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Jacking up a lifted K5

marine_mike

marine_mike

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Ok, in planning the eventual build of my blazer, I've come up with a dilema. Right now my K5 has a 4" lift on it and I was debating on how I would takle the issue of changing a tire or making repairs in a pinch. I'm sure most of us don't carry jack stands around with us. When I had my YJ, I could us the Hi-Lift at any of the 4 corners due to the fact that I had custom bumper front and rear along with sliders. My question is this.... Using a Hi-Lift, how on earth am I gonna get the wheel of the ground? I was thinking that once I put an Abomb on the front, I could use a piece of square tubing with D-Ring tabs welded in such a way that they would match up to the inside of the D-Ring tabs on the Abomb and use that as a lift point for the front. For right now, the tow hitch can be used for the rear. What's your opinions?
 
Me? I just lift it with my hands, But then again, I did win GM of the month, so i dont know what all you mere mortals would do in this situation.
 
Well if you are on solid ground a bottle jack under the axle.
If you are off road or want to use your Hi lift, you can chain the axle to the frame when the weight of the truck is on, then when you lift it, the axle doesn't droop much.
As for lift locations obviously you need to make them.
That is why at this point I use a bottle jack.

marine_mike said:
Ok, in planning the eventual build of my blazer, I've come up with a dilema. Right now my K5 has a 4" lift on it and I was debating on how I would takle the issue of changing a tire or making repairs in a pinch. I'm sure most of us don't carry jack stands around with us. When I had my YJ, I could us the Hi-Lift at any of the 4 corners due to the fact that I had custom bumper front and rear along with sliders. My question is this.... Using a Hi-Lift, how on earth am I gonna get the wheel of the ground? I was thinking that once I put an Abomb on the front, I could use a piece of square tubing with D-Ring tabs welded in such a way that they would match up to the inside of the D-Ring tabs on the Abomb and use that as a lift point for the front. For right now, the tow hitch can be used for the rear. What's your opinions?
Click to expand...
 
I actually do carry a jackstand. I am way too nervous around hilifts to get under anything suspended by one if there's a risk of the truck crushing me (such as changing a tire). I might be OK working under two hi lifts that are positioned apart from each-other so that the load is not able to come off the jack sideways. That's the thing about hilifts that makes me nervous is the sideways load.

Many times have I lifted from the wheel with a high lift and a little forward pressure at the top of the jack, one foot firmly planting the jack's foot in towards the wheel. Never have I liked doing it, but it actually works pretty well unless you have a lot of backspacing. If you have a buddy with you, they can drop a jackstand under the axle tube while you're running the hilift but obviously you need to be considering their location if the jack were to slip out of the wheel. They also sell a special hook for your wheels, but I've never had wheels that it fit very well. I frequently have to jack from the wheel (obviously don't bother with the jackstand in this case) to reset beads because I still haven't made some beadlocks.

The chain to limit suspension and hilifting from the bumper/rock slider and a bottle jack are obviously the safest, and that's what I usually try to do if the situation permits. I carry both because there's times when a bottle jack can be pretty dangerous because it requires you to get under the truck, where a hilift at least gives you more of a chance to jump out of the way. Obviously in most cases the bottle jack is pretty stable though.

I really like having rock sliders. One of my favorite things about them is how much safer it is to lift from there in a lot of cases.
 
owenst7, I can attest to the Hi-Lift having it's dangers. I was lowering my YJ once and lost my grip on the handle. It proceeded to go up and down, lowering the jeep on it's own. Almost got my jaw broken as the handle went past my face. I guess I'll just invest on a bigger bottle jack.
 
marine_mike said:
owenst7, I can attest to the Hi-Lift having it's dangers. I was lowering my YJ once and lost my grip on the handle. It proceeded to go up and down, lowering the jeep on it's own. Almost got my jaw broken as the handle went past my face. I guess I'll just invest on a bigger bottle jack.
Click to expand...

I have a 20 ton bottle jack :thumb:
 
I carry a high lift that I can use front and rear but I also carry a HF bottle jack and a block of wood that works just as well. You can pick up a little 4 or 8 ton bottle jack for really cheap with the 20% off coupon.
 
I have a HMMWV jack. Sometimes you can find them surplus. Decently high lifting height and also plenty strong for a K5. Easy to put a 4x4 under or on top of it too.
 
Avery4jc said:
I carry a high lift that I can use front and rear but I also carry a HF bottle jack and a block of wood that works just as well. You can pick up a little 4 or 8 ton bottle jack for really cheap with the 20% off coupon.
Click to expand...

I came to say this....
 
scottishdave said:
Me? I just lift it with my hands, But then again, I did win GM of the month, so i dont know what all you mere mortals would do in this situation.
Click to expand...
Awesome!:waytogo:

TheBeast_88K5 said:
I came to say this....
Click to expand...
...

I use both. I wouldn't change a tire with a high-lift only. EVERY time I use one it tips over. I expect it to happen now.
It gives me an idea to install a kick-stand kind of like the one Homer Simpson invented:

Homer chair.jpg

So if it falls the kickstand pops out.

Homer chair.jpg
 
I've always had good luck with the OEM truck scissor type jacks and a 4x4. Usually free or cheap and plenty of height for my setup. I'd invest in a bottle jack long before I'd try using a hi lift for changing a tire. For me using a hi lift is a last resort. Its a tool with an awesome reputation for durability, and I've been glad to have mine on hand on more than one occasion, but its not really great at any one thing.

marine_mike said:
owenst7, I can attest to the Hi-Lift having it's dangers. I was lowering my YJ once and lost my grip on the handle. It proceeded to go up and down, lowering the jeep on it's own. Almost got my jaw broken as the handle went past my face. I guess I'll just invest on a bigger bottle jack.
Click to expand...

I a similar experience with an enclosed trailer. The electric jack didnt want to pick the trailer up full of quads and gear so out came the high lift. I dont know if it was overloaded or dirty or what but it slipped and did the same going down and flailing the handle routine. I was standing lower than it was (trailer tongue was on the pavement, I was down in the dirt parking area). I wasnt so lucky, it hit me full force on the first swing square in the neck up to the jaw. My neck and jaw were sore for a week.
 
I don't trust hi-lifts either. Last time I went wheeling I brought my 3 ton floor jack. :haha:
I never ended up needing it but two other vehicles borrowed it for repairs/wheel changes. It's a bit on the heavy side to lug around but I drive a burb with no third row seat so plenty of room for it.
 
dieselndixie said:
something like this? http://www.harborfreight.com/4-ton-hydraulic-bottle-jack-66450.html

with a 4x4 block...or a wider block of wood?
Click to expand...

I carry a chunk of 2x6 or 2x8, I forget, like a foot long. Wider is better than taller for the base; it's not so much to gain height as it is stability.

That's also a small jack. I carry a 12-ton in the Blazer and I think a 20 in the crewcab. Sure, the MAXIMUM rating is way overkill, but it's easier to pump a jack that's at 10% capacity than one that's at 90%.

-- A
 
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