Hi-Lift Jack as come-along

[flashhole]

I'm on a roll. Broke both my floor jack and my come-along this year. Thinking about picking up a Hi-Lift Jack to do double duty. Anyone use one of these in the woods? I tried a search but it came up empty. I'm looking real hard at the 60" (model HL605) all cast jack just for the extra length when winching. Accessories for this thing go on forever and I think it will be very handy working on the tractors. If I get the jack I will likely get the Off Road Kit (ORK) just to have the chain/winch attachments.

Any experience with this? You guys have done just about everything there is to do so I think I'm in the right forum.

 

[Jim Timber]

Using it as a come-along has it's down sides.

The chain you use will always have slack in it when you reposition the jack. Always. That gets tiring, and it sucks knowing that 8-14" of your work will only take up the slack from the rigging. It's much more cumbersome working the jack when it's not in a nice tensioned position too. I wouldn't use it as a primary moving force. A 4T come-along can be had for $45 here (I just bought one), so yes, it's not the 7T the hi-lift is rated at, but it's also not 50#.

I still have my hi-lift, but it doesn't get used often. For working on a tractor, it might be fantastic, or it could be a disaster. You have to remember, there needs to be a vertical hole where the beam can go, and there needs to be something remotely close to the ledge on the jack to hook onto. This has always proved problematic when trying to use a hi-lift to actually lift a vehicle for me - even dedicated off-road rigs. If you know you're going to be using one, making provisions to attach it to the chassis is possible. But, if you're buying one to use with ready-made gear, you need to evaluate how well the two will interface.

Instability when the load is raised is another shortfall of the hi-lift. Even when things line up nicely, the chances of your load shifting are substantial with such a weak platform as offered with the hi-lift. It's a big ass lever, and it generally wants to cantilever whatever you've just picked up.

 

[brokenbudget]

if you're out in the woods without having one of the best tools on board, you ain't prepared!:msp_smile:
having a jack-all or a hi-lift around weather you use it for a come along, winch, load binder, bearing press (yup, dunnit) or lifting device. you need one. i can't tell you how handy having one on the tractor, truck or any trailer has been. well worth the few dollars they cost to have around.
ever wish you had something to lift one end of a tree so it wouldn't bind the saw? flat tire? really stuck where a winch wouldn't do anything?
you need one. period.
everybody like pictures!

here's one of mine. if it could tell stories.....

 

[Somesawguy]

I have one, and never found it that useful. I suppose, it could be in some situations. As far as using it for a come-along, I would think that it would be very slow and cumbersome. You'll be constantly resetting the chain, as others have said. You can get a cheapie come-along with a pulley for next to nothing these days. I have a Madsam Power Pull, and while it's built well, it is the only come-along that I have managed to break. I have plenty of the made in china/taiwan ones, and while they aren't particularly smooth, they do hold up ok. A little oil helps them out a bit.

 

[Patrick62]

Been there, done that

Hi lift jacks are awsum, as jacks. Not much else. Sure you could pull something with it.... I'll watch opcorn:.

 

[flashhole]

Pretty divided opinions ... lovers and not-so-lovers. The reason I wanted the 60" shaft was to get pretty good movement before having to reset. Most of the time I use a come-along I only have to move the load a few feet but the loads are generally heavy. I have managed to break 3 come-alongs in the past 10 years. That's really tiresome.

 

[flashhole]

brokenbudget - is that hole in the bottom of the lift arm strong enough for a clevis? I see Hi-Lift sells a special attachment that rides on the arm and has the clevis hookup below but if you can hook directly to the arm that would be great.

 

[H 2 H]

Hi-Lift Jack has pulled my Jeep out of so many mud holes

 

[stihl023/5]

A jack is a jack and a come along is a come along. The high lift has its own purpose to use as multi purpose will only disapoint. Buy a bigger come along or move up to a winch.

 

[stumpy75]

I'll agree with all said so far. A Hi-Lift is a great jack, and I've used it to jack up a stuck vehicle to get something under the wheels so I could power out. I've tried to use it as a winch too, but with much less luck. Just seems too heavy and bulky compared to a good come-along...

 

[Big_Al]

I only have the 48" hi lift, gets used as a jack fairly regular. Have the attachments to use it as a come along, actually used it for that a couple times. Not as convenient or fast as a winch but it saved my butt. Tried a few of the different come alongs but they usually self destructed when trying to move my truck. Bought a winch a few years ago and solved that problem.

 

[rwoods]

I'm with Jim Timber and the others with their cautions. In my 40 years of experience with Hi-Lift jacks, I would say that they can be a lifesaver such as when you're buried to your bumper. IMO they make a poor substitute for a good come-along (notice I said "good" - there are a lot of junk come-alongs out there that are accidents waiting to happen). And HiLifts can be downright dangerous. They are poor hard surface jacks as they have too much flex and a small foot - you can tip one over easily in any direction if you have it racheted up (which attribute can come in very handy off-road but not something you usually need on the road). The hole spacing makes them lift too fast or too much at times - same for the come-along except now you have that baby suspended under load making it hard to jack and subject to twisting with a 3 foot handle to hurt you. As you probably know the climbing/locking mechanism requires maintenance and proper jacking technique to insure the pins fully insert and withdraw - this is especially true when you use them as a come-along as the jack is more unstable in your hands. I suggest you prioritize your needs and save your coins to have a good Hi-lift (some of the knockoffs don't look bad some do - I have never used a knock off), a good come-along and a good hydraulic bottle jack together with plenty of oak 2 by 8s to level or raise the jacks up. Ron

 

[flashhole]

Just ordered it off Amazon. Here's the link ... pretty good price and free shipping. Now I will have to pick up a couple accessories but I will hold off on that until I get the jack. I debated between this and the Extreme version. It will be kept in the garage as opposed to being in the elements so I can apply the savings to a Jackmate and Offroad Kit.

Hi-Lift Jack HL-605 60" Hi-Lift Red All-Cast Jack : Amazon.com : Automotive

 

[rwoods]

I forgot the sudden let-off something you can control more easily with a come-along. Ron

 

[rwoods]

Just ordered it off Amazon. Here's the link ... pretty good price and free shipping. Now I will have to pick up a couple accessories but I will hold off on that until I get the jack. I debated between this and the Extreme version. It will be kept in the garage so I can apply the savings to a Jackmate and Offroad Kit.

Hi-Lift Jack HL-605 60" Hi-Lift Red All-Cast Jack : Amazon.com : Automotive

You were wise buying the original. Ron

 

[JeffHK454]

Hi lift jacks are awsum, as jacks. Not much else. Sure you could pull something with it.... I'll watch opcorn:.

This..^^

They're great for off roading and just generally having around when you need portable force..but the "come-a-long" feature is a stretch . The first time you use a Hi-Lift to pull something with a strap or chain you'll find the extra cash to get a cable come-a-long!

Also , don't buy a cheap knock-off of a Hi-Lift ..the chicom versions are junk.

 

[flashhole]

Looking at the videos of it being used as a come along it occurs to me something simple could be done to make it less onerous and safer. I agree with the comments that a long handle under load can present a danger. I look at it as any other tool, it's only as good as the operator. The trick is to be smarter than the tool.

 

[indiansprings]

I had one on the farm for 30 years, never been that impressed, need to be cautious when using one. On good solid level ground they'll work, but I've them fall sideways,tilt forward, etc. I'd have to be at a last resort to use them for a come a long. If not used properly they can be dangerous as hell.

 

[JeffHK454]

Hi-lift jacks are no different than any other bumper jack put in damn near every automobile up until the late 70's or so from what I remember. If a climber jack is too dangerous for me to use I surely shouldn't be using a chainsaw!

Like you said , you need to be smarter than the tool.

 

[rwoods]

Hi-lift jacks are no different than any other bumper jack put in damn near every automobile up until the late 70's or so from what I remember. If a climber jack is too dangerous for me to use I surely shouldn't be using a chainsaw!Like you said , you need to be smarter than the tool.

Nobody said they were too dangerous for you to use. They are a very useful tool but IMO they are a poor substitute for a floor jack or a come-along; the two uses the OP was wanting to cover with it. Part of being smarter than the tool is to use the right tool. Ron