Harbor Freight Farm Jack vs 40' HC Shipping Container for Tractor Storage

[@Trig242]

The flip-flops give me anxiety! 😂😬 Great video!

[@TractorHoarders]

Haha, they were giving me anxiety too. Thank you!

[@Comm0ut]

As owner of many jacks I do not use my Hi-Lift jacks or clones on containers. The parts are a bit weak for that task and wear out quickly. If you're mechanically inclined enough to use shipping containers you can make or buy a couple of corner fitting jack adapters to use bottle jacks which arrangement is much more stable. I don't try to kill my floor jacks either. Tools that work: A self-made air bag jack using a big truck air bag. I did not put hinges on mine because I use the ability to pull the load sideways with a hand winch once the container is elevated. To do this ALWAYS have wooden cribbing very close to the container so it cannot drop enough to matter. Simplex "railroad" AKA "house jacks". Still made the same way as a century ago, ensure the teeth are good and the ratchet well lubricated. Most sellers don't know what to do with them so they go cheap. I do not buy Duff-Norton antique jacks because I do not consider the latch as safe to operate as Simplex. Corner fitting bottle jack adapters. Used with wooden cribbing and horizontal car and truck rims nested when stacked it's easy to safely raise loaded containers. Commercial air bag jacks of suitable weight range. Scrap steel pipe 4" OD and larger for rollers. I placed all my containers using a hand puller (Wyeth-Scott are superb and parts are available online). Capable powered and manual heavy duty winches like Thern make for industry (auction sales are one way to scored those). Worm drive winches like industrial Ramsey units seen on most US wreckers. Wrecker chains with J-hooks are perfect for hooking corner fittings.

[@TractorHoarders]

Great tips!

[@mitc0185]

Good to see you have your steel toed flip flops on 😂

[@TractorHoarders]

Yeah well lol

[@coyotterestoration1754]

LOL

[@FourthWayRanch]

As long as you keep toenails short it's no problem. I've tore a big toenail off working in sandals, they take almost a year to heal

[@la196]

Lol, my first thought with the flip flops:) My second thought was too bad you didn't have a nice solid pipe on hand to slide onto the jack handle for more leverage. Not bad for it to handle that heavy container.

[@B0bbyJac0b]

This just answered my question on Amazon. I am planning to get one to level our shipping container. Thanks

[@TractorHoarders]

Glad it helped. I was searching for the answer to this too, so decided to make the video. Best of luck! Be careful!

[@jeffreydelk2361]

Nice video. But I’m not sure I would be wearing flip flops when working around heavy equipment and when trying to operate a farm jack.

[@buildingourparadise2696]

Used this jack to level my 40' high 9'6 , pipe on the handle makes it MUCH easier. Still sort of sketchy but does the job.

[@TractorHoarders]

A little more leverage would definitely be better for sure! Next time I have to do it, I'll add a pipe for more length as you stated. Didn't have one available on this particular day, but next time I'll make sure I do! :)

[@jeffro20gauge]

Thanks, I was just about to purchase the expensive lift kit for my 40ft HC until I seen this video, But I have that very same farm jack in my garage

[@TractorHoarders]

Awesome! Yep, you should be just fine with your farm jack!

[@samfixitguy1661]

You bet your ass it WILL. I increased leverage on the handle. 1 inch stainless tubing like used on boat awnings, Biminis and such with a length of 1/2” black steel pipe inside that. Extended it gives me an extra 3 feet or so if leverage . My container and Appalachian trailer were stuck to the axles in soft ground. I mostly emptied the box and raised it all the way above the trailer's deck supported by a piece of C channel on stacked cement blocks. As SKETCHY AS IT CAN GET!. 4 wheel low, when I saw I was actually moving I gunned it, trailer hit block stacks in the way out, Bob can't down but the trailer was free! I literally kissed that jack. I've had the jack over 20 years. Also use it for lifting, leveling sheds. Also to lift a corner of the 40 foot long trailer to change tires. I'm currently moving do lots of 200 Mike trips The jack currently lives in the back of the pickup truck .

[@rlaxton666]

Looks like slowly lifting a container to level it should be very possible, which I was hoping for. One thing to consider is that you probably should not use unreinforced concrete for supporting anything. Better to use dense timber instead since it will not crush (this applies to supporting cars as well!)

[@TractorHoarders]

Good tip! A dense timber would be a much better choice too.

[@brucesannino6181]

Get the trailer out of the way, put a piece of 2 X 6 under the jack and put a piece of pipe OVER the jack handle. Don't get under the weight or in the load path. (FYI, load path is the direction the jack is going to go if it falls). I must say it looks like you have fun. Best!

[@TractorHoarders]

Thanks Bruce - good suggestions

[@robertjanez7467]

2x6 under jacks sounds smart to prevent jack from sinking into soil. what type of pipe are you suggesting to fit inside the container beam at corner? I need to do this project with my 40x8x8 shipping container :)

[@brucesannino6181]

@@robertjanez7467 I don't think you should extend the jack lifting lever. That's the part the load, (weight) rest on. You might need a big honk'n piece of pipe to fit OVER the jack handle. But be aware, you will be extending your lifting lever and in turn multiplying the load on all the jack parts. Back in the late fifties into the early seventies anything made in Japan meant absolute junk. As we all know, as Japan recovered from the war they turned their manufacturing sector around. China is on a similar path but China brings far, far less integrity to the table. Made in China will always be suspect. The parts of the jack are engineered to be made with a certain quality of metals and to operate within specific load levels. Us shade tree mechanics tend to exceed most when we don't exceed all of those standards. Let me close this with a quick personal history. A long time ago I was taking a shower with a new girlfriend. She stopped, looked at me and said, "You gotta lot of scars." Be safe, do good work and keep in touch.

[@heydeereman1040]

Yeah, I have a huge scar on my leg from trying so use caution if you try it on a High Cube

[@TractorHoarders]

Ouch!!

[@tubbycreekfarm]

unless you add or vastly improve ventilation in the container, be cautious storing anything combustible inside the container

[@TractorHoarders]

I later cut some holes and added more venting. I’ve now been storing lots of things with engines and gas in them for years and been totally happy with them.

[@themowerman]

Now the old doors close.. good job..

[@themowerman]

Hi mate found you on the Taryl fixes all friends group.. will be checking out your channel

[@TractorHoarders]

Thanks for watching Mick! I just subbed to you and will be watching as well.

[@FourthWayRanch]

I got one today and managed to fix my doors. I'd recommend getting an extension pipe. You have to put a lot of force on it, if it breaks you will probably break bones

[@aandd10]

Great job man

[@TractorHoarders]

It's a handy little jack!

[@VantasyVan]

Yo! You should build a complex with shipping containers.

[@TractorHoarders]

Vantasy I would love to lol

[@VantasyVan]

Hans Makes It Work - Tractor Hoarders I have a dream of building a 3 story shipping container complex with shipping container pool.

[@christianlopez3455]

i got one and it wouldn't go down had to kick it out really those doors should have shut regardless

[@TractorHoarders]

Yeah, this is my first shipping container. I just got a second one after this video and the doors open and close much easier. On this first one, it wouldn’t shut, so the first thing I did was research it on KZbin and saw this recommended. Worked for me!

[@bunch1979]

"If I was a little bigger boy!"

[@TractorHoarders]

Haha, I needed a little more girth.

[@hot2warm]

The reason why hydraulic jacks were invented

[@christianlopez3455]

i got one and it wouldn't go down had to kick it out

[@robertthomas4329]

Appropriate footwear

[@TractorHoarders]

Yes, absolutely 😂

[@TheMattYouCantWalkOn]

Those things get extremely hot in the summer. Hope the heat doesn't ruin anything next year. Also, I need one for all my mowers. 😂

[@TractorHoarders]

Matt D Didn’t show it, but I installed vents to hopefully tone down the heat. I’ve got another one coming soon.

[@alecb8509]

@@TractorHoarders Also, one liter of gas will be enough to cause an explosion hazard. Hope you put the vent at the floor height to release any fumes.

[@TractorHoarders]

@@alecb8509 Yep, I installed a few vents. I’ll probably do an update video to show how I did those.

[@rrtownsend6432]

You need to eat more Wheaties and buy a couple of Kubotas. RT

[@TractorHoarders]

😂 noted.

[@JohnDoe-hu9ve]

Pro tip - never put your head over the farm jack handle.....

[@TractorHoarders]

Where were you two weeks ago when I had that handle bust me in the head? 😂