madcratebuilder
Rank V
Pathfinder I
Your Go To Jack
- Thread starter Jim SoG
- Start date
Off-Road Ranger III
- 13,288
- First Name
- Bjoern
- Last Name
- Eldracher
- Member #
-
20111
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- DO3BE
For simple wheel change I clearly prefer a good quality hydraulic bottle jack. This is me the safest, easy and quick to use, manageable from the pack size. My Landy is about 2.5" (maybe little more) higher than standard. On longer trips, I have a hi-lift with me, less as a jack, more as a tool in a possible recovery. Another tip from practice: Often ridiculed, but sometimes in special situations a scissor jack is really helpful. Namely, whenever there is hardly any space under the axle, e.g. torn wheel studs or the like.
Bjoern
Member III
- 2,827
- First Name
- Kevin
- Last Name
- Trvlr
- Member #
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20466
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- KK7NAZ
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- MM1 US Navy
Same here. The actual jack is my least favorite part of the wheole systam. I have asked them to make an adapter for the stock Toyoyta jack- they won't. I have a second Toyota Jack and am actually thinking about modifying the end of one of my jacks to work with all the parts. Otherwise I have my eye on this : https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641737_200641737?cm_mmc=Bing-pla&utm_source=Bing_PLA&utm_medium=Automotive > Jacks > Bottle Jacks&utm_campaign=Strongway&utm_content=46197&cmpid=53403372&agid=3200075881&tgtid=pla-4577473069386636&prdid=46197&msclkid=9836b236ac2d121d288dd380b8d78cf1&gclid=9836b236ac2d121d288dd380b8d78cf1&gclsrc=3p.ds
Add one more vote for the bottle jack.
I carry a small one (3 ton?--the label is shot--it has a few miles on it) in my XJ. I have a big one for my dually.
And I have a few more that float around in my shop serving to augment my floor jacks. Bottle jacks are awesome for their all around utility.
I have wound up using the bottle jack to in my XJ change tires on other folks' rigs because they couldn't access what they had, or it wasn't going to be the right thing for the situation.
My only problem with my bottle jacks is that I never seem to be able to find the handle when I need it. I end up using a screwdriver to operate the pump and a pair of pliers to let things back down. I need to come up with some way to keep the handle attached to the jack, and yet still have the packing flexibility to keep the thing where it is accessible. Suggestions are welcome.
I carry a small one (3 ton?--the label is shot--it has a few miles on it) in my XJ. I have a big one for my dually.
And I have a few more that float around in my shop serving to augment my floor jacks. Bottle jacks are awesome for their all around utility.
I have wound up using the bottle jack to in my XJ change tires on other folks' rigs because they couldn't access what they had, or it wasn't going to be the right thing for the situation.
My only problem with my bottle jacks is that I never seem to be able to find the handle when I need it. I end up using a screwdriver to operate the pump and a pair of pliers to let things back down. I need to come up with some way to keep the handle attached to the jack, and yet still have the packing flexibility to keep the thing where it is accessible. Suggestions are welcome.
Advocate III
- 5,584
- First Name
- Michael
- Last Name
- Rose
- Member #
-
20990
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- W7FSB
- Service Branch
- US ARMY Retired
For a handle… I use my 1/2” drive breaker bar, a pair of needle nose pliers works to operate the release valve.
That is very cool, I'd want 4 if they were affordable. But only in the shop.
Contributor II
Yes I do carry an ARB , I also carry a safe jack (bottle) Safejacks.com the hi-lifts are not supposed to be used for changing tires. I mostly wheel alone so I have an abundance of recovery products. Including a Deadman anchor, deadmanoffroad.com a 10,000 Warn Xeon synthetic winch and a Borah recovery kit from Factor55.com and a few other odds and ends. Overkill but ,,,,,,,
ButcherShop
Rank III
Enthusiast II
Thanks for the great info! So useful. I mostly wheel by myself and need to build a better recovery kit.
Member III
- 2,827
- First Name
- Tom
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- Houston
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8300
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- WØNUT Extra
I carry a 12 ton bottle jack with air assist. I just slide it under, connect it to my onboard CO2, press the button and its up. I then use the CO2 to run my impact. You would be surprised how handy an impact and air ratchet can be on the trail.
Traveler III
I use the stock jack that came with my Gladiator with the base block. The base gives it more stability and lifts it enough to work with 37s.
Attachments
Advocate III
Advocate I
6 Ton SafeJack kit and a few pieces of plywood cut to fit the shape of the storage bag bottom.
Used to carry a high lift for my old full size rigs (back when bumpers were made of metal).
When I got the WJ with all plastic cladding and bumpers, the high lift was useless for anything but lifting by the towing receiver.
Quickly I came to prefer the bottle jack. The accessories make all the difference.
Essential is the axle tube saddle and any suitable base for when you are on gravel or loose dirt.
If someone is resourceful, they can piece together a comparable kit far cheaper than the Safejack kits.
And as a bonus, it is a lot lighter to lug around than a high lift.
That is what works for me anyhow.
Used to carry a high lift for my old full size rigs (back when bumpers were made of metal).
When I got the WJ with all plastic cladding and bumpers, the high lift was useless for anything but lifting by the towing receiver.
Quickly I came to prefer the bottle jack. The accessories make all the difference.
Essential is the axle tube saddle and any suitable base for when you are on gravel or loose dirt.
If someone is resourceful, they can piece together a comparable kit far cheaper than the Safejack kits.
And as a bonus, it is a lot lighter to lug around than a high lift.
That is what works for me anyhow.
Off-Road Ranger I
- 3,507
- First Name
- Mike
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- Roots
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16968
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^^ This all the time. When going to questionable locations, a 6 ton bottle jack as well. 3 ton floor jack stays in the garage for regular use.
Influencer I
- 2,358
- First Name
- Dillon
- Last Name
- Wilke
- Member #
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20298
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- KJ7LVO/ WRQL275
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- USAF
For me it all depends on the situation. 90% of the time when I need a jack I have the luxury of planning, as such its the old school hydraulic floor jack and jack stands. For things where I cannot plan things out (read Im not at my shop) and I need to pull a wheel I simply use the factory jack. In the case of needing to self recover by stacking things under wheels or slipping traction boards into place, I use a hi-lift with the wheel lifting attachment (since the Escape doesnt really have good lift points for the hi lift).
As for what is always in the Escape, the factory jack and a 48" hi lift.
As for what is always in the Escape, the factory jack and a 48" hi lift.
Enthusiast II
This is what I'm working with as well though lookin at bottle jack upgrade in coming week or two.
Newbie question: A big ol' 20 ton seems like overkill. It is the dimensions of the respective rigs (e.g., lift heights), better-safe-than-sorry philosophy or am I missing something?
For my stock '21 JT Rubicon I need to clear ~15" (so maybe an 8 or 10 ton) but otherwise, I'm not actually intending to lift that kind of weigh. Anything else I should be considering as I explore bottle jacks?
Contributor II
