Brick and Morter for Hi-Lift Jack?

[this_is_nascar]

The next item on my purchase list is a 48-inch Hi-Lift jack, with accessories. I see a bunch of places to order online, however shipping is a killer. Are there any brick and morter chain stores that sell them? I've only been able to look at Pep-Boys so far, without success.

 

[Ben Ruset]

OK4WD - http://www.ok4wd.com

 

[kingofthepines]

Not trying to be a butinski, but where on your stock?? ranger would you place the jack in order to lift it?? The bumpers are fiberglass as is the door sills if I'm not mistaken. If you intend to use it as a hand winch you'll need somewhere to attach the strap or cable ie; hard mounted tow hooks preferably both front and rear. Just something to ponder.

 

[this_is_nascar]

Thanks bruset. I'll give them a try. Kingofthepines, I'm not sure if fiberglass or not, but my main purpose of getting it was for a winch as a last resort aid. I wheel' alone usually and am not in a position right now to shell out hundreds of $$$ for an automatic winch.

 

[woodjin]

A hand winch, come- along, will get you out of anything in the barrens (eventually). Cost about $30.

 

[MuckSavage]

In South Jersey

The Harbor Freight store on Vineland has a the Hi-Lift. Also, call Agway in Berlin.

 

[Badfish740]

Dunno where you work but if you have access to a McMaster-Carr (Phone book size yellow book) catalog they carry them. You would think they'd put a Tractor Supply Company somewhere in South Jersey...I think the closest one is in upstate New York somewhere. My aunt has one about 20 miles away in Western Tennessee and they carry everything she needs for her horse farm.

 

[this_is_nascar]

Thanks. I've been busy at work, so I'll check that out when I get a chance.

 

[this_is_nascar]

Not being able to find the time to go to one of these places, I just ordered a 48" all-cast from online. Additionally, I ordered the Off-Road Kit. If I've read properly, I now still need to acquire chains (as opposed to a recovery strap) to use this as a winch. What do you folks recommend and where's the best place to order? I've read that I should get a 25' 3/8" chain with holding hooks, made of high-grade tensile strength. Any suggestions?

 

[this_is_nascar]

Not being able to find the time to go to one of these places, I just ordered a 48" all-cast from online. Additionally, I ordered the Off-Road Kit. If I've read properly, I now still need to acquire chains (as opposed to a recovery strap) to use this as a winch. What do you folks recommend and where's the best place to order? I've read that I should get a 25' 3/8" chain with holding hooks, made of high-grade tensile strength. Any suggestions?

Anyone? I'd sure appreciate any suggestions.

 

[kingofthepines]

just get a 30ft tow strap. You don't want chains. and make certain you have something on your truck to attach the strap to.

 

[Teegate]

My problem is even if I try to use a Come-Along I would damage my car. There is nothing that sticks below the plastic cow catcher to hook it to. I could make something at work that would attach to the car and then attach to that.

Guy

 

[this_is_nascar]

just get a 30ft tow strap. You don't want chains. and make certain you have something on your truck to attach the strap to.

To the contrary, I really want chains for this application. I'd spend more time wenching the stretching of the recovery strap. I think I found adequote choker chains that will work. I'm going to get (2) of them, both 12-foot long. That should be better than nothing.

 

[kingofthepines]

Have it your way. There may be some useful information in this link
Not to be morbid but a chain is far more likely to take your head clean off than a 3 lb tow strap.
HTH

 

[this_is_nascar]

Noted and appreciated............. seriously, appreciated. I'm new to this hobby. I've been reading my butt off over the last few months, trying to understand and learn. I'm certainly no expert on the subject, but all my reading has indicated that you should use chains with a hand-winch. The way I understood it, using a tow-strap, you spend all your time just fighting the stretching of the strap. After reading the messages about the Hi-Lift, it certainly raises concerns, but it seems that many of those issues have occurred due to operator error in not following the directions and/or not paying attention.

All that being said, what would you suggest? The main reason I've been going down this route is because the wife and I wheel alone. I do not go out of my way to get stuck, but if/when it happens I thought it would give me a chance to free myself. Now that you seriously have my attention, would you please recommend something for me? Should I stick with the Hi-Lift and get a tow-strap as opposed to a recovery strap? Is there such a difference? Would a tow-strap not stretch as much? Thanks again for your help.

 

[kingofthepines]

You can find what you need here, all tried and true recovery equipment. looky
More offroad tips for the noob here.

 

[RednekF350]

I have been doing this for over 30 years and I can tell you that the only thing you should use a chain for is anchoring to a tree. Chains transmit too much shock to the frame if you have to have someone yank you out.
King is right. Buy a 30' 3" or 4" wide Keeper brand recovery strap.3" is more than adequate for a Ranger.
Don't get a no name brand at a box store.
The same goes for a cable come-along. Don't get a Ginsu.
Buy a Lug-All, made in USA and stronger than the truck.
Scott

 

[bobpbx]

I work at Lakehurst, and they make the Barricades for stopping fighter jets on aircraft carriers in case the the planes tailhook does not work, or the landing gear is damaged. They are essential huge 20 feet tall nylon nets stretched across the carrier deck only used in an emergency. The webbing straps are high quality nylon, make thick by sewing straps together, one on top of each other, so you end up with a nylon strap almost 1/2 inch thick by 2" wide. I had a long hunk of that stuff in my CJ-5 for years, all coiled up below the seat; dirty, even rusty looking from water leaking in the back window. It never even became frayed. I was with a 4-wheeling club in the Poconos one time and a guy got stuck going up a hill, slid sideways off the trail. I pulled that out and a guy scoffed at it...."that'll break". Well, of course he was wrong, I could have pulled out a tank with it.

 

[this_is_nascar]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I totally understand the recovery strap requirement for recovery/tugging/pulling/etc. I have a recovery strap (2"x30') for whenever I get stuck and need a yank. What's I'm specifically asking about here is the use of chains in a Hi-Lift wenching situation. I have the Hi-Lift with the off-road recovery kit. I need to get a length of chain (or so I thought) to make this winching kit complete. The Hi-Lift will only be used as a hand-winch or if I needed to lift the frame to put stuff under the tires to get some traction. Everything I've read, says I should use chains for this, not a recovery/tow strap. You guys seem to be suggesting otherwise, although I'm still not sure if we're talking different things or not. I certainly want to be a safe a possible. I also respect the suggestions of those with much more experience than I. I just want to make sure that I haven't confused the question I'm asking.

 

[Badfish740]

I think the confusion here is this:

In my opinion, if you're going to use the Hi-Lift as a recovery device you should be carrying both chain AND straps. That being said, NEVER use the chain for pulling a vehicle with another vehicle, and NEVER use the strap to pull with the Hi-Lift.

If you're going to use the Hi-Lift as a come-a-long (which I've seen done, it works well) always use chain because the chain does not give, which will give you the max out of every pump of the handle. A strap on the other hand would stretch, which helps it store energy for pulling, but this benefit is never realized unless the vehicle actually starts to move a little. There's nothing to worry about when using a chain with Hi-Lift, because there's no violent jerking going on, just steady application of pulling force. I would get three heavy (at least 20K lb work load) chains of varying lengths, say 5' 10' and 15'. That plus the length of the Hi-Lift (almost 5 feet) will give you plenty of options whether you're pulling near or far. Also, if you're going to pull with chain make sure you get some heavy duty D-clevises as well plus a short tree saver strap with heavy loops on the end so you don't scar the trunk of the tree as you pull.

Straps on the other hand are the best thing for pulling a vehicle with another vehicle. When you pull and the nylon stretches you're actually multiplying the pulling force of your vehicle. Once the vehicle you're pulling starts to move a little that force is released. I think that what _nascar_ is saying is just that-straps are good for pulling with another truck, but not a Hi-Lift.