When heading out on four-wheel-drive trails it’s always best to be prepared for any scenario. This is why the answer to the question of what kind of jack you need for overlanding or off-road use is really “what kinds of jacks do you need”.
Each person’s gear situation is unique – based on their vehicle type and where they plan to travel off-road. As budget overlanders who tend to stick to trails rated 1-5 out of 10, we do fine with a bottle jack, Hi-Lift jack and an exhaust jack.
Off-Road Jacks for Changing Tires
The most common situation where you need a well made, stable, strong jack is for changing tires on your vehicle. Hi-Lift jacks are not made for this purpose and can be downright dangerous to use changing a tire. Floor jacks or trolley jacks are too cumbersome to use outdoors, so we didn’t include them. When it comes to tire changing jacks there are basically two kinds which will serve this purpose. These are scissor jacks and bottle jacks.
What to Look For: For a tire changing jack you should look for lifting weight capacity, a stable base and snug fitting top, as well as look for how far it extends upward and how low it goes. While bottle jacks are typically stronger than scissor jacks, they won’t go as low to the ground, which may be a problem when trying to get them under an axle or frame in some terrain.
Scissor jacks are handy for tight spaces, but can’t lift as much as bottle jacks.
Scissor Jacks
Your vehicle’s OEM jack is probably a scissor jack. These are not complex machines and don’t require a piston or fluid mechanism, just a long threaded shaft connected to an X shaped set of arms that, when pulled together, make the jack rise and lift the vehicle. Scissor jacks have a bad reputation mostly because their lifting power is limited and also because the ones that often come with a new vehicle aren’t of the best quality.
A good scissor jack capable of lifting 3,000 lbs will work for many off-road vehicles. We’ve used an imported 12 volt model to lift our 1/2 ton truck, but you can also use a cordless impact wrench on manual ones to make life easier. Things to look for are a wide base and grooved head that won’t slip off an axle.
Because of their design, scissor jacks simply can’t lift very heavy vehicles. When they do fail, they can fail spectacularly, so be wary of putting too much torque on them with an impact wrench.
Bottle Jacks
Bottle jacks work well for off-road tire changing, if they’re used correctly. Because they feature an oil filled hydraulic cylinder, they can lift more weight and with more ease than scissor jacks. For bottle jacks without a wide base, carrying a heavy board or two to set them is a good idea. While scisssor jacks don’t come in lifting capabilities much over 3 tons, bottle jacks are available to lift up to twenty tons or more. They tend to be heavy, and need to be securely stowed.
An improvement on the ordinary bottle jack is the Safe Jack. Made for 4×4’s with 3 different sizes of extension tubes (which can all be fitted together) and both a flat and cradled head to fit different vehicle frame sizes, it’s one of the best jacks on the market for off-road vehicles and was featured at Overland Expo West. We don’t own one yet but have tested a borrowed one. At just over $300 they’re not the cheapest option, but are better suited for lifted 4×4’s that standard bottle jacks.
The Safe Jack seems overpriced for what they really are, which is a regular bottle jack, a nice case and some cool extensions!)
For overlanders on a budget, like ourselves, a simple bottle jack can do the job just fine. The Big Red 8 ton, double ram jack (below) needs less than 7″ of clearance to fit and lifts to almost 8″ above that, for a total height of 17″, using the extension. Listing for around $50 and smaller than a coffee can, it’s an affordable choice to consider. (You may want to carry a couple blocks to set your bottle jack on, depending on your vehicle’s frame height.) Also,
When storing a bottle jack, make sure the relief valve is closed and it’s placed in an upright position.
The Big Red bottle jack works well for us, but needs some blocks to reach our lifted truck’s frame.
Jacks For Vehicle Recovery
When heading off-road, a good jack with extra long extension capabilities can be very useful for vehicle recovery. There are often situations where you need to raise the body of your vehicle, or an individual wheel off the ground. If you’ve become high-centered on a log or rock. A recovery jack may be the only way to get your vehicle off in such as situation.
Team Hi-Lift using one of their jacks.
Hi-Lift Jacks
Hi-Lift jacks are not for changing tires but are for lifting the body of your vehicle. The brand Hi-Lift has been making their trademarked product for over 100 years, and like so many other great American products, it’s been ripped off and copied by overseas companies. Hi-Lift jacks are dangerous if used improperly, which is why taking the guess work about whether a cheap knock-off, foreign copy is up to off-road standards is a wise idea.
The Aussie in the video below says it best “Hi-Lift jacks are fair dinkum dangerous” so always treat them with respect the deserve.
We bought a handy little strap a couple years ago, which allows you to use your Hi-Lift jack to lift an individual wheel off the ground. Lift Mate straps make an unsafe job somewhat safer. We’ve used our Hi-Lift jack at home to lift posts set in concrete out of the ground, pull stumps, break down tires and more.
Reliable, versatile and rugged, every off-road vehicle should carry a Hi-Lift jack. In a pinch you can even use one hooked to a tow strap to (slowly and carefully) winch a stuck vehicle.
Exhaust Jacks
The last category of off-road jacks are those powered by your vehicle’s exhaust. Obviously, if your tailpipe is buried in mud, they won’t do you any good. Also, since they’re basically a big inflatable cylinder, they can be punctured by thorns and rocks. At a local off-road park, Hidden Falls near Austin, TX, a group of us heard a hiss and loud “pop” as a cheap import version of one of these blew out its seams and deflated while a Jeep was being lifted.
Exhaust jacks do work, and models like those from ARB can lift 4,400 lbs and have proven themselves in many off-road situations. As with any jack, use them with extreme caution and stay out from under any vehicle being lifted.
Off-Road Jack Safety
Things to look for in an any jack, whether it’s for tire changing or recovery, is a means of operating it without having to get under the vehicle. A long handle or shaft will keep limbs from being crushed if the vehicle falls. Be sure to wear leather gloves, apply your emergency brake, block your tires, and be aware of where others are when you’re lifting a vehicle.
Choose a jack that works for the weight of your vehicle. If you have a heavy truck camper or overland rig, you may need something more substantial than those models listed above. As far as Hi-Lift jacks go, keep your head away to the side from the handle, since these have broken more than one jaw over the years!
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