Hi Lift Use - A Coutionary Tale

Dam

 

Not the first this has happened to, nor the last. Another member here had his slip into his door if it makes you feel better. Glad you're okay. Chain binders can do this too, BTW.

This was posted 3 days ago on a local forum.

Also, sometimes if they slip they can go on a frenzy and jack hammer until your truck falls all the way down.

 

^Yup. Never have anything in the path of those bad boys. Don't use your arms to lever it, use your body weight and lever down with it. So if it goes nuts or slips out of your hands you'll fall back and out of the way.

 

i know this is an old thread, but i am going to bring it back.

It states in the operating manual for the hi lift and on the safety label that the handle must be in the full upright and locked position (using the factory little metal clip) before you pop the trigger down. Or the handle will fling up and the jack will drop. When you lower, the weight of the car is on the handle on the "up stroke".

When i got my hi lift i was testing it out using the winch method. i had the handle in the open/down position with some tension on the jack. I popped the trigger down and the handle flew back and the jack let all pressure off it. I did not get hurt, but i immediately read the manual and safety information (which states to NOT do what i just did).

This all goes to show that you need to read the paperwork. The hi lift is a great tool, but can be dangerous if not used properly.

 

and my second widow maker incident... If I had cared and followed my own rules it never would of happened, but if you leave a hi lift unattended while sitting in moss with 1/2 your truck up shit happens



it'll buff right out