I've owned this Ram for about a week now. $600 in parts later, most of the problems are fixed. So now I'm on to the small stuff.

There was no jack in the truck, so I wanted to ask for recommendations on what to buy.

It's a 1997 Ram 1500 4x4 extended cab. It has been lifted 4 inches, so I'm guessing a stock jack would be worthless. I don't plan on taking it off-road, but I usually do some winter trips over mountain roads in the snow.

I've looked at the 48" Hi-Lift, but I'm not sure it will work with stock bumpers. Also not sure where to put it. I keep the rear seat folded up and like to use the floor space back there for cargo -- not the jack. Maybe there's a more compact jack available?

What jack should I get, and where do I store it? Also, low-cost is important.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

48" should work with it

 

Where do you store it? Does someone make a mount for the Hi-Lift to store it on a Ram bed or bumper?

 

not sure on that. id just throw it in the bed

 

you could just get some exhaust straping, and a few bolts, and some wing nuts and you have everything you need to make a custom mount for your bed.

the exhaust strapping im talking about is just a steel band, with holes drilled in it every inch or so. you can pick it up at advance, or even home depot, though it would be called soemthing else there.

and get a 2 1/2" bolt or so, and drill holes where you want to mount it, and put the bolt through the hole, the put one end of the straping on the bolt, and put a washer and nut on top of that, and tighten it down, then put your jack there wrap the strapping around it, then use a wing nut to hold the starpping, and this way you can also take it off easily when you need to.

 

http://www.4by4connection.com/hiliftjack.html

this site has everything. jacks and mounts that you simply bolt in the bed right under the rails.

They also have some adapter so that you can hook it to a round bumper like our trucks. It is probably just a chain with a hook on it but thats what they have

 

Are you planning on doing a bunch of wheeling that requires a heavy duty jack?

it will depend on what size tires you are running. the factory jacks are designed to be placed under the axles. I have used the factory bottle jack on my truck with 35" tires a few times and it works great. The jack will get to the end if its travel with the tire about 1" off the ground. If you need more than that you can just put a block under it.

What Im saying is. If you're just looking for a jack to change a flat on the street, there isnt anything wrong with that the factory supplied as long as you stay with 35" or smaller tires, and it fits in the original spot under the rear seat.

 

true, but he said he doesnt have the OE jack

 

Sell him your than.

 

Don't use a Hi-lift for changing tires! They are extremely dangerous and should only be used in offroad situations to help free a stuck vehicle and for duties a regular jack can't perform. Just get a good bottle jack.