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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 15 Apr 2002
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Airbag jacks
Anyone got any thoughts on those airbag jacks that inflate from your exhaust gases? I saw one advertised the other day and thought the idea was excellent, but wondered how vulnerable they are to abrasion and heat.... (and a friend told me about some donkey who jacked his TLC up with one using the fuel tank as a jacking point....duh!! the tank broke... immobilised the car)

LRN

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  #2  
Old 15 Apr 2002
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I’ve seen them in action and they do work. As you said, care should be taken choosing a mounting point, but that goes to all jacks. They take a lot more space than a regular jack inside the car and they are also vulnerable to puncture so you’ll have to take regular jack just in case. Also note that if your car is not running and need to lift for repairs then it’s no use. IMHO it’s a gimmick that’s nice to have but I would still carry a regular jack.

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  #3  
Old 16 Apr 2002
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The ones that inflate from the exaust are kind of a gimmick. There is a type though that is much better and made to last. I looked at one(called the: Nellivator)today actually at the norwigian importer- Saferec (www.saferec.no)
They inflate with a hand pump with very little effort and are also deflated with the pump (creating a vacuum) thus making it rather compact.
I also saw the Nellivator at:
http://www.cardno.co.uk/Recovery4.htm
This is quality equipment and therefor the price is pretty steep...

Erik D.
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  #4  
Old 16 Apr 2002
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I'm biased- In a few weeks I'll be the US importer for Draper Tools- mostly to bring in their exhaust jack.
I wouldn't carry one on expedition instead of a mechanical jack, but in addition to.
In certain conditions like soft sand they are really great. You definitely have to protect it from sharp edges, but that isn't hard to do. Some jack come with protective pads, otherwise use a floor mat. My easy lift had plenty of scrapes and gouges in it but still held- the use pretty tough material. The number 2 precaution is be sure your exhaust doesn't have any leaks. Easy lift sells a compressor adapter, which is a good backup. We plan to make one for the Draper by Autumn.
The fuel tank is probably never a good jacking point. My old series 3 was so rusty a standard jack would punch holes in the frame, but if I used the airbag it would spread the load and lift OK.
Is there another site that has a photo or further details on the hand pumped jack? They only have a breif description that I can find.
-Ed
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  #5  
Old 21 Apr 2002
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I agree with all Ed's obz. I got rid of my heavy, unstable hi-lift and have a lighter, bulkier but a bit tricky to deploy air bag (plus the std bottle jack on a block for changing wheels). I hardly ever use it , but for soft sand situations it is ideal and stronger than you think. I never felt safe with hi-lifts and not all cars have chunky bumpers (or fuel tanks...!) to jack on to.

CS
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Old 21 Apr 2002
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Hi Ed,

The manufacturer of the hand pumped type I mentioned is:
Eurocraft(Recovery) Ltd.
112 Clydesdale Place, Moss Side, UK

http://neon.airtime.co.uk/eurocraft/frindex.htm

Erik D.


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Old 22 Apr 2002
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Hmm, don't know if this is useable. But here is a link with the liftbags we use at the firebrigade. We use then quite a bit and have good experiences with them.
Click on the link, then go to catalogue. At the bottom of the list choose 'lifting bags, low pressure'.

http://www.holmatro.com/index_rescue...anguageCode=EN

They are probably a bit more expensive. But you can use them with only a few inches of clear space, they wont sink in to the sand that easy and have good protection on top of bottom. As I said, I trust these things. We have already lifted several cars with them.
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Old 22 Apr 2002
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Easylift make 2,000 lb and 4,000 lb lifting capacity exhaust filled air bags. The commercial quality ones are £145 and £255 respectively, and the military quality ones are £275 and £455.

The Holmatro low pressure Lifting Air Bags (LABs) come as a pair of units with combined lifting capacities of 4 tons, 6 tons, and then it starts getting ridiculous from our point of view. The UK prices for these two models are £1,686 and £1,879 respectively.

Add VAT to all prices.

The drawback of the exhaust filled bags is that you can only use them once per trip. This is because you need to be travelling with a mug who has to hold the nozzle in place over the end of the exhaust pipe. Whilst concentrating on not getting his hands burned by the hot exhaust pipe and/or breathing noxious fumes, the mug gets his hands and face liberally covered in soot. As well as the vehicle, one’s travelling companions’ spirits are greatly lifted by this event (“It’s the Black & White Minstrel Show”, “Hello Sooty, where’s Sweep?”, etc they all cry), but they also make a mental note not to let Chris Scott con them into helping with his air bag next time he gets it out.
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