i have a similar setup to that race-dezert setup already, i actually forgot about the air jack i think that may be a better option for me!

 

Every time I needed a jack or someone I was with needed a jack on the trail we were near in a perfect spot that a bottle jack would work.

I really don't understand why people are so scary of hi-lift. Like any tool you need to respect it and understand how it is use.

 

Most tools don't have the potential of causing a vehicle to tip on their user.

Yes, when all safety measures are kept (not bending over the handle, for instance), and a Hi-Lift is properly used, there's no real risk, on hard & level surface.
Offroad, the surface may be problematic, which calls for experience & knowledge to safely operate it.

However, there is a simple solution for the main risk which a Hi-Lift poses -- tipping sideways:

Link - https://bmihydraulics.com/index.php?...mart&Itemid=23



VIDEO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjKE...yer_detailpage

VIDEO - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdfK...yer_detailpage

 

Get a farm jack (hi-lift), watch tutorials on how to use it as others have suggested. Get a decent bottle jack, weld some type of prongs or similar to the top of it (see "safe jack" products for example). A tire change on relatively level ground with a bottle jack is way simpler and safer than trying to use a farm jack and lift high enough to account for suspension droop. Get or make accessories to use with either jack (jack base, 4x4 block of wood, wheel strap, etc.). Spend an afternoon playing with these items while not drinking :-).

Establishing a good understanding and level of comfort in your own backyard will go along way when you head out. It will also help you understand where you might have limitations and keep you from overestimating a recovery tools use and capability.

A farm jack with the proper accessories is sometimes much more practical to use than a winch. Especially if your in a meadow or clearing that has no anchor points. And in some cases farm jacks can be less stressfull to vehicle components. For example, using a wheel strap with a farm jack to lift and slide a matrax under the wheel to get out of a hole. That being said, Its also nice to have atleast one matrax or similar.

 

I carry around a hi-lift mounted on the tire carrier but you have to be careful with them. They have the potential to be very dangerous.

One tip if you need to lift the vehicle to change a tire (for example). Strap the axle to the frame. You only have to lift it an inch to get it off now instead of the flex of the entire suspension