Just wrote out a big reply to this, and then it disappeared
Here is the "abridged" version
Run a drag chain under the axle and pullit as tight as you can over a spring tower, chassis, even bar work if applicable, and lock it back onto the lug link. then when you lift, you pick up the alxe with the body, so all suspension droop is removed. we have done this with Critta (LJxtreem) to reseat a tyre and to change a CV. nice and safe, if a bit messy to set up.
Sooooo many people are told to buy a highlift and then realise that there is nowhere to lift from without bending something, nowhere to store it, and that the car is really spooky if you ever lift it with it.
I think that you really need dedicated slots in the barwork to safely lift with a highlift, they luuurve to kick out. Also, they don't like being up on blocks.
they hate being stored outside the car, esp. onthe back. this guarantees that they will be full of mud when you really need it to work, and it wont.
Best thing about a hilift- the removable handle - most useful tool ever!
I have a hilift that stays in the shed for workshop use. I have a hydraulic jack for tyre changing. with our club based driving, we have never had to use a hilift as a recovery tool, although I did set one up as winch for a mate, with everything, including the jack, stowed on the inside surface of the tailgate of a sierra. Never used it though.
One problem with winching with one - you relly need to set it up with a drag chain separate to the winch so you can lock the car off when re rigging, otherwise you longest pull will be 1X length of the jack. OK in mud, but what if you are on a slope???
One more thing - they can be stripped down - that way you have a ratchet, foot, clevis, rail a nd handle all separate, and easy to store/keep clean. A member who took a sierra to cape york did this.
[quote="greg"] some say he is a man without happy dreams, or that he sees silver linings on clouds and wonders why they are not platinum... all we know, is he's called the stevie.[/quote]
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