The ARB Bushranger exhaust jack . . . yea or nay?
ARB's Bushranger exhaust jack (along with its many copies) is like no other lifting device. It uses exhaust pressure from the engine (or, via a Schrader valve, an air compressor) to lift up to 2,000 kg (4,400 pounds) up to 30 inches. When deflated the envelope is barely three inches tall, and will fit and subsequently lift where no other jack can operate.
The bottom of the jack is peppered with grippy rubberized teeth; in addition its flexible nature enables it to wrap around a cobbled or even bouldery substrate where any standard jack base would slip. The top is surprisingly tough, and also comes with a separate protective mat to place between the jack and any sharp protuberances. It should of course be kept away from direct contact with the exhaust system. (The jack includes a repair kit.)
The Bushranger's 25-inch diameter gives it a huge footprint that supports it on top of nearly any substrate that doesn't have a current. There is no sand soft enough to defeat it. However, the 30-inch maximum lift height can be defeated depending on circumstances, the height of your vehicle's chassis, and the suspension on the vehicle. You can alleviate this by placing boards between the top of the jack and the chassis, or even simply piling up more sand (or rocks) underneath it.
Deploying the Bushranger takes less effort than virtually any other jack, except perhaps for a 12V electric model. As long as your exhaust outlet is round, not rectangular or elongated, just cram the jack's rubber cone over the tip after positioning the bag. It will rise quickly, and you can pause the process to reposition if necessary (the bag won't deflate). I found it helps to have a second person in the vehicle to raise the idle to prevent the engine bogging.
Keep in mind that, no matter how sturdy the bag is, it's still a giant balloon. The vehicle will not sit firmly atop it but can wiggle considerably back and forth. You obviously will not do any work under a vehicle supported only by an exhaust (or any other) jack. You could change a tire using it, but even this is better accomplished with a standard bottle or scissor jack under an axle.
The Bushranger is not particularly light at 20 pounds, and despite fitting into a nearly flat storage bag the diameter can make it bulky to store. It takes up considerable volume in my FJ40, which is one reason I've never carried it on solo trips. In a large truck, or for a group trip, it would serve as a useful alternative to a Hi-Lift jack in many recovery situations, and its operation is considerably less fraught.
ARB is here. However, finding the Bushranger jack is absurdly difficult. A simple Google search is easier.
