Hi-Lift Jack Un-safe Widow Makers? How dangerous? Demo lifting a Full Size Van with lift-mate

1. i jack my vehicle but dont have a hi lift i just rub the exhaust pipe is that ok too
2. The widow maker suits these jacks. As a kid growing up on a farm we used them all the time. I still remember some times they would auto ratchet. Don't know if that's the proper term, but that handle would just start slamming it's self up and down. If I remember right it was only while lowering the truck or equipment. Back in the mid '80's I bought a used '80 Ramcharger, did some dumb shit then realized, the factory jack won't work with a 4" lift and 35" tires. Turning 49 yrs old next week, these jacks still make me nervous. I respect them, and have one in both of my 4x4's. hey are a great tool and can be used for more than a simple jack.
3. I was actually leaning to the left when watching this video. lol
4. i did it improperly, and it only broke an arm.
5. i saw one of these jacks hit a guy in the head like mike tyson, 3 times before he could move his head.
   it was his own fault.
   there were no safety clips then so we used a cable bungee to hold the handle vertical to prevent further darwinian screening.
6. Any machine used without good sense with safety in mind can kill. You don't stand under a load, right?
   Never forget:"Stupid is SUPPOSED to hurt." Some learn by doing stupid things, some learn by watching others do stupid things.
7. much rather use a floor jack. much easier, faster, and safer. Plus if you need to change a tire this is useless with the lift mate thing. Even without that its hard to find a place to jack on newer cars with these, too much plastic. or even better for what he seems to be trying to accomplish use ramps, a lot safer than any jack.
8. Well done vide dude👍 and you're right if you don't get acquainted and learn how to use the jack it could kill you!! But learn and follow the instructions provided! And you'll do just fine. Thanks for the tutorial👍
9. Always double up on lifts. I always leave my jack a tiny bit snug so if the Jackstand fails there is a backup. That way you are 100%. Jacks are cheap extra insurance. The combined probability of failing are much safer than than driving the car!
10. common sense.... you said it,
11. This video is a little short sighted.
    
    There isn't an issue on flat, dry pavement with a brand new/well maintained jack. It's with uneven, loose, or low traction surfaces off road or with dirt and rust that these can really become unpredictable. Very rarely will there be an incident in the conditions you're showing here.
    
    If the pins get dirty/rusty, the handle can sometimes not catch and the weight of the vehicle will violently recoil the handle upwards, which can kill you if not seriously injure. There was a guy in my Jeep club that had his lower jaw shattered because of this. I won't link to it here, but a google search can find plenty of pictures.
    
    Off road they are scary because everything depends on the mounting position not being compromised. If a rock shifts, it slides over loose dirt or mud, or if the vehicle shifts position in low traction areas, the vehicle will quite easily come crashing down on anything that's underneath it, and then you have the handle and jack coming down as well.
12. dont jack me around  lol
13. If there is anything unsafe about this jack its just that there seems to be potential for a lot of unorthodox/hillbilly type usage.
    And the fact that it does lift so high that should the vehicle move its more likely to become unstable than a lower jack.
    I dont see an issue with it if you use common sense.
14. Love your Darwin reference...
15. Once again an ill-informed yank who thinks he knows it all, where are your wheel chocks for starters.
16. very good improv, lifting by the wheel, except for one consideration: could be a little hard on the wheel bearings and/or axle, particularly in the 3rd member. Like he said, getting stands under it to take the weight off that wheel would be pretty imperative.
17. sketchy
18. Any tool is dangerous in the hands of a dumb ass. 
19. According to the US Government, every year up to 70,000 people are injured in jack related accidents. Usually the accident could have been prevented if the vehicle had been chocked to prevent it from moving which causes the jack to fail. The first thing to do is chock at least the wheel diagonal from the wheel your lifting. Then as you pointed out, a jack stand should be used to support the load.  This is true of Hi-Lift  or any other type jack. Safety first!! 
20. Yeah if you're safe they are fine. but if you have a car fully lifted and start beating the jack with the tire iron yeah shits gonna happen