stock jack is not big enough to lift the wheel off the ground on any of my trucks.

 

I used the stock jack on my '85 F-250HD for quite a while and didn't think it was that bad. Then I got a hydraulic jack and realized how absolutely terrible the stock jack was. Yes it will lift the truck, but with a lot more effort than a hydraulic jack. And it takes almost as much effort and time to lower the truck as it does to lift it, a hydraulic jack drops a truck quickly and easily (maybe not safely if the truck doesn't have tires, but not an issue for tire changes).

I'm still capable of using the stock jack, but I won't ever do it again.

 

But gold label Johnnie, that's a completely different story.

Jack green is only available in 5 states, boo.

 

Very funny. Many of us used the OE jack until they decided not to work any more. Consider a back up plan for the day that your own OE jack stops working.

 

The HiLift is always my backup plan. Front and rear receiver hitches make it possible. 4' jack is primarily for when my judgement fails me in the backcountry but it'll do the job if the screw jack fails roadside. For me, by far, the best solution is to quit running crappy highway tires with an affinity for going flat.

 

Normally using a hi lift jack is a bit weird. If you start out raising the bumper with the jack straight up and down the jack will be leaning a good deal to one side by the time you get the tire off the ground. It's best to start raising the bumper with the jack leaning somewhat in the correct direction. It has been a long time since I tried to raise a vehicle with a hi lift jack, but that's what I remember.

 

this is the best way to avoid flats.
in 47 years driving i have had to change 3 flat tires. and 2 of those three were over 30 years ago.
i keep good tires on everything and keep an eye out for anything on the road that will cut a tire.
i will pickup a screw or nail off the road every now and then, but having good tires usually means they do not go into the tire far enough to puncture it.
one exception was on the 02 diesel, picked up a screwdriver shank in a 3 day old tire. but that was fixed ontruck with a plug.

 

I have a small Craftsman Floor jack for mine, it comes in a black plastic case. I also have a Hi-Lift in the back

 

I eventually picked up the 4-ton red label from HF.

Thanks all!

 

You do realize that the label colors were for Jack Daniel's whiskey?

As for me, I've got two OE jacks for some reason. One in the passenger fender, and another the PO left in the back seat. I've also got a 4 ton floor jack, and a pair of 6 ton jack stands in the passenger foot well. The OE jack has served me well. I've used it to service the front brakes, remove wheels, and help a woman who managed to get herself stuck on top of a curb. The floor jack is much easier to use though, if not a pain in the *** to get out of the truck.