Our son joined the Jeep cult this year, adding a 2024 Gladiator to share thedriveway with his 2017 Forerunner. He's hard to buy gifts for as he can buy pretty much anything he wants for himself. We thought something for his jeep would be a good gift.

I bought my Hi Lift 40+ years ago and while we don't venture into the Canadian backwoods anymore, it still is a work horse here on the farm, mostly for pulling T posts.

As SigForum is the reservoir of all knowledge, thought I'd verify before we buy him one.

Thanks.

I don’t know. I’m still using the Hi Lift I bought 35 years ago. I do know that the other similar heavy duty jacks I’ve seen were made in China and look kind of junky.
Maybe Hi Lift is Chinese garbage now too, for all I know.

Yes. Get the US made OG brand hi lift. Not A Chinesium Knock off 48 or 60 inch. Depends if carrhbacross hood or by the sore tire. The plate accessory that makes the footprint 1 x 1 foot wide as well as the strap with hooks that can lift a tire are handy as well. I got mine on Amazon for well under $100.

Still have my orginal Hi-Lift that I purchased during winter 1974 after arrival in Alaska interior as my factory supplied jack could barely lift any one of the four tires off the ground even when sitting on a concrete driveway. Once the hi-lift was placed on a spare tire down as a base plate to lift a buried jeep.. was able to get vehicle out but the spare tire is still there buried in the "muskage" unable to retrieve the spare tire............. drill sgt.

I never used mine…

Always saw them as a “ornamental statement”…like wearing a gold chain in the hood…LOL.

I did use a skid plate on my Gladiator due to the long tail end.

https://www.skidmark4x4.com/

As far as I know, the Hi-Lift is still the gold standard in off road jacks. As mentioned, avoid lookalike knockoffs.

I also continue to utilize mine from decades ago.
It may not be the best for everything but certainly will do the job
if you are intelligent enough to be safe with it.
I do like the attachment tools for it too.

I've got one my dad got in the mid 70's
Only way to use it to change a tire is to put limiting straps on the axle.
I had chain links welded to the frame and axle tubes and had a small length of chain with hooks on the end.

I used it mainly to get myself unstuck.
It's rigged with shackles and I have chain and a chain binder to take up the slack.

As a fellow Gladiator owner I’m going to say no.

They are heavy and potentially dangerous as I’m sure you know. Of all the people who I know that have them none of them have ever had to use one over the standard jack that came with the Jeep (or Taco).

As a possible alternative how about some soft shackles or a snatch strap if you want to spend a bit more. I could come up with several other ideas if you want. I love spending other people’s money! Haha!

I've carried one in my truck for years. Easy enough to change a tire using the trailer hitch in the back and the deer catcher on the front (mounted to the frame). Always good to toss a log (or something) under the axle though as they can be a bit wobbly.

You probably already know this, but don't underestimate the danger of a Hi-Lift when it has stored potential energy. I have one that I use for pulling posts, etc. 100% safe in that role. Put a free load on it that can turn from potential to kinetic energy in a split second, and you need to be on your toes.

i don't know where they are made currently but if in the USA I would say yes absolutely. I have one.
Don't mount them outside anymore with all the salt they spray as they will rust immediately.

Look at youtube on how to use. They are definitely a valuable asset to have.

If you buy an official Hi-Lift brand jack, then yes, they are still made in the USA.

Link to Hi-Lift Website Discussing Manufacturing

In my opinion as someone who off-roads and does general farm/homestead projects on a fairly regular basis, yes, a genuine Hi-Lift is totally worth having (I have my father's from the 70s.....all I have done to it is clean it and replace the climbing pins and springs, which they still sell, and were very cheap).

As for those that are concerned about them being dangerous, yes, they can be very dangerous if used improperly or without care. However, this exact same statement could be applied to firearms, and I don't think many of us on this board would not purchase our firearms for the same reason.

As for the different types of uses, there are many different ways and reasons to use one, some more dangerous than others. For replacing a tire on the side of the road, honestly, there are probably better options. That being said, you can use them safely to do that, just jack the truck up and set it on blocks/stands before proceeding.

For other uses, such as getting a vehicle un-stuck, the inherent instability of a Hi-Lift jack is actually a benefit (for example, you can pick up a vehicle from the center and then shove the jack over to the side, thereby moving the vehicle over a foot or 2 - very useful if you are high-centered).

If you have the correct adapters, you can use one as a 7000lb winch that can run any distance without having to re-rig (unlike a come-along). I have used mine in this method many times.

You can flip the end and use it as a clamp, instead of a lift, if you have to hold something together to get home (I have never done this, but I have heard tales of people breaking leaf springs and clamping the axle to the frame with a Hi-Lift to get home).

Finally, you can use them for non-vehicle related tasks, such as pulling posts, roots, etc. In summary, I think it would be a great gift, and that if possible, you should get a Hi-Lift brand, since they are made in the USA. They can be dangerous, so make sure whomever is going to use it understands the inherent risks, and uses it appropriately.

My dad was jacking up a one ton service truck of ours was getting one more notch higher with one when the pin failed to catch and the jack dropped. The handle flew up and hit him under the jaw. He had a two inch gash thru to his tongue. His jaw was broken on both side and shattered in the middle. He lost seventeen teeth. It knocked him eight feet backwards. DO NOT LEAN OVER THE HANDLE AND KEEP THE JACK CLEAN AND LUBED. It is a wonder that it didn't kill him.

8 years of four wheeling in five western states,
Never had to use mine once.

And
Never saw one being used.
Tow straps,cables,chains .
All came In handytwo or three times.

A point worth considering if you plan to use a Hi Lift to jack a vehicle up: are your bumpers sturdy enough to stand the strain? Most new truck bumpers nowadays probably aren’t. My old CJ-7 has a heavy shop built C-channel front bumper and a Tomken rear bumper, both are plenty stout and shaped properly for the Hi Lift to raise.

ARB makes a hydraulic recovery jack, but it's a heck of a lot more expensive. Also, I imagine, not as easy to carry - it's bulky, and I don't see any mounts for it on their website. But it does look quite a bit safer.

I have - and have always had - the Hi-Lift. It mounts anywhere with a huge selection of aftermarket mounting options, and there are good accessories for it too.

I would go with something along these lines

https://www.harborfreight.com/...road-jack-59136.html

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Bob C.:
My dad was jacking up a one ton service truck of ours was getting one more notch higher with one when the pin failed to catch and the jack dropped. The handle flew up and hit him under the jaw. He had a two inch gash thru to his tongue. His jaw was broken on both side and shattered in the middle. He lost seventeen teeth. It knocked him eight feet backwards. DO NOT LEAN OVER THE HANDLE AND KEEP THE JACK CLEAN AND LUBED. It is a wonder that it didn't kill him.

I didn't know about that hazard. I've leaned on mine more than it was prob designed to handle. I won't do that anymore. Thanks for the heads up.

Come to think of it, mine might not be a genuine hi-lift, I bought it at a Tractor Supply chain retail store. Oops. I always wondered about it, since it doesn't work perfectly all the time even though I do keep it clean and lubed. My guess would be it may be a knockoff. I use it for all sorts of "off label" uses around my house and such. Some of my jury rigs have done the job, others failed miserably.

I've had a Wrangler for ten years, and a Hi Lift for nine. I've only ever used it in the field once, and it was not in a recovery. I used it to jack the vehicle up, in order to remove a wheel to assess a brake problem. My Jeep has side pieces with notches to accept the Hi Lift; I also had the front bumper built to incorporate a lift point. To be fair, I should clarify that I haven't made a regular habit of off-road exploration in years. I may have gotten more use out of the Hi Lift, had I been more active. Like others have with the jack, I have gotten a lot of use out of my winch and tow straps in working outdoors.

I agree with Mr. Bendable. Tow straps and winch-related items will see much more frequent use.

I am glad I have the Hi Lift though. It's not a bad gift idea.