 | Home > Expedition & Overland > Which hi-lift for overlanding - 2'' lifted 2.4 90? |
 
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| Go Beyond Member Since: 30 Jan 2012 Location: Headcorn, Kent Posts: 6678  
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Couldn't put it better myself
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7th Nov 2012 1:17pm |
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| tatra805 Member Since: 16 Aug 2011 Location: Dolany Posts: 436  
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For me this is the most versatile and useful tool I discovered. Do have to agree with the danger coming from the operator, not the jack and absolutely don’t understand the issues people see with this jack.
A winch might seem a more secure tool but I am convinced of the opposite. It just doesn’t warn you that much up front and when things go wrong they can result in the same nasty things quickly. Winches are weight and pricewise another league anyway. I did most of my first 10years of off roading without one but always had the hi-lift ready. Now on the hi-lift, the best accessories I have are 5m of chain with a hook-in chain shortener; the things I pulled with this are uncountable and this in silence and control. Besides that the tube adapter is a must have as well as a baseplate for the footprint issues in wet terrain. On changing tires/lifting a vehicle. Another technique is to lift the wheel from the side putting the hi-lift head in the rim. This proved to me to be a bit more stable than trying it from the back as you have to lift less to get the wheel off the ground (2clicks is enough) Then support the axle with an axle stand and remove the hi-lift. (a bit like strapping the axle before lifting but then people tend to rely on the high lift and skip the “support axle” bit. It’s also a tool for a million other purposes, changing tires, straightening/bending etc etc. Just remember that the higher you go on the rack the less stable things become (quickly). It’s always better to higher the base on which the jack stands than to jack from ground up in the second half of the rack. (at least that is my experience) So for me a double  for the hi-lift and triple  for unschooled users
just my 2cents  |
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7th Nov 2012 3:05pm |
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| JSG Member Since: 12 Jul 2007 Location: Berkshire Posts: 2412 
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Well said I have the hi-lift winching kit and a baseplate which is very useful. Education on use is the key thing and the point re less stability with height is something you only need to experience once. John
http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk 2011 Tdci 110 CSW XS |
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7th Nov 2012 4:48pm |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018 
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blackwolf - good list - can't fault that but might add a couple of shackles.
My favourite Jackall technique was to utilise it's very inherent instability to lift and slew front and rear and to walk my Lightweight sideways whenever I got stuck. And to those that think Tirfors are expensive, there always used to be cheap ones going on ebay (even more if you use alternative spellings  ). Easy to strip and clean and not many working parts to go wrong if anyone is cautious of buying such items second hand. Just make sure you have a few spare shear pins and the correct rope is used/provided. |
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7th Nov 2012 5:36pm |
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| BigMike Member Since: 13 Jul 2010 Location: Lancashire Posts: 2253
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Most of us on here live in the UK. There is no UK lane (either open or closed) I know of (and I know all of them in wales, the North West and Yorkshire) when you would ever need the use of a hi lift jack unless you got yourself into a daft situation. And why would you use one to change a wheel? "changing a wheel offroad is sometimes not possible with a bottle jack" etc. Well jusdt drive a bit further forward til you reach decent ground, there will be some not far away.
I get the point that the tool itself is not dangerous per se. But most drivers of 4x4's do not regularly (ie week in week out) drive offroad for any length of time, so chances are, when you do decide to use one, you're more than likely going to be tired and hence not fully concentrating. All it needs is a shout from a friend, a bark from a dog or whatever, and you let go of the handle. Result? broken jaw, nose, arm, wrist, ribs, whatever. As with any bit of equipment that has the potential to hurt, maim or kill, you have to use them sparingly and with respect. For me, if there is a way NOT to use a hi lift, a winch etc, a snatch, I will use it. Unfortunately a hi lift in the landrover world seems to be on peoples "must have" list, like a 2" lift and bigger tyres. Sure if you may NEED one, get one, but chances are you never will. |
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7th Nov 2012 7:50pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8581
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Since the title of this thread is what high lift for overlanding then that is how I looked at this thread.
Overlanding as a solo vehicle or as part of a convoy? When overlanding and you come to a difficult section then the first question is can I drive the next section cleanly or do I find an alternative route? OK if in convoy then you have the benefit that if things go wrong you have the 'luxury' of someone else giving you a tug out. IF solo then it is a serious consideration, yes I have spent time carefully considering options and then decided to go find an alternative route. Overlanding is not like a competition and you MUST do a particular section. Personally I believe most people carry a hi lift jack on the outside of their vehicle as a status symbol. They probably have little idea on SAFE use of the equipment they are carrying. The chances are that they do not have anything else but the Hi Lift. For overland use would you use the high lift to slew out of ruts if you managed to misread the ground or would you reach for a decent shovel? Would you use the Highlift as a winch? How many people carry chains with a highlift?? Without chains you would struggle. Then there is the question of a decent anchor point. Carry a ground anchor or long chains etc. In overland truck I carry bottle jack, folding axle stand, ground anchor and winch extensions. If need be I can reach out 100+ metres. Yes you can bury the spare wheel as a ground anchor but that is hard work! If for overland use I wanted a hand power winch I would go for a Tirfor for the reach! Personally in general terms I believe the High Lift jack is over rated, little used or mis used bit of kit.  Click image to enlarge Spot how many things are wrong! Whereas a good quality shovel is under rated and not used as much as it could be. Why two means of jacking a vehicle whilst travelling SOLO overland. If things go wrong, soft ground, bung out of bottle jack then as a solo vehicle you could be in a pickle Brendan Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  |
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7th Nov 2012 9:13pm |
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| GREENI Member Since: 22 Aug 2010 Location: staffs Posts: 10382
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Writing on tyres Yellow with red, very 'noddy' Wonky plant pot on snorkel Rock sliders need painting Missus mopping up, instead of supplying brews Cheap tat diff guard No doubting he's a Land Rover owner...messy, untidy garden, with scrap strewn over (disco2) Do I win a prize? :mrgreen: Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated |
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7th Nov 2012 9:23pm |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018
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...and then OP goes on to mention use on casual greenlaning...where using a lift and slew technique is far less damaging than getting a shovel out... I hope I'd judge a person with a hi lift on the back of the vehicle by the way they used it, rather than just the fact they had one at all. |
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7th Nov 2012 10:20pm |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8581
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Correct reading of the ground with correct route selection even less damaging!
A quick tug from an accompanying vehicle could be a simpler and quicker solution. Now if a green lane is so badly rutted that recovery techniques have to be used one could question whether that green lane should be driven. Brendan |
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7th Nov 2012 10:44pm |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018
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Agree - but the choice was hi lift or shovel...
Agree - but often used to go solo.
Agree...but the logical extension to that could be you carry no equipment as you should not be going anywhere where you will need it... |
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7th Nov 2012 10:52pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17391 
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I find this a strange and unconvincing argument. If you are that easily distracted then you shouldn't be driving, let alone off-road. If you're that easily distracted when using a jack, what are you like when behind the wheel! Do you sleep on the sofa in case you're distracted when coming downstairs and fall? Anything mankind does can be dangerous if done in an absent-minded way or without adequate attention, and driving is probably the best example. I would no more "let go of the handle" of a high lift jack than I would let go of the handle of a chainsaw. I have to ask if you have had a bad experience with a high-lift or been traumatised by one? I can understand that there are those who don't rate them highly but I find the vehemence of your aversion interesting. A high lift misused can be dangerous but no mroe so than many of the other tools we all use on an day-to-day basis (from microwaves, cookers and kettles through to angle grinders and power tools, they all have the potential to injure). Please be aware that this is not intende to be offensive or anything, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion based on their own judgement and experience, however I am genuinely intrigued by the strength of feeling. |
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8th Nov 2012 10:07am |
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| BigMike Member Since: 13 Jul 2010 Location: Lancashire Posts: 2253
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Really? I must be a bad person then because every time I see one bolted on the back of a defender I instantly think "this clown has no idea" |
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18th Nov 2012 5:41pm |
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| Landlord Member Since: 27 Oct 2009 Location: Hampshire Posts: 582 
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Maybe lifting bag inflated off exhaust ? 2007 TD5 90 Hard Top |
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18th Nov 2012 5:58pm |
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| BigMike Member Since: 13 Jul 2010 Location: Lancashire Posts: 2253
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BW, no I havn't personally had a bad experience of one, but I've seen many problems and injuries caused by them. Even more than that though, my issue with them is that they are seen as some kind of "must have" accessory by so many with little clue of their safe use. In the right hands, the right situation, yes one can be helpful. Having said that I've never needed on when driving in the UK and doubt I ever will.
It's easy to say "if you're distracted you shouldn't be driving" but that happens to people ever day, and when it comes to bits of kit like a hi-lift, in my experience they tend to come out when people are tired, distracted, not concentrating etc which is when injuries can and do happen. |
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19th Nov 2012 12:16am |
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