Farm Jacks - really useful or work of the devil

[daedalusminos]

I bought a cheapo 48"farm jack to use on my home made automotive rotisserie. I thought it would be beneficial to have that high lift to get the body at working height before rotating.

The jack was OK raising, but on lowering the jack would just fall all the way down in an uncontrolled manner. I then read the instructions:
"The jack must be loaded with a minimum 50kg to lower step by step, otherwise the lifting nose will drop."

Is this normal for these jacks?

 

[CompoSimmonite]

They are evil. I've got one and don't trust it.

 

[frank horton]

the cheapo's just don't work.......a ****** copy that the guy just didn't understand........labours cheap in China. kill somebody and there's about a million ready to step into his old shoes.......

 

[Ruffian]

Have there uses in right place right time,

Usually use one as a external press rather than jack, or as a little puller (when was up a creek) managed to drag my defender just enough to get the wheels to grip again.

 

[maz0]

Used them several times for tricky jobs. Got me out of a few situations like when the defender rear spring dislocated while offroading. Also had a few close calls, make sure you follow the lowering procedure perfectly or the handle can smash down repeatedly, could deffo kill if it hit you on the noggin. I treat them like chainsaws, usefull but dangerous!

 

[bletchmonster]

Used a few ropey old ones back on the farm and never had one free fall a load. But learnt to keep fingers well out of the way with little weight on it. Unpredictable things.
Keep a firm hold of the handle when lowering. You can end up with a flailing handle and the jack goes in auto lowering mode. Not funny if your chins in the way.
In other words, they work fine if your a bit wary wise of them!

 

[rtbcomp]

^^ +1

I use mine with extreme care, the secret is to make sure the handle is vertical when it's supporting a load, otherwise the load will fall and the handle moves up and down over its full stroke, and it could cause serious damage if it hit you.

 

[Rannsachair]

I run a lifted defender so regularly use one and carry it in the car as the standard jack will not lift it enough to change wheels. Mine is a Jackall, Canadian made and seems good quality like the Hi-lift, I would not risk a cheap Chinese version and as said use with care. Overall a handy and reliable tool.

 

[maz0]

I aint recommending this style of use, but you can see the versatility in them here, allowing my mate to swap a rear axle dell boy style.

 

[8ob]

They are as dangerous as the folk that use them

Bob

 

[Seadog]

I only used my Hi-Lift once to get my Series out of the mire. Used the topple over method to move it to one side. Ended up bending the beam slightly. Since then I've only ever used it to pull out small shrubs and trees, and very good at that it is too.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Mine is a Jackall and I've also got a Jacksafe which is basically two beams like a mini forklift that you lift with the Jackall and then it supports like a hi-lift axle stand under bumpers of Land Rovers.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I aint recommending this style of use, but you can see the versatility in them here, allowing my mate to swap a rear axle dell boy style.

Candidate for a Darwin award

 

[Migmac]

Useful bits of kit. As said they can be used to pull as well as lift.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Great for high lifting, pulling, pushing and clamping.

Very easy to have an accident though, no doubt there. I have had some close escapes and they do require a healthy respect.

Extremely useful.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Fantastic tool, but I would only ever buy a gen hi lift or jack all. I have the hi lift extreme which can be configured to spread doors/dashes etc in rescue situations. Problem comes with the combat trouser and hi viz brigade that see them as a must have, with no knowledge or experience , and end up getting hurt

 

[Robotstar5]

A company I worked for in the 80's had a couple of genuine Hi-lift jacks they had bought in for some reason but never used, I noticed they were gathering dust so asked the storeman what was happening with them, he said "give me a tenner and you can have them", I had them, sold one for a tenner and still have the other

 

[rtcosic]

I summarise them as:

Useful, but lethal

 

[Agrismith]

My father has one of these style jacks its an original one for loading porta cabins onto lorrys and it is significantly beefier in everyway than modern equivalent but i have never been in a situation where it would do the job better than something else that is safer
For offroad use i think the air jacks look really good for anything else trolly jacks or bottle jacks
And removing stumps a good mattock

 

[wookie]

I run a lifted defender so regularly use one and carry it in the car as the standard jack will not lift it enough to change wheels.

Sorry but that is no excuse to use a farmjack, lift the axle not the body it's far safer, I always use a bottle jack under the axle. I used to have a Defender and currently drive a Hilux that's running big wheels so the standard jack is too short but a bottle jack does the job perfectly.

Farmjack's have their uses but lifting vehicles isn't one of them IMHO and before anyone says anything yes I have used them safely.