Factory jack won't lift Bronco

rpeary

I have a '23 Badlands SAS, took delivery in JAN '23 and wanted to install some front mudflaps right away. Would have loved to simply remove the front tires for an easier install, however, quickly realized that the factory supplied jack wouldn't lift enough to remove them. Yes, I was attempting to lift 1 side at a time at the Ford recommended jack location.

This owner had no trouble using factory jack with his sasquatch Bronco.


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OP: you need to use the little extension thing that came with your factory scissor Jack.

I carry a safejacks bottle jack and a safejacks jackstand. It is a great after market jack for off roading. Helps when you are on a slant in rough terrain. Also much safer overall. I have never had my bottle jack leak. I've had it for a few years and was looking at it a month or so ago when I put it in my Bronco. I will look at it again for sure. They are a good quality bottle jack from what I know. I also carry a mallet or a dead blow hammer to get the rim off if need be.

Of course I carry the OEM as well.

https://safejacks.com/

From the Owner’s Manual - extension is required for FRONT wheel change only - not for the rear.

rpeary

I have a '23 Badlands SAS, took delivery in JAN '23 and wanted to install some front mudflaps right away. Would have loved to simply remove the front tires for an easier install, however, quickly realized that the factory supplied jack wouldn't lift enough to remove them. Yes, I was attempting to lift 1 side at a time at the Ford recommended jack location. No, I do not have a lift, everything is factory. This was on my flat and level concrete driveway. No, I do not own a floor jack nor would I expect to carry it around for emergency situations. It would lift ALMOST enough off the ground but maxed out before the rubber left the ground. I was super disappointed. Is it possible that Ford decided to include the same jack for every model with no regard for vehicle height?

I since decided to purchase a bottle jack to replace the factory supplied scissor lift. I went with a Husky from Home Depot. Specifically, this one since it just barely squeezes in the factory location and has just enough lift to get the job done in the rear, and enough to get the job done in the front with the assistance of a couple of pieces of 2x4 to place under the jack. Yes, risky, however, better than nothing.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-6-Ton-Hydraulic-Bottle-Jack-HPL6B/308174827

After ~6 months of driving I went to check on the jack and sure enough, it had leaked about 1/8 teaspoon of hydraulic fluid. Never did I suspect this would work storing it horizontally, this was just a test. It failed, and I'm back to square one.

Apologies for not having pics of the failed attempt using the factory scissor lift, however, I was just so frustrated at the time!

Has anyone experienced the same, and has anyone developed a better solution?

Thi is the same as the truck that gets stuck under the viaduct. Let the air out of the tire!!

Montana Bronco

OP: you need to use the little extension thing that came with your factory scissor Jack.

Yes, was definitely using that piece. It would even approach the underside without it.

rpeary

I have a '23 Badlands SAS, took delivery in JAN '23 and wanted to install some front mudflaps right away. Would have loved to simply remove the front tires for an easier install, however, quickly realized that the factory supplied jack wouldn't lift enough to remove them. Yes, I was attempting to lift 1 side at a time at the Ford recommended jack location. No, I do not have a lift, everything is factory. This was on my flat and level concrete driveway. No, I do not own a floor jack nor would I expect to carry it around for emergency situations. It would lift ALMOST enough off the ground but maxed out before the rubber left the ground. I was super disappointed. Is it possible that Ford decided to include the same jack for every model with no regard for vehicle height?

I since decided to purchase a bottle jack to replace the factory supplied scissor lift. I went with a Husky from Home Depot. Specifically, this one since it just barely squeezes in the factory location and has just enough lift to get the job done in the rear, and enough to get the job done in the front with the assistance of a couple of pieces of 2x4 to place under the jack. Yes, risky, however, better than nothing.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-6-Ton-Hydraulic-Bottle-Jack-HPL6B/308174827

After ~6 months of driving I went to check on the jack and sure enough, it had leaked about 1/8 teaspoon of hydraulic fluid. Never did I suspect this would work storing it horizontally, this was just a test. It failed, and I'm back to square one.

Apologies for not having pics of the failed attempt using the factory scissor lift, however, I was just so frustrated at the time!

Has anyone experienced the same, and has anyone developed a better solution?

I asked at off-rodeo this concern and was nearly laughed at. "Ford would not sell factory design without being able to change a tire"....
I bought safejack and moved on. Safejack also works on car hauler, bronco, my truck, my mower, my tractor, etc. It was like $225 shipped. I just carry the safejack.

I was in the auto parts tooling industry - supplied jacks are for limited emergency use only and not for maintenance.

Get yourself a floor jack like CAT, Badlands or if you got the money to burn a Pro Eagle. I put a jack stand under the frame just in case. Do it for safety sake.

I carry a 6x6x3/4 plywood on a regular basis, plus a 12x12x3/4 when offroad. This means I have extra height on a firm, flat surface.
I found the scissor jack perfect for my needs. At 76, my strength ain't what it used to be, and I was having trouble getting a spare hefted onto the wheel lugs. The scissor jack, unlike a conventional handle-jack, allows me to turn the screw in small adjustments, up or down, until the spare's holes align with the lugs at the same height. Then I can just wiggle it a bit, get the wheel on the lugs, raise it a tad, and start screwing the nuts on.

I was given a magnificent 48" farm jack, and am now wondering if I should add that to my offroad gear. I've had four flats (Goodyear Territory "rock-chuckers") offroad, and the scissor jack (with grounding blocks) was adequate each time.

I did buy this replacement scissor jack with a ratcheting handle, which works easier than the OEM rods.

This thing is a beast.

NiceBronco

This thing is a beast.

Yeah, but who's carrying this on his daily drive--or off-road? Handy for the home garage and if I were an off-road guide or group leader, I'd bring it along. It's an awful lot of jack for us mere mortals.
(But then, I've been told by many that I don't know jack...)

BostonBadlands

Yeah, but who's carrying this on his daily drive--or off-road? Handy for the home garage and if I were an off-road guide or group leader, I'd bring it along. It's an awful lot of jack for us mere mortals.
(But then, I've been told by many that I don't know jack...)

Put a hitch on it a tow it!!

All good suggestions, just be sure to tie these things down really well when off roading in the event of a roll over, this thing could put a pop-knot on your head big enough for it's own zip code.

NiceBronco

This thing is a beast.

Okay, that jack is wicked-fricken-cool!

Now trying to justify buying one. Lol.

A lot of people talk about the cost of the Pro Eagle and say the Badlands or CAT jack is better. Here is my $0.02 . The Badlands and CAT jacks are both 3 ton jacks. Pro Eagle has a 3 ton as well. The Pro Eagle 3 ton is more expensive than the others by a decent amount. We drive Broncos. There is absolutely no need for a 3 ton jack in a Bronco. My Ram TRX was HEAVY! I carried a 2 ton jack in it and used it at King Of The Hammers this year. In my Bronco I carry a 1.5 ton. I am working on some different hard mounts for the 1.5 ton Pro Eagle. I'd love your guys input on where you would mount one if you were going to carry it day in and day out.

My shop has a Pro Eagle 3 ton. My TRX had (new one will too) a Pro Eagle 2 Ton. My Bronco had a Pro Eagle 1.5 Ton. A Barrett 50 cal is great but sometimes a Sig P365 9mm makes more sense.

Pro Eagle 1.5 Ton- $419.00- 38lbs- 2 year warranty (I've had Pro Eagle repair or replace jacks out of the 2 year period for customers) Pro Eagle customer service is amazing- Lift height 10" minimum to 21" with adaptor. A longer adaptor is also available to extend up to 28". There are several mounting options available and we are looking for feedback on any other mounting solutions for the Pro Eagle.

Badlands 3 Ton- $319.99- 72.66lbs- 90 day warranty-Lift height 6.25" to 29.0625" with Adaptor. Some mounting options found but limited.

CAT 3 Ton- $450.00- 89.5lbs according to Amazon- 1 year warranty-Lift height 6" to 29.25" with adaptor. No mounting accessories found for Bronco or other vehicles.

We are a Pro Eagle Jack dealer. We would love to help you. We don't promote Pro Eagle because we sell them. We sell them because we believe they are the best. That is why it is what we use. We only offer three brands besides our own currently. We are very selective on what we sell. If they don't meet our standards for quality and customer service it is a no go.

Let us know if we can assist you.

Shifts And Grins Fab

A lot of people talk about the cost of the Pro Eagle and say the Badlands or CAT jack is better. Here is my $0.02 . The Badlands and CAT jacks are both 3 ton jacks. Pro Eagle has a 3 ton as well. The Pro Eagle 3 ton is more expensive than the others by a decent amount. We drive Broncos. There is absolutely no need for a 3 ton jack in a Bronco. My Ram TRX was HEAVY! I carried a 2 ton jack in it and used it at King Of The Hammers this year. In my Bronco I carry a 1.5 ton. I am working on some different hard mounts for the 1.5 ton Pro Eagle. I'd love your guys input on where you would mount one if you were going to carry it day in and day out.

My shop has a Pro Eagle 3 ton. My TRX had (new one will too) a Pro Eagle 2 Ton. My Bronco had a Pro Eagle 1.5 Ton. A Barrett 50 cal is great but sometimes a Sig P365 9mm makes more sense.

Pro Eagle 1.5 Ton- $419.00- 38lbs- 2 year warranty (I've had Pro Eagle repair or replace jacks out of the 2 year period for customers) Pro Eagle customer service is amazing- Lift height 10" minimum to 21" with adaptor. A longer adaptor is also available to extend up to 28". There are several mounting options available and we are looking for feedback on any other mounting solutions for the Pro Eagle.

Badlands 3 Ton- $319.99- 72.66lbs- 90 day warranty-Lift height 6.25" to 29.0625" with Adaptor. Some mounting options found but limited.

CAT 3 Ton- $450.00- 89.5lbs according to Amazon- 1 year warranty-Lift height 6" to 29.25" with adaptor. No mounting accessories found for Bronco or other vehicles.

We are a Pro Eagle Jack dealer. We would love to help you. We don't promote Pro Eagle because we sell them. We sell them because we believe they are the best. That is why it is what we use. We only offer three brands besides our own currently. We are very selective on what we sell. If they don't meet our standards for quality and customer service it is a no go.

Let us know if we can assist you.

I never new such "off road" jacks existed until NiceBronco posted the pic of the CAT. I looked at Pro Eagle brand yesterday, which I find impressive as well. The prices shown for the Pro Eagle are not much more than a high quality commercial grade floor jack.

Considering the safety concerns with lifting a vehicle, IMO you can never spend too much on jacks and jackstands.

BostonBadlands

I carry a 6x6x3/4 plywood on a regular basis, plus a 12x12x3/4 when offroad. This means I have extra height on a firm, flat surface.
I found the scissor jack perfect for my needs. At 76, my strength ain't what it used to be, and I was having trouble getting a spare hefted onto the wheel lugs. The scissor jack, unlike a conventional handle-jack, allows me to turn the screw in small adjustments, up or down, until the spare's holes align with the lugs at the same height. Then I can just wiggle it a bit, get the wheel on the lugs, raise it a tad, and start screwing the nuts on.

I was given a magnificent 48" farm jack, and am now wondering if I should add that to my offroad gear. I've had four flats (Goodyear Territory "rock-chuckers") offroad, and the scissor jack (with grounding blocks) was adequate each time.

I did buy this replacement scissor jack with a ratcheting handle, which works easier than the OEM rods.

Looks exactly like the jack from my 1972 Pinto. 😁