anthraciterunner

I know sliders are the best jack points and they are coming...eventually. But, is the factory tow hitch a safe place to use as a jacking point?

Scottiac

Yep, the tow hitch is a fine place to jack from. That's about the *only* safe place on a stock rig unless you get one of the specialized gizmos for lifting from the wheel.

Flygtenstein

A bottle jack at the rear axle or the crossmember up front would be a lot safer and more reliable.

Why use a Hi-Jack on a stocker? They are trail tools, not shop reliables.

Scottiac

Perhaps because some of us take our stockers on trails?

potroast

you couldn't use the frame? Thats were the sliders weld to...

flecker

I agree w/ Flygenstein.... trail only tool. I usually carry a 2x4 about 2" long and jack it up on the body pinch weld. I hate highlifts and will avoid using it any time I can unless it's absolutely the best tool for the job. I have winched myself out, lifted up the front/back end to stack rocks and even used it to move downed trees in the trail. They are useful but dangerous and should be treated w/ a great amount of respect.

mt_goat

Safe for the truck maybe, but not safe for anyone standing around at the time. If you jack from the tow hitch, as soon as you get both rear wheels off the ground the jack will tip over. Ask me how I know

Scottiac

True enough. I was just answering the question he asked Yes, if you fail to block your wheels, stand near someone jacking up their vehicle, or perform any of the countless hundred other stupid pet tricks we tend to do when we act before thinkin', yer gonna get thumped.

Hmmm. Fun with physics... If you have a 4' hilift up about 2 feet when it tips, and say around 2,000 lbs on it, the free end of it will hit any interceding object on its way down with a force of 1,000 lbs. Pretty much the same as if you dropped a pallet of bricks on your head.

Ok, I'm convinced it's dangerous... how 'bout you?

anthraciterunner

What are the dangers involved in using a hi-lift...except having the truck slamming down? if it does fall off the lift, does the jack just fall down or does it become a projectile? I'm only using it as a recovery device. Since I don't have sliders yet, I would be getting the wheel hooks that hi-lift makes for the jack.

Scottiac

It doesn't become a projectile, but the falling truck itself is a frightening beast, because it isn't dropping straight down usually, it tipping off the jack, so anyone "downwind" of it is in jeapordy.

Also, the handle of the jack is whipping around at a really good clip, and could flat take someone out. And if you happened to be under the truck building up a rock ramp or similiar chores, curtains-time...

You're dealing with thousands of pounds here, which is what makes it scary.

I'm not an expert on this... I just like physics!

(Random meandering ahead...)

I think we (YT) should make a hilift safety video with some "don'ts" where we explode watermelons or the like with the pieces of flailing metal that occur in a hilift screwup. Any volunteers?

Mebbe jack up a truck by the tow hitch on flat and level, unblocked, and show how little force it would take to tip it?

Edit: Thanks for making me think about this! I'd rather work this stuff out before I need it sometime!

anthraciterunner

So, has anyone actually had any bad experiences with the hi-lift? IF the truck does tip off the jack, how does the jack usually fall? Would it slam against the body...resulting in major damage?(of the truck...not you)