HEAVY LIFTING

We test the new TacJack tactical jack

-  Verne Simons

Having a good off-road jack when you are out on the trail or on the side of the road is very important. There are many off-road jacks available, from the venerable and classic Hi-Lift to offerings from Pro Eagle, ARB, the Tauler Jack Kit from Brennan's Garage, and more. A new jack that we recently got to spend a lot of time with is the 7-Ton TacJack Tall Jack from Redridge Industries.

The jack we tested was a prototype and that's why it says 6½-ton in some of the images, but we've been assured by Redridge that our prototype is the same as the production 7-ton jack. There is also a 7-Ton Short TacJack from Redridge, which is shorter than the 7-Ton Tall TacJack but is otherwise identical. Both jacks are very light in weight (the one we tested was 15 pounds), yet with a high weight capacity (7 tons is twice the weight capacity of the Hi-Lift Cast/Steel Jack, for reference) and remarkable travel, allowing these relatively short (when collapsed) bottle jacks to be used successfully on off-road vehicles. These jacks were built for the military and as a result are manufactured to a high standard. The only downside to this jack is its cost, which reflects the quality of construction and the fact that this jack is proudly made in the USA.

Both the Tall and Short 7-Ton and 10-Ton (yeah, there's also a 10-ton) TacJacks feature a two-stage telescoping ram and integrated threaded extension for maximum lift. Both also have a two-speed pump for faster extension when unloaded. These jacks are compact and lightweight, making maneuvering and using them easy. With the 7-Ton's 14,000-pound weight capacity you can use the jack with confidence under most any 4x4. The jacks are constructed using hard-anodized aluminum and nickel-plated steel for maximum corrosion resistance. Both jacks come with a 25-inch jack handle and a premium jack saddle with retention pin that mounts to the threaded extension.