Jack Stance?

[Ranger Kip]

Would it be practical to replace the bottlejack in the 88 ranger with a farm jack? or would it not do the same thing? I have no experience with a farm jack, so I have no idea, i just know the bottlejacks are a pain.

 

[ranger_mclaren]

I don't see why not but your gonna need some way to mount it. They make a ton of custom mounts for them as well as platforms for them to stand on for jacking on sand, gravel or other soft stuff. It would be easier to carry one of those than say a floor jack. You'll get a ton more lift too, than any bottle jack I've seen.

 

[country0001]

I love the stock jack. Hilift jacks can be very dangerous. The stockjack is really not that bad.

 

[superds]

Bottle jacks and big tires don't mix well. They don't lift high enough to get to a lift point on their own. I have a Hi Lift (the same design I assume you're talking about when you say "farm jack") jack that I use for my Ranger, lift at my tube bumpers. I know the Hi Lift jacks are dangerous, but there's not a whole lot out there on the market to use instead, whithout spending a ton of money. Maybe some is in order to make a custom jack as an alternative to the hi lift.

 

[4x4junkie]

You'll need good jacking points for it as well (such as the tube bumpers superds mentioned. If you have rocksliders, they work real good too).

 

[Bennybooster]

Just make sure its on solid flat ground

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Just make sure its on solid flat ground

And keep anything you want to keep (like say your face) away from the handle. If it doesn't quite catch that handle will swing up with the force of your truck coming down... and try to remove anything it can get ahold of.

I use them on tractors, I don't care for them on trucks. You have to get all the flex out of the suspension before you can get the tire off the ground.

 

[4.0B2]

You have to get all the flex out of the suspension before you can get the tire off the ground.

which is why i prefer the jack over a hilift.. but hilift's do have their purpose

hilifts are dangerous- so be careful and learn how to use them.. if you have the room... i'd say carry one of these
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-compact-floor-jack-66725.html

or one like it, just a regular floor jack...
hilifts will work tho. but seriously, i plan on leaving my bottle jack in my b2.

 

[4.0B2]

another thing to think about when using a hilift is to use your winch or a rachet strap of some sort to hold your axle up when you pick up the truck, that way you don't have to lift all your "droop" out of your suspension.

 

[wahlstrom1]

I use a aluminum floor jack with a skid welded on the bottom to keep it from sinking in. I have a 60" Hi-Lift and only use it when absolutely needed, and a hydraulic bottle jack with some good blocking is plenty safe, easy to use and can be used for a lot of other purposes.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

The stock little ford jack is actually pretty damn versatile.

 

[wahlstrom1]

Any bottle style jack works well... Pushed a few U-joints together while wheeling when I forgot the real tools at home

 

[Ranger Kip]

What if I get one of these?

http://www.drillspot.com/products/63032/westward_3zc59_hydraulic_bottle_jack

 

[superds]

I would certainly rather use that than the factory style jack that requires you to turn the knob to raise it. Just need to make sure it will lift high enough for your application (which I believe it will). You could also look at this jack: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_9990000031871911P?prdNo=17&blockNo=17&blockType=G17, 6 ton Craftsman, lifts to almost 17" and only costs $23 US. I don't think it really matters where you buy a bottle jack from since I think they're all made in the same factory in China.

 

[Ranger Kip]

I would certainly rather use that than the factory style jack that requires you to turn the knob to raise it. Just need to make sure it will lift high enough for your application (which I believe it will). You could also look at this jack: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_9990000031871911P?prdNo=17&blockNo=17&blockType=G17, 6 ton Craftsman, lifts to almost 17" and only costs $23 US. I don't think it really matters where you buy a bottle jack from since I think they're all made in the same factory in China.

I might do that, and just weld a flat piece of 1/4" thick plate steel to the top. (Have scrap from a friend's project at school)