster back in '78, after spending a night in the woods because the bottle jack just sank into the mud. It got stolen about ten years ago, and I always missed it, because I used it around the place a lot. When I bought my Jeep, a new HLJ was one of the first add-ons. It's with me all the time. You never know when you might need it really bad. I've been in spots where it would have been nice to have just the handle in my hands.

As far as safety goes, I have one rule that I follow. NEVER touch the up/down lever, unless the handle is all the way up, and locked.

I fully agree with ya. Unfortunatly I learned my lesson the hard way. When I was installing my lift kit on the XJ I used the Hi lift. When I went to lower it back down, I hit the up/down lever with my foot. It never occured to me to put the handle back in the up position. Well the cherokee did it for me. Of course, the handle made a slight detour to the side of my face. I was bruised for a week. Lucky It didn't kill me. I'll always remember now though.

[HillBillE]

.... Of course, the handle made a slight detour to the side of my face. I was bruised for a week. Lucky It didn't kill me. I'll always remember now though.


It only takes once....:D

For me, it was watching my cousin hit the lever with his foot, and then the Hi-Lift through it's handle right through the windshield of his '71 GMC:eek:

Luckily, it wasn't my rig, but I learned the lesson!:beer:

[Fifthpro]

Added updated manual to first page....enjoy!

[korisu56]

I also picked up the HLJ Xtreme. I'm digging it, although in the CJ it is troublesome to store until I get the overhead. Can't wait to have a reason to use it.

[Fifthpro]

I also picked up the HLJ Xtreme. I'm digging it, although in the CJ it is troublesome to store until I get the overhead. Can't wait to have a reason to use it.

That is just it....do not wait for a reason! Go out to some place and use it in its various configurations, especially in the winching configuration! It will show just how slow, yet effective it can be. Training with it now will save hours of frustrations when you are already in a higher stress situation in the poring rain in the middle of the night. I recently read a post by a well know posted on Jeep Forum who flat stubbed his nose at the HLJ......I completely disagree with him about 110%....not sure he has posted since.

[korisu56]

That's a good point. Perhaps you should post your "Minimum Carry List" that you sent me a while back. Best $500 I've spent on the CJ because even without a winch I'm confident I can get out of almost anything. Maybe I'll grab a couple of UD MJ'rs and go out and play with it.

[Fifthpro]

Now, that is the spirit!

[Manolito]

I am brand new to Jeeps. I just retired and have lived on a Ranch for most of my adult life. If you work in the mud and with implements and tractors you will learn to love the HLJ. I can't say how many fence posts I have pulled or implements I have aligned to attach to the tractor. I will be honest my wife of 37 years scares me the HLJ taught me how to make it 37 years. One word respect. All tools are only as good as their operators. Just my thoughts and thanks for letting me join the board.
Bill

[bluedragon436]

I am def. going to be picking up a HLJ from TSC while I can get it on discount... I have been looking at the HLJ Extremes.... will def. be getting a few of the attachments that make it that much more useful...

[Fifthpro]

I am def. going to be picking up a HLJ from TSC while I can get it on discount... I have been looking at the HLJ Extremes.... will def. be getting a few of the attachments that make it that much more useful...

I just had an opportunity to work with/test 2 HLJ Extremes and really liked them. The obvious advantage was the built-in end that prevents you from having to purchase a JackMate. With is I was able to operate it like a manual jaws of life. The overall finish and feel of the jack was more refined, yet I think that does not assist in its function unless you go by the saying that "looking good is the first step in being good"....(that is all the humor that I can muster today)

[stork65]

Thanks for the info!