Jacks: HiLift vs Bottle vs Exhaust

[Smithy - 120 D4D Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Smithy - 120 D4D]

Some great info on this thread. Thanks for posting the question Baggs...

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Masada are the go, SCA used to stock them but they're not on their web site now.

[baggs71 Inactive member. Find all posts View Profile Close baggs71]

@smithy thanks friend...sometimes ya gotta ask the obvious in one unified thread.

@d4d im looking now!

[baggs71 Inactive member. Find all posts View Profile Close baggs71]

Researched the 5ton masada and found a pp thread involving this same bottle jack that even fits inside the same spot as the original! With the use of 2x 50mm blocks it can lift front and back of a raised prado and short enough to get under when you have had a run flat. ...impressive upgrade for the same stowage point!

Back then (29jun2010) its cost $79 from sca.
Regards
Baggs

[Dreamer2 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Dreamer2]

Many moons ago I attended a 4WD course where they demonstrated using an exhaust jack. Very effective in lifting but then for whatever reason the bag burst dropping the vehicle in miliseconds. Thankfully no one was under it but it shocked everyone there into not going near them. I'll stick with a bottle jack.

[Sako85 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sako85]

Just echoing what has already been said.

In my 13 years 4wding nothing beats a good hydraulic bottle jack and blocks of wood/form ply base plate. I have a high lift and it never leaves the shed anymore. Also, in the old mans's 40 odd years of 4wding and super remote touring, he preferred the bottle jack. I can remember him coming home with the exhaust jack and trying it out at home and straight up didn't like it. He later bogged himself down in the sand to test it out and the thing popped, so that was the end of that. He never took his old high lift out bush after only using it a few times. It was only used around home for various jobs. I remember jacking my paddock basher up high enough to get the gearbox out with it hooked straight under the centre of the front bumper. That was probably the last time his one was used and it must have been 1999.

[Bushbasher Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Bushbasher]

Exhaust jacks (bull bags) are easily destroyed on hot exhausts and sharp suspension components. Get some rubber conveyer belt or similar to place between the bag and the chassis or diff or wherever you plan to lift. The good ones come with a Kevlar mat or similar to protect the bag. Many heavy duty hydraulic jacks actually have less lift than the factory jack - another trap for beginners.

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

Researched the 5ton masada and found a pp thread involving this same bottle jack that even fits inside the same spot as the original! With the use of 2x 50mm blocks it can lift front and back of a raised prado and short enough to get under when you have had a run flat. ...impressive upgrade for the same stowage point!

Back then (29jun2010) its cost $79 from sca.
Regards
Baggs

Let us know if you find a supplier.

I did a quick google, lots of info, but no suppliers. I had a look in SCA a couple of weeks ago, I'm very reluctant to buy certain things there as it all seems to be low, low prices, not much quality.

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

IMO a high lift jack can be deadly in the wrong hands. Bottle jacks & exhaust jack are a safer proposition when used with stand.
Bazza

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

Supercheap & Auto Barn both stock SCA Hydraulic jacks

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Let us know if you find a supplier.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Masada-Hy...-/320020636664

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

Supercheap & Auto Barn both stock SCA Hydraulic jacks

I had a look at those. They don't appear to be of the best quality. I'm not to keen on taking one to places where I may be scuppered if it failed.

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

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Masada-Hy...-/320020636664

Sweet! Thank you.

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

If you're in South Australia - SA All Tools stock a good range of bottle jacks of various weight ranges. I can't remember the pricing (and their website doesn't have the bottle jacks) but i remember thinking they were reasonably priced.

I have an exhaust jack which i bought after using one when i got bogged on a beach over at Coffin Bay National Park. Was a great way to get enough lift in the soft sand to dig out the sand from the diffs / suspension so that we could use the maxtrax to drive out. It did require 2 people to operate ... and the way the exhaust is cut ('08 D4D) meant it required some elbow grease to keep it on tight enough to build pressure but was useful enough I bought one at the next store I drove past.

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

Hi Lift explicitly advices that you avoid using it for changing a tire. If you need to do so quickly, they advise you lift from the wheel and when youre at the right height put another jack or a jack stand beneath the differential or control arm so that you dont rely solely on the Hi Lift for supporting the vehicle as its too unstable.

I have never tried the exhaust balloon type jacks, they do seem interesting, but im not sure if that amount of pressure the engine receives while filling it up is good for it.

Me? I always have my Hi Lift with me as a recovery tool, not a tire changing tool. Although it can be used when all else fails, off course. I use a bottle jack to change tires and, as everyone else, keep a few blocks of wood with it for adding stability, chocking and adding height to the jack.