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Vehicle Recovery Techniques
Hi-lift Jacks
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Hi-Lift jacks are rugged, versatile jacks that allow you to lift,
push, pull, winch, hoist and clamp,
making them an invaluable vehicle recovery tool. Although light
and easy to handle, the hi-lift jack typically offers a rated
lifting capacity of over 2 tons (2000 kg). To make effective use
of a hilift jack, suitable jacking points on the front and rear
of the vehicle are required. This can be a strong bumper, or
custom-made hilift jack points.
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| Important Safety Information |
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THE JACK WILL NOT STABILIZE A LOAD. You must chock and block (stabilize)
the load securely to prevent it from falling. If a raised load falls, it can cause serious injury or death.
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DO NOT USE A HI-LIFT JACK TO SUPPORT A LOAD. Never get under a raised load. If a raised load falls, it can cause serious injury or death.
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KEEP YOUR HEAD CLEAR OF THE PATH OF THE HANDLE. During lowering, the weight of the load pushes UP against the Jack's handle. If your hands slip off the handle, or if the handle is horizontal when you move the reversing latch, it may move up very quickly. If your head is in the handle's travel path, it could strike you, causing serious injury or death.
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DO NOT USE A JACK ON CURVED OR TUBULAR VEHICLE BUMPERS. The vehicle could slip off the Jack and fall, causing serious injury or death.
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| Recovery |
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When stuck in ruts, you can use a hi-lift jack to raise the front or
rear of your vehicle out of the ruts, and then topple the jack and
vehicle over, either to the left or the right, to place that part of
the vehicle on solid ground providing traction. Stand well clear of
the jack and vehicle when doing this!
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Alternatively, you can use a hi-lift jack to jack your vehicle up high
enough to insert branches or sand ladders under the wheels to aid traction.
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| Winching |
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Firstly, make sure the top clamp is in line with the bar. Install one end
of a chain or tow strap securely to the object to be winched, and securely
attach the other end of the chain or tow strap to the lifting nose of the
Jack. Take another chain or tow strap and secure one end to a fixed, stable
object, and the other end to the top clamp on the Jack. Use a shackle if the
chain or tow strap will not fit through the Top Clamp of the Jack. If the
fixed object is a tree, use a tree protector.
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Operate the Jack as you would for raising or lowering a load.
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| Clamping |
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Loosen the top clamp bolt. Turn the top clamp 90? to the steel bar, and
re-tighten the bolt. You can connect the top clamp anywhere along the
steel bar to use the Jack as a clamp. Operate the Jack as you would for
raising a load.
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© 1998-2013 Martin Wittenburg and Michael Wittenburg. All rights reserved.
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