Res-Q-Jack: Vehicle Stabilization Struts, Lifting Rescue

We just bought a set of these and they seem to be a great tool and we're working with them a lot but we found out that for right now its much easier to use them just for stabilization and leave the lifting part to our air bags. Do any of you have them and what do you think of them and what all do you use them for. Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on July 20, 2009 at 10:22pm

Rescue 1, it seems that several of us have the training and prefer to use the struts for stabilization and the air bags due to better control of the lift with less chance of something going wrong.

The wrecker isn't always on the scene - it can be backed up in traffic, or more likely it's a roll-back with no lifting capability.

Crank/ratchet type struts don't life smoothly. Air bags do...a win for the patient's C-spine.

I'd rather do a strap-to-strap stabilization job with the struts and lift with the air bags. Generally, no strap adjustment is needed for this, as the straps will self-adjust during the air bag lift.

And...I take anything that any factory rep tells me with a grain of salt, particularly if I haven't already purchased their product.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Stoops on July 23, 2009 at 8:28pm

My station recently placed the Res-Q-Jacks in service. Ever since we've got them, we try an train with them at least twice a month. They seem to be working very well for us and we are getting adjusted to them. My Chief believes that the more we train with them, the better we will get with them. We are still going to carry air bags but they will be the last option.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Klaene on August 2, 2009 at 1:16pm

We bought ResQ jacks a few years ago -- Coral Gables package. we have defaulted to air bags on all calls to-date but recently ran across a call where the air bags were difficult to use. Inverted pickup truck. Lifting wasn't essential but stabilization was. so we just cribbed. The crew didn't pull the res q jacks because of the perceived long time to set it up.

so we went back to the training vehicle

with a few practice evolutions the guys set up teh res q jacks in under 4 1/2 minutes. It was quick easy, safe, and simple. I think everyone agreed that these would have been the right tool for that last call. And if we would of had to lift 8-12 inches we would definitely use the jacks. They are smooth and very stable. Once in place, to then set up air bags and coordinate stabilization of the jacks with lifting of the bags seems a coordination nightmare.

for many calls (when vehicle on 4 wheels) we will likely use air bags first. For side resting we will definitely go to res q- jacks first . For inverted it will depend on lifting air bag pushing points, height and angle of pushing points, amount of lift, weight of vehicles, etc.. as to which we will chose first.

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Permalink Reply by Nathan Henderson on November 29, 2011 at 11:41pm

How do you like the res-q-jacks TJ? My department just got them and while I have heard good things about them I have no experience with them on an emergency scene or know of anyone that has.

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by brian203 on December 10, 2012 at 2:32pm

I used to think the same way. One day at the salvage yard someone brought up how much time it took to set up the struts to do a lift. So we took 2 teams of 2 on 2 cars resting on all 4 tires, they had to stablize the car and lift it 4 inches. The struts where faster. I like airbags myself but it takes less time and equipment to do a lift with the struts, but you also have to know how to use. Just my 2 cents.