Will the Factory Jack handle the Sasquatch Package? What Jack options do people have?

[CitrusBronco]

I looked in to replacing the factory scissor jack with something far more heavy duty and stable. Looked in to bottle jacks, high lift jacks as well.

I like scissor jacks but it’s not easy to find something that checks all of the following boxes: extra stable, extra strong, has the height to get my Braptor well off the ground.

I found the answer and it’s fantastic. Far exceeding my expectations and absolutely and easily does the job.

Enter the the Gortech heavy duty, high lift scissor jack. The thing is a beast.

https://gortech-usa.com/

The base can pivot to allow for uneven surfaces, the height easily clears Braptor tires well off the ground and this thing is built extremely well. Some want/need a bottle jacks, others high lift. If that’s your requirement, then obviously this isn’t for you. If you want the best, highest, toughest scissor jack replacement, this is the answer.

Here are some pics, followed by a lengthy but very thorough video review.
(Not my vehicle)



Start at 5:25 mark:

Now that’s a serious scissor jack!

I carry a medium size bottle jack and wood block. Easier and sturdier than the factory scissor. But I did use it off-road once and it was fine supported by a wood block to keep it out of the mud.

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[crenca]

No one here uses/considered the hf offroad floor jack?

I considered it, but decided I didn’t want to make the room. Those who have them I’ve seen on the trail have put real effort into the organization of their recovery and other gear.

Anyone use an air jack¿
https://www.amazon.com/Flieeya-Exhaust-Inflatable-Off-Road-Vehicle/dp/B092Z2YZ8R/ref=mp_s_a_1_9_sspa?crid=VYTVD22O3BYX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.CZGfR5cA5sZL-L9hJI8XHev3E6pbu46eVCuO4EJRckOy9GK3rR0HCYD_9SEcQrh65wVI_pILUAsPRo7Qk-t9mTNZHhqJSoRYS7eFKI5M_3mL8OGOOjBZry3FlmzQT3JLVQ6077VHJ-Sm8G2e6Rvv2Y3XT347h_wIgBUOExyoW51TItn586sCQSWhGm4kF2ErE4wC5eVTwdGoa2vTeB9W_g.gO4Wn2vNbZLYWLWxUgcPhM8hlotVjDIupavQ1K85bmc&dib_tag=se&keywords=air+bag+jacks&qid=1786464362&sprefix=air+bag+jack,aps,250&sr=8-9-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfbXRm&psc=1

I have seen others use something similar on the trail and it did work well.

in the end I went for the mechanical simplicity of a scissor jack.

 

[MilesTeg]

Just in case it helps to show how the extension is used and that the factory jack will work for 35's, here's a picture from a few months back where I had to change a tire on mine:

And the factory jack is actually hard to beat unless you're running exceptionally large tires. No leaks to worry about. Small. Lightweight. Don't replace it just because. It's a perfectly good tool and a lot better than many of the things folks advocate for in terms of reliability.

The factory jack is fine -- on a dead level surface. But it does not have the stability (sans modification) to be safely used if the vehicle is not on completely level surface. Off-road, you often without the possibility of a dead level surface.

When offroad, I carry a bottle jack with a big metal baseplate, and a shovel to give me a chance to make a level base for the jack.

If you do offroad and want to use the factory jack, you need to find a good way to add a stable base to it or you're putting yourself in a very sketchy situation, IMO. By that I mean a base that is well secured to the base of the jack, not just a block of wood to set the unstable jack on, hah.

 

[5POINT56]

Does this happen to fit in the factory jack location?

I keep the jack itself and the riser in the larger storage compartment and keep the jack tool kit in the space where the factory jack was.

Everything fits, with the exception that the large, rear lid that these compartments are under has about 1/2 inch of lift above sitting flush, which doesn’t bother me at all. Once the rear rubber tray is put back and my regular stuff is loaded back in, it sits completely flat.

The Gortech jack comes in a small, tough, rubberized duffle bag. The whole thing could simply be tossed in the back of the Bronco without taking up much room at all, which would free up both lower compartments for other stuff.

If I were to get one of those replacement storage box inserts that expands capacity, it would easily be fine. Haven’t really felt the need to get one yet, but will. Bronco’s have pretty weak internal storage options, so anything that expands on that, I’m game for.

Zero regrets, this thing is exactly what I was looking for.

 

[jofer]

The factory jack is fine -- on a dead level surface. But it does not have the stability (sans modification) to be safely used if the vehicle is not on completely level surface. Off-road, you often without the possibility of a dead level surface.

I disagree on the "completely level" part. It's not as stable as something with a wider base, but it's stable enough for most spots you can limp to to change a tire.

Sure, it's not going to work on the rocks, but neither will a bottle jack with a wider base. It really doesn't need to be dead level. I've changed tires with the same scissor jack on far less level and even surfaces than are in the picture.

You can nearly always limp to a flat-ish spot. As long as the hill isn't too steep and you're not in sand, the factory jack is perfectly safe. Yes, you need to pay attention to how you set it up, but it's not inherently sketchy. You don't want to be changing the tire in places where the vehicle is unstable anyway.

I.m.o. it's better to move the vehicle on a flat tire than to eke out a bit more stability with a piece of wood. Even with a big sidewall gash, I can usually get enough air in the tire to limp 100 yards to somewhere better.

If you want something that will work on really rough surfaces, you'd need to bring a hi-lift and have aftermarket rails + bumpers that you can use one with. That's a better option than anything else, but a lot of weight and space.

I'm not saying that a different jack isn't better. I'm just saying that folks too often assert that the factory jack isn't usable and needs to be immediately replaced. It's actually a perfectly decent tool. If you value space + weight, it's hard to beat. If you value other things, then by all means, replace it.

 

[crenca]

I disagree on the "completely level" part. It's not as stable as something with a wider base, but it's stable enough for most spots you can limp to to change a tire.

Sure, it's not going to work on the rocks, but neither will a bottle jack with a wider base. It really doesn't need to be dead level. I've changed tires with the same scissor jack on far less level and even surfaces than are in the picture.

You can nearly always limp to a flat-ish spot. As long as the hill isn't too steep and you're not in sand, the factory jack is perfectly safe. Yes, you need to pay attention to how you set it up, but it's not inherently sketchy. You don't want to be changing the tire in places where the vehicle is unstable anyway.

I.m.o. it's better to move the vehicle on a flat tire than to eke out a bit more stability with a piece of wood. Even with a big sidewall gash, I can usually get enough air in the tire to limp 100 yards to somewhere better.

If you want something that will work on really rough surfaces, you'd need to bring a hi-lift and have aftermarket rails + bumpers that you can use one with. That's a better option than anything else, but a lot of weight and space.

I'm not saying that a different jack isn't better. I'm just saying that folks too often assert that the factory jack isn't usable and needs to be immediately replaced. It's actually a perfectly decent tool. If you value space + weight, it's hard to beat. If you value other things, then by all means, replace it.

It's funny, I agree with everything your said....for me.

...but then I think about my wife and daughter and ask myself "would I want them changing a tire with the Bronco's OEM jack - even on a level dry surface of my own garage?"

The answer is no. It is that marginal, thin, under-built, and marginally stable.

Then I ask myself why would I settle for it - just because I can and probably have the experience/know how to use it with something approximating acceptable safety? Why would I do that, when for <$200 I can purchase a proper jack (one with more "headroom") that was not designed with fleet average fuel economy as the #1 priority?

In any case one man's thought process for what it is worth.

 

[5POINT56]

Not even close. Does come with a bag, so there that

Edit: I can't remember exactly, but I think I jacked up my SAS Bronco (on frame) with this Gortech without using the extension (on level ground in my garage).

Even so, go ahead and get the extension...

It mostly fits the existing lower storage areas, certainly well enough for my purposes….and it comes with an extension which also fits.

”Not even close” is completely inaccurate.

 

[87-Z28]

I disagree on the "completely level" part. It's not as stable as something with a wider base, but it's stable enough for most spots you can limp to to change a tire.

Sure, it's not going to work on the rocks, but neither will a bottle jack with a wider base. It really doesn't need to be dead level. I've changed tires with the same scissor jack on far less level and even surfaces than are in the picture.

You can nearly always limp to a flat-ish spot. As long as the hill isn't too steep and you're not in sand, the factory jack is perfectly safe. Yes, you need to pay attention to how you set it up, but it's not inherently sketchy. You don't want to be changing the tire in places where the vehicle is unstable anyway.

I.m.o. it's better to move the vehicle on a flat tire than to eke out a bit more stability with a piece of wood. Even with a big sidewall gash, I can usually get enough air in the tire to limp 100 yards to somewhere better.

If you want something that will work on really rough surfaces, you'd need to bring a hi-lift and have aftermarket rails + bumpers that you can use one with. That's a better option than anything else, but a lot of weight and space.

I'm not saying that a different jack isn't better. I'm just saying that folks too often assert that the factory jack isn't usable and needs to be immediately replaced. It's actually a perfectly decent tool. If you value space + weight, it's hard to beat. If you value other things, then by all means, replace it.

The wood is for distributing loads evenly in sand, dirt, and mud. Not for trying to get a hill level. Some 2x10s or 12s work great.

 

[crenca]

mostly fits the existing lower storage areas, certainly well enough for my purposes…

pics please. would love to see your arrangement inside and how much your floor is still sticking up.

 

[xmod]

I got a new HMMWV H1 jack from Agile Offroad. I have not tried it out yet but should give plenty of lift and stability. It is very heavy.

 

[timhood]

Did you jack from the rock rail? That's definitely going to lose you several inches of lift.

 

[5POINT56]

It mostly fits the existing lower storage areas, certainly well enough for my purposes….and it comes with an extension.

Happy to. Got a bunch of stuff in the back on top of it but will take a few pics when I get a chance.

 

[5POINT56]

I got a new HMMWV H1 jack from Agile Offroad. I have not tried it out yet but should give plenty of lift and stability. It is very heavy.

I looked at HMMWV scissor jacks before settling on the Gortech jack posted in this thread. Those have a cylindrical top contact point that is specific to Hummers.

If I remember correctly, Didn’t Agile modify the upper contact point so it wasn’t a proprietary fitting for the HMMWV? Essentially the same jack but vastly better suited for general 4X4 use. I thinks that’s the one I’m thinking of.

 

[xmod]

I looked at HMMWV scissor jacks before settling on the Gortech jack posted in this thread. Those have a cylindrical top contact point that is specific to Hummers.

If I remember correctly, Didn’t Agile modify the upper contact point so it wasn’t a proprietary fitting for the HMMWV? Essentially the same jack but vastly better suited for general 4X4 use. I thinks that’s the one I’m thinking of.

Yes - Agile makes a frame adapter for the H1 jack https://agileoffroad.com/products/off-road-scissor-jack

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