Balancing your rig on a high lift

Nissan11

Nissan11

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2005
Location
Marston, NC
Has anyone found a good way to keep a high lift from falling over when lifting the entire front or rear of a rig? It works great under the corner of a bumper, but when I need to lift the entire half of the truck it feels very dangerous. I thought about maybe running straps from the high lift to the corners of the bumper, but I dont know if ratchet straps would be safe.
This happened to me yesterday..


ai130.photobucket.com_albums_p275_nissan11_Mobile_20Uploads_IMG_6579.jpg
 
Block both sides of the wheels front & rear. If your lifting the front or side use the park brake. Still never trust it or any jack by it self...
 
Looks like you have a pretty good floor jack. I would just leave the High lift for trail emergencies and use the floor jack and some good jack stands when you’re working on the vehicle at home.

By the way if you get jacks stands invest in the taller 6 tons for a 4wd vehicle don't try using the 2 tons on cinder blocks. I learned the hard way about 8 years that cinder blocks while great for foundations crumble when subjected to vibrations of an impact wrench.
 
I was changing a broken leaf spring on the passenger side and those were the only 2 jacks I have. I had to get the weight off the axle with the high lift and use the floor jack to raise and lower the axle to remove the springs.
 
I use tree stumps as jack stands that ive cut it wont do alot of damage to rockers and you can feel comfortable your rig isnt gonna fall just make sure you cut em all same height!!!
 
There's no good way to make that stable with a high lift.

What I'd do in a situation like that... is use the floor jack to lift the rear end and remove both rear tires, then set the frame down on a pair of ~24" high jack stands. You can put the jack stands in front of the spring brackets. Then use the floor jack to take the housing up and down as you replace the springs.
 
As I tell my wife... "buying _____ is cheaper than a trip to the emergency room". Get the jackstands, and do it right.
 
I've done it following the way suggested by upnover & also following the way suggested by Shawn when changing springs on my TJ and had no issues. Stability is key when I'm under a lifted vehicle. X2 on all the suggestions to get the high jack stands. Made my life so much easier with taller, stronger stands.
 
Shawn said:
There's no good way to make that stable with a high lift.

What I'd do in a situation like that... is use the floor jack to lift the rear end and remove both rear tires, then set the frame down on a pair of ~24" high jack stands. You can put the jack stands in front of the spring brackets. Then use the floor jack to take the housing up and down as you replace the springs.
Click to expand...

X2!

This is what I've done every time I had to work on or replace springs.
To be quick/lazy, you can start by jacking under the rear differential (since this is in the middle AND the lowest point), then once nice and high, slip the stands in right in front of the front spring hangars (or wherever the frame is flat).
It may seem like this puts the jacks really far forward and nearly in the "middle" of the truck, but remember all the weight is in the front, don't worry it will be plenty stable.
Then remove the tires and let the suspension droop, it may come close to the ground but who cares.

BTW you can get the 6 ton jacks at Harbor Freight really cheap, esp w/ the 20% coupon. I agree they are one of teh first tool investments to make.
 
I just changed out the shackles on my Jeep, was about the same as changing a spring, except I only had one end loose. I was able while it was all locked in to jack it up with a hi-lift, but only did one corner at a time. Never moved a bit.
What shawn said was right on,
Be safe
 
if i see one of my tech's using a jack without a jackstand, i will unleash my wrath upon you. i don't care if they are just changing the oil in a car, a jackstand is a must.
i understand a trail fix is different, but i still wouldn't slide under a vehicle with a high-lift being the only thing supporting it.
you youngsters wouldn't remember, but the older guys will. remember when all cars came with just bumper jacks.
 
I used to have a teacher that always said this saying...

The proper use of tools is what separates man from higher apes.

It's actually not a bad saying to stick with.
 
Ill agree with everyone else, sketchiest tool around. But if you've got to do it, put it in the reciever hitch and ratchet strap it to the bumper as tight as you can. Then put jackstands under the frame...
 
braxton357 said:
Ill agree with everyone else, sketchiest tool around. But if you've got to do it, put it in the reciever hitch and ratchet strap it to the bumper as tight as you can. Then put jackstands under the frame...
Click to expand...

I have this vague recollection that I once saw somebody that had an adapter (home made I'm sure) to fit a 2" sq tube on the foot of the hi-lift, so it fit in the receiver really securely.

Now that I think of it, something like that shouldn't be hard to make.
 
"Every-bodies favorite accident waiting to happen."
That's what we call them. Even when used correctly they're dangerous.
Ask me how I know. I have the scars.



Matt
 
I learned this same lesson over 10 years ago, luckily no one was hurt. Skeered the crap out of me, seemed like slow motion as I watched my CJ fall off the hi-lift.
 
Trashed a cherry grill on my old crew cab w/ a leaning-tower-o'-high lift........great for de-stucking Bronco's (right B'comania?) but suck for driveway maintenance.
 
JACK STANDS !!!!
I have had vehicles even fall with jack stands but I always use them . The only time I had them fall was on soft ground and I was just checking them before I got under it .
I have had cars fall on me in Junkyards as well luckily it was enough to not get seriously hurt . I now shake and double check any thing I get under .

Lee
I remember bumper jacks I had one kick me in the chest I have had a high lift crack me in the head once too . I hate to use those death traps
 
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