Offroad-Express

Had to change a flat today for the first time since buying the truck.
I positioned the little bottle jack directly under the U bolt bracket for the springs and by the time the wheel was off the ground by about an 30mm the jack was maxed out.... this can't be normal can it?

This was on pretty much perfectly flat ground too, I figure this jack would be all but useless off the road!?

I've seen those high lift jacks that guys have but as I under stand you need certain jacking points to use them??? Is there any other options for a jack to be left in the truck all the time?

I guess I'd better get the jack sorted before tryin to fit new leafs etc.

Cheers
Ryan

With my OME suspension the factory scissor jack doesnt come close to lifting a tyre off the ground. I just carry round a bottle jack and a reasonable sized block of wood to go under it.

I always carry a block of wood about a foot square to put jack on..stops it sinking into ground & makes it more stable also carry a wheel chock...last thing i want is the hilux sitting on me

hi-lift jacks are great. but you do need bars to lift off. but the good thing is that you can also use them as a winch if you have to

kaney wrote:hi-lift jacks are great

and get a genuine USA hi-lift jack coz everyone I know with the chinese/taiwanese copies seem to have problems with them

Sadam_Husain wrote:

kaney wrote:hi-lift jacks are great

and get a genuine USA hi-lift jack coz everyone I know with the chinese/taiwanese copies seem to have problems with them

i got a power built one works well but seems to stick and play up a bit after being dropped in mud... but that could be expected

Cheers guys,
I'll have to do the blocks of wood for the time being I guess.
The hi-lift is now on the list but its gonna have to be after the bars and unfortunatly the bars are a bit of the way down the list until I have all the basics like tow hooks etc covered.

sheesh what have I got myself into

Well, there is a saying about Jeeps (but it could apply to any truck thats taken offroad) "Jeeps are built, not bought".

It may seem expensive, but any motorsport is expensive. Safety first.

Just a wee note with servicing hi-lift style jacks... use penetrating spray-on motorbike chain-lube... totally revitalised my old hi-lift...

And a block of wood or a 30cm square of 1" thick ply is a great way to get more lift from a bottle jack along with stabilising it...

Steve

kaney wrote:hi-lift jacks are great. but you do need bars to lift off. but the good thing is that you can also use them as a winch if you have to

I got mine from 4wd bits.co.nz ...
Gota support them that support the site.

I got the chain kit for pulling at the same time.
I have not used it in the mud yet but had a play on a hill so that when I have to use it I won't look like a noddy when I have to use it with others around

Like a turfor, it is slow but works really well.

A lot of vehicles have tow bars that go wide and thought it is much better to lift from the side I have used it a number of times on a tow bar

I for one would recommend them.

popped the bead had to change the wheel would of been screwed without that jack

I don't actually own a HL jack but a mate does and his truck has no jack points and I have a holder so by default its mine!

I had to use it once when stuck and was winching out and hit a stump. Used the HL to lift above the stump and put stuff under the wheel and then winched on out. Was a real saving, was in soft ground that the bottle jack would have had very little hope without out much effort and time.

Only problem is the leaver to set from up to down had fallen off. If you get a Powerbuilt jack check all the bolts are tight, I had to tighten two and lost one.

and get a genuine USA hi-lift jack coz everyone I know with the chinese/taiwanese copies seem to have problems with them

My powerbuilt one outlasted my hilift one.
Coxy: that wasn't the kumho you popped off the bead was it I have found that if you run them lower then 25psi then you pop them when you hit something hard. I am going to put internal beadlocks on them to fix that problem. I am just lasy now and don't even air down unless doing sand work or boulder stuff.
Al

albundy wrote:

and get a genuine USA hi-lift jack coz everyone I know with the chinese/taiwanese copies seem to have problems with them

My powerbuilt one outlasted my hilift one.
Coxy: that wasn't the kumho you popped off the bead was it I have found that if you run them lower then 25psi then you pop them when you hit something hard. I am going to put internal beadlocks on them to fix that problem. I am just lasy now and don't even air down unless doing sand work or boulder stuff.
Al

looks like a goodyear wrangler to me. (kinda remember yo saying you couldnt see pictures at work so....i guess u at work)

i guess u at work

)
Yep some of us have to work to keep Aunty Helen's dole bludgers and sicko's on an income
Al

no al its the mtr's which are now my madza utes mud tyres again but the mtr's did good that weekend,

In my garage I just use a trolley jack, mind you some may say you can pick up a zuk!

One thing be aware of with any style of Hi-Lift jack is how unstable they can be. You really don't want to have any part of your body under the truck when on a hi-lift. But yes they are very versatile!!

For off road I have a big bit of marine ply to sit the scissor jack on - have not yet tested this off-road - touch wood.

Well I finally made up a nice big square marine ply block for my stock bottle jack this morning. It's much closer to actually doing some lifting so its not maxed out and far far more stable to boot!

Cheers for the idea guys, now I might as well go to work,,,, or maybe I'll flush my radiator instead.