hi-lift jack 48" vs 60"

[ROGQ]

Is there any need for the 60"? Im runnning 33's with 3inch suspension but soon will be 5.

[Shadow]

just stack some bricks on end under the 48" and your sweet.

[cloughy]

I only found a good use for a hi lift jack the other day, after near 10 years in the bush..................

Pulling out fence posts at home, Pulled out nearly 100 post, farking excellent Otherwise they're dangerous pieces of poo

[plowy]

yeah use bricks so when they break n crumble u will wish u had the bigger highlift

use timber not bricks

and also most times u need the jack the car is not parked on level ground usually bogged deep

[crack]

fark im a bricki dont ever use bricks to hold weight. they just crumble. they not designed for that sort of weight.

jack

[benhl]

for the extra few bucks get the big one. If you use it once it was worth it.

[Gwagensteve]

I'm with cloughy. - pretty useless for anything except pulling fence posts

They get scary enough with weight up at 48" let alone 60."

Remember that the only safe way to lift a vehicle with a hilift is to chain/strap the axle to the chassis at the wheel to to be lifted. This way you are not unloading the whole suspension to get one wheel off the ground.

If you chain the axle to the chassis you only need to lift the car the height you need to lift the wheel, not that height + full droop in the suspension.

Also, a 60" HL won't generally go across a car it needs to go along so they are a PITA to store.

Steve.

PS We call highlifts "death sticks" they seem mostly useful for scaring anyone within a 100m radius. I have seen pretty nasty facial injuries from lowering a car with sweaty hands - The handle got away though is useful though.

[Mario]

I cut about 1 inch off the end of my 60 incher and now store it safely under the rear seat ...

[ROGQ]

cheers for all the responces... i got a tray back so no worries bout space so i might grab myself a 60

[LOCKEE]

I have both and for my gq on 36's need the 60.

Just treat it with the respect it deserves.

Very versitile tool.

[droopypete]

cheers for all the responces... i got a tray back so no worries bout space so i might grab myself a 60

Grab a good bottle jack as well (you only need 40mm of travel at the axle, to remove a wheel) and as Lockee says, treat it with respect.
Peter.

[g60boy]

i bought a 60'' coz it was $10 more. buy the 60" and if its to big, just cut it down.

[Gwagensteve]

I have both and for my gq on 36's need the 60.

Not if you chain the axle to the chassis.

Trust me, once I started doing this I would never jack a car with a hilift without chaining it again. The safety improves elleventybillion times.... in fact, it's nearly as safe as the stock bottle jack under the axle.

Steve.

[Wooders]

Nearly
I wholeheartly agree with the chain axle/chassis method - Always meant the 48" was enough length for me.....

[pongo]

i use one at home nearly all the time instead of using the trolley jack. If i use a good plate of steel or timber under the base all is good. Yes they are dangerous, but so is crossing the road,

Respect it and the situation and youll be right. But chaining/strapping the axle is a great idea

[Nelso]

My 60 doesn't fit in my car and is too long to hang of the wheel-carrier so I am going to cut a bit off the end. The only time you may need the extra length is if you have a huge car or when there is a big hollowed out section of track under your lifting point. My car has barwork I can put a jack under all around which means I could probably find high enough ground so I would go for the smaller one if I was to do it again.

[Coogs]

My 60in is awesome for when i run my 35s just fits across the 80 behind the barrier.
If it is used correctly its not dangerous.
The chain idea is good. will have to keep that in mind.

[nzdarin]

Also with a 60 it gives you a lot more travle if using the hilift as a winch. Hi-lifts may not be the best jacking option but they are a very vesitile tool. With the right bits you can do everything from jacking to winching to clamping. As a winch they may be slow, but they are very very powerful and pretty easy to use. The setup is a bit involved but once you've done it once it is pretty easy.
For that reason alone I'd get the longest you can. You don't have to use the extra length, but you can't use it if you don't have it!