i'm old as hell and i've never used or needed a high lift jack in my whole life. more useful to me is tow strap, chain, tow hooks for front, receiver hitch/ball on the rear, tool box, small floor jack to put in the tool box, some pieces of 2x8 to increase its height, sockets, ratchets, pull bars, pipe, etc, etc.

 

I'm only 2/3 as old as hell, but I use my High Lift all the time. Not so often on vehicles, but often while woodcutting and doing general maintenance. On vehicles I've mainly used the High Lift to recover a vehicle that's buried to the axle and the only way out is to jack and fill. But a High Lift is great for pulling fence posts that don't want to move, jacking up loaded trailers that have sunk or whose screw jacks have failed, moving things that a come-along won't, that kind of thing.

None of this is to say that everyone and his brother needs a High Lift, but that if your lifestyle warrants having one it's a good investment. As is a rebuild kit for that time you find out just what it takes to bend a climbing pin.

 

I'm the same way. I own a small piece of farm property with a couple of buddies and it's indispensable for working around there. It also does a great job lifting a tractor, but that's because there are so many places to secure it to. Have also used it many a time for pulling chain link fence and along with a strap and a good solid barn rafter to lift up the front of an ATV for working underneath. Stoop mine up damn near vertical when I install a full body skid plate on the underside of it...

 

Thanks for all of the replies guys. I ended up getting new tires instead. I figured that the tires were more of a necessity than the jack and toolbox considering what i had on the truck were stock size and pretty worn. I'm going to be getting the jack as soon as i can scrounge up 100 bucks to buy it and the mounting brackets.

Does anyone have pictures of where they mounted their tow hooks? I can get a kit from a farm and fleet like store here for about 24 bucks, i just need to know where to mount.

This is what the hooks of the kit are like (except 2 holes in the hook, not 3):

http://www.jcwhitney.com/dress-up-to.../p2004393.jcwx

 

They're a great tool when used properly. They're no substitute for a traditional jack for changing tires, but can work great for jacking up your rig on the trail or winching. They also work well for breaking the bead on a wheel/tire. I used mine a few months ago when I got my B2 stuck in some snow. Simply jacked up the *** end and it put all the weight on the front tires and I was able to drive off. Also jacked up my buddy's XJ in the snow and we were able to shovel all the snow out from underneath it.

 

man, a high lift is a life saver and a must have! i pack a 48" and 60" high lift with lots of rope and chain for rigging off trees in a pinch, gets you out of the mud, shifts the rearend over away from trees and multi use as a man powered winch. Get the biggest one you can get, the extra 12 inches of high lift will come in handy one day

 

I carry a hi lift and have used tons of times, but I have never needed to use it as a jack. It makes a great winch, come-along, and log splitter.