Jack system: Electric and cheap?

[TwistedMetal]

Why not something like this? Unlimited power supply(versus air, CO2, etc), most have an emergency hand-crank back up, they weigh 30lbs and travel 10" in 30 seconds. Sounds like it's worth a try to me! Wouldn't take crap to rig up a quick mount at either the rocker panel and/or the axle end. Route a socket at each coner of the car next to the quick mount, plug and play...?

I know there are also other, slimmer versions of this, this just looks the cheapiest/easiest to attach and store.

http://www.amazon.com/3000-Lb-Electric-Tongue-Jack/dp/B000B8YLQU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1229640519&sr=1-4

[Matt D]

Why not something like this? Unlimited power supply(versus air, CO2, etc), most have an emergency hand-crank back up, they weigh 30lbs and travel 10" in 30 seconds. Sounds like it's worth a try to me! Wouldn't take crap to rig up a quick mount at either the rocker panel and/or the axle end. Route a socket at each coner of the car next to the quick mount, plug and play...?

I know there are also other, slimmer versions of this, this just looks the cheapiest/easiest to attach and store.

http://www.amazon.com/3000-Lb-Electric-Tongue-Jack/dp/B000B8YLQU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1229640519&sr=1-4



most of the time they dont have enough travel to lift anything up passed its travel

but there are things like AGM jack but there not cheap

http://www.allgermanmotorsports.com/

[TwistedMetal]

They lift 18". All you need to do is either lift it at the axle or carry another limit strap or a simple tie-out to prevent the axle from dropping. That's how we did it on the rock crawlers, never had to use more than 3 clicks on the Hi-lift to change a tire.

Why spend all day jacking a car up to it's max travel before it lifts a tire?


And I saw the hydro versions awhile ago...that's why I went looking for electric. I've never been a big fan of anything hydraulic, or that required the engine to be running.

[la2baja]

I think you have a great idea there. I personally don't like to use anything tha taps into a primary system on a race car. Having a jack failure take you out of the race completely because it is tied into the power steering or other primary system just doesn't sit well with me. We use the Bunderson jack and are happy with it but far from cheap. Your jack could easily have a slot in each lower A arm (or beam, or live axle) and get the job done for low $$..

I love it!

[TwistedMetal]

I KNEW there had to be someone on here who doesn't just "Do what the others do..." I've actually been digging into them a bit more and there's a lot of more low-profile and even lighter versions out there for only a few bucks more. I think this could even replace the all-too-familiar, but works like crap Hilift jack with the rockcrawlers...

[la2baja]

You are absolutely right.

TTs would still be running I-Beams, drum brakes, leaf springs and stock frames if this industry didn't have people that think out of the box.

Innovation. Seek and ye shall find!

[dan200]

If the shaft is not long enough to lift the car due to wheel travel and tire size a quick connect extension with a foot plate could be added and solve that problem. Lee Finke has a self made system on his class one. Nobrakes drake on this form knows how it works and may be able to help ya with some thoughts.

[TwistedMetal]

Oh man, I have no doubts of the possibilities whatsoever! Quite the opposite. My bud has been looking at actually mounting his coilovers to them(rockcrawler) either directly or via cam/lever to lift/lower each corner on his comp buggy. Only issue for him is the weight, they'd add up to an extra person.
I think due to the fact that none of us here race on parking lots, the best solution is going to be a jack that has a few options in mounting locations. The very FIRST thing I noticed in the vid of that jack system Matt D posted was where they parked the car to change the flat. Won't always have that prime parking!

[TwistedMetal]

Another option is that they also sell just the motor...could build your own jack shaft no sweat.

[desrtrat256]

I think you have a great idea there. I personally don't like to use anything tha taps into a primary system on a race car. Having a jack failure take you out of the race completely because it is tied into the power steering or other primary system just doesn't sit well with me. We use the Bunderson jack and are happy with it but far from cheap. Your jack could easily have a slot in each lower A arm (or beam, or live axle) and get the job done for low $$..

I love it!


We have been running the AGM jacking system problem free for 4 years. Not once have we had a DNF or lost time in a race due to a jacking system problem.

[desrtrat256]

Oh man, I have no doubts of the possibilities whatsoever! Quite the opposite. My bud has been looking at actually mounting his coilovers to them(rockcrawler) either directly or via cam/lever to lift/lower each corner on his comp buggy. Only issue for him is the weight, they'd add up to an extra person.
I think due to the fact that none of us here race on parking lots, the best solution is going to be a jack that has a few options in mounting locations. The very FIRST thing I noticed in the vid of that jack system Matt D posted was where they parked the car to change the flat. Won't always have that prime parking!



The reason that spot was picked was it was a nice wide open space where we could get all our trucks and camera crews into. The system has been used in evry different kind of terrain from dakar to baja. Very race proven system.

[TwistedMetal]

Not saying it HASN'T been proven in a race, or that it's inferior in any way, well, other than price. And I, too, do not like tapping into a vehicle's major artery either. Just because a failure hasn't happened, doesn't mean it can't, and I'd hate to be sitting out in the sand with my thumb up because my jack killed my steering. Now I'll be the first to admit that I'm a "worst case scenario" kinda guy, everyone hates me for it, but I can't do much about it! I just think having a completely independant system for repairs is a wise idea, and one that only costs a few hundred bucks at most would be ideal. I seriously CAN NOT believe the amount of money thoughtlessly tossed around in this desert racing stuff. It's retarded.

I gave up on my race build and going back to crawling/rock racing. Seems that genre of enthusiast embraces low-buck and "External Box" ideas. I'm willing to bet half the advancements YOU guys have seen have originated on the rocks, then over processed, over priced and then sold to you guys. I first saw hydro jacks probably 14-15 years ago on a 77 Ford Bronco rockcrawler. He had them attached to a sectioned rockslider along the rockerpanel. He pulled a pin on the shaft, dropped it to ground level, repinned it, hit the lever and instantly popped the entire side of the truck up. He could also do it to the other side and old the entire bronco off the ground and easy foot. It wasn't long after that I heard he cracked a line or a seal/fitting and not only did he make a ginormous mess all over the place, he was done. Manual steering is 20 times more manageable than failed powersteering, let alone off road and they were in the famed Granite Garden on a known trail in Rapid City. I think they ended up leaving over night while they rounded up enough parts to bypass the system, then spent the rest of the day cleaning up the mess. Sand would have been nice there!

Again, not saying that system is flawed or just waiting to fail, but moreso than an independant system would be.
On another note, I was just on Radco's site and saw their version of a hydraulic Hi-Lift for the first time...not too bad(Still $400!), but I still think mechanical mechanism is the most fail-proof it's going to get...

[rharriman]

One problem with all of these types of jacking systems, and especially those that are premounted into the frame is side loading I would think. They aren't made to handle side load at all and fulley extended it might be a problem. I have designed some linear actuators and have some thoughts on ways to make some cheaper systems and like you mentioned if you could limit the suspension travel as well it would be good.

[NoBrakes Drake]

As Dan 200 pointed out earlier, we have a stand alone hydraulic onboard jacking system in the RaceShock Coyote. It has its own pump and doesn't use the p/s pump or need the engine to be running. Call Lee Finke at 602-493-3700 or email him lee@raceshock.com for more details.

I'm no engineer but one of the best designed it and even I can make it work.

[TwistedMetal]

Still not cheap...which was one of the goals of this thread...! But that's cool, may as well list all the systems here and see what's out there.

Another one of my buds just bought the electric jack and set up his crawler chassis just like a trailer tongue jack would be: round reciever with a pull pin at 6 places on the frame. Of course...everything around here is under 3 feet of snow and it's -7 outside...it'll be awhile till he can use it!
But to limit his travel he just welded two small hooks onto the frame and the axle at each corner and has a small chunk of small chain he can just hook on to pull the axle up and not just the frame. He said in the garage it's fast as hell. Also uses the recever/pin on the back to mount the jack and done!