I looked at the brackets that Hi-lift makes for their jacks. But they did not look like they were worth $25. So I picked up some steel and bent my own brackets. Drilled a few holes, and purchased nuts, bolts, and washers.

I still need to paint them, but I wanted to mount them first. I'll paint them later this week, or over the weekend. I also need to pick up some 1/2 bolts for the jack its self, and wing nuts. I used 7/16" bolts all around. And they do not make wing nuts in that size... I should have checked that first. But that is a easy fix.

 

try mcmaster.com for wing bolts

 

That looks like a great way to save 20 bucks or so. Are you worried about the heavy jack ripping/bending the sheetmetal when it gets jostled around off road?

 

i would have been cringing drilling holes in that bed LOL
i'm thinkin about something similar, but i also am thinking about building something that bolts to the bed bar a just built to hold a cooler 7 gal of water 5 gal of gas and a hi lift...
dont ya love projects!

when you bent that did you heat it or just use a vise? just a curious newb

 

you may want to purchase an isolator for the handle. Also I'd look into getting a cover for the jack. The small parts can weather quick. it would suck to need it one day on the trail and find you dont have the repair kit. they last alot longer if stored better.

 

I am not worried at all about it bending the sheet metal. I did leave room for a extra set of bolts on either end. But I do not think they are needed, might still add them anyways.

I used my cheap $18 metal bending brake from Harbor freight. I purchased the brake a few years ago for fabbing up small aluminum parts for my rc trucks. It does come in handy for making steel brackets as well though. But it flexes a lot when bending 1/8" steel bar.... It has a bending limit of 16 gauge steel, but I tend to push it past that. With it being a $18 bending brake, I do not care if it breaks on me.

I should probably get the isolator for the handle, just to keep it more secure. But I am not worried about keeping it covered just yet, as it sits under my tonuae cover. Though it does have some light surface rust already, I am going to give it a light coating of LPS.