Which Is Best

Wombat · Veteran Member

Which Is Best

Cruising Granny · Guru

A "roo" jack or high lift jack is versatile and very handy out in the bush for getting out of bogs and all sorts of other trouble.
I like the bottle jack for normal use on the car and van. Even a scissor jack can be useful in normal situations.

Personal choice for the job you want it to do. Cheers Chris

Rolly · Guru

Which jack to use depends very much on the circumstances, however, be very careful with the "high lift" jacks as they become very unstable as they get higher.

There have been lots of injuries from accidents involving them.

Get some professional advice on their correct operation before attempting to use one.
With my reduced physical strength I wouldn't even contemplate trying to use one myself.

I have a couple of double action 'bottle' jacks and a couple of the 'scissor' variety.
The later can be used to lift the 'van/vehicle to a height where it is possible to get the heavier duty bottles under the lifting points.
(I also use them as supplementary corner stabilisers when the weather gets a bit windy - as it is in WA tonight. It's not especially cold, but that is a truly "lazy" wind furious

)

Wombat · Veteran Member

Thanks Chris, Thanks Rolly, I had actually made my mind up for bottle jacks and scissor jacks (Out of the old Bravo) but I thought I would ask as well. Rolly, I think we are going to cop a caning tonight here in Perth again. Had gusts over here in Thornlie a little time back that must of hit 60 plus.

And the kids wonder why I want to north. LOL biggrin

mike and Judy · Guru

I carry both, 2 scissors and a bottle,
had a bad experience with a high lift jack some years ago, a gust of wind hit the car south of Leonora in WA, and blew the car sideways, fortunatly away from me and the car landed on the hub,
Bloody Kumo tyres, never again,

dave06 · Guru

they all have their uses, I personally hate the scissor type jacks

a good quality, multi rammed bottle jack is probably the most used but I personally like the high lift if you have the space to carry it

any jack will kill you, any jack will fail at any time, a scissor jack more than most, I had a bottle jack sink in the sand up in the simpson years ago, vehicle grabbed my legs, luckily it was sand and I was able to dig myself free with no injury well a few cuts, young and stupid

a high lift used properly and with great care, as with all jacks, will give you the widest use

the bullbags are great if you are in sandy country and your exhaust is in first class condition but really of little value anywhere else

there are a lot of people killed every year through either the misuse of or failing of jacks, whatever you choose, learn how to use it correctly and dont trust it for a second, it's sole aim in life is to kill you

Wombat 280 · Guru

Bag jacks are usles if the vehicle engine is disabled and as said by others be careful with hi lifts. That leaves the old reliable bottle just make sure you take a couplr of wood blocks to get that extra lift and get a jack that will fit under the chassis when the tyre is flat .

There is a hyd jack that lifts the van and is also used as a jack stand to get the van off the tug about $350 but not bending required and you pump the handle from a standing position

kenmarg · Senior Member

hi wombat. about all i could contribute to all the tips. when you jack your van or car up after loosening the wheel nuts. put the spare wheel under the chassis of the car or caravan. undo the wheel nuts,and put this wheel under the chassis too. wd40 the wheel studs,then take the spare from under the chassis,and fit it to the hub. if the jack topples over, the car or caravan will fall onto the spare, but there is space under there to be able to get the vechile jacked back up again.

Lazo · Member

G'Day All,

I think the jack that Wombat was referring to is the Trail-A-Mate. This is their website - http://www.trail-a-mate.com/trail.asp

I've used one for the past couple of years on my van and they are brilliant!

If anyone would like some pictures of it in action, let me know and I'll put something together.

I use it for the van only, and use either scissor or bottle type for the tug.

Cheers
Lazo

Stefan · Veteran Member

HI
I heard bull bags can cause engine damage due to exhaust restrictions etc ,plus if your exhaust isn't %100 you will get leaks from exhaust or cause a leak so its next to useless then for blowing up bull bags !