yogibear47.lee Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 hi what the difference between the hi lift jack and the farm hi lift jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Train Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 A farm jack is a hi lift by a different name, essentially the same thing. They generally work by having two pegs which 'climb' a perferated beam each time the handle is pressed down. It works effectively as a lever for each lift. They do work well for what they are designed for but beware that they have a minimum working load of about 22kg. If you are lowering your vehicle then there comes a point where the suspension has taken most of the load and then the jack suddenly drops while the chassis is still raised but the wheels are on the ground. When using the jack always have one hand on the top of the jack and the other hand working the lever. If you need two hands on the lever then the load is too great. There is a shear pin for safety though. I also have a 12" square by 2" thick board with a recess for the foot of the jack to spread the load on soft ground. The length of the beam, and hence the lift, varies, generally 48" or 60". Try to get one that has a known brand name, I have a Jackall 48" which has served me well for nearly 20 years. I recently used mine to move a huge safe in a clients office. My jack has a second 'clamping' head bolted to the top for squashing things. The addition of a couple of shackles and some webbing strops and it becomes a short distance puller that can get you unstuck but it is a lot of effort and a small hand winch is easier and lighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogibear47.lee Posted March 16, 2008 Author Share Posted March 16, 2008 ok cheers for that info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Train Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 Here's another couple of pics from an American off road book from 1975. It show how to use the original Hi-Lift Sheperd's jack for slewing a high centred truck sideways and also how to use it as a winch. Notice the clamping head on the Hi-Lift can be fitted vertically out of the way where as on the Jackall it needs to be removed altogether. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Def Rich Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 On the topic of Hi lifts, does anyone know where i can get a replacement shaft for mine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Train Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 A quick search only came up with Hi-Lift in America as having spares. I don't know, it might be worth emailing them to ask if they have a closer outlet or suplier. Alternatively you could invest in a new jack the same as the old one and keep the old body for spares. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FFR Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 A quick search only came up with Hi-Lift in America as having spares. I don't know, it might be worth emailing them to ask if they have a closer outlet or suplier. Alternatively you could invest in a new jack the same as the old one and keep the old body for spares. Hi, Two years ago I had an "accident" with a Hi-Lift and I ended with a bended 60" beam. Being unserviceable (micro-cracks in the bending point) I took a look in the web for Hi-Lift parts, and I found cheaper buying the beam in USA rather than doing it from an european supplier. The only disadvantage was (remember, two years ago) the fact that the only way to pay the beam was by money transfer to their bank in USA, and living in a small city in Spain this was a nightmare. But the beam finally arrived, and it is still doing its best ! Carlos P.D. "accident" means negligence. Hi-Lift jack is a very useful tool, but you have to concentrate on what you are doing with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clbarclay Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 P.D. "accident" means negligence. Hi-Lift jack is a very useful tool, but you have to concentrate on what you are doing with it. And service it reguarly. A bit of lubrication can make all the differance There are a few diferances between the variuous brands. One of the nice features of the all cast Hi-ift I have compared to others I have seen is the little leave that switches from raise to lower, it sticks out quite a bit which makes it much easier (safer) to use than some pressed steel variants which barly stick out at all. They arn't too bad to winch with and for what its worth I keep a couple of hefty ratchet straps to hand. they do a good job of turning a hilift into a winch with minimal effort to rig up and because you take up the stretch with the ratchet you get near as dam it a full length winch with the hi-lift, unlike ropes or chain where the first few inches (or feet) is spent taking up the slack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_d Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 So to take this thread to the next level. Which is the best make/model? Where is the best price to be had? I am looking for a 5 Foot version to use with my Dakar. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Train Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 My gut reaction would be to go for one with a cast body rather then a pressed metal one. If you skip the Clarkes one in Machine Mart then I only know of Hi-Lift and Jackall. I would rate both as good kit, very capable and well made. I only got the 48" due to space in my first Land Rover but, if we can locate a supplier, I would happily get a 60" beam to swap with it. I am tempted to make a log splitting blade to replace the clamping head as I spend more time working with wood then Land Rovers nowadays. Just had a look on Ebay and there are some there. I would say that if you want to use a clamping head then the Jackall head is better as it is a socket that bolts to the beam whereas the Hi-Lift one is a cast plate that bolts to the side of the beam. I managed to bend and break a Hi-Lift clamping head on my friend's jack many years ago - he got the Hi-Lift and I got the Jackall to compare them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orgasmic Farmer Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Just like most things you rely on (winches, tools etc) why pay £30 for something that MAY WELL let you down when you need it most when for £50 you can have something that will serve you well for a lifetime (with a bit of TLC). It has to be Hi Lift or Jackall really. And beware the Chinese are able to copy anything these days so if buying from Ebay just make sure it really the a genuine article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Henson Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 You should also bear in mind that from time to time you may need to buy replacement parts. The pins sometimes get a step in them and this makes them stick (which can be dangerous). The springs can weaken too, and there are repair kits for the more popular jacks. Les. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Baldwin Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 As others have said. Only brands worth looking at are Hi-Lift or Jackall. Personally I don't like Jackall's but that's only because I've always used a Hi-Lift (the same Hi-Lift) for over 20 yrs. I've never worn out any parts on my Hi-Lift in all the time I've owned it. It gets a squirt of WD40 every birthday and that's about it! Do you really need a five foot model?? They're a stupidly cumbersome piece of iron. Difficult to store and have greater potential for things going wrong if you're using it up high. A Hi-lift is actually one of the most over-rated pieces of kit you can buy. You'll be surprised how infrequently you use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Train Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 My Jackall had a lot of use before I got a winch. After I got a winch I tended to use it most for wheel changing, spreading and clamping when working on my truck. Then I got a professional 21/2 ton trolley jack and stopped using it for wheel changing. It now only comes out for those awkward situations where only a Jackall will do the job. I moved a safe with mine last time and I was on the last few inches of the 48" beam lifting the safe under the top of the safe door frame to get the safe onto rollers. Any bigger and I would have liked a 60" but a few blocks of timber under the foot of the jack would have done the same job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_d Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 ...........Do you really need a five foot model?? .......... I'm building a Dakar. The side steps are the lowest point at 24" and front/rear bumpers are about 33" when standing on level ground. I think I will need the 60" if I expect to lift it through its suspension travel such that a wheel comes of the ground. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Train Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 For stability you might want to have some location for the toe of the jack on the lift points. This could be as crude as a couple of bits of plate to stop the toe from sliding around or it could be a reinforced locating hole as found on the back of a Defender crossmember. You can then use the Defender adaptor on the Hi-Lift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheeppimp Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I seem to recall from when I bought mine that for a lot of Hi-Lifts the rated weight is measured at around 12inches lift and it drops off quickly as you lift higher. Just a thought. To be honest I've rarely used mine and for general use the bottle jack is preferable under an axle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orgasmic Farmer Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I used mine to manoeuvre my new AGA into position in the kitchen! Also handy for removing the stock box from my Iveco! Also used for removing a trailer from the landie that still has 2 tonnes of sand and cement in the back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheeppimp Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I used mine to manoeuvre my new AGA into position in the kitchen! Also handy for removing the stock box from my Iveco! Also used for removing a trailer from the landie that still has 2 tonnes of sand and cement in the back. that's the sort of thing I've used mine for - worked for removing the timber posts from their sockets in the stables too now I thing about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Train Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 So does that mean that Hi-Lifts are now off topic having little to do with Land Rovers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discojmz Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 I'm building a Dakar.The side steps are the lowest point at 24" and front/rear bumpers are about 33" when standing on level ground. I think I will need the 60" if I expect to lift it through its suspension travel such that a wheel comes of the ground. Steve suggest check straps from chassis to axle. jacking without them is counter productive imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yogibear47.lee Posted March 29, 2008 Author Share Posted March 29, 2008 what are the t-max ones like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotian Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Can anyone tell me what make mine is? Its all cast parts but its not Hi lft. I think its Farm Jack but dont know if thats a brandname or a generalisation. Whatever it is it's the best bit of kit I;ve bought. I;ve used it so many times including as a winch and once a few months ago I lifted a rather big Rigid lorry that lost its wheel down a road side ditch. Same lorry broke my drive shaft while trying to help him and I left him with the police but thats a different story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clbarclay Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 I seem to recall from when I bought mine that for a lot of Hi-Lifts the rated weight is measured at around 12inches lift and it drops off quickly as you lift higher. Just a thought. The manual for mine indicates the 4ft model has the same capacity all along its length, however the 5ft version has a lower rated capacity for the last foot of travel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calle-fas Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 I've used the original Hi-Lift for several years and always loved it. In the beginning, before buying winches, me and my friends used them _a lot_ for winching. Still we use them quite much. Both for offroad recovery use and for various things in the workshop and at work. The experience I have from the Jackall is only from use in desert conditions. It has failed us quite a lot. Probably due to dry and sandy conditions. But my overall feeling is still that Hi-Lift delivers better quality and less failures than Jackall. There seems to be a new Hi-Lift version with a better clamp head. I have great confidence in this kind of jacks, but you really need to think before using them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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