Bottle jack

[TJ1978]

For my truck, ground to axle is 16 inches. I searched Amazon for a bottle jack and I couldnt find one that would work for me. The highest I located was 16 3/4 which I dont think would do me much good if I needed to change a tire.

Does anyone here recommend an all purpose-ish jack for road and trail?

Thanks

 

[HankScorpio]

I have the small Harbor Freight aluminum floor jack. Works real well and doesn't take up tons of room. Bigger than a bottle jack but lots more stable.
https://www.harborfreight.com/15-ton-aluminum-racing-floor-jack-with-rapid-pump-64545.html

 

[Capt Ron]

I bought a OEM 2 stage bottle jack at the wrecking yard. $18.00 I believe it came out of an 07? F350. Fits under my axles with just a rim bolted on and lifts high enough to change a 35" tire, 60 and a 14 on my K5. Sorry do not have exact specs.

 

[TJ1978]

I have the small Harbor Freight aluminum floor jack. Works real well and doesn't take up tons of room. Bigger than a bottle jack but lots more stable.
https://www.harborfreight.com/15-ton-aluminum-racing-floor-jack-with-rapid-pump-64545.html

This will work on dirt or sand? I suppose I could just carry a flat piece of word for that, correct?

 

[6872xtc]

This will work on dirt or sand? I suppose I could just carry a flat piece of word for that, correct?

I was just about to suggest carrying some blocks, they can come in handy for different reasons. I always like to get hardwood ones to help durability.

 

[skunked]

I use a scissor jack with a SWAG off-road bottle jack cradle mounted to it. That's a 40" tire pictured below as a height reference.

 

[HankScorpio]

This will work on dirt or sand? I suppose I could just carry a flat piece of word for that, correct?

Its been good for me on dirt, a board would help in sand. There used to be someone making a skid to mount on the bottom just for sand. SWAG possibly?

 

[HankScorpio]

Did an image search, several jack skid options or build your own. I like that scissor jack that @skunked has.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?...qpvt=harbor+freight+jack+skid+plate&FORM=IGRE

 

[Kain]

there are a few skid plates out there

https://www.google.com/search?q=jac...1.69i57j0l5.5325j1j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[TJ1978]

Great, thanks for the help.

 

[beags86]

https://safejacks.com/collections/bottle-jack-accessories

Here you go. All the bottle jack stuff you would ever need.

 

[1-ton]

I carry the same jack as @HankScorpio in my truck. Bottle jacks are good for super heavy duty applications, but on the road or trail they can be difficult to work with. Floor jacks are easier to use to get it under the truck, line it up, and get the truck up off the ground quickly.

 

[badmix]

I use hi-lift and have it bolted to my roll bar. I cant see bottle jack being efficient for our big trucks, ill use them to hold axle if im messing with springs or shocks

 

[6872xtc]

I use hi-lift and have it bolted to my roll bar. I cant see bottle jack being efficient for our big trucks, ill use them to hold axle if im messing with springs or shocks

I used a my bottle jack to change a 37 out on my '90 when we were on Metal Masher in Moab this year. It was faster that chaining up the axle with the high lift to minimize the height of the lift.
But it was easy to drive a few feet to a flat spot.

 

[badmix]

Oh I believe it, ya’ll been at this stuff longer then me, only off roAding i do now is if i have to go in the field

 

[skunked]

I used a my bottle jack to change a 37 out on my '90 when we were on Metal Masher in Moab this year. It was faster that chaining up the axle with the high lift to minimize the height of the lift.

that's why I added a scissor jack. Plus the high lift can be a PITA when you're in the rocks.

and another flat tire this year at BB?

 

[6872xtc]

that's why I added a scissor jack. Plus the high lift can be a PITA when you're in the rocks.

and another flat tire this year at BB?

Yup, @Bent77 was nice (honestly!) about telling me that I should have listened to him and replaced them years ago. I acknowledged that, but I was fortunate enough to not have another problem after that!

 

[diesel4me]

I consider bottle jacks a high risk unit,they love to slip off the axle tube after the truck is jacked up and you got the wheel off!..the small tip of the piston with some diamond points stamped in it suck at staying put on a slippery round axle tube..

I made a "saddle" for mine out of a hunk of pipe cut in half ,with another short pipe welded to it that will slip over the top part of the hydraulic piston,so it cant slide off the axle tube so easily..
One thing I forgot to check,is to see if it'll still fit under the axle with that saddle on it when a tire goes flat..I think it will,but might not!..

I still keep it in the truck,but I have a full sized floor jack I keep under the tool box in the bed to use if I have a flat..it weighs a ton though,it'll probably give me a hernia getting it back in the truck bed..

 

[Mastiff]

https://safejacks.com/collections/bottle-jack-accessories

Here you go. All the bottle jack stuff you would ever need.

Yeah, I basically ripped off this idea. Welded up my own sections of steel tubing to fit over a HF bottle jack. Different lengths that can nest, plus a cradle and a flat sheet to set it on for soft ground. I still carry the hi-lift around on my jeep, butI tried to change a tire with it once and it was a no go. You have to jack insanely high to account for droop, plus it's terrifying, and it tried to rip into the side of the vehicle. To use it right, you'd need a bumper practically designed for it, plus a way to lock up the suspension. Bottle or scissor for me.

I like the setup skunked has. Is that jack easy to find? I seem to remember scouring Amazon once and being disappointed at what I was able to find.

 

[skunked]

I like the setup skunked has. Is that jack easy to find? I seem to remember scouring Amazon once and being disappointed at what I was able to find.

amazon sells the jack, I think I paid 40-50 bucks for it. Swag sells the cradle. I actually got the idea watching King of the Hammers, a couple of the teams carry that exact scissor jack.