DIY Hi-Lift Jack Mount with a Softopper

After mounting my sliders it was time to invest in a new Hi-Lift jack. Carrying it loose in the bed isn't completely horrible with the rubber bed mat but its far from ideal. Especially when offroad. Problem is that I have a Softopper that prevents using some (all?) of standard retail jack mounts in the front and complicates their installation on the side bed rails. Also, i am not very comfortable with the retail solutions that let so much of the jack's weight hang on the bed rails instead of transferring some to the bed. I'm sure a jack will hang on the rails indefinitely if the truck stayed parked or just ran around on pavement (then why own a farm jack??!!) but on washboards and trails having 30+ lbs bouncing around violently has to do some damage. So I thought about it a bit and pulled a tape measure and this is what I came up with.


It was an accident that the offset from the bed is close to 3-1/2" which allows a pair of 2x6 or 2x8 scraps, or a single chunk of 4x4, to fit nicely behind the mount. The dimension from the center of the bed rail mounting hole down to the first 90 bend that clears the Softopper flap is 4-1/2" then it is 2-1/2" out measured inside to the turn down 90 bend. Hardware at the bed rail connection for each is a 5/8" height 9/16" slot depth 3/8"-16 tapped though thread t-slot nut, a 3/8"-16 x 1" bolt, a flat washer, and a lock washer.

The bolts that secure the jack are 3/8"-16 x 2" with another flat washer, lock washer, and nut. I would have preferred a nylock instead of a lock washer and standard nut but the local hardware store was out of stock. Slip about 3/8" of 3/8" ID fuel hose over the bolt to protect the threads and help reduce rattles. The 3/8" fuel hose is a nice snug fit in the Hi-Lift's riser bar climbing pin holes. The jack is held on the brackets with 3/8"-16 clamping knobs.


At the bottom of each bracket I used a 1-13/16" x 1-1/2" x 1" rubber stopper secured with a #14 screw that is ground off flush (sort of). You could just skip using the stopper and let the steel sit directly on the bed or bed mat. I just kind of liked the idea of putting something underneath the mount. < shrug >

When you are done squirt it with a little paint and finish your beer. It seems to work well, is cheap, and is very simple to make.

 

I have mine mounted to the passenger side rail for a few years with no issues... I do like your solution though, nice execution.

 

Thanks

 

Very nice! Never thought to use tubing/rubber pads to keep it from rattling.