Handyman jack?

[Bennylava]

I need to bend a vehicle's frame back into shape. You can see the problem in the pic. I was going to put a bit of heat on it, and see if I could get it back into shape. I've never heard of this "handyman jack" but my father inlaw said that I could put it in there sideways once I had cut the bent piece out. Then stick the handyman jack in there, and jack the frame back out to where it is supposed to be. I'll be welding a new piece of metal in place once the frame is back in shape.

So what is this "handyman jack"? Never heard of it. I was thinking it may also be known as a high lift jack, but I'm not so sure.










05 Envoy

 

[BayouFlyFisher]

Sounds like he's talking about a Porta Power jack. For example: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Big-Red-...32YLTtm0l9ACgbekmGbnwaAgBm8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[fourjeepin]

Hi-lift jack is sometimes referred to as a handyman jack. Most ******** off-roaders have one. Also see them on a lot of poser Jeeps and Land Rovers. You know the ones, covered in every bolt on accessory, but never goes off pavement.

 

[LB-1911]

^

So what is this "handyman jack"? Never heard of it. I was thinking it may also be known as a high lift jack, but I'm not so sure.

Accept no imitations.

http://www.hi-lift.com/

 

[malibu101]

Maybe he meant what I always heard called a "monkey on a stick".
link to an example- http://www.tooltopia.com/keysco-too...tid=ALC77043&gclid=CJXP3J67rM0CFYIlgQodGn8AVw

 

[Dagny]

Handyman highlift every farm shop has at least one.

 

[B_Bimmer]

If you are going to get one, get the original, the imitations are an exercise in frustration. Keep the mechanism clean and covered with a light oil/penetrationg fluid to keep things loose and they are awesome, a quick way to jack up a lot of otherwise awkward stuff. As a farmer I love them, but I should mention that other than your current project it is probably not the most useful told for the average person. I rarely to never use them on vehicles due to the lack of an accessible lift point and they can't handle all that much weight compared to most other jacks.

 

[Gotcha640]

If you have a welder, you might have better luck cutting that piece out and replacing. If it just needs to be straight enough to hang the bumper cover on, you might get away with it. Has the damage affected the alignment?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Accept no imitations.

http://www.hi-lift.com/

Not cheap, but EXCELLENT quality !

 

[nmk_61802]

Seems like a cheap bottle jack and a few blocks of wood would also accomplish what you want, and would be easier to manage an less expensive than a HL jack.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000234IT4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Zeke]

Seems like a cheap bottle jack and a few blocks of wood would also accomplish what you want, and would be easier to manage an less expensive than a HL jack.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000234IT4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have trouble with bottle jacks on their side. If I roll them over just right they will work but the mess of bracing and blocking makes for a tough afternoon. I don't know what a 'handyman' jack is but I think I'd put a 10' pipe in that frame horn and get a couple guys to yank that sucker over.

 

[Fixin'Stuff]

Hi-Lift is a brand name, quality version of the device known as a handyman or farmers jack. There are plenty of cheap, crappy ones out there, just waiting to drop whatever you're lifting.

The trick is going to be getting the two sides to both go back into their proper positions. This is where frame shops have a huge advantage for this kind of work. They have massive anchors that they can tie off to that will hold one rail in place while they "massage" the other one. Have you asked any frame shops what they would charge to fix it? You may find that it's something they could straighten in just an hour or two, for not a lot of money.

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

You don't need a jack at all, IMO. You need some tow straps and chains and stout tree for that bend. First, give it a tug right on the kink in the cross tube until that straightens as far as it will go. Then, if needed, cut the cross tube loose and give an angled pull on the stub of frame rail. Possibly pull that stub sideways with another vehicle.

 

[Bennylava]

If you have a welder, you might have better luck cutting that piece out and replacing. If it just needs to be straight enough to hang the bumper cover on, you might get away with it. Has the damage affected the alignment?

It seems to have all been mainly cosmetic except for the radiator. Still runs and drives great lol. The alignment doesn't seem to have been affected. They hit a trailer hitch on an F-350.

You don't need a jack at all, IMO. You need some tow straps and chains and stout tree for that bend. First, give it a tug right on the kink in the cross tube until that straightens as far as it will go. Then, if needed, cut the cross tube loose and give an angled pull on the stub of frame rail. Possibly pull that stub sideways with another vehicle.

Hmm didn't think about that. Yeah... I can definitely make that work.. thanks!! I think you just saved me $100 lol

I was already going to do it to the lower core support, which as you can see is also bent. But I didn't think of using my truck to pull it back into shape from the side. I think a chain would be the wrong tool for doing that. Maybe loop a tow strap around the frame?

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Hi-Lift is a brand name, quality version of the device known as a handyman or farmers jack. There are plenty of cheap, crappy ones out there, just waiting to drop whatever you're lifting.

The trick is going to be getting the two sides to both go back into their proper positions. This is where frame shops have a huge advantage for this kind of work. They have massive anchors that they can tie off to that will hold one rail in place while they "massage" the other one. Have you asked any frame shops what they would charge to fix it? You may find that it's something they could straighten in just an hour or two, for not a lot of money.

Yep send it to the frame shop..... Sounds like op is a Hopeful looker...

but there is a bit more involved in getting it correctly straightened... Rather nice vehicle to be "practicing on"

 

[Heavy Metal Doctor]

Hmm didn't think about that. Yeah... I can definitely make that work.. thanks!! I think you just saved me $100 lol

I was already going to do it to the lower core support, which as you can see is also bent. But I didn't think of using my truck to pull it back into shape from the side. I think a chain would be the wrong tool for doing that. Maybe loop a tow strap around the frame?

Your welcome!...I live in heavy deer country and got two teenage drivers off the ground -- not to mention one of my own screw ups (looked away in traffic and smacked a tractor trailer square in the backside) -- I've fixed more than one vehicle with damage like that with these simple tools / methods.

 

[CutterFarms]

You don't need a jack at all, IMO. You need some tow straps and chains and stout tree for that bend. First, give it a tug right on the kink in the cross tube until that straightens as far as it will go. Then, if needed, cut the cross tube loose and give an angled pull on the stub of frame rail. Possibly pull that stub sideways with another vehicle.

We have several hi lift jacks on the farm but I agree with doc, I'd be pulling to some trees ir probably a pair of large tractors. If you use chains make sure they are quality and in good order, neighbor was getting pulled out couple weeks ago and chain broke, broke the glass in the cab and hit him in the head, he did make it.

 

[Bennylava]

Yep send it to the frame shop..... Sounds like op is a Hopeful looker...

but there is a bit more involved in getting it correctly straightened... Rather nice vehicle to be "practicing on"

That would eat up too much of my profit!

Already bought the car, need to do most of the work myself, for resale.

Metaldoc, do you think I should put some heat on it before I pull sideways with the tow strap looped over the bent piece? I guess it would need to be be very little heat.

 

[justme-]

There's alot more to straightening a vehicle than straps and chains...knowledge and experience are key. If that's you're first one you're way over you're head, if its not you already know you don't have the experience you need to do it if you're making us these questions.
The vehicle needs to be anchored while the pulls are done. You need appropriate chains, NOT straps, and a suitable pull source that can be controlled...not a tractor or other truck. Porta powers can work as pull source when used right, tho often frame rigs are needed.
Pulling a frame, sub or otherwise, is the backbone of the vehicle and it affects the whole rest of the vehicle from sheet metal to alignment and drivability.

You're potential profit may not matter if you can't sell the vehicle afterwards.

 

[Bennylava]

If I really wanted to, I could hammer that piece back into place. Its not some major component, its just the very end. I could leave that bent and it wouldn't affect the way it drives, or the sheet metal or anything. In fact it actually runs and drives just fine even now. In short I'm familiar with everything you're talking about, I dare say I've been at this for a long time. Each vehicle is its own individual case, and in this case, its just not a big issue. The damage to this vehicle is not severe.

I used to rent a building where they used to do frame work. The owner just built a bigger better building for his autobody shop, right next to it. I got to talk to him a lot, and became somewhat familiar with the process. All he had was two anchors in the floor and that is where he did 20+ years of work. I actually called him on this job and he said use a sledgehammer lol

Lastly I wouldn't have bought it if it was ever going to be any real problem. But I like coming here and talking about it and asking questions and seeing what other ideas people may have.