Lighthawk
Weekend warrior
Great article to get our attention, especially with reference to a FWC camper adding to the truck's overall weight.
I just picked up a Toyota jack on Ebay for my second jack for $56 shipped. Model 09111-35150 - 1500kg - 3310lb - Earlier 4Runner.
Truck weighs 7000lb and dry camper weighs 1827lb wet. I haven't weighed the rig on a CAT scale, but would guess the the majority of the unloaded weight of the truck is with the motor up front. With food, beer, passengers and a dog I'm guessing our total weight approaches 10,000lb. GVWR for the RAM 3500 is 11,000lb.
These mechanical Toyota jacks are great, and my Tundra jack has been deployed a number of times.. They collapse to 9" but extend to 16", w/o any hydraulic fluid to leak out. I had a Zing neoprene sling (for a DSLR) that worked perfectly to cover the jack, and I was able to fit it under the front passenger seat next to the RAM OEM mechanical jack. I also carry a Hi-Lift jack, mounted to the Hawk designed and welded by Camelracer.
Those Humvee scissor jacks look like another useful alternative. Thanks for the informative article, Jonathan.
I just picked up a Toyota jack on Ebay for my second jack for $56 shipped. Model 09111-35150 - 1500kg - 3310lb - Earlier 4Runner.
Truck weighs 7000lb and dry camper weighs 1827lb wet. I haven't weighed the rig on a CAT scale, but would guess the the majority of the unloaded weight of the truck is with the motor up front. With food, beer, passengers and a dog I'm guessing our total weight approaches 10,000lb. GVWR for the RAM 3500 is 11,000lb.
These mechanical Toyota jacks are great, and my Tundra jack has been deployed a number of times.. They collapse to 9" but extend to 16", w/o any hydraulic fluid to leak out. I had a Zing neoprene sling (for a DSLR) that worked perfectly to cover the jack, and I was able to fit it under the front passenger seat next to the RAM OEM mechanical jack. I also carry a Hi-Lift jack, mounted to the Hawk designed and welded by Camelracer.
Those Humvee scissor jacks look like another useful alternative. Thanks for the informative article, Jonathan.
Old Crow
Searching....
I'm glad to see the Humvee M998/Hummer H1 jack with adapter mentioned, particularly the part about the wobble... I had been wondering about that.
Last June I switched from carrying a 3-ton aluminum racing jack (swapping it back and forth between travel rigs) to the 3.5-ton Humvee jack with adapter. I had noticed that adapter on the Agile Offroad web site while looking for Transit stuff and happened to have a Humvee jack I had been given a few years ago. I balked at the adapter's price tag but then convinced myself that averaging the cost of the jack (free) with the cost of the adapter ($105 with shipping) made it OK. A few weeks ago I acquired another Humvee jack and adapter for the Tundra/Hawk rig.
Raising and lowering the Humvee jack is a bit frustrating as it seems to take a long, long time to raise and lower. I've used a 5/8" socket driven by a power-driver to speed that up here at home but don't usually carry that power-driver on the road.
I also have a Bushranger X-jack I bought off Ebay a few years ago but don't really like it. I had problems keeping it under the truck's frame while testing here in the driveway. It also seems big and clumsy to deal with and to haul around. If I were planning a trip where I might be in a lot of deep sand, I'd probably opt to take it along.
.
Last June I switched from carrying a 3-ton aluminum racing jack (swapping it back and forth between travel rigs) to the 3.5-ton Humvee jack with adapter. I had noticed that adapter on the Agile Offroad web site while looking for Transit stuff and happened to have a Humvee jack I had been given a few years ago. I balked at the adapter's price tag but then convinced myself that averaging the cost of the jack (free) with the cost of the adapter ($105 with shipping) made it OK. A few weeks ago I acquired another Humvee jack and adapter for the Tundra/Hawk rig.
Raising and lowering the Humvee jack is a bit frustrating as it seems to take a long, long time to raise and lower. I've used a 5/8" socket driven by a power-driver to speed that up here at home but don't usually carry that power-driver on the road.
I also have a Bushranger X-jack I bought off Ebay a few years ago but don't really like it. I had problems keeping it under the truck's frame while testing here in the driveway. It also seems big and clumsy to deal with and to haul around. If I were planning a trip where I might be in a lot of deep sand, I'd probably opt to take it along.
.
Mighty Dodge Ram
Senior Member
I’ve switched to a 3-ton floor jack, I may look at a skid plate arrangement for it. If I bury a tire I’m hoping that a shovel and MaxTrax can lift the truck enough to slide the jack underneath. That being said, I found JHanson’s latest article very informative.
heinphoto
Senior Member
Thanks for this - it is one of the upgrades I still need to do (still relying on the OEM jack in our F350).
michelle_east_county
Advanced Member
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2020
- Messages
- 97
Other than greater lift height from high-lift jacks (but unsafe for tire changing), what's the advantage of those or others over OEM?heinphoto said:
heinphoto
Senior Member
I mainly worry about the weight rating of the OEM jack with the fully loaded camper. I believe it has a 2-ton rating, which doesn't give much safety margin, so I feel a little exposed.michelle_east_county said:
OP
OP
JHanson
Senior Member
As Scott Hein mentioned, factory jacks are generally barely adequate to lift an empty truck, much less one at or near GVWR. You're right that the Hi-Lift is not the best choice for tire-changing duty.michelle_east_county said:
Machinebuilder
Senior Member
I carry this one
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641736_200641736
10" of travel and not too big,
I never trusted the OEM screw jacks.
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200641736_200641736
10" of travel and not too big,
I never trusted the OEM screw jacks.
craig333
Riley's Human
I like that one. I might upgrade my current hydraulic jack.
I wouldn't change a tire with a hi lift if I had a choice. One nice thing about the Jeep. There is almost no spot you can't use the lift on.
I wouldn't change a tire with a hi lift if I had a choice. One nice thing about the Jeep. There is almost no spot you can't use the lift on.
ntsqd
Custom User Title
Years ago one of the Dune Buggy Brigade (he in the camo boonie hat) bought the predecessor to the ARB exhaust jack and tested it out in his driveway. With the flat bottom of the dune buggy and his nice driveway slab he could roll the buggy in any direction he wanted to take it.
About a year later we finally had a use for it. Under my buggy, in Odessa Canyon of the Calicos. Punctured the sidewall of BFG's newly launched and high thought of "Tri-Guard Sidewall." The offending point wasn't very big or very sharp. I wasn't impressed.
I do not like hydraulic jacks for field use. Seems like the orientation that I need to use it in is rarely upright, and that is the only orientation that they work in. I've grossly exceeded the GVWR of the truck in the loading on my old Toyota pick-up's mechanical screw jack and it's like a Timex.
I do carry a skidplated small hyd. floor jack for changing tires on the FSB and the racers that I use it to chase, but I went out of my way to scrunge up the missing bits from the junk yard that were needed for the fSB's own mechanical jack to be usable.
About a year later we finally had a use for it. Under my buggy, in Odessa Canyon of the Calicos. Punctured the sidewall of BFG's newly launched and high thought of "Tri-Guard Sidewall." The offending point wasn't very big or very sharp. I wasn't impressed.
I do not like hydraulic jacks for field use. Seems like the orientation that I need to use it in is rarely upright, and that is the only orientation that they work in. I've grossly exceeded the GVWR of the truck in the loading on my old Toyota pick-up's mechanical screw jack and it's like a Timex.
I do carry a skidplated small hyd. floor jack for changing tires on the FSB and the racers that I use it to chase, but I went out of my way to scrunge up the missing bits from the junk yard that were needed for the fSB's own mechanical jack to be usable.
Wango
Contributors
J Hanson,
Thank you for a great article. Like some people, i have had to start with cheaper options, and work my way up to better and costlier alternative jack options. I won't tell how many of the jacks mentioned in your article i currently own, but suffice it to say that over the last three years, i have added several.
I will be soon moving my hi lift jack out of its box on the back of my bed, along with the bottle jack beside it. Replacing them with the humvee jack (permanently) and bringing one of the others as dictated by terrain.
I have had two tire failures with our camping rig, both made much more difficult by the jacks i carried. Now, i am much more confidant in my ability to change tires safer and easier.
I still hope to never use any of them again!
Thank you for a great article. Like some people, i have had to start with cheaper options, and work my way up to better and costlier alternative jack options. I won't tell how many of the jacks mentioned in your article i currently own, but suffice it to say that over the last three years, i have added several.
I will be soon moving my hi lift jack out of its box on the back of my bed, along with the bottle jack beside it. Replacing them with the humvee jack (permanently) and bringing one of the others as dictated by terrain.
I have had two tire failures with our camping rig, both made much more difficult by the jacks i carried. Now, i am much more confidant in my ability to change tires safer and easier.
I still hope to never use any of them again!
Smokecreek1
Smokecreek1
Thanks for adding more info to this ever important subject. Like Lighthawk. I too have a Camel racer adapted High Lift/shovel combination on the rear of my Granby Four Wheel Camper (with all the adapters so I can use it on with my F150). I also carry a bottle jack and both a tow rope and a jerk rope, the issue Ford jack and for good measure. I have a "come-a long-just in case !" Boy some of those new types sure look interesting but I don't know if I have the room for any more new things to get "unstuck " with!
I've spent a good part of my life in play and work in the back country over these last 50 or so years. and getting stuck or helping someone else getting "Unstuck" goes with the experience! Except for those times when I had a winch available, a shovel, some 2x4's (or any nearby brush, rocks, fence posts, etc.,) and a jerk rope and my ever present :"Handy Man" Jack usually got me :"Unstuck"! Even with all the above mentioned problems with the handy man jack, it still has been my main "go-to" tool over these years and its' dependability and durability is why! Of course, old age, a bad back and experience will also tell you when it's time to stop and think before you get into a situation where you get stuck in the first place!
Smoke
I've spent a good part of my life in play and work in the back country over these last 50 or so years. and getting stuck or helping someone else getting "Unstuck" goes with the experience! Except for those times when I had a winch available, a shovel, some 2x4's (or any nearby brush, rocks, fence posts, etc.,) and a jerk rope and my ever present :"Handy Man" Jack usually got me :"Unstuck"! Even with all the above mentioned problems with the handy man jack, it still has been my main "go-to" tool over these years and its' dependability and durability is why! Of course, old age, a bad back and experience will also tell you when it's time to stop and think before you get into a situation where you get stuck in the first place!
Smoke
Old Crow
Searching....
Several years ago I saw a post about using hockey pucks with these Humvee jacks and thought I'd give it a try yesterday. I had bought pucks off Amazon and picked up a 1-1/8" hole saw from my local Ace Hardware.
The reason these jacks need an adapter is they have a pin at the top.
First photo shows the pin. It's diameter is just under 1-1/8" and it's just over an inch high.
Second photo shows a single puck on the pin. Pucks are nominally 3" in diameter and 1" thick but these measure a tiny bit over.
Third photo shows a double-puck on the pin. I used 1/4x20 machine screws, 1-3/4" long. I used a 1/2" spade bit to countersink them.
As I drilled out the pucks I noticed the vise was putting a bit of a pattern into the rubber of the pucks. I decided that's a good thing and patterned the surface of the pucks.
All three adapters fit in the jack's canvas carrying case.
.
Edited 12/5 to add:
Test lift with the double-puck didn't go well. See post #20.
The reason these jacks need an adapter is they have a pin at the top.
First photo shows the pin. It's diameter is just under 1-1/8" and it's just over an inch high.
Second photo shows a single puck on the pin. Pucks are nominally 3" in diameter and 1" thick but these measure a tiny bit over.
Third photo shows a double-puck on the pin. I used 1/4x20 machine screws, 1-3/4" long. I used a 1/2" spade bit to countersink them.
As I drilled out the pucks I noticed the vise was putting a bit of a pattern into the rubber of the pucks. I decided that's a good thing and patterned the surface of the pucks.
All three adapters fit in the jack's canvas carrying case.
.
Edited 12/5 to add:
Test lift with the double-puck didn't go well. See post #20.
OP
OP
JHanson
Senior Member
Very clever! I wonder if you could countersink the screws a bit more and dish the top on to fit more securely under a solid axle?
ntsqd
Custom User Title
craig333
Riley's Human
Or machine an adaptor to fit a https://safejacks.com/collections/bottle-jack-accessories/products/axle-tube-pad-for-bottle-jack
OP
OP
JHanson
Senior Member
The only issue I can see with the hockey-puck hack is whether the material is configured to withstand that kind of compression. Clearly they're designed to be abused, but not in that particular fashion!
Besides material, the advantage to the Agile Off Road adapter is its security whether set as an axle or a chassis support.
Besides material, the advantage to the Agile Off Road adapter is its security whether set as an axle or a chassis support.
ntsqd
Custom User Title
I'd be more inclined to make some tabs etc. that the pin locates in and weld them to the vehicle that will carry the jack.
Old Crow
Searching....
It appears you're onto something. This afternoon I tried lifting the front corner of my Transit using the double-puck adapter and didn't like what I saw....JHanson said:
Yikes!
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