Hi-lift, powerbuilt bottle jack or something else?

Hi all,

I'm looking into garbing a better jack so I don't have to rely on the default one if I ever get stuck out on the trails. What is everyone running/suggest?

 

I've heard good things about the Pro Eagle if you have the cash to drop. I'm in the same boat and probably going with a Hi-Lift

 

A hilift is useless on a stock truck. You need somewhere to lift from. Normally that means aftermarket bumpers or sliders. So if you don't have those, I would go bottle jack.

 

Ya I don't have sliders yet, hope to order some soon. So I think i'm going to go with bottle jack for now.

 

There are many threads on this topic.

There's no such thing as a perfect jack. No jack is a do it all. A hi-lift comes the closest, IMO, as it does well jacking, but can be used for many other things too.

All have strengths and weaknesses. People seem scarred of the hi-lift because "it's dangerous" probably many of those same people are scared of steel winch lines. But that's true of ANY piece of equipment you don't use properly. Don't be a goober with it and it's perfectly safe, lol...

There are also accessories you can get for a hi-lift, like those hooks that attach to your wheels (so you don't always NEED rock sliders to jack from). They work well as long as it's not a flat you're trying to fix.

Some people love a normal floor jack, and maybe add a skid plate under it for sandy or soft terrain. Even the Aluminum ones are pretty heavy, and definitely bulky. These are convenient, and usually pretty stable, but again, not universal as you can't lift the bumper or frame (sliders) with them. I see bottle jacks as a slightly more compact version of a floor jack. Same limitations.

The inflatable jacks are pretty cool, but again can't be used everywhere, and they're expensive.

Also consider how often you are likely to be using such an instrument. If you're like most people, it's not going to be very often. If you are constantly getting flats or breaking parts or getting stuck, maybe better tires, stronger parts, or refine driving skills are better than some expensive jack that's super convenient to use.

 

I bought a Harbor Freight 2 Ton Jack and added my own Skid Plate to it for offroad use. I also have a Pro Eagle jack extension on the way which mounts directly to the Harbor Freight Jack.

I figured this was the most practical for in garage and offroad use.

 

Hi lift is useless on stock truck as said.. other than emergencies or adapters for wheels or using it in the hitch.

This is your best option.. a bottle jack with a wide base so its sturdy if you do need it offroad. adjustable heigh and jack stand all in one. I had one and it works great in the garage as well as trail. Also had one in the truck on a 20k mile road trip.
https://amzn.to/2vuwJa9

 

So I got a flat recently, and got to try out the factory bottle jack. In a parking garage, on a completely level concrete floor, the OEM jack maxed out with just barely enough clearance to change out the tire. Granted, I did upsize to 265/70/17, but otherwise have no lift or other height mod. I picked up a 48" hi lift and will using that in the future. Also, it's work mentioning that I have sliders to jack from.

I know that some will comment that you should not use a Hi Lift to change a tire, but the Hi Lift actually has a wider base plate, and if lifting from a slider, can still keep 3 wheels on the ground for stability.