So I was asked this question, and I looked that the person is asking me and nodded my head in confusion. I mean that like asking what size drill do I need.
I basically answered him like this “He buddy, it all depends on what you want to use it for.”
So, there’s the answer, and that led him to ask a dozen more questions, and for me to answer again. In this article, I just put down the answers to what size farm jack you will need for your jeep based on the applications you want to use it for.
To start off with, there are four standard sizes of jack on the market, and these are 36”, 42”, 48” and 60”.
Now most jacks have a basic starting height, usually around 4.5”, so they are all similar in base performance, but their height and load bearing strength differs.
The most useful farm jack height to have to off road use is usually 48” to 60”, while UTV’s and standard 4×4 would prefer a 36” to 42” jack. However, that’s if you intend to use it only for your vehicle and for removing basic obstacles.
Now consider this; tire size matters. If you have bigger tires, lifted suspension and even a flexy suspension, then the vehicle is going to be a bugger to raise. As such, you need a larger jack for larger tires.
Now comes the crunch, a 60” jack is not going to fit in your jeep, and is hard to fit on a standard 4×4 truck, which means you will need either a side mount or bumper mount for the jack. See where this is leading. If you have a 60” jack and its fastened to a side or bumper mount, it will stick out at the top and sides, and as such, you get vertical maneuverability issues. On the other side of the coin are the advantages of a 60” jack, they are basically damned awesome. They are screaming in great, and you can use them to lift winch, push and spread anything.
Now let’s get back from the Marvel universe and return to reality. The most common jack to use for a jeep is the 48” model. You will want an all cast iron model that delivers the ultimate strength, don’t bother with a hybrid that uses steel and cast iron, they are good but wear away much quicker than an all cast model.
Configurations
It’s not just the size you need to consider; it’s also the materials. Here is a chart of the Hi-Jack company configurations, just take a look at some of the differences in performance, but note that all shear bolts break at 7,000 lbs, which is not a big issue, it means you need to replace the bolt, while the climbing pins hold the load in place, however I wouldn’t suggest reaching this level to test it.
Conclusions
So there you have it, a jeep can take any size, but the preferred size for standard vehicles is 48”. If you have extra-large tires, then 60”, but then that might not be enough for enthusiasts that like bigger tires and higher suspensions than cabs.
