high-lift jack

[Hydraman]

I used to know several people that didn't have proper respect for one of these devices!!! Be VERY careful with these dudes!!!

 

[Cacinok]

In general, tools that do a lot, do not do a lot well. The hi-lift jack is one of these tools. I consider it a necessity when offroading. As mentioned, this jack will do a lot, but it will not replace specialized tools. If you need a tool that will do a lot in an emergency the hi-lift is your tool. If you have specialized jobs to do, then buy a tool that will be more effective. For example, if you need a come-along that will pull 3-4 tons buy one. If you need a tool that will winch you out of the mud, buy a winch and a snatch block.

I've used my hi-lift for a number of different things, many times in a pinch when I wished I had another tool, but I didn't. In this respect the hi-lift is analogous to a Leatherman Tool, it's great to have if you don't know what to expect or don't have the room to take everything, but if you have it a specialized tool will most likely do a better job.

Clint

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>Do you find the jackmate usefull?</font color=blue>

I haven't used the jack itself as much as I thought I would (so far), but I've used the JackMate every time. It provides a quick, strong way to hook onto a chain, which I find very convenient. The ClawFoot feature came in handy once or twice, too.

<font color=blue>How much was it?</font color=blue>

The local 4x4 shop where I bought the jack wanted $75 for it which I thought was a little steep, considering that was more than I paid for the jack itself. I later found it online for $50, which still gave me pause, but when I pictured my poor li'l 'Bota mired somewhere in the back woods, I went ahead and clicked the sell-it-to-me button.

<font color=blue>And where did you buy it??</font color=blue>

I think I bought it straight from Maasdam folks, who don't appear to sell online.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I have to echo the "be carefuls". I won't use one. I have two at the shop rusting big time. One of those situations where I get some satisfaction seeing them rust right into the ground.

I have too many options that have more control built into them.

I can see where they'd be okay for four wheeling or light tractoring. Beyond that they fall into the using ether and a match to bead a tire on a rim category of good sense.

 

[Inspector507]

JackMate
Online ordering available......$45.99

This is not for the Hi-Lift jack, just the JackMate

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>I won't use one</font color=blue>

I won't either as long as I have other options, but when I haven't seen any other options, I've sure been glad to use one. Of course, I use one of them the same way I handle live snakes - - - veeerrrry carefully!/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

<font color=blue>they fall into the using ether and a match to bead a tire on a rim category</font color=blue>

A farmer neighbor once told he took a tractor tire to a tire shop to have a flat repaired and the tire man couldn't get the bead to seat, so the farmer said he showed the guy how to do it with the ether and match. He said the owner of the shop came running out of the office to see what the explosion was . . . and told him to take his tire, get out of his shop, and never come back./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif But he said it worked just fine. I told him the next time he's going to do that to call me 'cause I want to watch . . . from a long ways off./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[rdbrumfield]

Bird, I use ether to bead tires quite often. Just make sure you don't have your face close to the bead. In 30 yrs of using this method have never had a problem. Only do this with the tire upright.

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>Only do this with the tire upright</font color=blue>

I'm sitting here wondering why upright; seems to me that it would be more likely to have the wheel properly centered if the tire were laying flat. Don't guess it matters though since I have no intention of trying it./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[MarkV]

I have a neighbor at our mountain home that sets the bead on his bobcat tires that way all the time. He carries ether in his toolbox just for that. He tried it on one of the front R4's on my B21 but could not get it to seat. May have been because the tires have such a low profile. Any way after two tries and watching the explosion of flame coming from my poor little tires I decided to take it to the shop for tubes. Guess I am getting a bit more conserative in my older age.

MarkV

 

[rdbrumfield]

Bird, when that tire seats, it is done by the explosive gases inflating the tire against the bead. If it were laying down it would have the possibility of taking body parts to the sky with it. Not likely, but possible.
I have used this method for everything from my trailer tires to ones 6' tall on earthmovers. It helps to have the air hooked to the stem while doing this, once the tire hits the bead the air takes over.