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Scott SD Samba Member
Joined: June 22, 2010 Posts: 153 Location: San Diego, CA
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2021 11:26 am Post subject: Baja Bug Jack |
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Looking for the best option for a jack. I’ve seen a lot of people use the farm hi lift jacks, but they are large and a little heavy. A lot of people don’t seem to like a scissor jacks. Everything I do on my car seems to be adding weight, so I am trying to be a little more conscious. Any thoughts? |
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baja5 Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2004 Posts: 4326 Location: Ramona,Ca.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2021 5:45 pm Post subject: Re: Baja Bug Jack |
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I use a harbor freight trailer tongue jack. I welded a plate to the tube to go under whatever I’m trying to lift and took the crank handle off. I welded a nut to the center shaft so I can hit it with my impact gun. It’s compact and not too heavy. Mind you, it’s not safe to work under and mainly for doing a quick tire change out on the trail. If I was in need of a more extensive repair I would block the car or use a different jack. _________________ http://www.wix.com/baja5s/nightrun |
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dirtkeeper Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2008 Posts: 3200 Location: Left of everywhere
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Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 6:50 am Post subject: Re: Baja Bug Jack |
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baja5 wrote: |
I use a harbor freight trailer tongue jack. I welded a plate to the tube to go under whatever I’m trying to lift and took the crank handle off. I welded a nut to the center shaft so I can hit it with my impact gun. It’s compact and not too heavy. Mind you, it’s not safe to work under and mainly for doing a quick tire change out on the trail. If I was in need of a more extensive repair I would block the car or use a different jack. |
This is interesting. I too am looking to get something a little better than the small hydraulic jack i carry . And the hi lift jacks seem to come in at about 28lbs which seem like a lot.
I like this idea though. Did you weld the lifting plate at the bottom of the upper sleeve? And do you think it would work fine using the handle ? cause I usually don’t carry my impact gun with me say that jack is about 13 lbs which seems reasonable. Did you also use a flat plate instead of the wheel?
Thinking about this reminded me that my vw bus stock jack might actually work well but I don’t want to steal that from that project but maybe I can find another one. It’s is compact and not too heavy. I will have to take a closer look and see if it would work on my baja. Now I’m thinking maybe a stock bug factory jack may work with a couple modifications but I can’t even remember the last time I saw one |
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cbeck Samba Member
Joined: January 14, 2014 Posts: 2495 Location: high ridge, mo
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Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 10:24 am Post subject: Re: Baja Bug Jack |
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You will luv that high lift when you get high centered. Jack it up, and push it over to high ground. Or as a make shift winch. _________________ My cut in half and rebuild thread
www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=647779 |
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earthquake Samba Member
Joined: January 10, 2008 Posts: 3984 Location: SANDY VALLEY, NEVADA
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Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 10:32 am Post subject: Re: Baja Bug Jack |
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I just modified a stock VW jack, I cut the base off and welded in a extension so it would lift the car high enough.
eQ _________________ 74 CLASS 11 LOOK-A-LIKE
69 DUNE BUGGY
79 INTERNATIONAL SCOUT II
05 SCION XB SERIES RELEASE 2[#437]
95 Chevy C3500 dually
98 Ford E150
Link to Kelly J. Nolte 3/20/53 - 11/6/08
https://time-zonelabs.blogspot.com/p/about-kelly.html
DEATH TO CHINGERS!
[From a military recruitment poster in the novel "The Stainless Steel Rat" By Harry Harrison] |
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Scott SD Samba Member
Joined: June 22, 2010 Posts: 153 Location: San Diego, CA
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Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 2:25 pm Post subject: Re: Baja Bug Jack |
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Thanks for the responses and pics. I like the trailer jack idea. Baja5, do you think you could snap a pic?
I just went and took the scissor jack from my F150 as a comparison. It raises up to about 17.5" and weights 5 lbs. To use it in the baja I would have to make a cradle, a larger base plate, and weld on a 19mm nut to use the impact. If I go with the scissor jack idea I prefer to have a factory jack, not an Amazon china jack that strips the threads. |
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dustymojave Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007 Posts: 5802 Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 3:00 pm Post subject: Re: Baja Bug Jack |
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I use a jack from a 1970s Ford passenger car. Most any Detroit iron of the 1950s through 1980s era had a lightweight jack that can easily be modified to work for a Baja Bug.
A High Lift farm jack IS VERY HEAVY for a Bug. Great for a Jeep or heavier 4x4, but big and heavy for a Bug or buggy.
This picture shows mine mounted inside my Baja Bug.
I modified the body by welding a piece of 1.5" exhaust tube cut in 1/2 to fit under the bumper tube.
It had a matching hole a little over 1/2" through the upright and through the jack body. I used that to hold it on a mount made of a 1/2" bolt, with a nut welded to a washer with a pair of 1/4" rod handles to make a large wing nut to hold it on. The end of the upright tube fits onto a piece of 1/2" rod welded to the cage with a large washer for a stop and a shock absorber rubber cut to fit the jack upright tube.
A tire iron stuck in the end of the jack and it's ready to go.
Some offroad racers weld a piece of plate on for a base. Mine came with a really large stamped steel base (great for sandy or otherwise soft ground) that I carry under the right seat.
I'll check if you can buy a jack like that from Amazon or someplace like that. _________________ Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
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dustymojave Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007 Posts: 5802 Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: Baja Bug Jack |
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Here's a guy on eBay that's pretty proud of his, even though he's selling the pair with no bases or tire irons.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/294189713638?chn=ps&n...X6EALw_wcB
Other folks are wanting as much as $150 each!!! + huge money for shipping.
Nothing on Amazon except for lots of farm jacks, including a 1/10 scale one for Radio Control rock crawlers.
Probably best to check wrecking yards and yard sales. Guys in the rust belt might be at a disadvantage for this. _________________ Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
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baja5 Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2004 Posts: 4326 Location: Ramona,Ca.
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Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 6:49 pm Post subject: Re: Baja Bug Jack |
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Here are a couple pics of mine, cheap and easy but like I said, I wouldn’t use it for much more than changing a tire unless it was an emergency. _________________ http://www.wix.com/baja5s/nightrun |
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dirtkeeper Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2008 Posts: 3200 Location: Left of everywhere
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Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2021 6:47 am Post subject: Re: Baja Bug Jack |
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These are some great ideas. And dusty reminded me that I have had an old American car jack and they are much lighter than the hi lifts. The one that I had failed and became or non functional and I couldn’t fix the latching mechanism. . I think I may try to find another one of those. But looks like I have options. |
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Brian Samba Moderator
Joined: May 28, 2012 Posts: 8340 Location: Oceanside
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2021 2:27 am Post subject: Re: Baja Bug Jack |
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dustymojave wrote: |
A High Lift farm jack IS VERY HEAVY for a Bug. |
If you have to ask if you need a Hi Lift Jack for baja bug, do NOT buy one. A well used bottle jack is enough. _________________ Wash your hands
'69 Bug
'68 Baja Truck
'71 Bug
'68 Camper
Only losers litter |
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dirtkeeper Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2008 Posts: 3200 Location: Left of everywhere
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2021 7:05 am Post subject: Re: Baja Bug Jack |
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Brian wrote: |
dustymojave wrote: |
A High Lift farm jack IS VERY HEAVY for a Bug. |
If you have to ask if you need a Hi Lift Jack for baja bug, do NOT buy one. A well used bottle jack is enough. |
I have a well used bottle jack and you are correct it is enough to lift a bug. But under typical situations when a jack is needed they underperform. What I mean is usually your in the mud, or in a ditch, or in a sand wash out , on a hill, or even buried in the dirt, mud , sand. The bottle jack won’t go low enough or get you high enough to get you out. Or even be able get in the proper position to lift safely. It works well if you get a standard flat on a flat road but usually that is not the case. |
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petrol punk Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2007 Posts: 977 Location: Las Vegas, NV
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Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 1:15 pm Post subject: Re: Baja Bug Jack |
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I have nothing against scissor jacks. They can be had from the junkyard for very cheap, just go in and pick an appropriate sized car and check the trunk. I got a tiny one for my lowered bug and a bigger one for my bigger bug. It might be hard to find one tall enough for a lifted baja, but you can weld whatever you want to it to get the height you need. _________________ 36hp '56 European DeLuxe oval, '70 bug 1835cc dual 36DRLA, and a '98 4x4 5spd single cab Tacoma |
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baja5 Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2004 Posts: 4326 Location: Ramona,Ca.
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Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2021 5:55 pm Post subject: Re: Baja Bug Jack |
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petrol punk wrote: |
I have nothing against scissor jacks. They can be had from the junkyard for very cheap, just go in and pick an appropriate sized car and check the trunk. I got a tiny one for my lowered bug and a bigger one for my bigger bug. It might be hard to find one tall enough for a lifted baja, but you can weld whatever you want to it to get the height you need. |
I know guys that carry scissor jacks. Basically trailer stab jacks from HF. They work well and aren’t all that heavy. And the he larger ones lift quite a bit. _________________ http://www.wix.com/baja5s/nightrun |
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Scott SD Samba Member
Joined: June 22, 2010 Posts: 153 Location: San Diego, CA
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Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2021 7:35 am Post subject: Re: Baja Bug Jack |
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Thanks for all of the input. Good discussion. I am leaning toward the bumper jack. Found one on craigslist for $10 that I'll pick-up this weekend. Just needs to be cleaned up. When working on my friend's 5/16 a few days ago I checked out his bumper jack. His is the same, from a 70's car. Surprisingly light with a large base. |
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