Photography: ARB

Maybe it’s because we’re writers and not engineers, but innovation always amazes us. Especially when it comes to something familiar that’s been around a long time. It’s easy to assume that a product that’s been out forever can’t be improved. Then someone much smarter than us takes a look at it and figures out a way to make it even better. We’re left scratching our heads wondering, “Why didn’t we think of that?”

Take the farm jack, for instance. It’s been around in various forms since before the first Ford Model T rolled off the assembly line. Rugged, reliable, economical and simple, the farm jack has gotten many off-roaders out of a jam. While it’s a solid piece of equipment, it’s not without its caveats. Used improperly, a farm jack can be unstable. And, if you don’t exercise caution, that jack handle can come flying back at you.

ARB took the concept of the farm jack and let their engineers loose on it. The result is this beautifully-crafted piece of 6061 T6 aluminum simply referred to as the ARB JACK. A long travel jack, the ARB JACK operates similarly to a farm jack – in theory. The big difference is that it’s hydraulic instead of manual. This provides the benefit of a huge reduction in the effort required to raise the vehicle. Quick, short cycles of the handle can be used to raise a vehicle, instead of full strokes. The hydraulic design of the jack is also useful when returning the vehicle to solid ground. A simple release valve allows the vehicle to gently return to the ground with no risk of handle recoil. The two-stage release system retracts the jack slowly for the first two thirds of its stroke, and quicker for the final third.

The rest of the ARB JACK is equally well thought out. Its large and sturdy base can be rotated 360 degrees for optimal placement on uneven terrain. On the body of the jack are nine hooking points to allow easy positioning of the lifting mechanism. A body bumper is strategically placed to shield the vehicle from damage when using the jack. The large handle of the jack is on the top so the operator can remain upright when using it. It has a lifting capacity of 4,409 lbs., only weighs 28 lbs., can lift a full 48 inches, and is 35 inches tall when compressed. The ARB JACK is a modern interpretation of the beloved farm jack.