What does everyone think of this. Its a cheap high lift off road jack.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=6530

 

Hard to say as I don't know anyone that has one. It also doesn't say whether it's cast iron or steel. You won't save so much money over the real thing, when you get right down to it. Get the all cast iron one, if you can afford it. It's stronger and less subject to bending.

Edit: Okay, the manual says the bar is steel. It's approximately equivalent to the cheaper 48" HiLift jack -- but we don't know the quality. For the little bit you save over the "real thing", I question the utility of the slightly lower price. But that's me and in other things, I do go for the cheaper item, lol.

 

harbor freight has some cheap stuff and some good stuff. you never really know in there. its a good store though. go ahead and buy it, im sure its of acceptable quality.

 

Also, my bad on the steel vs. iron bar. The bars are all steel, it's the other parts that are either stamped or cast -- with the cast parts being stronger. Sorry, it's been awhile since I looked at it and I got confused, lol.

But they still don't tell you enough about the Harbor Freight one to satisfy me.

http://www.hi-lift.com/jacks_main.htm

Hover over the two jack pics and you'll see the specs.

 

Hmmm, the words "cheap" and "hi-lift" really should not be used in the same sentence. Go to Tractor Supply Company, they have the best prices on Hi-Lifts ANYWHERE. You can get the 48" full cast for like 45 bucks.

 

http://www.mytscstore.com

That's the place Carl is talking about.

 

Have you ever used a Hi-Lift? They are a little scetchy to begin with, so if it were me I wouldnt by the inferior HF model... dont need it craping out on you when you are stuck, or worse failing and falling... that just me though...

 

I must be lucky I have a harbor freight 5 miles away and 3 different TSCs within 20 miles (of work or home)

N3elz are you going to get the 5ft model now that you are going "big"
Rand

 

The nearest 'TSC' is 120 miles and two states away for me!

 

Closest here is 500miles away... but same state

I still vote Hi-Lift... knock offs suck...

 

Good point, No I have never used one, I hope I never have to, but if I ever needed to I would want something really good.


This is why this site is great, learn so much from people who know.

 

I've used my hi-lift for lifting, winching, clamping, and forcing things apart and if you have the proper attachments, you can do any of those successfully. For winching, I would suggest getting three lengths of chain one of which must be longer than the jack and have choker hooks on both ends.

Regarding the cast vs stamped jacks, the only parts that are different are the clamp at the top and either the base or where the bar attaches to the jack mechanism. The bar and the jack mechanism are the same for both jacks.

 

I have the Harbor freight High Lift Jack, got it on sale. The think IMO is good quality and has been used numerous times w/o failure.

 

unless the photo linked to that site is as complete as their description Ben the jack is missing the top clevis stop/claw
for $5-10 more (which is all it should be) I would stick with the name brand Hi-Lift

and John, if you do get the 60" jack they usually sell for less than the 48" model
supply and demand at work.....

I just got a 48" and plate + case from the guys in Delaware that handle the line locks
cc: Buck and Tom - they have not shipped me the D shackles or line locks yet
they sent me a note on how they were not going to charge me until they shipped
well I got my highlift, plate, rubber handle securing thingy and that's all
no locks or the other assorted stuff
Monday I will be pissed if I get no email or products - AMEX will pull ALL the funds the next day.....

 

With the lift now, Neil, I've been considering the 60"...

So far the 48 has been VERY useful and I've now both winched and lifted with it. A versatile tool, but the pins can be VERY finicky about dirt. Keep a can of WD-40 or equivalent in your truck ALWAYS (for several reasons, lol).

 

I found that my maglite worked well to beat the hi-lift into working when it got clogged with mud. My thinking is that if they made the climbing pins longer, so they were always at least half in the hole in the mechanism (not the bar) then they would clog less.

 

Wow, if so, then they have not figured that out in, what? 109 years, lol!

 

I'm sure there's some reason they havn't done it. I'm not about to go messing with my jack tho, since it's worked well for me for the past 8 years.

 

Maybe so. It could be you're on to something though. It would just be ironic if such a simple solution was the answer after so many years, lol!