HIGH-LIFT JACK

The original Automatic Combination Tool was patented back in 1905. It was initially called the Handyman, but was later trademarked as the Hi-Lift jack. A high-lift jack (aka a farm jack or adventure jack) is an indispensable piece of equipment for avid 4x4 enthusiasts, but like any piece of equipment it can also be an extremely dangerous one. It’s inherently unstable, and if your vehicle is suspended high off the ground and someone bumps into it, the jack will shift and the car will fall on top of you. Also, be extremely careful when you lower it. If your hand slips off the lever, or the lever is in a horizontal position when you switch over to the downward gear, the lever will suddenly shoot upward and knock your teeth out. And the worst part is the lever will whip up and down a few more times for extra punishment. It’s not a laughing matter: Quite a few people have broken arms and legs like this, and a few have even died. We know it looks cool if you fasten your hi-lift to your truck’s roof rack or bumper, but the gear mechanism can become clogged with dirt, decreasing its reliability. Rather bolt it to the inside of your vehicle. If you have to put it on the roof rack, use nuts and bolts and not cable ties. If you’re involved in a car accident that heavy high-lift will break loose and fly into the car in front of you like a guided missile. But that’s enough horror stories. A high-lift jack is incredibly versatile. You can use it as a winch, you can bend metal, pop the bead of a tyre, and use it as a sand anchor – the options are endless. You’ll get out of almost any bind if you have both a highlift and a scissor jack. >