Stuck & Un-stuck -- Safely

[ntsqd]

I would really like to find a place to carry this. Pull Pal

A friend built one and has carried it for 20-30k miles. I don't think that he's ever used it.

Or, anyone tried one of these?

yep, the guy in the boonie hat paid $25 for that one at the Saugus Swap Meet; about 22 years ago.

(Side-wall puncture in Calico, CA's Odessa Cyn just below the Bismarck Complex.)

 

[Lighthawk]

Well all this talk about getting stuck has caused me to purchase another High-Lift Jack. I owned one before, but apparently it has gotten legs and has disappeared. I got the cast 48" unit, figuring the 60" is just too dang big. I've also ordered a 10' tree strap and two more shackles to add to my kit. Better safe than sorry!

The question is: Where to mount the jack? I'm not real keen on drilling my Tundra rear bumper and I've already used the back wall of the Hawk to mount our ladder and gas tank storage. I know some folks have got theirs mounted vertical on the bumper, but I don't have the room. For now I've thrown it behind the couch. Underneath the couch won't fit anything longer than 42".

I'm wondering if I could use the high-lift mounting hardware to attach it to the underside of my Hawk overhang? I've been looking at the 12" wide overhang on both sides for over a year thinking about how I can utilize the storage. The jack weighs 28#. I'm thinking I would through bolt the 3/4"(?) plywood. Inside there will be carriage bolts and washers going through the commercial carpet behind the couch. Outside the jack will be mounted on the passenger side, hanging horizontally. Anyone have any opinion or comment before I drill more holes in my Hawk?

Here's a photo (best I could find in a pinch) showing the overhang:

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Andy have you thought about the overhang on the rear above the bumper or the top of the bumper itself under the overhang.I made use of the side overhang to attach 4"&5" tubes to carry fishing rods,the sink drain hose and walking sticks.Those I just attached with large hose clamps screwed into the underside plywood.

Frank

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Andy you can see the tubes in this picture.I have a bobcat on my tundra so it doesn't overhang on the sides now.But the area on the rear is useful I would think to hold things that are about 5"or 6" by 4'+.I have looked at this space for some time as possible storage area,but haven't found anything i wanted to store there yet.

Frank

 

[Lighthawk]

Nice truck, Frank

My configuration is a little different. The Hawk is wider, so I don't have the space where you mounted your tubes. But I do have 11" of useable overhang on both sides, which is about 4.5" above the 17" high truck sidewalls on the 1st gen Tundra. The jack measures out to just fit that area, but I want to mount up the camper to see it in place before I drill.

I'll either load the Hawk this weekend or as late as 12/24. It's gotta be done before we head out for DV on the 26th.
Nothing like an upcoming trip to push a project along to completion.

The High Lift LOC-RAC says it can mount horizontally or vertically. But they don't say it can hang upside down! I'm not sure the keeper for the foot of the jack would work the way I'm considering mounting, but if nothing else I can put a bolt through the jack itself on that end.

 

[Mark W. Ingalls]

Andy, can you sling it between the bars of your truck's roof rack, behind the fairing?

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Just looking at the web site for your jack.Is that the one you have? You could mount a spacer on the top side of the jack to compensate for the thickness of the base. Than use large hose clamps screwed to the camper to hold the jack in place.The way I hold my tubes on is that way.The hose clamps are screwed into the underside of the overhang with one or two wood screws and that seems to work.Using that space for things like that keeps them handy and easy to get to,but I could see where it could be a security issue.An easy place for things to "walk" away.

Thanks we just got that 02 tundra back at the end of Sept.We had a Ranger and felt it was under powered as it had a 3.0 V6.This truck rides much smoother and has plenty of power.I like the way the Bobcat fits on the truck.I just have air bags and i like them.I had super springs on the Ford they worked great but I didn't want them on the tundra.I like the idea of using the bags to level the truck.Don't know what kind of MPG we will get but since this is only used for the camper and not a daily driver don't see where it matters.I'll give up some MPG for more power and comfort.

Have a good Christmas and trip to DV.

frank

 

[Lighthawk]

Thanks for the suggestions.

You can mount the jack on a roof rack, but I would be concerned it would rotate on the round Yakima bars and start playing percussion on my roof. I also thought of mounting the jack to a single cross bar on the Yak tracks at the back of the camper. Even though it's only ~30 lbs. I would rather keep it lower.

I'll order the LOC-RAC thingamabob and go from there. It's designed to bolt to a flat surface, so that much will work. I just need to see the mechanism for holding the foot to decide if it's the right answer. When I get this figured out I'll take some pics and share.

 

[ntsqd]

I wonder if the Hi-Lift mounting discussion shouldn't be spun off into it's own thread? It's certainly worthy of it.

Hi-Lift's have loose 'feet' and they will rattle if not dealt with. Not sure if that matters or not. One way to deal with it is to drill & tap the foot under the beam for a pair of set screws. Run the screws up into the bottom end of the beam just enough to remove the slop. I've also seen this done from the side. Not sure which is most effective.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

I have a question about these types of jacks. Will the bumpers on our trucks withstand the weight of truck and camper? I have been carrying a 2 ton compact floor jack with me. In my ford ranger I had to stow it in the battery box but with the tundra I can keep it and the original jack in the passenger side storage pocket in the floor under where the rear seat was.

I guess this thread has gotten off subject a little,one could move it to it's own thread.

Frank

 

[Lighthawk]

I'm pretty sure virtually none of the OEM bumpers will be strong enough to lift the vehicle with a jack. I tried lifting my Tundra, placing the High Lift on the rear receiver just for fun. It was scary in that the truck was at risk of swaying to either side, which would rotate it right off the jack. Still, it was good practice in my flat gravel yard during daylight.

Anyone have any experience with using the High Lift to grab a wheel? They have an accessory with hooks on webbing to grab the wheel, but I'm thinking some 1 1/2" or 2" tubular webbing threaded through the spokes on my wheel would be fine.

Suggestions have been made to move this thread, but I'm thinking it's on topic. We've beat the High Lift to death and have discussed a few other recovery methods. I'm happy to move it, if DD wants to do it. Otherwise let's have more ideas to be: Stuck & Un-stuck -- Safely Getting out without getting hurt

 

[Mark W. Ingalls]

I would be concerned it would rotate on the round Yakima bars and start playing percussion on my roof.

I (perhaps mistakenly) thought I saw two round bars between the cab and the cabover. That is why I suggested a "sling between," like a shallow tray.

Suggestions have been made to move this thread, but I'm thinking it's on topic. We've beat the High Lift to death and have discussed a few other recovery methods. I'm happy to move it, if DD wants to do it. Otherwise let's have more ideas to be: Stuck & Un-stuck -- Safely Getting out without getting hurt

I agree, sort of... Probably there's more to say about this humble jack. In particular, how to store it so that it is accessible and out of the corrosive effects of the weather. Why not leave it in this thread?

Interesting, interesting...

 

[Silvertip47]

This is the only thing to remove my truck if I break an axle in the middle of no where!!!!

 

[Barko1]

I agree, sort of... Probably there's more to say about this humble jack. In particular, how to store it so that it is accessible and out of the corrosive effects of the weather. Why not leave it in this thread?

Interesting, interesting...


I just carry the jack in the back seat on the floor with a bunch of other crap, a big chain, a strap, collapsible shovel, and a 10t bottle jack. Like Lighthawk said the stock bumpers aren't strong enough at least for my F250 with loaded Grandby. On the front I can use the tow hooks as a good point to lift/jack. Now that I have 3 receiver hitches on the rear I can use the outside ones to lift. Be careful with those farm jacks!

 

[Mark W. Ingalls]

Good Samaritan killed in freak tow strap accident

I made a personal decision not to get a kinetic recovery strap. Instead, I just purchased four of these on sale for $40, including freight:

4" x 28' Polyester Webbing

I need to get a shackle for my hitch receiver, but will rely on bends and hitches instead of hardware to connect and attach the webbing.

 

[ski3pin]

This is the only thing to remove my truck if I break an axle in the middle of no where!!!!


Heavy Lift

In a real emergency this is what will show up.

 

[SunMan]

Anyone have any experience with using the High Lift to grab a wheel? They have an accessory with hooks on webbing to grab the wheel, but I'm thinking some 1 1/2" or 2" tubular webbing threaded through the spokes on my wheel would be fine.



I have that accessory in my kit but have yet to use it.

As for the swaying, I also have the base which is for soft surfaces but I haven't used that either. I have always wondered if it would help with the steadiness of the jack even on a hard surface. Anyone have experience using the base accessory on hard ground?

 

[ntsqd]

This is the only thing to remove my truck if I break an axle in the middle of no where!!!!


With considerable experience with this machine and it's owner I'm reasonably confident that Cam and the 'Link can probably get you out.

The jack that I carry on every off road trip isn't a hi-lift. It is this unit:

I removed the wheels and build the skid-plate to bolt on where the useless wheels used to be. It's not that pretty any more as it is the jack everyone reaches for when lifting is needed. At one time I debated building those skid-plates as a small volume item for sale, but at the time I couldn't get enough interest to justify a run of them.

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

I like your idea of the skid plate,makes more sense than wheels. I would like to have that plate on my jack. I think it would still fit into the storage pocket where it is now. I'll have to contact one of my "welding" friends and have him make one for my jack.

I don't see where the jack with the straps on the wheel is of any use to change the tire. You still need something to support the axel so the wheel can be removed,only saying.

I also thing that all the replies to this thread fit into the subject. It's about safety IMO.

Frank

 

[MarkBC]

I don't see where the jack with the straps on the wheel is of any use to change the tire. You still need something to support the axel so the wheel can be removed,only saying.

But this would be useful if the wheel was stuck and the goal was to put something underneath the tire for traction or to put chains on the tire. I could have used this last week when there wasn't enough room under the axle for the jack...

RE Hi-Lift: Somebody mentioned the need for proper lubrication. FWIW, I agree, based on personal experience with my old Hi-Lift. I have little experience with this jack except the one trip that we used it -- to jack up the rig of a guy who didn't have a jack. We raised it fine, but we had a hard time lowering the jack 'cause it was rusty and the mechanism wouldn't work. The guy said, "How 'bout I just drive off it?" I said, "How drunk are you?!"