High Lift Jack mounting

I thought those things were just for looks. I mean, who really climbs on top of the jeep to retrieve it from the top rack? who takes a risk of removing it from the hood? who removes the spare tires or jerry cans just to get it? I mean, most of the jeeps have winches. why really use one? anyone who plans on shelling theirs, I'll take it. looking to make mine jeep perrrttttyyy. ;D

I've used my hilift 3 times that I can think of... lift the back of my jeep higher, so water would drain out of the front drain holes... lift up the side of my XJ so we could stack/move some rocks to get me free... and lift up Zekes XJ out of the mud so we could pull the axle shafts. a bottle jack (with a 2x10) would have been better for Zeke, but it was all we had.

fwiw, mine stays on the side of my roof rack and it works fine after a year. of course, I did spray it with lithium grease a while back. I tested it 2 weeks ago.

Quote from Flav

I thought those things were just for looks.

i'll admit that i like my jeep to look good, but i don't accessorize with offroading equipment for the sake of looks.

like i said earlier, my bottle jack gets used for trail repairs. it is simply the better choice.

but i have, more than once, used the hi-lift for recovery, in situations such as the one mentioned by knoxrents. i consider it to be part of my recovery equipment, and it's worth the little bit of trouble it takes to mount and unmount it for the peace of mind that i have it when i need it.

Quote from Flav

I mean, who really climbs on top of the jeep to retrieve it from the top rack? who takes a risk of removing it from the hood? who removes the spare tires or jerry cans just to get it?

mine is on my swing-out where it will not become a surprise projectile. it is accessible without any of these troubles. i use 1/2" stainless steel wing-nuts so they are easy to remove and replace. i spray the hi-lift with liquid wrench or crc or wd-40 before and after every wheeling trip.

Quote from altierior

mine is on my swing-out where it will not become a surprise projectile. it is accessible without any of these troubles. i use 1/2" stainless steel wing-nuts so they are easy to remove and replace. i spray the hi-lift with liquid wrench or crc or wd-40 before and after every wheeling trip.

I always thought spare tires look great on the back of Xj's! like the shovel mont too.

Quote from Flav

I always thought spare tires look great on the back of Xj's! like the shovel mont too.

thanks for the kind words! you should see it now with the 33" MTs, it looks even meaner.

oh, and i carry the shovel to make my jeep look pretty.

Quote from DrJ

Should it freeze up someday, I'll throw it way and get another one at Tractor Supply, cheap enough afterall. I'd think it would work good on the beach if someone (not me) was stuck.

Take it to the metal scrap yard on Old Airport road. Metal is worth $$$!!

Quote from Rubicon-Man03

i really don't like it mounted on the hood. I just want it go. Diablo had a good idea which i just might use.

Diablo seems like your setup is a hit. Any chance you can post up a few more detailed pics for us non-inventors to borrow your idea?

Quote from Greg97TJ

you got the 33's on! post some pics man!

stock:

1. about 4" lift
2. 31x10.50x15
3. no trim. rubbed and damaged the fenders at full flex (tires stuffed). fixed the problem by adding extra bumpstop.

1. about 5" lift
2. 33x12.50x15
3. trimmed about 1.375" in front, no trim in rear. don't know about clearance. trail test tomorrow!

Quote from BFrank

Take it to the metal scrap yard on Old Airport road. Metal is worth $$$!!

Diablo seems like your setup is a hit. Any chance you can post up a few more detailed pics for us non-inventors to borrow your idea?

Posting pics....

1st setup which you can still use (just changed it because the bands were too big and the jack kept sliding down):

http://img.photobucket.com/alb…diabloangelz/DSC01052.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/alb…diabloangelz/DSC01051.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/alb…diabloangelz/DSC01049.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/alb…diabloangelz/DSC01047.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/alb…diabloangelz/DSC01046.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/alb…diabloangelz/DSC01031.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/alb…diabloangelz/DSC01028.jpg

Second and current setup (a few less bolts and still gets the job done):

http://img.photobucket.com/alb…diabloangelz/DSCN0537.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/alb…diabloangelz/DSCN0536.jpg

I have seen people rig it up the same way with sturdier looking hardware, but this seems to do it just fine. Doesn't move and doesn't rattle too much. Here's how it sits in my 97 with the rear seat up (this was the first setup, the second moved it lower a little bit more and set it out more level):

http://img.photobucket.com/alb…diabloangelz/DSC01022.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/alb…diabloangelz/DSC01021.jpg

Quote from Chief57

Well, for what it's worth, here is my two cents on mounting a high lift jack.....

<a href="http://www.delawareja.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=8970&g2_GALLERYSID=4820b3cb7eccf59e74702b3c024d4602"><img src="http://www.delawareja.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=8972&g2_GALLERYSID=4820b3cb7eccf59e74702b3c024d4602" alt="Jeep rear view1" /></a>

I drilled a couple of holes in my bumper and used long carriage bolts. I fashioned a couple of spacers out of PVC pipe, and I always carry an adjustable wrench in order to remove the nuts to access the lift. Actually, I like the look of a jack mounted vertically, but for now this will have to do.

Problem with that is it's the first thing to hit when you come down off an obstacle.

The Hi lift is probably the most used piece of recovery equipment that I own. Our group breaks out a hi-lift almost daily on our trips and sometimes more than once. 3 of the 4 jeeps are equipped the winches, but they aren't the answer to everything. As far as mounting goes...It really depends on what you use your jeep for....webwheelers can mount them anywhere they want, because they will probably never need them. If you take it on the beach, the bumpers would probably be good, if you wheel it...then I would stay away from going flush with the bumpers because you will limit your approach and departure angles....or putting it really high on the vehicle because of the weight during off camber obstacles. Most guys I know attach them to their swing away tire mounts or mount them in the cab. I will be mounting mine on the TJ soon and will just weld a bracket onto my rear swing out, it will be vertical and towards the center of the vehicle, between the spare and the rear tailgate. On the Cj I bolted it down horizontally across the rear behind where the roll bar mounts to the body.

bottle jacks are fine for dry rock crawling and trail maint, but muddy situations usually call for a hi-lift, it looks cool just like a winch and shovel, but usually are not needed on the street, just a gas killer.

I usually strap mine to the roll bar behind the rear seat, 5k lb cargo strap, holds it tight. (only bring it on wheeling trips)

the best use I ever had for my high lift was installing my body lift, made things very easy.

there are hundreds of ways to mount them...
I once thought about mounting it to the side of the frame under the door, but that wouldn't be fun if you were buried to the frame in muck...