03GoingStrong
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2020
- Messages
- 125
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- 60
So week before last I was replacing my rear shocks. As I had always done so, I used the Jeep scissor jack to lift one side at the boulder bar before putting a jack stand under the bar. I managed to complete shock installation on one side and had hoped to soon move to the other side. But there was a problem. The Jeep scissor jack threads became galled and I couldn't get the jack to go up or down without intense verbal encouragement. I felt VERY lucky to even get it up to remove the jack stand and thankful when about 15min later, was finally able to lower the Jeep.
I tossed the Jeep scissor Jack in the trash bin ... should have left it there. Next day, I got to thinking (always dangerous) about how maybe I could fix the Jack for emergency road use only, I fished the scissor jack out of the bin. I have a NICE Craftsman Tap & Die set ... but nothing for oddball thread sizes like 7/16 x 10 threads per inch. STILL I managed to free the Jack up and was just about to restore it back under the seat ... when I got to thinking again ... maybe I should try it out just to make sure I can use it in an emergency. Started jacking away and it FAILED, dropping the Jeep back down like it was hot.
Looked around and found a pre-owned but not used Jeep scissor jack salvaged from an '04 Liberty donor. $50.
@LibertyTC would have strongly suggested I find a GMC 2500 4x4 scissor jack but sadly, I wasn't a member of the "country" at that time.
So now I've got road emergencies covered ... but still needed to install a new shock on the rear driver's side. So I went out and bought a 6000 LBS POWERBUILT UNIJACK ... bottle jack and stand combo.
I was able to complete the shock install with the UNIJACK and a couple of Big Red's ...
BUT ... the UNIJACK at full extension just did lift the wheel off the ground when lifting on the boulder bar. There was no leeway and except I was on smooth concrete, might not have worked well otherwise.
SOoo, I even asked the miscreants what I should do to ensure I had all the bases covered ...
... they said not to worry, I also have "the beast" and fuggedaboutit.
Indeed, I'd almost forgotten about the seldom used Hi-Lift X-Treme, Lift-Mate and off-road kit I have. But even Hi-Lift strongly cautions against using the Lift-Mate for something as simple as changing a tire for one. And two, and some will disagree, there isn't ANY good place to use a Hi-Lift on a stock Jeep Liberty without getting into the sheet metal. Even the boulder bars are tucked up under the doors enough it's dang near impossible to Hi-Lift there without getting into sheet metal. In spite of using towels and blankets I managed in the past to relieve the Liberty of a small spot of clear coat. Besides, have you ever weighed that stuff ... it's just not practical to carry around a Hi-Lift and all that stuff on a normal routine daily basis ... although I think @tommudd may have one under his backseat. And lastly, I think a Hi-Lift is the most possibly dangerous and unstable option there is.
Yet, I still have all that stuff ... and a coffee cup. So I got to thinking ... again ... how can I make it practical for grab and go git-at-it maintenance projects on the Jeep? Well, I do have Hidden Hitches on both the front and back of the Jeep ... but they're tucked under a bit. Heck, I could just get a 12" hitch extension, add one of my D-ring shackles to the extension, rig up the Hi-Lift and let fly. BUT ... there's still the stability issue and lifting both wheels off the ground at the same time from either end is just about the most unstable thing to do.
So with a little google-foo I found a site that just might help me with the Hi-Lift stability issue ... Safe Jack https://safejacks.com/ . I got to looking around that site and found I could easily spend about $600 to get ALL the stuff I need to fully use the functionality of the beast that is Hi-Lift. But stability wise, Safe Jack looks like the best thing going.
Although I don't have a garage ... or even a carport ... I think maybe I just need to invest in a good floor jack and call it a day. In the meantime, I think my stuff is safe at Fort Picnic Table ... if can just find my coffee cup.
I tossed the Jeep scissor Jack in the trash bin ... should have left it there. Next day, I got to thinking (always dangerous) about how maybe I could fix the Jack for emergency road use only, I fished the scissor jack out of the bin. I have a NICE Craftsman Tap & Die set ... but nothing for oddball thread sizes like 7/16 x 10 threads per inch. STILL I managed to free the Jack up and was just about to restore it back under the seat ... when I got to thinking again ... maybe I should try it out just to make sure I can use it in an emergency. Started jacking away and it FAILED, dropping the Jeep back down like it was hot.
Looked around and found a pre-owned but not used Jeep scissor jack salvaged from an '04 Liberty donor. $50.
@LibertyTC would have strongly suggested I find a GMC 2500 4x4 scissor jack but sadly, I wasn't a member of the "country" at that time.
So now I've got road emergencies covered ... but still needed to install a new shock on the rear driver's side. So I went out and bought a 6000 LBS POWERBUILT UNIJACK ... bottle jack and stand combo.
I was able to complete the shock install with the UNIJACK and a couple of Big Red's ...
You must be registered for see images attach
BUT ... the UNIJACK at full extension just did lift the wheel off the ground when lifting on the boulder bar. There was no leeway and except I was on smooth concrete, might not have worked well otherwise.
SOoo, I even asked the miscreants what I should do to ensure I had all the bases covered ...
You must be registered for see images attach
... they said not to worry, I also have "the beast" and fuggedaboutit.
Indeed, I'd almost forgotten about the seldom used Hi-Lift X-Treme, Lift-Mate and off-road kit I have. But even Hi-Lift strongly cautions against using the Lift-Mate for something as simple as changing a tire for one. And two, and some will disagree, there isn't ANY good place to use a Hi-Lift on a stock Jeep Liberty without getting into the sheet metal. Even the boulder bars are tucked up under the doors enough it's dang near impossible to Hi-Lift there without getting into sheet metal. In spite of using towels and blankets I managed in the past to relieve the Liberty of a small spot of clear coat. Besides, have you ever weighed that stuff ... it's just not practical to carry around a Hi-Lift and all that stuff on a normal routine daily basis ... although I think @tommudd may have one under his backseat. And lastly, I think a Hi-Lift is the most possibly dangerous and unstable option there is.
You must be registered for see images attach
Yet, I still have all that stuff ... and a coffee cup. So I got to thinking ... again ... how can I make it practical for grab and go git-at-it maintenance projects on the Jeep? Well, I do have Hidden Hitches on both the front and back of the Jeep ... but they're tucked under a bit. Heck, I could just get a 12" hitch extension, add one of my D-ring shackles to the extension, rig up the Hi-Lift and let fly. BUT ... there's still the stability issue and lifting both wheels off the ground at the same time from either end is just about the most unstable thing to do.
So with a little google-foo I found a site that just might help me with the Hi-Lift stability issue ... Safe Jack https://safejacks.com/ . I got to looking around that site and found I could easily spend about $600 to get ALL the stuff I need to fully use the functionality of the beast that is Hi-Lift. But stability wise, Safe Jack looks like the best thing going.
Although I don't have a garage ... or even a carport ... I think maybe I just need to invest in a good floor jack and call it a day. In the meantime, I think my stuff is safe at Fort Picnic Table ... if can just find my coffee cup.
You must be registered for see images attach
