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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
Photo by Ellen Delis, Lagunas Ojos del Campo, Antofalla, Catamarca

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Ellen Delis,
Lagunas Ojos del Campo,
Antofalla, Catamarca



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  #16  
Old 14 Dec 2007
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I have never took my hi-lift to the Sahara, yet.
But when I'm there I always wish I had the thing with us.

Sometimes I hear about people who rarely or never get stock in soft sand, this is not the case with me.

In our last trip the air-jack blew-up in the middle of work, natuurlijk,hurting an american biker. Back home I did send a picture of it to the manufacturer and a day later the maker told us our broken air-jack had a factory problem with the seals. The air thing was tested at home but over-weight car and very hot temperatures in direct sun were not included in the test.
The story of it told by Matt, the american biker and member of this forum, can be found page 2 of:
http://intravelmag.com/index.php?opt...1&limitstart=1

Recovery is always a tricky business, you are tired, it's hot or windy, you can get anxious, etc...
Favorite place to carry the H.L. : bolted to the front bumper, previously protected in a used tube.

fair wind and following seas....
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  #17  
Old 14 Dec 2007
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bottle jack / Hi Lift!!

The Hi Lift is a versatile piece of equipment.
Also you should check whether the bottle jack fits under the axel with a flat tyre!
On my HZJ75 I cannot use the bottle jack under the axel with a totally flat tyre because it doesn't fit! So for changing a tyre I need the Hi Lift. It also good for breaking the bead when removing the tyre from the rim and when your stuck in the mud; jack and pack or jack and push (sideways). I would recommend to take it with you.

Cheers,

Noel
exploreafrica.web-log.nl
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  #18  
Old 14 Dec 2007
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[QUOTE=noel di pietro;163604].....
Also you should check whether the bottle jack fits under the axel with a flat tyre!
......QUOTE]

People running large tires can have a surprising experience when trying to use a bottle jack and they learn that it won't raise the axle high enough to mount a fresh tire - the sidewall height being greater than the throw of the jack.

A good scissor jack can be handy, and they're relatively light in weight compared to the bottle jacks.

A Hi-Lift can be used to defend against tribes of hungry cannibals, cook the fruit of gigantic marshmallow trees, gather electricity during lightning storms, splint your pet camel's leg or neck, and other nifty things.
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  #19  
Old 15 Dec 2007
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Can't wait to roast marshmellows over open fire with my hi-lift........
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  #20  
Old 15 Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmw.bec View Post
There are jacking points on the ARB bumper but its where to jack at the rear?
On a standard 80 you will need too use the rear chassis member that doubles as the rear bumper, although you have to jack it some way in order to get the rear wheels off the ground.

If you had sliders (heavy duty versions of the running boards) you could use those, although the sliders themselves are quite a bit of extra weight.

Why not just use the standard 80 hydraulic jack for the rear axle?
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  #21  
Old 15 Dec 2007
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Thanks Julian

We have an ARB duel wheel carrier and sliders fitted already. As far as I know we cannot jack the bumper when the wheel carriers are closed due to the excessive strain it will place on the hinges - maybe it would be possible if we opened the carriers first? Will look into and post a response.

Also would the sliders take the weight of the vehicle?

Will probably be taking a bottle jack anyway just in case.......
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  #22  
Old 15 Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lone Rider View Post
You just strap the axle to the frame so it doesn't droop.
Exactly - more messing around

in the time it takes to get the hi lift out and the vehicle raised strapped up etc - you can finish the tyre change with the correct size bottle jack
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  #23  
Old 16 Dec 2007
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Talking I like this thread! Honest!

Hi,

I am wondering how you guys avoid messing around with a bottle jack to perform such jobs off-road as:

- change tyre in mud or in a rut
- move wheels out of a rut
- lift a high centered or hung car off an obstacle
- change broken shocks or springs
- straighten, clamp or pry out objects or body parts, bumpers
- break bead on a tyre
- improvise a winch anchor
- use as walkabout winch
- use the handle or rail separately as improvised spare parts or for tasks requiring leverage, support, as a funnel extension, club, etc.

To mention just a few common uses. And with a simple webbing and hook attachment (Lift Mate) you can also lift a single wheel off the ground.

So, there's nothing wrong with a bottle jack, as long as you stick to tarmac or watch someone else getting you out of a tight spot using a hi-lift.
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Last edited by Roman; 16 Dec 2007 at 13:22.
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  #24  
Old 16 Dec 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bmw.bec View Post
We have an ARB duel wheel carrier and sliders fitted already. As far as I know we cannot jack the bumper when the wheel carriers are closed due to the excessive strain it will place on the hinges - maybe it would be possible if we opened the carriers first? Will look into and post a response.

Also would the sliders take the weight of the vehicle?.
I'm staggered the ARB rear bar can't take the weight of the vehicle! They are pretty, but pretty useless if they can't support the vehicle weight. Also be wary of dirt getting into the latches - dirt can build up there making the latches difficult to operate.

What sliders do you have installed? They should in theory take the weight of the vehicle.d

To make things a little safer, if the sliders don't already have the slots/tubes for attaching the hilift (or hilift + adaptor) get them added.
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  #25  
Old 16 Dec 2007
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Hi Julian

I;m not 100% sure about the wheel carriers but when I asked a 4x4 preparation specialist they wouldn't fit adapters in the rear bumper for this reason.....as I said if you open the swing wheel carriers then theres a hefty bumper there that I'm sure would take the weight but playing it safe at moment.

The sliders/side protection bars are also ARB as we found the toyota c**p and delicate when off road. They attach to the front bumper and then run to the rear wheel arch. No ponts but thinking I could use the Hi-Lift adapter that allows you to lift by the wheel.

As I have already said I will be making sure I am familar with the use of the jack because in the areas we're travelling there will be times when there are no other vehicles and I don't want to get squashed.
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  #26  
Old 16 Dec 2007
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Rear bars...

"The bar will accommodate up to two tyres or a tyre and a jerry can holder and comes with a number of features including tow hitch, Hi-Lift jacking points and HF aerial bracket options."

from the ARB website, sounds like it should be strong enough.
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  #27  
Old 7 Jan 2008
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Carry a hi lift jack AND another jack such as bottle, scizzer etc. Learn to use them BEFORE you head out on a trip. I carry a hi lift not to use as a jack, but as a come along. Learn how to hook it all up to your chains/tow roaps, anchor it in the ground etc. Have a backup plan in case your main gear fails. On the other hand what do I know, I just grew up in the outdoors in off road vehicles and have done recovery in the worst weather so you may not want to listen to me.

EDIT: I want to add your best survivla/recovery gear is between your ears. Without that all the rest is useless.
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  #28  
Old 8 Jan 2008
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Personally, I detest the Hi Lift and have opted to go for this instead Hydraulic High Lift. At only 5.8 kgs and no danger of climbing pins seizing and breaking, I'll never go back to the mechanical ones!
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  #29  
Old 8 Jan 2008
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hydraulic? not for me!

With a 440 mm lift on the hydraulic jack (see site) you can't even change a tyre on tar if you have large size tyres. My side walls are over 200mm plus the lift in the suspension, you might be able the take off the flat but the car won't be high enough to put on the spare tyre! Plus its missing most of the functions listed above by Roman! I will stick with the mechanical high lift. Never had the pins sticking ! I keep that part of the highlift inside the car. Dust and dirt free. Spray it before use with WD40, no problem whatsoever!

Cheers,

Noel
exploreafrica.web-log.nl
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  #30  
Old 10 Jan 2008
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Smile

just to chip in . . . havn't used mine much in off-road conditions, but . . .if you are driving a landy its going to need jacking up on a regular basis!, and what swifter way? that, plus the admiration of the locals when it facilitated the rescue of their bus from certain death is enough for me to never leave home without said lump of over-heavy basic engineeering (i mean the jack, not the landy . . . . .)

Huey
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