Jacking errm ... up

[marcthelegend]

The funny thing is, some days it will get the rear wheels off the ground, others it wont, and its always at full height, hmm maybe i will get a trolley jack as well.

When the bottle jack is at full height, it looks rather un-trustworthy

Marc

[Bernoulli]

Well, I just ordered the Hi-Lift accessory that hooks into the wheel to lift it. I plan on using the bottle jack to hold it up once it's off the ground.

[THE BRONZE]

Is that a recent switch over from hilifts?
I used to work out bush for a mining contractor and we ALWAYS used roo jacks, and the same company still uses them (I checked yesterday). Wondering if the actual mine sites, or specific companies, have switched away from them due to HSE issues, or if your company simply has always used trolleys for different reasons.

Exploration mining might be different but you won't get anywhere near a RIO or BHP site with a Hi lift jack...having said that each to their own

[Ent]

Hi

First trip out and flat tyre with the Challenger. Lucky it was a slow leak so could drive to flat land which on the West Coast of Tassie was some distance. Despite been a car park the supplied bottle jack did not inspire confidence. Given that I has traversed the Montezuma Falls track the day before I would not have trusted the standard jack there, though better than my Falcon one which the vehicle rolled off as the jack bent like a sardine can. Lot to be said for putting the spare under the car while removing a wheel.

I was toying with an exhaust jack but my reading indicates that I am asking for even more trouble. As having no exterior jack points a high lift jack does not appear to be an option.

What does one do when a flat happens and the track will not allow a vehicle with a flat tyre to move to a better spot due to say ground clearance?

Cheers

[offroaddad]

Exhaust Jack concerns.

Hi Everyone,
I have a Ridge Ryder exhaust jack, gave it a test the other day and found it very hard to stay connected to the exhaust ( 6g74, nm standard exhaust tailpipe ), to the point I thought I'd save it for another day. ( any worries about engine seals?) I see nobody has posted on this thread regarding the exhaust jack option. Opinions and advice please, re the original thread.
Regards,
Offroaddad.

[Poita]

Glad this popped up! I was wondering what on earth to get that would lift the Paj up high enough. Came with the factory bottle jack but haven't tried to see if that goes high enough. By the sounds of it I wouldn't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with it.

Given I don't have any high lift jack points (completely stock right now) would the best option be to buy a heavier duty/bigger bottle jack? A trolley jack is a fairly large item to carry around in the boot.

[Dion]

I've been looking on and off for a quality alloy trolley jack. I think they would be okay in the boot of the vehicle.

[Onslow]

Buy a better quality bottle jack and one of the highlift jack plates. Put the jack on the plate and you have the extra height, and if you are on soft ground your bottle jack won't sink under the weight of the paj.

[old Jack]

old Jack on jacks.

I have used all sorts of jacks over the years, hydraulic, mechanical, high lift and exhaust and this is my take on each of them.

Hydraulic,
Pro's - compact and light, less effort to use, great for breaking tyre beads.
Con's - do not work upside down or on side, require more maintenance, do not like mud or water or sand or bull-dust (seals can chop out easily). I do not trust them and they can let you down when you most need them!

Mechanical, two types: Scissor and Screw.
Scissor,
Pro's - great range of lift, lightweight.
Con's - low lift weights, hard to wind when at upper limit of height and load, unstable at height.
Screw,
Pro's - compact, light, work at any angle, underwater, in mud, sand & bull-dust, easy to maintain, safe, reliable.
Con's - crank handles can be too short but easy to lengthen.

Hi-Lift,
Pro's - can be used as hand winch with a bit of know how, great for pulling fence posts out!
Con's - heavy, can not be used on most modern 4wds as nowhere to fit the lifting tongue, mechanism does not like mud or sand. Extremely dangerous and unstable, and can easily result in damage to the 4wd and the jack user!
I do not trust them.

Exhaust,
Pro's - quick and stable, huge lift range, best used on petrol engine 4wds.
Con's - Apparently not suited for turbo diesels, exhaust system must be in perfect order, can puncture on rocks, sharp or hot underbody parts. I do not trust them.

I carry my factory hydraulic jack as a backup and to break tyre beads and the jack I use all the time is a mechanical screw jack.

It is a Toyota screw type (Isuzu do them as well) $50 from the wreckers, 1800kg lift and has a collapsed height of 187mm compared to the PB Challenger's 178mm and 1500kg.



Lift height of 430mm compared to the 450mm of the factory jack.


Has a larger cup head for locating on suspension arms, trailing arms and axles housings. It has been drilled out so it fits over the front lower wishbone stud and bolt so it can not slip out even at extreme angles.


I use it with a ply base board and have welded an extension in the crank handle so I do not need to get under the car the operate.


I can put it on the head of the long handle shovel and slide it into place in dirty and soft conditions and the shovel heads acts as a good base plate in all but the softest sand/mud/snow. When I have finished I just just slide it back out.


It is not fancy or pretty but it is light, reliable and safe.

cheers, old Jack.

[my.paj]

I have had that type of jack in my shed for many years and used it for bending and pushing out damaged panels on cars but never thought of putting one in my Paj but you make perfect sense and I best go buy one.
Rick

[Poita]

Supercheap have the 3000kg Kincrome trolley jack on special right now for $279. Range is 100mm to 550mm which is fantastic compared to most other jacks I have been looking at. Not much use off road due to its size limiting portability, but fantastic for home servicing.
Will be going to grab one this afternoon

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/Kincrome-Trolley-Jack-Low-Profile-3000Kg.aspx?pid=322390#Cross

[craka]

I know this is an old thread and the mention of form ply is ok to use as a jack base. My question is would it be okay/safe to use form ply with a trolley jack ?

My reaon for this is my diveway is not concrete for the whole width it is only concrete for the wheel tracks if that makes sense and just have grass in between the concrete.

[Dicko1]

I know this is an old thread and the mention of form ply is ok to use as a jack base. My question is would it be okay/safe to use form ply with a trolley jack ?

My reaon for this is my diveway is not concrete for the whole width it is only concrete for the wheel tracks if that makes sense and just have grass in between the concrete.

Should be no worries. Naturally I assume we are talking at least 13mm ply here, not something about 3-5mm. Get a piece 300mm square as thick as you can , keep it dry and clean and only use it for the jack. Will do the job

[old Jack]

Best to use either structual ply, marine ply or form board ply as thes have more laminations and are stronger and water resistant. 16mm thick is fine.
My board is 500mm x 200mm, this is so it can be placed length wise and parallel to the wheel and the jack positioned centraly, this is important as it is more stable in very soft sand particularly if also on a slight incline.

cheers, old Jack.

[craka]

Sweet, glad to know it's ok I wasn't too sure. Thanks for your responses Dicko1 and Old Jack