A Hi-Lift rattling loose in your cargo area is a 60-inch steel lever waiting to injure someone — a proper mount costs $35–$89 and turns it into a tool you can actually deploy quickly when you need it.
The Hi-Lift HL-485 (48") and X-TREME (60") are standard equipment on serious XJ trail builds. The question is never whether to carry one — it's where to put it. The three options each make sense in different builds, and the right answer depends on whether you have a roof rack, what your rear bumper looks like, and whether hood clearance is an issue with your lift height.
The hood mount is the most popular choice on XJs without a roof rack. It bolts to the factory hood hinges or to a dedicated bracket that uses existing hood bolts — no drilling required on most designs. The Smittybilt and Garvin units both work this way. The advantage is accessibility: the Hi-Lift is at hood height, reachable without climbing up or digging through cargo. The limitation is that some lift kits — particularly those that raise the front end significantly — can put the hood high enough that the mounted Hi-Lift contacts the windshield frame when the hood is closed. Check clearance before committing; the measurement that matters is from the top of the Hi-Lift (when mounted flat on the hood) to the windshield frame at the hood-closed position.
The roof rack mount works well on XJs with a Gobi, Garvin, or Smittybilt rack already in place. The Hi-Lift lives flat on the rack, out of the way, and a dedicated clamp or slot keeps it from shifting. The downside is access: when you need the jack, you're reaching overhead and unclipping a 18–25 lb tool. That's fine when you're not exhausted and it's not raining sideways. The rear bumper mount (Rugged Ridge and similar) positions the jack vertically on the rear bumper face — straightforward to grab, stays out of the cargo area, and doesn't require a rack. It does require an aftermarket rear bumper with mount provisions, and it puts the jack at risk of rock damage on tight trails.
| Part | Vendor | Est. price |
|---|---|---|
| Smittybilt Hood Mount for Hi-Lift Jack (XJ) | Smittybilt | ~$45 |
| Garvin Wilderness Hi-Lift Jack Hood Mount | Garvin Industries | ~$65 |
| Rugged Ridge Rear Bumper Hi-Lift Mount | Rugged Ridge | ~$49 |
| Gobi Roof Rack Hi-Lift Side Mount | Gobi Racks | ~$89 |
| Generic Roof Rack Universal Hi-Lift Carrier | Various | ~$35 |
Written and maintained by an AZ wheeler and driveway wrencher. Always cross-reference your factory service manual — modifications affect vehicle safety and warranty. Work at your own risk.
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