I got a flat once awhile back and attempted to change the tire, when I was unable to lift the jeep high enough with the stock scissors jack. I tried several different points but with no success.
Anyone else have this problem? Is the factory jack just a POS, or am I missing something?

 

Yes, even under the axle the jack is almost at the limit and is unstable. Invest in a Hi-Lift jack...

 

are you lifted? If so, throw away the scissor jack and get a high-lift or a bottle jack. Or both.

If you're still stock height, the stock jack should work just fine, what is the jacking point you are using?

 

Stock height. Tried the points on frame just rear of the front passenger (flat) tire and a few points on the axle. The scissors jack was fully extended and I simply couldn't lift the jeep high enough to pull the flat tire off. It was night, and I was seriously frustrated on the street outside my house.... I'm sure I was cursing loudly but don't actually remember. I just kept thinking this was a gross design flaw. I'm not an idiot and have changed many a tire on several different vehicles, but at the time, this was the 1st flat I had gotten on my JK.

 

That's nuts! I've got 35s and I'm lifted, and I still use my scissor jack to change tires. The jack points IAW your user's manual are money...maybe your JK was destined to be sold to some wankster to drop and put "dubs" on it. ha.

 

If your scissor jack doesn't raise the axle enough when used at the proper jacking locations below, something's wrong with your jack.

I'm running 35s and still use the stock jack with the AEV jack base that came with my lift.

 

Aristo is spot on. There is even a groove cut in the top plate of the jack to fit the lift points. This thing has plenty of travel and then some. You just have to use the correct lift points.

 

Hi-Lift jack is great for lifting out of a hole or as a make-shift winch. It is downright dangerous to use to change a tire.

Don't believe me? Jack up your vehicle at your favorite Hi-Lift jack point until a tire comes off the ground. Give the vehicle a good nudge. Bet it comes right down. Now imagine that when you are trying to change a tire when you are by a freeway and semi's are whizzing past at 80 MPH.

Find a good bottle jack or figure out how to make your stock jack work. 2 cents.

 

I must have been missing the crucial lift points I figure.

What is a good/common bottle jack that Jeepers use? And what size rating...8, 10, 16 ton?

 

When I had my F150 I had a US Jack Bottle Jack. I had to use it to change my tire once on a road trip from WI to NC on some freeway in WV. It worked fine and wasnt too big to where i couldnt fit it in the in cab storage. Dont remember how many tons it was rated for though.