Hi-lift Jacks

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Permalink Reply by Frozenhosehead on January 5, 2010 at 7:11pm

My combi department I volunteer at uses the Rescue 42 jacks and even in the extreme cold they are versatile, sturdy, light weight and seem to hold up for about any extrication we run into and they have an adapter for Hi Lift jack application. There are others out there on the market but these are the ones we purchased. The high lift jacks serve their purpose and can compliment most rescue situations but it maybe difficult for them to provide a sturdy platform for some vehicle stabilizations. It's all about having the right tools in your tool box and one may serve a purpose where the other does not.

Hope this helps

stay safe

brad

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Permalink Reply by Todd "Walt" Walton on January 6, 2010 at 8:25pm

The Hi Lift jacks are also known as Handy Man jacks to some. They are versatile and work very well just like Brad said. A lot of extrication has been done with them. For us farm boys they were an essential piece of equipment and most pickups had them. They are also known as Widow Makers to some. While these jacks are great they do have their disadvantages. They have a very small base which will sink into soft dirt very quickly. The higher you lift, the more likely they are to tip, in any direction, and shift the load accordingly. Maintenance is also key because although they are simple if not kept clean and lubricated they have a tendency to hang up during operation and not want to advance and I have seen them drop without much warning.

For lifting I will use airbags and Jaws before I grab a Handy Man on a rescue scene. We have two on our rescue because they are versatile and fit in some places other lifting equipment won't. Haven't really used them but they are fairly cheap and there if we need them. Pair them with O'Connell Rescue Plates (O Plates) from Rescue 42 or something similar and you can do quite a bit.

Not saying get them or not to get them but instead be informed. Get your hands on one a see what you think and then form your opinion.

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