What Kind of Jack?

[Gil]

I have done a search, but haven't found what I need...

I have a 1980 Cherokee Chief with a 4" lift and 33s. I have no plans of taking it anywhere but the street (purists, don't hate me). So, I need a jack just in case I get a flat. I have read about Hi-Lift on numerous sites and many say they are not ideal for only changing a tire application.

I found a stock jack in a junk yard from a GW...but, given my lift and tires the jack wouldn't get the wheel off the ground.

I know floor jacks are great for working in the garage, but what kind of jack should I get that will do what I may need (change a tire) and not take up a lot of room in the Cherokee? While I may not go off road, I may someday need to change a tire on the side of the road (gravel, sand, etc.).

Thanks in advance.

[Gambler68]

get an aluminum floor jack and stow it in the rear with straps. You can change 33x12.50s on a WT by jacking under the axel tubes..or at least I can. I wouldnt jack a FSJ higher than an inch with a scissor or bottle jack, these things love to sway unless on level ground.

[Ristow]

well....do you really go far enough to need a spare? i don't carry one,if i had a flat i'd have a cavalry quickly on route with one phone call,and with my regular travels i'm not far enough to worry about it.

i might add,tires are one thing i don't go cheap on. i run good tires in good shape.

[Gil]

Well, I have BFG M/Ts - I'm told they are good tires. My cavalry generally consists of AAA. The furthest I have gone to date is about an hour away from home to the beach. I don't carry a spare now because I don't have a jack. Once I get a jack, I can work on figuring out how to mount the spare. I don't want to carry the spare in the cargo area as that's where the German Shepherd and mutt go.

I like the floor jack idea, but the ones I have seen seem big for the cargo area. Anyone know what would be the smallest floor jack for my limited application?

[Ristow]

if you want a spare than yeah,go Ryans' route,get a good light floorjack. sears has them,reasonable.

[Gambler68]

Well, I have BFG M/Ts - I'm told they are good tires. My cavalry generally consists of AAA. The furthest I have gone to date is about an hour away from home to the beach. I don't carry a spare now because I don't have a jack. Once I get a jack, I can work on figuring out how to mount the spare. I don't want to carry the spare in the cargo area as that's where the German Shepherd and mutt go.

I like the floor jack idea, but the ones I have seen seem big for the cargo area. Anyone know what would be the smallest floor jack for my limited application?

well just get a 20 dollar one from walmart and throw a piece of 2x10 wood in there to rest it on in gravel or dirt. It'll work fine. Shoot there's enough room underneath the FSJ to have someone weld in a carrier for a floor jack, but people go with Hi-Lifts. You can buy add-ons to make them work better.

ooh here's an idea..there are INFLATABLE jacks now..you hook them up to your exhaust I think. Saw them in JP mag. great idea for soft ground. Might be worth looking into, and would store easy. http://www.4wd.com/search.aspx?PN=1&word=air+bag+jack

[Dmntxn77]

You guys are crazy... EVERYONE should always carry a spare!! It does not matter how new or expensive your tires are, they can still go flat. The nail or debris from the construction truck in front of you is not going to be antimidated by the brand or tread debth of your tires...

As for a jack, just go get a bottle jack from HF. They are cheap, strong, and small. You will eaisly find one that fits where your factory jack goes. While you are at it, be sure to throw a cheater bar in there for your lug nut wrench and a square of 2"x10"x10" (or so) wood for a solid base.

[Gil]

You guys are crazy... EVERYONE should always carry a spare!! It does not matter how new or expensive your tires are, they can still go flat. The nail or debris from the construction truck in front of you is not going to be antimidated by the brand or tread debth of your tires...

As for a jack, just go get a bottle jack from HF. They are cheap, strong, and small. You will eaisly find one that fits where your factory jack goes. While you are at it, be sure to throw a cheater bar in there for your lug nut wrench. Breaking those nuts loose is always the worse part about changing a tire on the side of the road.

Like this? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93438
or
http://www2.northerntool.com/product/200304833.htm
I hear these leak a lot...any truth?

[Dmntxn77]

Yeah, that one will work, but unless you think that you really need to lift 40,000 pounds, I would go with a MUCH smaller one.

Regarding the leaking, I have never had one leak on me. I currently carry one in each vehicle (including the Caddy) and have always had very good luck with them.

Here, check this one out. It lifts over 15's, and weighs less than a third of the other one.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93370

[Dmntxn77]

One thing to make note of, is that for some reason, the "max lift height" does not include the extra couple of inches that you get from extending the screw. If I were not out of town at the moment, I would go get you the real extended measurement of a HF one.

[Gil]

Yeah, that one will work, but unless you think that you really need to lift 40,000 pounds, I would go with a MUCH smaller one.

Regarding the leaking, I have never had one leak on me. I currently carry one in each vehicle (including the Caddy) and have always had very good luck with them.

Here, check this one out. It lifts over 15's, and weighs less than a third of the other one.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93370

$9.99!!!! That's all I need??? Do I place it under the axle? It's got a small surface...do you put anything on top of the jack to make a bigger surface to contact the axle? I agree with putting something under it for stability, but just wondering if there is something I should put over it...for $10.00, I will get one for sure.

What brand do you have? If your never had a problem, I may as well get a "proven" one.

[Dmntxn77]

All of mine are Harbor Freight. I got 4 or 5 at $5 each IIRC when they had a sale once.

I dont put anything on the top of mine. It is a small surface, but it works fine. Just like with any jack, it is important to break the torque on your lug nuts BEFORE you raise the vehicle, but with this style of jack, it is probably even more important.

When shopping for your bottle jack, it is important to find one that collapses as SHORT as possible and extends as TALL as possible. You need to be able to fit it under the axle with a flat tire, but still be able to extend it up high enough for an aired up tire. Just go measure from the bottom of your axle to the ground then add and inch or two for your extension requirements, and then from the bottom of the axle to the bottom of your rim (plus an extra inch or so for the flat rubber) to find your collapsed measurement.

[Dmntxn77]

BTW, one thing to make note of, is the sharp corners on the bottom of the jack. You will want to be sure to either wrap it in a towel, or build a ridged mound for it behind that back pannel. If you just toss it in there, and then hit a big bump, you migh get out an find a nice corner shapped dent in your rear fender... :eek:

[Gil]

BTW, one thing to make note of, is the sharp corners on the bottom of the jack. You will want to be sure to either wrap it in a towel, or build a ridged mound for it behind that back pannel. If you just toss it in there, and then hit a big bump, you migh get out an find a nice corner shapped dent in your rear fender... :eek:

Ugh...good point!

[Gil]

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00950282000P?mv=rr

It's a little more money, but it is a Craftsman...

[shimniok]

I vote for either AAA or a bottle jack. They aren't light but they are compact and "probably" could be strapped in out of the way somewhere, like behind the wheel well or maybe even in the quarter panel storage.

I have a large bottle jack that is enuf to do a tire swap when placed under the axle near the spring pad.

Michael

[Gil]

I vote for either AAA or a bottle jack. They aren't light but they are compact and "probably" could be strapped in out of the way somewhere, like behind the wheel well or maybe even in the quarter panel storage.

I have a large bottle jack that is enuf to do a tire swap when placed under the axle near the spring pad.

Michael

I have AAA, but I don't always have the 1 1/2 hours to wait on the side of the road. What kind of bottle jack do you use? I am leaning a little towards the Harbor Freight one for $10. Even if it dies after one use, I could buy three for the price of the Craftsman...which could also die, i.e. leak, break, etc.

[shimniok]

I have AAA, but I don't always have the 1 1/2 hours to wait on the side of the road. What kind of bottle jack do you use? I am leaning a little towards the Harbor Freight one for $10. Even if it dies after one use, I could buy three for the price of the Craftsman...which could also die, i.e. leak, break, etc.

Heck yah. I doubt brand matters all that much. (Don't crawl under the rig with just one of these supporting it anyway; should bring along a jack stand too). Mine is a 20T from Checker or someplace similar. Brand is "MVP" :confused: Looks nearly identical to this:

http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/144894_lg.gif

"Torin Hydraulic Bottle Jack" @ Northern Tool (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200304833_200304833) - BUT - I think mine has higher lift. I'd get maximum lift you can or measure to see what you need or whatever... Here's one at ace hardware (http://www.acehardware.com/sm-mvp-20-ton-hydraulic-high-boy-bottle-jack-b020nc--pi-1296654.html) - you can google for more examples. The main reason I got the 20T was that it had the highest min height and max height.

Here's the best I've found so far (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200318931_200318931): dual ram, max height 19-1/8" :eek: -- min height is low enuf that you could fit it under the diff if you wanted. :cool: Hm, maybe I will have to get one of those for myself. :D

I think they are a lot easier to control when lowering the vehicle altho to be fair I hardly ever use it; instead using my large floor jack. But when I take a spark jack on a long 4x4 trip (e.g., Moab) this is the one I take. I should probably just keep it stored in the truck; the hi-lift is dicey to use on the roadside.

[krek]

the hi-lift is dicey to use on the roadside. How so?

[red mistress]

Northern used to have bottle jack that came in nice plastic case.

[Gil]

Great info...thanks guys! I heard some negatives about hi-lifts also for roadside tire changes. They are said to be unstable, don't fit in the stock bumper slot, don't work well with rounded bumpers, etc.

Since I don't intend to use the jack for offroad purposes, just side-of-road in an emergency, I think the bottle jack just may be the way to go. Now I just need to find a way to mount the 33" under the rig :rolleyes:

I didn't want the 20T as it's 3x the price and bigger and heavier...BUT, you're right about the max height. I never thought about a jack stand...not a bad idea on the side of the road especially since the surface area of the bottle jack where it impacts the car is TINY!! I don't want to clutter the back of the rig, though...I need the space. The bottle jack will likely fit in the stock jack location (rear 1/4 panel)...but what kind of jack stand will also fit in there? I guess it's not that big a deal...they really don't take up that much room.

Not to hijack my own thread, but what's a good quality, reasonably priced jack stand. I was told NOT to go cheap on these.

[shimniok]

How so?

The key is to try to lift one corner, otherwise if you get both tires off the ground they will have a tendency to tip side to side. I almost put my rig through a friend's living room wall because of that... :D

They do this on the trail too -- but one can use this to one's advantage to reposition the rig. :D I don't have the extended base but I imagine that would help alleviate that problem on road or off. (A guy could make a real wide one out of plate steel I guess)

Michael

[shimniok]

Since I don't intend to use the jack for offroad purposes, just side-of-road in an emergency, I think the bottle jack just may be the way to go. Now I just need to find a way to mount the 33" under the rig :rolleyes:

Not only is that not likely to happen but even if you could, I would not want to be the one pulling a heavy 33 out from under. I couldn't stand pulling the 235s out from there. So I got a swing away tire carrier. Another option is inside mount.

I have two sets of 3T jack stands like these. One from Sears (clearance with the floor jack) and one pair from Napa. Figuring the vehicle weighs ~5500# loaded I would think 2T jackstands should be plenty in theory but 3T (6000#) adds quite a margin of safety :)

http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/144874_med.gif

I bet you could fit one alongside the bottle jack in the quarter panel cargo area (where the jack was). There's a LOT of room in there; I have stored 4-way tire wrench, belts, bottle of coolant, gear oil, and a few other things all at once. :)

The 3T ones at Northern Tool (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200304823_200304823) are ~ $17 ... I wouldn't sweat quality as long as you get the solid steel type like above vs. strap type. I think you can find the jack and jack stands just about anywhere.

You can search online for coupon codes which may help. May try using NexTag to find lowest prices (that one seems to work for me lately). Also I do web advertising and may be able to dig up a link for free shipping or small discount or something. PM me if interested. On the other hand Harbor Freight may be the cheapest way to go.

Michael

[Gil]

Not only is that not likely to happen but even if you could, I would not want to be the one pulling a heavy 33 out from under. I couldn't stand pulling the 235s out from there. So I got a swing away tire carrier. Another option is inside mount.

I have two sets of 3T jack stands like these. One from Sears (clearance with the floor jack) and one pair from Napa. Figuring the vehicle weighs ~5500# loaded I would think 2T jackstands should be plenty in theory but 3T (6000#) adds quite a margin of safety :)

http://www.northerntool.com/images/product/images/144874_med.gif

I bet you could fit one alongside the bottle jack in the quarter panel cargo area (where the jack was). There's a LOT of room in there; I have stored 4-way tire wrench, belts, bottle of coolant, gear oil, and a few other things all at once. :)

The 3T ones at Northern Tool (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200304823_200304823) are ~ $17 ... I wouldn't sweat quality as long as you get the solid steel type like above vs. strap type. I think you can find the jack and jack stands just about anywhere.

You can search online for coupon codes which may help. May try using NexTag to find lowest prices (that one seems to work for me lately). Also I do web advertising and may be able to dig up a link for free shipping or small discount or something. PM me if interested. On the other hand Harbor Freight may be the cheapest way to go.

Michael

Thanks Michael. I saw someone mount the tire underneath with a device from a newer pick-up truck that lowers the tire (like a winch). I have no skills to do this, but I think this would be the best for me. Mounting a 33" in the cargo area takes away too much space. One of the reasons I got the rig was so I could take my German Shepherd around...now we have ANOTHER dog, so I need all the space back there.

[waynestiles]

Remember that when changing a tire along side the road that the shoulders are often softer and off-camber. I always carry a couple slabs of 2x10 or 12 and a 1" thick slab of real solid plywood plus a few pieces of 1x2 a foot long to adjust the jacking platform. I watch how I position the grain on the 2x stuff and use the plywood as a top surface. I have a Hi-Lift that I carry in the roof rack. If you ever have to jack up and tip sideways to get a rig out of deep muddy ruts its real handy. they make a bunch of accessories that really increase the versatility of the tool.

just for giggles here is a pic of the ultimate Hi-lift. I took it at the factory in Bloomfield IN---SW of Bloomington. its one of the towns I visit regularly. and no they don't have a factory discount store

[CustomWag]

You guys are crazy... EVERYONE should always carry a spare!! It does not matter how new or expensive your tires are, they can still go flat. The nail or debris from the construction truck in front of you is not going to be antimidated by the brand or tread debth of your tires...

Psstt, rumor has it Ristow likes to live on the edge...doesn't carry a spare gas can either;)

[UTfball68]

I know you said weight was an issue...but I carry a Craftsman 4 ton floor jack with 23" max height. I use it all the time on 8000 lb. rigs sittin on 38/39's. It weighs about 50 lbs but I've never had an issue with it. It only cost 80 bucks, and bought the matching 6 ton jack stands for another 30. I have my newest Wagon project sitting on them as we speak.

[Gil]

I know you said weight was an issue...but I carry a Craftsman 4 ton floor jack with 23" max height. I use it all the time on 8000 lb. rigs sittin on 38/39's. It weighs about 50 lbs but I've never had an issue with it. It only cost 80 bucks, and bought the matching 6 ton jack stands for another 30. I have my newest Wagon project sitting on them as we speak.

I thought of that, and weight is not the issue...space is. Since I put both dogs in the back, and one is a big German Shepherd, I need as much space as possible. I know they don't take up THAT much room, but a bottle jack can fit in the space where the original jack went.

[Dmntxn77]

Stay focused Gil.. :p

Harbor Freight is calling your name..
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38846

Remember, you are not buying tools that you are trying to make a living with. This is stuff that you MAY never use. Not that you cant count on these HF items, but there is no need to pay more.

I own 5 or 6 sets of jack stands ranging from 2 ton to 6 ton ratings. They are ALL are HF stands. I use them all the time, and have never had ANY issues with ANY of them.

[Gil]

Stay focused Gil.. :p

Harbor Freight is calling your name..
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=38846

Remember, you are not buying tools that you are trying to make a living with. This is stuff that you MAY never use. Not that you cant count on these HF items, but there is no need to pay more.

I own 5 or 6 sets of jack stands ranging from 2 ton to 6 ton ratings. They are ALL are HF stands. I use them all the time, and have never had ANY issues with ANY of them.

Ok, Ok...I'll go to HF this weekend :thumbsup: