HI-LIFT EXTREME JACK PRODUCT REVIEW
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Product: X-treme Jack
Review Date: 10/25/2007
Reviewed By: Will Morgan
Website: www.hi-lift.com
   
Product Specs:

The Hi-Lift® X-TREME is for the serious Hi-Lift® user, offering the "top of the line" all-cast version (48" or 60" sizes) with special features that include, charcoal metallic powder-coat finish, gold zinc-coated hardware and handle, and a special top winch-clamp-spreader attachment.
   
Review Details:

My thoughts on this product are that everyone who spends time outside needs one of these jacks.  Having used them for years I can think of many times that these things have saved the day. This is one of the items that every wheeler should have and use as any other standard piece of equipment that they would usually take; spare tire, tools, tow strap or any of the many other things that makes the "gotta take with" check list.

Another thing I really liked about the new X-Treme Jack is the new color combination, the new charcoal powder coat finish gives the jack a stealth look and the ability to mount it along with other dark components on a persons vehicle and not have it stand out. 

In short I say you gotta have one!! I am now considering replacing my older "standard Hi-Lift" with a new X-Treme even though the old one still works great.

Please check back soon...we will be adding some "action pictures" to this page that will show the versatility of this item.

Hi-Lift® 48” X-Treme Jack

When this product showed up I felt like a kid on Christmas morning, all I could think about was getting this jack unboxed and testing it out. As soon as the staff at Jeep Brokers found out that we were going to be doing a review for the Hi-Lift® X-Treme jack we had plenty of offers for donation vehicles to do the installation on, each in hopes of getting the new jack. After some discussion on which vehicle would actually get the new mounting kit as well as the jack we decided that with what we had in store for our “pride and joy”...our 1948 Willys it would be the best candidate for the equipment.

This write up is mostly going to be on the install as well as some of the features that separate this new generation of Hi-Lift® Jack from its predecessors. We also wanted to showcase this for another reason, many times people buy their first Jeep from our website and immediately they are looking to add accessories and ask us for advice on where they should start. Many want to now if they should invest in a winch, a lift kit, wheels, tires engine components and the list goes on. Often our first response is to answer the question with a question…… Do you have a Hi-Lift® Jack?  If the answer is no, we recommend one right off the start, specifically this brand. There are imitators out there and when it comes to depending on your equipment and tools to get you out of a bind and back home you don’t want to find out the hard way that you should have gotten the best in the industry first. There is a reason this company has been around since the late 1800's, and to this day continues to be one of the most recognized names in the wheeling community.  There is no doubt that this is one of the most versatile tool ever invented.

Some of the features that the new X-Treme Jack offers are the “top of the line” all-cast version with its charcoal metallic powder coat finish. The Gold Zinc-coated hardware and handle ensure these components are going to resist the elements and rust even under the most extreme use and harsh treatment that these jacks are put through. And to top that off the clamp-clevis of the standard Hi-Lift® has been replaced by the Winch-Clamp-Spreader Attachment making this jack capable of:

  • Winching, spreading, or clamping up to 5,000 lbs.

  • One position for all winching, clamping and spreading positions.

The guys at Hi-Lift® were gracious enough to provide us with the 48” X-Treme Jack, a Handle Keeper, as well as the 4XRAC needed to mount the jack on our Willys. We immediately got the stuff unboxed and got ready to do the install.


The tools you will need to complete the install are simple hand tools.

  • Electric Drill (or good quality cordless)

  • 9/32” High Speed Drill Bit

  • (2) 7/16” Wrenches

  • Center Punch

  • T55 Torx Bit (if installing on a TJ or YJ Model Jeep)

  • Tape Measure

  • Hammer

  • ¾” Wrench


 

Depending on what you intend to mount your jack to, the install may be different in some areas so we will walk you through the installation process on our old Willys. 

Insert ½” carriage bolt through the center hole in 4XRAC bracket (from the bottom).  

Place 5/8” lock washer over the carriage bolt. Tighten ½ jam nut over the lock washer using a ¾” wrench. Repeat on second bracket.


 

Mount the Hi-Lift® Jack on your 4XRAC. Center the mounted jack on the bumper. Mark drill locations in center of slotted holes. Center punch the marked drill locations. Drill each hole using a 9/32” drill bit. (I always recommend that you start with a pilot bit and gradually work your way up in size, it saves on your drill bits and makes the job easier, even when drilling relatively small holes).

Remove the jack from the 4XRAC. Mount each bracket using ¼-20 x 1” bolts and nuts provided, leaving brackets loose enough to adjust to the holes in Hi-Lift Jack steel upright. Install Hi-Lift Jack back on mount bracket, slide mounting caps over carriage bolts, thread wing nuts and tighten.

Note: Hi-Lift should be installed nose up and the decal facing out to increase clearance and avoid exposure of moving parts to debris.

We are now equipped and ready for next years road trip with one more piece of equipment that we know we can trust and rely on for a multitude of different things that may come up in our travels on or off road. Got yours yet?

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