Mounting hi-lift jack on the hood vs truck bed

[ShadowsPapa]

If you have a system to mount it in the bed, there is no reason to mount it on the hood, other than to try to imitate others who are trying to look cool. It being on the hood (or behind the front fender) is a great way to damage the body panels of your Jeep.

That was my thinking - those things are heavy. I can't see how anyone used to hold those and use them horizontally to stretch fence wire and putting one of them up on the front of the jeep - scratch, dent, bang, and if it came loose at all, the damage it could do.

Sponsored

 

[hjdca]

Those things weigh what, 40 pounds? I have had one since about 1980.
They are and were originally farm jacks.
I guess they stopped selling them to farmers, renamed and sold as 4x4 jacks. It's interesting to see that they are called "hi-lift" jacks instead of handyman jacks like they were when I got this one. I think this one was about 20 - 30 years old when it was given to me.

You could buy them at Tractor Supply, Central Tractor and other places since before many here were born.
They had a "cam" piece on them to allow them to be used for stretching barbed wire fence wire when stringing a fence or repairing a fence.
You'd run the wire in the cam and the jack would be used horizontally to pull the wire.

They are strong enough to lift small tractors.
I would think it would take decades for these to rust "through" - mine was OLD when I got it in 1980 - it had been used on a farm for decades. Have to keep the pins oiled up or they stick otherwise I can lift almost anything with it and have used it to pull buried posts and small trees out of the ground.
Mine would bend the hood if you laid it on the hood. No way this would rust through and it hasn't in the 40 years I've had it.

That vintage "farm jack" is so cool ! Thanks for sharing the origins of the "high lift" and the story of your jack. I was born and raised in LA, so, there is nobody around here that would know that history.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That vintage "farm jack" is so cool ! Thanks for sharing the origins of the "high lift" and the story of your jack. I was born and raised in LA, so, there is nobody around here that would know that history.

Iowa for me. My first wife was a farmer's daughter. When the boss sold the auto shop I worked in, the new owners stripped benefits and people left in droves. Me among them. My then father in law asked his daughter "would Bill be interested in farming and moving to one of the family farms". I loved being and working outdoors, growing things, so we moved to one of their farms, and I farmed for a few years. In the down times I used my big machine shed and opened up a repair shop again.
He taught me the origins of the jack, and gave me a few small things to help get started. You saw those things on many of the older farms and now and then at farm sales (where I picked up a lot of my stuff).
I asked "what is this for" when I saw that toothed cam at the top. He explained how they used them to stretch fence wire and I actually got to repair a few fences - finding out how farmers have such large biceps and shoulders LOL.
This one appears to have been IH red and IH blue at one time. The implement dealers often sold things like this branded IH or JD and so on so I bet this may have been sold through an IH dealership at one time.

I should post a photo of an antique hydraulic bumper jack I got from another former boss as well as an all brass tire gauge from the early part of the 1900s.

 

[JCJeep1]

Those things weigh what, 40 pounds? I have had one since about 1980.
They are and were originally farm jacks.
I guess they stopped selling them to farmers, renamed and sold as 4x4 jacks. It's interesting to see that they are called "hi-lift" jacks instead of handyman jacks like they were when I got this one. I think this one was about 20 - 30 years old when it was given to me.

You could buy them at Tractor Supply, Central Tractor and other places since before many here were born.
They had a "cam" piece on them to allow them to be used for stretching barbed wire fence wire when stringing a fence or repairing a fence.
You'd run the wire in the cam and the jack would be used horizontally to pull the wire.

They are strong enough to lift small tractors.
I would think it would take decades for these to rust "through" - mine was OLD when I got it in 1980 - it had been used on a farm for decades. Have to keep the pins oiled up or they stick otherwise I can lift almost anything with it and have used it to pull buried posts and small trees out of the ground.
Mine would bend the hood if you laid it on the hood. No way this would rust through and it hasn't in the 40 years I've had it.

I like the wall mount in the pic - Only time the hi lift is added to my Jeep is for an adventure - I have yet to find a need for a hilift in civilization - If i need to change a tire - the jeep jack and a couple boards works great or simpler - hydraulic bottle jack - which has extensive multi use off road and is a more flexible tool.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I like the wall mount in the pic - Only time the hi lift is added to my Jeep is for an adventure - I have yet to find a need for a hilift in civilization - If i need to change a tire - the jeep jack and a couple boards works great or simpler - hydraulic bottle jack - which has extensive multi use off road and is a more flexible tool.

I needed a way to keep the thing up out of the way, off the floor so I could clean or sweep the floor, and in case water got in, keep the jack from rusting and staining the floor. So I made a small "shelf" and a threaded rod with a knob that screws into a one of those flange nuts on the back of the backer board.

Anyway, I use that jack now and then. There are times I need to lift something FAST - faster than pumping a hydraulic bottle jack, or lift something where there isn't a way to get a jack under it, but this will grab up high. This is great for pulling posts, and I have some antique carts and a horse drawn mower I'm going to restore - the wheels are cast and the only way to lift is to lift by the top of the wheel - which is about 3' off the ground. Stick this in the wheel between the spokes against the rim and it lifts it right up. And if I need to move something OVER - I lift then shove on the jack and can slide something weighing over a ton over by myself. I have used that thing many many dozens of times where no other jack could be used.

I laughed when I went in to Harbor Freight where they sell cheap Chinese versions - the box says "farm jack/4x4 offroad jack" or words to that effect.

 

[JCJeep1]

I needed a way to keep the thing up out of the way, off the floor so I could clean or sweep the floor, and in case water got in, keep the jack from rusting and staining the floor. So I made a small "shelf" and a threaded rod with a knob that screws into a one of those flange nuts on the back of the backer board.

Anyway, I use that jack now and then. There are times I need to lift something FAST - faster than pumping a hydraulic bottle jack, or lift something where there isn't a way to get a jack under it, but this will grab up high. This is great for pulling posts, and I have some antique carts and a horse drawn mower I'm going to restore - the wheels are cast and the only way to lift is to lift by the top of the wheel - which is about 3' off the ground. Stick this in the wheel between the spokes against the rim and it lifts it right up. And if I need to move something OVER - I lift then shove on the jack and can slide something weighing over a ton over by myself. I have used that thing many many dozens of times where no other jack could be used.

I laughed when I went in to Harbor Freight where they sell cheap Chinese versions - the box says "farm jack/4x4 offroad jack" or words to that effect.

Exactly - it has its purpose - I have had mine over 20 years. Fence work, Lifted a shed to reposition corner blocks - I have even supplimented lift installation on my TJ (scary)

 

[Mowat]

Would be a pain in the ass to clear snow off the hood with that thing in the way

 

[Marx]

So, I got a hi-lift jack and the doo-dads to mount on the hood. I was wondering if that would cause a lot of noise in the wind etc while driving in the highways or is that ok? Anyone have experience?

Alternately, I can mount it on the molle system I have along side the bed from BuiltRight as well. Maybe mount it on the hood, try it out for a few days and then decide?

Things may be different on a JT/JL, but I had read that it was in the way of the windshield spray doodads on JKUs. That alone kept it from being put on the hood of my JKU. Last thing I want to do with a dirty windshield is to get out and hand clean it, especially after stuff needs to be cleaned while on the highway.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Things may be different on a JT/JL, but I head read that it was in the way of the windshield spray doodads on JKUs. That alone kept it from being put on the hood of my JKU. Last thing I want to do with a dirty windshield is to get out and hand clean it, especially after stuff needs to be cleaned while on the highway.

And does one really want to lean over and reach up onto the hood area or fender to grab such a heavy piece of equipment? OR maybe the current cheapies being sold now are a lot lighter. Trust me, I don't want to lift mine over about 4' high at most.
How often would it be used that it would be need right up front on top of the hood obscuring access to other things? You'd have to move the jack to get the hood open or do any real maintenance. If it's for cool, tough-looking decoration, maybe......... but a usable piece of equipment I wanted ready access to? Not on the hood - in the back. I could slide it out at waist level. Me - I'd want that thing secured solidly - any bumps or jounces that thing WILL move and eventually beat it's way loose. It's mass - and mass needs to be solidly attached to something, not sheet metal.

 

[SleepyJeep]

OK, OK, I'll put it in the BuilRight molle bedrack system I have. I am convinced that it doesn't belong on the hood LOL

 

[ShadowsPapa]

OK, OK, I'll put it in the BuilRight molle bedrack system I have. I am convinced that it doesn't belong on the hood LOL

As you get older you will appreciate it more LOL
Dang, now we can't talk jacks any more.

 

[Koja]

Mounted mine on the hood, keeps it out of my way in the very small bed. and is sitting just right as to not hinder the washers

 

[BruteForce]

My Hi-Lifter jack fits perfectly behind the rear seats..

 

[SleepyJeep]

I plan to get the swing arm + the rear bumper from Expedition One - I will have room to put the HiLift Jack there too next to the spare tire in the back... I have options but I do agree that I shouldn't put it on the hood even though I purchased the hood mount and the locking key...

Just need to wait for a bit cuz that bumper plus the swing arm is like $2100 LOL

I have a CB radio, mount, antenna kit, bug protector with LED lights, hood hold down locks from DV8 and the hi-lift stuff to install and I have been slacking . Once I have all this installed I will prioritize my next purchase

 

[JCJeep1]

Still trying to figure out where anyone with a JT and factory bumpers plans to use a hi lift. If your lifted bring a strap so you can actually get a tire off the ground. Also might want to pick up the gizmo for lifting at a shackle point. Happy Trails - and keep your pins well oiled.

Sponsored