Jacking a raised Patrol in emergency situations

[damaverick]

My GQ has 3" lift on suspension and another 2" on the body.

The concern is if I have a flat tyre either on road or off road, the stock bottle jack won't be able to raise the car high enough to do a wheel change. I know there are high lift jacks available for 4WD's but I would rather not carry all this extra weight.

I was thinking something light like either a block of wood or rubber/non-slip plastic that is just the right size to be placed between the ground and the bottle jack should do the trick. For off road situations, I think it would be even better than a high lift jack as you are spreading the weight across a bigger surface area by using a larger block under the jack. So basically if you're on a dirt road the jack won't sink into the ground.

Biggest problem at the moment is finding something suitable to use as a base for the jack. I went around to several auto shops but to no avail. What do you guys think? Thoughts, comments, alternatives?

[DX grunt]

I have exactly the same issue. My standard bottle jack won't reach the axle.

I use a solid brick underneath the jack. I have practiced on my driveway and it works for me. I've also used a very thick piece of wood under the solid brick.

I make sure the jack is in the middle of the brick/wood, so that the weight is distributed evenly.

Soft sand can be a problem. The other option could be an exhaust jack - it's light and folds down. Be careful of the exhaust fumes.

I'm not a fan of high lift jacks. If you don't know what you're doing, they can seriously injure or worse, or your troll may end up falling and bottoming out on the ground.

What ever you choose, make sure you do it safely.

Rossco

[damaverick]

Yep, I use bricks at home too but they're too heavy to keep in the truck and they're no good for uneven surfaces. Really need something that is one large piece.

A few people mentioned the axle height won't change if car has been raised... just thought I'd mention car has 35" tires on it

[DX grunt]

These links might help you. They're about exhaust jacks.

http://www.bushranger.com.au/exhaust_jack.php#.UQdznL9mhoE

http://www.arb.com.au/products/arb-recovery-equipment/jacks/

http://www.google.com.au/#q=exhaust+jack&hl=en&tbo=u&source=univ&tbm=shop&sa=X&ei=lHMHUe27KoLEmQXJu4HYBQ&sqi=2&ved=0CM4BELMY&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=b08baca294896502&biw=1517&bih=714

I’ve got no affiliation with any of these people, just another caring and sharing troll owner trying to help.

Rossco

[happygu]

Patrol bottle jacks go under the axle so it doesn't matter if you have standard or 8inch lift

[DX grunt]

Patrol bottle jacks go under the axle so it doesn't matter if you have standard or 8inch lift

Understand that, but mine, fully extended, still won't lift high enough to take a 'cheese cutter' off.

Rossco

[damaverick]

Patrol bottle jacks go under the axle so it doesn't matter if you have standard or 8inch lift

car has 35" tires on it thereby raising the axle height

[Alitis007]

The extra weight is worth it coz those high lift jacks act as a ratchet and are not hydraulic plus its unsafe putting something under a jack. Bottle jacks and other hydraulic can creep/loose pressure when the seal goes hard. I can introduce you to a quadriplegic that can confirm what am saying

[damaverick]

I probably would not get under the truck without using stands, it's just for doing emergency wheel changes as mentioned in the OP.

Good to see we're all safety conscious and looking out for each other though.

Cheers.

[growler2058]

Exhaust jack is probably the safest, just gotta be careful ya dont roll it on its side

[Alitis007]

I probably would not get under the truck without using stands, it's just for doing emergency wheel changes as mentioned in the OP.

Good to see we're all safety conscious and looking out for each other though.

Cheers.

For all the hassle just stick with the high lift, i have also seen those ballon jacks that sit under the car and inflate with exhaust gases but not sure how good they are or how safe either!!

[MudRunnerTD]

Even running 35s you are a total of 2" above a 31 so a piece of 8" x 2" will be enough for a standard jack. Jack goes under the axle and should have no trouble lifting your car off the ground.

If offroad then I have been known to dig a hole once the flat tyre is off so I can fit the bigger hard tyre if the car is not high enough.

I also carry a exhaust jack and I am a big fan! Great if you are I a bog when your changing tyres, great for soft ground and great for sand.

I hate Hi Lift Jacks! Bloody dangerous and renowned for being faulty if not used often and in the hands of an inexperienced operator. Very common for a HiLift to jack up the car but then fail to lower. Time to loose a finger.

[MudRunnerTD]

For all the hassle just stick with the high lift, i have also seen those ballon jacks that sit under the car and inflate with exhaust gases but not sure how good they are or how safe either!!

Hey George.

Mate bar news for you mate. Where are to going to jack off your car with a Hilift?? If you wanted to change a front tyre you could not? The back wheel would require you to jack off your tow ad only and you'd have to lift both rear wheels off the ground mate! Not so good.

I am on the iPhone but there are some great threads on the use of exhaust jacks here, worth a search for sure.

Cheers MR

[Alitis007]

Hey George.

Mate bar news for you mate. Where are to going to jack off your car with a Hilift?? If you wanted to change a front tyre you could not? The back wheel would require you to jack off your tow ad only and you'd have to lift both rear wheels off the ground mate! Not so good.

I am on the iPhone but there are some great threads on the use of exhaust jacks here, worth a search for sure.

Cheers MR

Thats a good point Darren BUT i don't need at high lift ATM lol but if i was on uneven ground i would improvise for the front like use the bottle jack to life the diff housing as high as i could then find something around me to wedge under the lower control arm and do as you said DIG! But each scenario is deferent same as every car so its hard to answer your question correctly.

Edit: just remembered that i had to try and inflate a flat tyre to raise a car chocked the suspension control arm to keep the ground clearance then let the air out of the spare and punctured tyre and re inflated the spare when it was on but like i said every scenario is defferent yeh!!

[happygu]

My bottle jack lifts my 33's way off the ground - haven't measured but should be sufficient for 35's.

Here is a solution that might work for one of you

25217

I have notched out the rear side for the standard Nissan Bottle Jack to fit on the base for jacking on sand

[MudRunnerTD]

An 8" x 2" red gum sleeper is cheap. Buy one and cut 250mm sections off it. Perfect jacking plates with a big footprint and will not compress.

Can stack 2 and then the jack if you had too ;)

[Cuppa]

Coincidentally I've been playing with some jacks today. Patrol is now up on axle stands (for the first time) with the rear wheels removed. Have been cleaning up the chassis (well at least the visible parts) with an angle grider/wire brush in preparation for re-painting with KBS Rustseal.

I have a variety of jacks I could have used.

An exhaust jack, as yet unused. Didn't use it because the floor surface has some large gravel on it, wasn't sure if it would cause a puncture.

I have an old high lift jack, used it recently to remove wheels off my bus, even with a timber plate (19m ply) under it it was sinking into the dry dirt of the shed floor. Also a bit unstable side to side. Scared me a bit.

Tried to lift the rear of the Patrol with a small trolley jack on a metal plate, under the rear diff centre. It felt like it was really struggling with a lot of pressure needed on the handle. I wasn't game to get underneath to put the axle stands in place.

Have not tried the factory jack, but wouldn't use any jack on a brick. Have done this in the past & seen the brick disintegrate under pressure. I do use bricks for chocking wheels.

In the end I used one of the two 10t bottle jacks I carry in the bus. Wouldn't fit under the diff, so I lifted one side at a time with the jack underneath the rear axle. Axle stands placed on metal plates.

Will try the factory jack once wheels are back on. When travelling I will carry the exhaust jack, & a bottle jack plus a couple of pieces of timber. Removed wheels or locally sourced logs will have to suffice as a safety measure underneath the vehicle as I wont be carrying axle stands.

Cuppa

[Morton]

all jacks are dangerous, I use timber blocks, a 6x2 x 300mm base plate under the jack, I also have 2 of 6x2 x 300mm timbers that are splayed (wedges), one or both are used on uneven ground to get the jack level regardless of the angle the vehicle is at, this will get you out of trouble 99% of the time, when on a severe angle I use my winch to hook to a tree to steady the vehicle in one place then jack it up for an emergency tyre replacement, that one is does ASAP, never get under it ever, safety is paramount

[nissannewby]

My standard bottle will lift my axles enough to remove 35's when you place it in the right spot. When you say all the way up and its still not enough are both stages all the way out?

[the evil twin]

I would absolutely never use a high lift jack for changing tyres.

Hi lifts are recovery jacks and because they invariably lift off the body/bar work of a truck any vehicle that has a heap of lift and/or flex is exceedingly dangerous as every inch you jack it makes it that more unstable.

Even on any surface other than a rock hard, dead flat 'billiard table' you are asking for trouble.

I have had a bead pop off a rim out in the bush in a huge rut 1/2 way up a hill now known as "Evils folly" for obvious reasons and all that was required was stabilise the vehicle (it was at about a 30 degree angle) take the weight of the front wheel as much as was safe using the bottle jack and dig out under the tyre. Took a bit of shovel work and about 20 minutes to fix the truck and 2 weeks for the scars to heal from where the missus beat the shyte out of me. I am still deaf in the left ear.

Yes i sometimes carry a hi lift depending where I am going but use a wheel mate if I need to pack under a tyre hoewever my exhaust jack is first choice weapon and I won't tour anywhere without it. They are THE ducks guts on any surface especially sand and a carpet square means they work on rocks extremely well as they mould to the uneven surface

[Chris79]

I have still never used a high lift for any off road tyre change, I avoid it at all costs. But no doubt one day there will be no alternative.
Rolled many tyres off rims and always managed to get the car to better ground or stabilize it using a winch ect and use the standard jack.

This was one example, rolled it off in the deep rut, winched it up out of the rut and lifted using the standard jack. Wouldnt go high enough so dug the tyre out about an inch or two.
Problem was with the fully flat tyre, I couldnt have even used a bit of wood under. It wouldnt fit, even with the jack at its lowest setting. Got there in the end.

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee178/CHRISMAV_2007/Wesburn%2015-8-09/DSC01498.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee178/CHRISMAV_2007/Wesburn%2015-8-09/DSC01499.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee178/CHRISMAV_2007/Wesburn%2015-8-09/DSC01500.jpg

[threedogs]

There are plenty of products to lift your 4x4 by the hub.
How they help changing a flat Tyre Got no idea.
come on all you inventors out there

[megatexture]

Carry a wheel stand ? I think the products your referring to are for shoving branches etc if your stuck for traction, never used one myself But I use my highlift a lot as I roll a bead all to often and the problem with doing it off sliders bullbars etc is you need to jack the car to full flex before you get the wheel off the ground and with larger lifts can get pretty high