Air Lift Jacks - are they worth it?

[pradokakadudavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradokakadudavid]

Hi everyone.

Naive Kakadu Dave here.

What do members think about Air Lift Jacks?

I realise that standard supplied jacks are completely useless for 4 wheel driving when bogged and have considered a high lift jack for example from ARB.

It seems to me, from a complete morons point of view, that air lift jacks are a lazy person's wet dream.

Is this the case or am I missing something?

From my limited knowledge is it not the truth that even a high lift jack will bury itself in soft sand (obviously I have a base plate - not that dumb!) but with an air jack, you can easily raise your bogged vehicle and then easily insert your max trax under the wheels and drive out.

I have front, rear and centre diff locks on my Prado so seems like an easy way to dig your vehicle out when bogged.

Member views would be appreciated.

If so, what is the best type to buy?

Regards

David

[AussieAndy Find all posts View Profile Close AussieAndy]

I have used an exhaust jack on sand, they seem to work ok. I would only use them to put something under the wheel to unbog the vehicle and never to change a flat or remove the wheel. Be careful with the high lift style jack, there are very limited/no places to use this on a new prado without bar work. I think the one I used was a bushranger one (belongs to the father in law).

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

What he said^

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

I'd be interested to hear from folk who have used one. The thing that worries me is sticking under the car somewhere and inflating it, only to find that it has "crushed" or squashed some bodywork underneath etc...if you know what I mean.
Even though the come packed up quite tightly, it also seems that once you use them you would never be able to pack them up quite so tightly or compactly, in fact if you were bogged in muddy sand I can just imagine what a lump of mess you might have....but.....they could be fantastic, I just have no experience with them...so likewise, I would appreciate opinions

[404pug Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 404pug]

Hi lift with the appropriate extras can be used to lift any wheel and also be used as winch if you are really desperate. It can easily fit across the floor behind the driver if you have no roof rack. OR...... let your tyres down and drive out of most trouble.

[pradokakadudavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradokakadudavid]

Yep thanks but I am mainly interested in what members think of the air jacks as you can read lots of stuff about high lift jacks online but in sand!!!!!!!!!!!! Can anyone recommend air jacks (obviously used with love and affection!)

[Piratepete Member Find all posts View Profile Close Piratepete]

A long time ago I was the project manager responsible for building the road from Pimba to Olympic dam the northern 45 km of the road was all through sand dunes. I did a lot of off road driving through those dunes where there were no tracks at all. Exhaust jacks had just come out at that time and were pretty basic but boy did it get some use. It was an absolute saviour. Mostly used when you are bogged to the axles and you need some clearance to dig yourself out. Blew one up when it caught on a sharp edge under the Landcruiser but that was my fault. If you were doing some serious off roading through sand, it would be the first item I would pack. I have changed tyres a few times using the exhaust Jack but I guess you take a few more chances (ie lazy) when it's a company vehicle.

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

I used one when we had a shorty P... It was good in sand. Couple of layers of carpet on top to protect the bag from sharp bits and always centred under the chassis rails. Have heard of people popping trim setting one up under guards etc. very handy on the sand.

[pradokakadudavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradokakadudavid]

Thanks Pirate and MJ. Exactly what I wanted to hear. Cheers David.

[pradokakadudavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradokakadudavid]

Bushranger X-Jack

Well I bought the Bushranger X Jack ($325) but I cannot get it to stay on the exhaust pipe of my new Prado.

No matter how hard I push it on, it blows off as if it is blocked.

The outlet hose (straight out of the bag) appears to have a fitting on it which totally blocks the hose.

This may clear when the two hoses are clipped together but it does not look like it will.

I later found buried deep inside the bag, an instruction saying that "the exhaust pipe of some Landcruisers are finished at an acute angle and an ancillary extension pipe is required so the exhaust jack will fit snuggly".

This sounds like my Prado exhaust pipe (2016 Kakadu Petrol) but can anyone advise if they have had this problem and if the ancillary pipe will fix the problem.

You would think that I would have been advised about this by the 4x4 shop where I bought the jack as they knew I had a new Prado!!!!

Thank goodness I discovered this problem before I needed the jack when bogged!!!!!

Please advise.

Thanks.

David

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

Different car and different jack. No real problems that I can remember.

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

Hi everyone.

Naive Kakadu Dave here.

What do members think about Air Lift Jacks?

I realise that standard supplied jacks are completely useless for 4 wheel driving when bogged and have considered a high lift jack for example from ARB.

It seems to me, from a complete morons point of view, that air lift jacks are a lazy person's wet dream.

Is this the case or am I missing something?

From my limited knowledge is it not the truth that even a high lift jack will bury itself in soft sand (obviously I have a base plate - not that dumb!) but with an air jack, you can easily raise your bogged vehicle and then easily insert your max trax under the wheels and drive out.

I have front, rear and centre diff locks on my Prado so seems like an easy way to dig your vehicle out when bogged.

Member views would be appreciated.

If so, what is the best type to buy?

Regards

David

I picked one up a while ago and have used it in some trial runs over a few different applications after realising the extra weight of the High lift jack and the almost uselessness of a high lift in a lot of conditions and found the air jack pretty bloody awesome and VERY easy to use and pack up.
The small amount of room it takes up( mine gets strapped to the roof and is about four inches tall in the bag.), light weight and easy deployment and pack up decided it for me as apposed to adding to the car weight up top. All you need to do is lay down a car mat, set it up and throw a car mat (or another barrier)on top of it for hot, jagged or sharp contact points and blow it up, do the task and deflate it with an easy use release valve. Works well on nearly any car angle, ground surface including water and lifting point. It also removes the need to place a safety choc under the car whilst changing wheels as the whole unit can be set up and removed without having to put any body parts under the car. It has virtually no moving parts to be fouled or maintained and is cost effective in my opinion(considering the cost of a high lift jack, rack mounts and jack lifting base.. Scored mine on sale at OL south Sydney. I will post the brand and cost when I get a chance to dig it out. Hope that helps mate.

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

The weight distribution of the contact area prevents almost any damage unless you deployed it under an open door or some idiotic way, then you deserve to pay!!!

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

Bushranger X-Jack

Well I bought the Bushranger X Jack ($325) but I cannot get it to stay on the exhaust pipe of my new Prado.

No matter how hard I push it on, it blows off as if it is blocked.

The outlet hose (straight out of the bag) appears to have a fitting on it which totally blocks the hose.

This may clear when the two hoses are clipped together but it does not look like it will.

I later found buried deep inside the bag, an instruction saying that "the exhaust pipe of some Landcruisers are finished at an acute angle and an ancillary extension pipe is required so the exhaust jack will fit snuggly".

This sounds like my Prado exhaust pipe (2016 Kakadu Petrol) but can anyone advise if they have had this problem and if the ancillary pipe will fix the problem.

You would think that I would have been advised about this by the 4x4 shop where I bought the jack as they knew I had a new Prado!!!!

Thank goodness I discovered this problem before I needed the jack when bogged!!!!!

Please advise.

Thanks.

David

There are exhaust adapters for the pipe hose available at FWD shops or plumbing suppliers.

[pradokakadudavid Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradokakadudavid]

Thanks. That's obviously what the special part in the bag order is talking about. I will order one after the Easter long weekend.

Cheers.

David