I've seen a couple of trailer hitch mounts for a hi-lift on ebay. So i decided to try and fab up my own. Please keep in mind this is my first attempt to fab something up for my rover. So lets hear what you guys have to say. Do you think it will hold up offroad? Also probably one of the first times i've welded anything that i plan on using.

Looks like a nice piece. workmanship looks good, but my only worry would be that if you drop off on a granite slab something will get hoarked. the weight of the vehicle could impose a fair deal of torque on the mount if it gets caught on the end. a slightly better configuration might be to make a t-piece to run up about 6 inches to get the mount point above the bumper-line. if you want it longer, you might need to gusset the t-piece at the hitch end with a simple triangle. also, I'd run two beads around the cylinder, one on each side. looks like you just have the one bead at the top.

Looks like a nice piece. workmanship looks good, but my only worry would be that if you drop off on a granite slab something will get hoarked. the weight of the vehicle could impose a fair deal of torque on the mount if it gets caught on the end. a slightly better configuration might be to make a t-piece to run up about 6 inches to get the mount point above the bumper-line. if you want it longer, you might need to gusset the t-piece at the hitch end with a simple triangle. also, I'd run two beads around the cylinder, one on each side. looks like you just have the one bead at the top.
I have a bead on the top and the bottom of the the cylinder but i know what you mean as fas as getting it above the bumper line. I'll take some pics of the setup on the vehicle later and we'll see what we're looking at there.

What do you want, a cookie? :flipoff2:

Looks OK... But won't the jack get roached at the first rock?

Nice work, but I doubt it will hold up for very long at all-at least with the wheeling I do, it wouldn't hold up very long.

Do the same nice work, but come up with a better mounting point.

That is nice work, especially for a first attempt. IMO, however, the highlift belongs inside the vehicle, where its safe from damage, mud, and the elements. After all, what good does a rusty, seized or broken jack do you when you need it most?

Get the Hilift outside the car, the last thing you want is a flopped car on its side with the hilift bouncing about inside trying to get ya!
Good ideas about getting it a little higher tho, shame to waste the jack if you drop off a ledge or similar eh?

I've found clamping mine to the front bumper to be the best way for me to tote my hi-lift around, but have recently been leaning toward putting it on the roof rack.

When I needed it last weekend, it was a good thing the lady we were wheeling with had a can of PB blaster :D

Thanks for the kind comments. I do agree that it does hang down really low. I think one of the problems is how far below the bumper the trailer hitch is. I may now try to fab up something for the spare tire carrier maybe hold the jack and a couple of jerry cans. Got any ideas for that? I figure that would be one of the safest places for the jack outside the vehicle. I'm not going to put it on the rack.

Who says it has to be bouncing around if its inside? It has to be secured there too.

Get the Hilift outside the car, the last thing you want is a flopped car on its side with the hilift bouncing about inside trying to get ya!
Good ideas about getting it a little higher tho, shame to waste the jack if you drop off a ledge or similar eh?

I try not to put any more weight on the back door than absolutely necessary.

I may now try to fab up something for the spare tire carrier maybe hold the jack and a couple of jerry cans. Got any ideas for that? I figure that would be one of the safest places for the jack outside the vehicle. I'm not going to put it on the rack.

Paul is right. the back door hinges are barely strong enough to support the door itself, let alone the door, a highlift and two jerry cans full of fuel. if you want to go that route you will have to build some sort of swing-away carrier for your junk.

Build a new rear bumper. Then build a swingaway tire/can/jack carrier. Look at some of the jeep designs for ideas.

Pete

Ahhh - BS :)

I wheeled around for 1000's of miles with a high lift attached to the spare tire mount - never bothered the hinges one bit - on a lame-ass Disco.

I have NOTHING on the rear door...the spare tire mount is off...the spare is on inside on its tummy & the Hilift is secure in the rear footwells with 3 Quick Fists...so is the pull pal, and the waffles (a little bit higher)...

Without the spare, this is how it all looks...(the heavy items are buried below the bags)

http://www.me4x4.com/albums/album26/Resizeofrearofcage.jpg

Does the compressor noise drive you a bit nutty so close to your head? :flipoff2:

Without the spare, this is how it all looks...(the heavy items are buried below the bags)

http://www.me4x4.com/albums/album26/Resizeofrearofcage.jpg

Before I saw the pictures of your truck, I figured you were a pretty good guy.

I now hate you! That truck rocks-between the cage, the seats, harnesses and door panels, I'm envious (of course, the woman that tags along with you is pretty impressive as well :flipoff2: ).

I gotta go to Lebanon to visit!

PT

Yeah I love the door panels. Do a new thread detailing how you made them :)

And please tell me there are actual tie down straps there holding the heavy stuff, not a couple bungy cords? :eek:

Does the compressor noise drive you a bit nutty so close to your head? :flipoff2:

It actually puts a smile on my face because I keep remembering that it may save me the horror og cleaning it out every now and then & paying for solinoids after a thick water/mud dunk...the pump is SO clean, its not funny!

Before I saw the pictures of your truck, I figured you were a pretty good guy...

Thx, I guess...:)...anytime you wanna come to Lebanon I'll guarantee that you'll get stunned by the whole experience!

Yeah I love the door panels. Do a new thread detailing how you made them...

Thanks man...They were pretty easy...I'll do a write-up some time...There is a ratchet strap on top, but since my truck is 100% rattle free, the bungees keep things sound...