jack

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Please tell me the jack that came with my brothers truck is someones idea of a bad joke. Is there a better jack than the factory one for flat tire replcement? Thanks.

 

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Krazed One,

I am presently shopping at dealers before I order my truck and I was looking at a 3500 4x4 and when I lifted up the rear seat and saw that tiny little jack I turned to the salesman and said,

"What the H**L is this for? #ad
Is this so I can help little old ladies in parking lots change their tires? Do you actually think this wind-up jack will even reach the axles, let alone pick this beast up... I don't think so, Bozo! #ad
Well, that will be the first thing I throw out!"

I don't know what DC was thinking when they thought we could use that jack. Maybe for a Neon, but not a Ram truck and sure as heck not a Ram 3500 4x4!

Go Figure!

Craig

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MAN WITH NO RAM... . YET!

Getting ready to order a 01' 3500 QC 4x4 SLT+ ... Flame Red!

 

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It took me and my brother about 10min to lift the front driver side tire off the ground. I'd hate to have to use it during the day in summer here.

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I maintain a 1ton quad cab daully truck driven like a sports car.
2001 3500 qc 6sp Cummins

 

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That's for the truck? I thought it was to prop the rear seat up???

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David Dressler
2001 Driftwood 3500 Quad Cab 4x4, 155 inch WB, 5. 9L HO Cummins Diesel (ETH), 6-Speed HD Manual (DEE), SLT+, 3. 54 Anti-Spin Axle, Camper Special Group, Trailer Tow Group, Leather, Sliding Rear Window, Jacob's E-Brake, Rhino Liner, VDO Vision (pyro, boost, engine oil temp. ), Weather Guard Diamond Plate Saddle Box, AND functional Halo light!
"Diesel, it's not just for breakfast!"

 

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What about the Hi-Lift jack sold by off-road and 4X4 companies? From the pictures I've seen it certainly seems tall enough. In one catalog there was a bumper lift assembly as an option. I'm not sure where else it would attach.

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1999 White SLT QC LB 4X4 AUTO CS TP SB-Stainless Nerf. Will Bomb for Adventure!

 

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Sorry to say, yes that is the jack and it does work (kind of). In the dark, in a snowstorm, on the side of the interstate I had to use mine to jack my trailer (about the same weight as the front end of my 3500). Damn little plastic handle retainer kept falling off. Wound up laying underneath holding the jack with one hand and the handle with the other so someone else could crank it. #ad
My birthday is comming, I think its time for a Hi-lift with a bumper adapter and a in box mounting bracket.

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'94 3500 4x4, 196,000 miles, Auto w/shift kit,3. 54 Gears, TST #5 plate, 235-85-16s, Rancho 9000s w/remote, Isspro gauges inplace of cupholder & Amsoil Bumper to Bumper. NRA member.

 

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Are you talking about the actual HiLift bumper style jacks, with the two little mechanical pins that click in and out #ad
? They're ok, I guess, but by all means BE CAREFUL! I'm no safety nut or anything, but I usually refer to those things as "man killers". If you've ever had one "pop" the handle back up at you, you'll know what I mean. Keep everything clear between the handle and the jack body itself!

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95 2500 SLT Laramie 3. 54, automatic,Herculiner bed liner, JVC cd out of factory infinity system, southwest grill gaurd (a favorite amongst the deer population), K&N, AFC adjusted, dual straight exhaust out of "gutless" cat, Geno's dual EGT/boost gauge, TST #6 plate slid all the way forward, AFC housing slid all the way forward, silencer ring removed
"Layin' the 'SMOKEDOWN' on their ROOdy Poo CANDY GASSERS!"

 

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Did't want to distrub mine so I purchased a hydrolic jack from the local autoparts store. 3 ton one is minimal I prefer the 5 ton as some day I may have the slide in camper on when I get that deflated feeling.

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Bert
"97"SLT,CC,4x4,3/4,5spd,3:54,LS,60gal Aero tank,E-brake,Primelock
Lund running boards,Espar htr,Powervision Mirrors.

 

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Kimzy, I was gonna say, I opted for the hydrolic bottle jack myself.

 

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I have used the stock jack. The truck had about 4K miles on it when I got it STUCK in the high country in UT. Drove thru a mud puddle that turned out to be a spring. It took SIX hours to get out with the only tool the stock jack!! #ad
#ad
Knee deep in cold mud soup all the time. It's only purpose is balast now. I have a five ton bottle jack if I ever manage to do that again. (My son-in-law is NOT my fishing guide now!)

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

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I have not relied on stock jacks since buying my first PowerWagon 25 years ago. I bought a 12 ton bottle jack(I was also running a 3-ton dump at the time) and it has served me well for all my trucks including the present one. It was made by Nike - Swedish I think- a quality item and it is still 100%. I would recommend them but I think they are no longer available. Hein-Werner, Blackhawk and other good US made hydraulic jacks are still available and preferable IMHO to the less expensive offshore brands. Pete.

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'97 2500 CC 4x4 5spd 3. 54LSD all stock except K&N Air, EGT&Boost Guages - next Psychotty & 4" exhaust

 

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Do not use a bumper jack on your truck! Get a sufficient "bottle" hydraulic jack for use on your axles.

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"Red Rage" - 2001 2500 SLT 4x4 QC Lowered Rear End 2. 5" 5spd, 4. 10 - 6900 miles and counting! 30' 5th Wheel

 

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Do not pass go without picking up your new bottle jack!!!!
Craig and Tiburon, see we are neighbors. Just want to let you know that there is a group of Ram Diesel owners here in Orange County beginning to meet. I would like to invite you guys to come, if you are interested send me you addresses, emails, phone numbers and I will put you on the notication list.
Mike

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2001 4X4 ETH 6 spd, QC, SLT,SB, 3:54, Flame Red, 4" exhaust turbo back, EGT,boost guages

 

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Guys,
I don't think the stock bumpers are strong enough to use in conjunction with a Hi-Lift jack. The other 'problems' with a Hi-lift - the mast tends to hit body parts if you don't have a bumper that sticks out far enough from the body & because the Hi-Lift is so tall (and lifts from the frame not the axle) they are fairly unstable. The Hi-Lift works great off-road (I have one in my Jeep) to help get unstuck - I can lift my Jeep and then push it off the Hi-Lift sideways to get out of the hole.
Go with the bottle jack for day to day stuff.

Brian

 

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Oops! I forgot to mention that I replaced my stock jack with a 3 ton floor jack. I didn't think the extra weight would bother my Cummins much . . . and it's more practical than sand over the rear axle. I had considered the Hi-Lift for my Toyota 4X4 . . . it's just a tad more weight sensitive! I like the idea of a HD bottle jack though.

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1999 White SLT QC LB 4X4 AUTO CS TP SB-Stainless Nerf. Will Bomb for Adventure!

[This message has been edited by Tiburon (edited 06-16-2000). ]

 

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While I don't want to sound stupid here... (In front of the wife however..... But that's another story... #ad
)

Will a "Bottle jack " be of the size that the stock jack is... or at least close???

I have a subwoofer box under the rear seat. . and it has a cutout for the stock jack.

If the bottle jack will fit there . . fine... .

If not... gotta look elsewhere.

and BTW... what brand bottle jack . . P/N do you suggest??

Thank All
Larry

 

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JoeG, Sounds like an investment in a winch would work better than the bottle jack #ad
#ad
Get toooo muddy getting the jack set.
I rescued a gentleman who was sitting on a snow bank with a snow pack on the side of his head where he got his bell rang trying to raise a pickup that was stuck using a High lift jack. They are not very stable when used on pickups.



[This message has been edited by Kimzy Bertalotto Jr (edited 06-17-2000). ]

 

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Yeah, Kimzy, I hear that!! The bottle jack beats the blasted so-called jack that comes with the truck. If I do much off roading I intend to get a winch for sure. The problem with most winches is that whenever I get stuck I want to back up to get out of it. The winches that can be used in a hitch receiver seem to be the way to go but I can't afford one right now. In the mean time I'm STAYING OUT of mud holes!!!

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

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Larry Quinn: Regarding the size, capacity and brand name of bottle jacks, there is a wide variety out there. Most of them are offshore brands. The problem with them is often they cannot be re-built. Many are thow-aways. Also, the quality is not there. I prefer quality US made hydraulics, reliable and re-buildable. Names such as Hein-Werner or Blackhawk are still available. Probably a little more expensive, but worth it IMHO. The capacity question is related to your maximum requirements. Some say 3 tons is enough. Others prefer 5 tons. I have always carried a 12-ton bottle jack in all my trucks. The size of the jack is not much greater and neither is the price. As to lift dimensions, most of the standard 5 to 12 ton jacks have lift dimensions similar to those of the stock jack in your truck. They also usually have an adjustable height feature by virtue of the threaded lift shaft in the ram. I always carry a 12"x12" piece of 1" plywood to be used as a base under the bottle jack. It gives you greater lift if needed and supports the jack better, especially in gravel or other softer surfaces. Hope this helps. Cheers, Pete.

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'97 2500 CC 4x4 5spd 3. 54LSD all stock except K&N Air, EGT&Boost Guages - next Psychotty & 4" exhaust

 

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I tried to use my Hi-lift on my Warn TRansformer(?) winch bumper last week. It started to push the winch into the bumper. Not good.
I think a Hi-lift would probable severely damage a stock bumper for one thing. For another, they are hardly good for something Ram heavy, you bust your guts jacking the thing up. And yes, I have had tall trucks tip off of them sideways. I have a 6 ton bottle jack I got from Sears in 1976 that has really served me well. Also, as you would figure, the heavier the load rating of the jack, the easier it is to lift the truck with it.
Just my thoughts on the matter.