is any farm jack as good as the next?

[goldxlt]

i saw a farm jack at harbour frieight that was half as much as the highlifts from central farm and tractor, are they just as good?

 

[dusto2]

dont know for sure one of the guys i work the parts counter with at night was showing me i think he is going to get one tonight if he does i will let you know

 

[Jim Oaks]

I hate those damn things.

I have a hi-lift and never use it. I'm actually looking for a quick pump aluminum floor jack to secure in the bed. I have a small floor jack now that I keep in the bed box, but I want an aluminum one that's lighter and pumps quicker.

Even though I have a hi-lift, I use my little floor jack. You have to jack forever with a hi-lift to get the wheel off the ground. The more suspension travel you have the worse it is.

I've had those things come slamming down as well.

 

[dougs3.0L98]

hi-lifts are dangerous but they've got me off the mountain and to work the next morning. kinda like an ex wife you are forced to call when you're in a bind.

 

[Jeepman401]

I had a cheap one from a tool sale, and it diddnt hold up very well

 

[Dishtowel]

are they just as good?

not necessarily, there is always different quality.
and as some other guys said, I dont like them, I have gotten hurt by them, and one of the guys at my work had a black eye/swollen face for a 1.5 weeks due to one slipping.
You can be as careful and pro about setting them up as you want, they are sketchy.

 

[smokey]

I can tell you there is a big difference between the real hi-lift and the knock off ones. compare them side by side and it is apparent. the cheap ones bend and fall allot easier than the good ones.
I seldom use mine to actually jack up anything. I use it mainly as a clamp to pull parts together to weld them together or as a come-a-long to pull things. They are dangerous to use about any way you use them but they are handy to have around.

 

[Mutant Pony]

It is like comparing 'Vise Grips' to any other locking pliers. If it works for you.
Like Jim said though. I as well have a $30 floor jack and a piece of flat steel that I carry with me. Bumper jacks have tried to kill me many times. I came real close to losing a hand once due to my Hi lift. It has never failed me on over 15 years though. It has rescued me as a winch as well.
Jim, you have to be careful buying those aluminum jacks, I have one. It was cheap but, it is worthless.

 

[86ford]

i have a hi-lift (a real one) and a aluminum floor jack. the floor jack is still heavy as piss to use because the pumps steel along with most the bolts. in an ideal world i would love to use the craftsman floor jack any time BUT its not mud friendly nor is it good for lifted vehicles because all you can lift by is the diffs usually. i have beaten the aluminum jack badly and it has held up well. as for the hi-lift, dont buy a knock off because the real ones dangerous, i cant imagine what a cheapo is like!

86

 

[mkpecor]

i use my real hi lift just for wheeling works awsome never slips, they can hert you if you dont know how to use them, they slip and come crashing down because it needs to be rebuilt, the spring and pin gets weak after lots of use. ill never wheel with out one.

 

[PaleBlue90]

there good and bad i have one and it has fallen while i was jacking my 89 up on the trail.....sacred me 2 death. make shure you stick a beefy log or rock(s) under a tire, as a wheel chalk.i have also been useing it in rain, had the handle slip and start letting its self down...scary too. the cheapy ones are bad, my friend got one and we tryed to use it as a winch, it sent the strap across his xj beacuse the cheesey springs gave. if you have to have one, spend the extra $$$ dont kill yourself beacuse you decided to cheap out. like stated, handy to have but dangerous and a PITA

 

[Totalled]

I have the HF farm jack. It's pin mechanism is smoother than the high lifts I've used. Is it the same overall quality? No. You get what you pay for. It works. I need a 64" now, and will be getting a real hi lift.