Aftermarket Jack Storage

IceSoldier88

Which jack is everyone using? Classic Hi-Lift? Also those that have aftermarket jacks. Where are you storing them?

Hi lifts are a great tool, but they are a bit dangerous if you don't use them correctly. A lot of folks have had good luck with the ARB inflatable jacks and they are a lot less heavy and less likely to bust your face. There are also a couple of bottle-type jacks that would work. I would say think about how you are planning on using it (just to change a tire, get the vehicle off the ground for repairs, or as a come-along) and that should drive the decision. I have a hi-lift that I carried everywhere on my CJ, but Im not sure its going on the Bronco. Its heavy, big and is kind of a crappy come-along. Im also not 100% on the Bronco jack points and I guess I want to see what they look like before I make a final decision. Just my $.02

Thank you for that thurough breakdown. I’m going to hold off until I actually get my bronco and can research more/see what all you guys are doing. These types of Jakcs/off-road ness is new to me.

IceSoldier88

Thank you for that thurough breakdown. I’m going to hold off until I actually get my bronco and can research more/see what all you guys are doing. These types of Jakcs/off-road ness is new to me.

No worries. Everyone has a different opinion on the hi-lift. If you are going to use one off-road, Id recommend not carrying it around all the time. They rust up if they are uncovered and externally mounted. Just throw it in the truck when you are going and you will be fine. There are also a ton of videos on how to use one, and not get hurt. Like I said, an awesome tool, just not 100% easy to use.

@IceSoldier88 I would second previous comments. If you really want to use a hi-lift, use it at home at least a few times to make sure you understand how it works, and where you can place it. As it raises the vehicle, you'll see it tends to lean with the body, meaning it doesn't lift straight up and down, or the vehicle doesn't raise straight up and down, at least not always (creates an arc as it lifts). That's even while using it in the driveway, on a flat surface. Not too big a deal if you know that's going to happen, but the downside is the vehicle isn't straight, the body panels, bumpers, etc. aren't straight, so you have a vehicle or jack that is now leaning and you have to lower the vehicle, which doesn't straighten everything back up. You'll hit places with the jack coming down, door panels, etc. This is only one reason it doesn't work well for vehicles, finding an attachment point on a stock vehicle is a pain in the ass too.

A "farm"/hi-lift jack also has a low load range. Most people don't realize they are rated lower than some other methods.

There are much better alternatives, and no joke, the stock bottle jack is one of the best ways to raise the vehicle. With a jack that lifts above the axle, you have to lift through the suspension range, meaning you lift the vehicle (body) much higher than if you lift at the axles. You have to unload the suspension, before the wheel starts to lift.

The hi-lift is inefficient, ineffective, can be dangerous, and is very heavy/awkward.

A hi-lift has it's place, in the garage, not up front, but buried under many layers of other, more useful, equipment. I carried a hi-lift for years, used it more than a handful of times off road and at home, and there was almost always a better option. They do look cool though.

Jack...who needs a Jack...I have AAA!! :rolleyes:

I’m curious about that ARB inflatable jack. Anyone been using one for a while? Does it hold up? Is it good for rocky trails or just softer mud/sand conditions?

AcesandEights

@IceSoldier88 I would second previous comments. If you really want to use a hi-lift, use it at home at least a few times to make sure you understand how it works, and where you can place it. As it raises the vehicle, you'll see it tends to lean with the body, meaning it doesn't lift straight up and down, or the vehicle doesn't raise straight up and down, at least not always (creates an arc as it lifts). That's even while using it in the driveway, on a flat surface. Not too big a deal if you know that's going to happen, but the downside is the vehicle isn't straight, the body panels, bumpers, etc. aren't straight, so you have a vehicle or jack that is now leaning and you have to lower the vehicle, which doesn't straighten everything back up. You'll hit places with the jack coming down, door panels, etc. This is only one reason it doesn't work well for vehicles, finding an attachment point on a stock vehicle is a pain in the ass too.

A "farm"/hi-lift jack also has a low load range. Most people don't realize they are rated lower than some other methods.

There are much better alternatives, and no joke, the stock bottle jack is one of the best ways to raise the vehicle. With a jack that lifts above the axle, you have to lift through the suspension range, meaning you lift the vehicle (body) much higher than if you lift at the axles. You have to unload the suspension, before the wheel starts to lift.

The hi-lift is inefficient, ineffective, can be dangerous, and is very heavy/awkward.

A hi-lift has it's place, in the garage, not up front, but buried under many layers of other, more useful, equipment. I carried a hi-lift for years, used it more than a handful of times off road and at home, and there was almost always a better option. They do look cool though.

Great post Aces

Bonnie6G

I’m curious about that ARB inflatable jack. Anyone been using one for a while? Does it hold up? Is it good for rocky trails or just softer mud/sand conditions?

Curious about this too. ARB is pretty proud of it based upon what they are trying to charge for it.

With attachments the high lift is more usable. Example I lifted a livestock trailer using a adopter that let you attach to the tire. Once up cribbed it and was able to get space under the trailer to set bottle jacks. Trailer was loaded with cattle at the time so weight and ensuring the trailer was secure despite some movement of cattle once tire was off extremely important.

The high lift jack had no point to lift from without that attachment. The bottle jack I suppose we could have cut down into road bed to get jack under but with the high lift able to lift until we could get other jack in place along with cribbing to ensure it staid lifted it would have been a lot of work.

High lift by itself not very usable. And I was taught to never just have it . Lift then move other jacks, jack stands or cribbing in place to keep it lifted while working on the vehicle. The jack is a slow come-a-long but it does work you have to have a couple 20 foot long chains to make it work - so yes heavy.

I just had to jack up the rear of my Badlands and remove rear tires. This was in my garage with a 3 ton floor jack and jack stands. Front jack points are easy, rear not so much. The jack was fully extended to just barely get tires off the ground with lift point just forward of trailing arm mount. My jack stands were to short unless I used the trailing arm mounting bracket, which will not allow the rear axle to fully hang. That's when I started thinking how to change a tire on off road in the various conditions you might find yourself in. Anyone have any insight or experience in lifting the broncos.

Rjcook

I just had to jack up the rear of my Badlands and remove rear tires. This was in my garage with a 3 ton floor jack and jack stands. Front jack points are easy, rear not so much. The jack was fully extended to just barely get tires off the ground with lift point just forward of trailing arm mount. My jack stands were to short unless I used the trailing arm mounting bracket, which will not allow the rear axle to fully hang. That's when I started thinking how to change a tire on off road in the various conditions you might find yourself in. Anyone have any insight or experience in lifting the broncos.

What is the extended lift height of your jack?

Bonnie6G

What is the extended lift height of your jack?

Dont know offhand but I will need to get a higher lift. Mine is 40 years old, bought time for a new one. Also higher lift jack stands.