Who Carries A Hi-Lift?

[blmiller Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close blmiller]

Was just curious as to how many of you guys are carrying Hi-Lifts? If you are, where are you carrying them, internal or using the spare wheel carrier mounts?

[zookcubr Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zookcubr]

Re: Who Carries A Hi-Lift?

Hi blmiller, I have to carry a hilift jack as I have found my factory jack is useless. ATM its carried inside strapped to the cargo barrier, although not the best spot it cant be nicked. In the near future it will be on my ARB rack which i will be on its way soon. If you cant find a suitable spot for the jack, buy yourself a large bottle jack. I hope this helps, Zook.

[blmiller Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close blmiller]

Re: Who Carries A Hi-Lift?

Zook,

Yeah I prefer to have them on the outside of the car. Im not looking at getting a rack either so may just look at a Kaymar spare wheel carrier??????

Anyone had an issues with them on the Prado? I used to have it stored there on my Jeep and wasn't too bad.

Zook, I can't believe someone would flog it? Tight asses.

Brett

[FlyingBushPig Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyingBushPig]

Re: Who Carries A Hi-Lift?

I'm a 120 owner but yes, I carry one and love them - so versatile and no more dangerous than any of the other recovery gear we use.

I'd hate to hang one off the rear door, especially when we carry over standard tyres/wheels on them anyway. I carry mine inside but I'm hoping one day to have a custom rear bar made which the hi-lift can clip into, hopefully reasonably hidden. Just another possibility I thought I'd throw in!

If it were on a rack, I'd be worried about wacking it on a panel as I got it down.

[FlyNdrive Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close FlyNdrive]

Re: Who Carries A Hi-Lift?

I have carried a Hi-Lift from day one. I not only carry that, but a Hi lift Base, and the Off-Road Kit (that has all the components to use the Hi-Lift as a hand winch), and the Maasdam Jackmate. I believe Ample Outdoors has all three. The Jackmate has become rare 'up here' because they stopped making them 3 years ago when Hi-Lift added the new top clamp clevis on the X-treme model. I think it is essential to non winch recoveries.

I carry mine on the outside of the vehicle. It can be put outside of the vehicle with several guidelines.

1) Never bold onto the front of a vehicle. This is common on Jeeps, but can become a deadly projectile in an accident.

2) if putting on a roof rack make sure it is protected from tree branches and limbs that can get hung uo on it. It can actually damage the footings of the roof rack causing water leaks inside the vehicle, and a branch can hit the reversing lever causing the mechanism (lifting surface) to come off the bottom of the base.

3) It is possible to hang vehicle. If you do keep the base on. If the reversing lever is hit the mechanism will slide off the bottom and you will never see it again and cause a trail hazard for someone else.

4) If you put on the outside of the Vehicle spray down with WD-40 BEFORE hitting the trail. All the dust will stick to the sticky coating and make it easier to hose off. Once you are home hose off the Hi-Lift, allow it to dry, and spray another fine coating.

5) Learn how to use the Hi-Lift. I can send you a PDF of the Bruisers Trail & Safety Guide that has an extensive guide on how to safely use the Hi-Lift. The biggest problem with the usage is fear. Once you learn to use one properly it is just as safe as any other recovery gear.

-Ben

Hi-Lift Off-Road Base (ORB)


Hi-Lift Off-Road Kit (ORK)


Maasdam JackMate Available at Ample Outdoors

[Hawk Thor Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hawk Thor]

Re: Who Carries A Hi-Lift?

I carry a hi-lift. I have an aluminum box bolted on the rear door instead of the spare tire carrier. The box mounts on a steel frame that doubles as a hi-lift, shovel and aluminum prybar mount.

Its identical to this setup, I have no pics of mine.

[blmiller Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close blmiller]

Re: Who Carries A Hi-Lift?

Thats a great set up

[Matty80 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Matty80]

Re: Who Carries A Hi-Lift?

I have an aluminum box bolted on the rear door instead of the spare tire carrier. The box mounts on a steel frame that doubles as a hi-lift, shovel and aluminum prybar mount.

That pretty cool, where'd you pick the box up from? Wouldn't mind having a look at one of those close up!
Do you keep your spare on the roof racks instead of rear door?

Matt

[humphrey Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close humphrey]

Re: Who Carries A Hi-Lift?

It's no wonder you ditched the spare!! :shock:

[Hawk Thor Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hawk Thor]

Re: Who Carries A Hi-Lift?

[quote=Matty & Loz]

I have an aluminum box bolted on the rear door instead of the spare tire carrier. The box mounts on a steel frame that doubles as a hi-lift, shovel and aluminum prybar mount.

That pretty cool, where'd you pick the box up from? Wouldn't mind having a look at one of those close up!
Do you keep your spare on the roof racks instead of rear door?

Matt[/quote:3ei6bmej]

These are made by a shop (http://www.ke.is/) here in Iceland, they also make aux. fuel tanks, custom intercoolers and roofrack boxes.

I don´t have a spare tire. My Prado has 38"x15.5" R15 tires on 15x14" wheels. I carry a tire repair kit though. If my club has a big trip we force one of the Hilux guys to carry a 38" spare, but the Prados, 4Runners and Hiluxes all use the same wheels and most are on 38" tires.

I am happy I nolonger have a Hilux, guess who always had to take the garbage back and haul leaky diesel cans for the guys who had cozy carpets and no bed/box. Now I am a guy with cozy carpeting and heated seats and mirrors. :P

[Goose Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Goose]

Re: Who Carries A Hi-Lift?

Did i read that right? 38" diameter tyres??

[Boz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Boz]

Re: Who Carries A Hi-Lift?

I never got one 'cause I thought you needed particular locations on the vehicle to use a hi-lift jack? E.g I have a genuine alloy bullbar & standard rear bumper and can't see how a hi-lift can be used on a Prado?

Happy to be shown though.

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Who Carries A Hi-Lift?

E.g I have a genuine alloy bullbar & standard rear bumper and can't see how a hi-lift can be used on a Prado?

I your case you could use a tyre/wheel attachment. This is a sling/webbing attachment that hooks onto the rim and attaches to the highlifts tongue via a metal hitch and pin. It has the advantage of lifting the sprung weight; ie you don't have to jack the full travel of your suspension to get the wheel off the ground.

Mick

[dereki Member Find all posts View Profile Close dereki]

Re: Who Carries A Hi-Lift?

Sorry if its too far off topic... but I might carry a Hi-Lift in the future... (I am a gear junkie)

Hmm I was thinking about a hand winch (tirfor style), but doing the research the hi-lift seems a lot more versatile, lifting, spreading, clamping, winching etc. but I also thought that the hi lift wouldn't be any good to me because my sovereign bar has no jacking points. I have never seen a high lift used, but have seen a winch used on several occasions, which is why I thought the winch would be good. Some people seem to love their hi lift and others hate them, its like all sorts of other product wars toyota/nissan, windows/mac, vi/emacs etc... so I find it hard to work out what is good information (usual on the internet I guess). Are they really that useful or will it just end up never being used? ( I do like to use my stuff, so will get it out for anything I can think of )

Do the wheel thingies fit on the old GX (6") steel wheels..
There is also a "bumper bar attachment".. would that be ok on the sovereign bar, if lined up with the chassis rails?

Back on topic tho. The hi-lift does seem awkward to store. Do they fit in the back cargo area, front to back? Or will I need some sort of roof mount system. I have a large steel wire basket and rhino aero bars.

The other thing too, is that I don't want to look like a have a jack and have no idea... (which I don't). Are there training courses?

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Re: Who Carries A Hi-Lift?

Do the wheel thingies fit on the old GX (6") steel wheels..
There is also a "bumper bar attachment".. would that be ok on the sovereign bar, if lined up with the chassis rails?

I'm doubtful that the bumper attachment would be suitible for any sort of alloy bar.

The wheel stap "should " fit your wheels but a good 4wd store would let you try it for size first (or know just by looking) before handing over your cash.

The hi-lift does seem awkward to store. Do they fit in the back cargo area, front to back? Or will I need some sort of roof mount system. I have a large steel wire basket and rhino aero bars.

Hi Lifts come in different sizes, the shorter ones will easily fit in the cargo area and you can even get specific hard plastic covers for them. The alternative is the roof. In your case Rhino do high lift mounts which should fit your rails.

Are there training courses?

Your local 4wd club or training provider should be able to help you out.

At the very least you should get someone who knows the ins and outs of these things to show you the ropes. They are quite unstable and it would be all to easy to damage some panels or worse still; hurt yourself.


Mick