Hmmm; for true "off-roading", I'm gonna have to agree with Jo (click-on the web link that Jo provided for further information), as I also highly recommend the "EXHAUST AIR-JACK" (not the metal Jack-Stand Jack). Here's why:Originally Posted by JoFotoz
I've been 4-wheelin' for over 30 years in my 1978 FJ-40, and I've found that 99.9% of the time when a 4x4 gets stuck off-road, it is on very unstable (muddy/snowy/slippery) and/or very uneven, angled rocky terrain (like that found at MOAB, Utah). The Exhaust Air-Jack can contort itself between the vehicle's undercarriage (including side body panels) and the uneven terrain surface without any slippage or loosing its footing (critically important).
In addition, the Exhaust Air-Jack can be used in a tandem pair by using a 1-into-2 chrome exhaust tip as a Y-adapter to inflate twin Exhaust Air-Jacks for very complicated recovery operations.
For example-- say your VX is both high-centered on a tree stump and wedged against a big tree trunk while in very slippery, gooey mud on a sloping hillside. Thus, you can use one Exhaust Air Jack to lift the VX off the tree stump, and the other Exhaust Air Jack to help "push-away" the side body panel from the impending big tree trunk (preventing paint & body damage); all at the same time!!! This can all be done slowly by monitoring the rate of air (exhaust) into the Air Bag. The VX's "floor mats" (or burlap potato sacks) can be used as a protective surface liner to prevent air-bag punctures/abrasions. Think of the Exhaust Air-Jack as a big-*** "Pillow", and the possibilities are endless (only limited by your imagination).
Common "foot-print" Jacks like the Jeeper's High Lift Jack, and this thread mentioned "Jack-Stand Jack" have severe difficulty in securing a good solid foot-print on unstable/uneven terrain once a vehicle "load" is applied to the metal jack. Oftentimes, the metal jack slips and looses its terrain footing and can easily cause further vehicle damage and/or personal injury to humans (extremely dangerous). These "foot-print" jacks are absolutely worthless in deep mud or snow conditions, as the metal jack just pushes (submerges) itself a deeper hole into the mud or snow without even lifting the vehicle (wasted effort).
The metal Jack-Stand Jack is best suited for urban environments for fixing a common flat tire and/or for performing routine undercarriage maintenance on a totally "flat level surface" with good solid footing. The metal Jack-Stand Jack has little or no use in a true off-road environment, unless no other means are available. Plus; it is heavy, bulky and consumes too much valuable cargo space in the already confined VX. If left unsecured in the interior, the Jack-Stand Jack can bounce around causing interior VX damage and/or personal injury to its passengers.
Given a choice-- I'd take the "EXHAUST AIR-JACK" when venturing off-road. It's extremely lightweight, compact, safe, and very versatile. The Exhaust Air-Jack can contort itself between any vehicle and any terrain, including very deep mud and snow as it has superior high flotation capabilities. It can be used as a big-*** pillow cushion to help protect endangered side body panels from possible scraping damage, as when a vehicle is towed or winched from a precarious position. It can be used to help re-upright a vehicle that has tetered sideways into a deep revene against a boulder/tree without putting people at risk in trying to manually upright the vehicle. It's recovery operation possibilities are limitless. The Exhaust Air-Jack is truly one of mankind's best inventions (next to the Thermos and the latex condom). Riff Raff
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