Pull a Tree Stump With a Hi-Lift Jack and a Simple Tripod Brace
Technique: Stump Removal
Warning: Hi-lift jacks are DANGEROUS. People have been killed or seriously injured using them. A loaded jack stores enormous energy, and the handle can kick back hard enough to break bones or worse. Read the full safety note below before attempting this.
The Problem
You've got a tree stump to remove, but you don't have a stump grinder or a truck in the right position to pull it. A hi-lift (farm) jack has more than enough lifting force, but using one freestanding to pull a stump is asking for trouble — the jack is tall, narrow, and will topple sideways as soon as the load shifts.
The Technique
- Build the tripod brace: Take two 2x4s (about 4 feet long) and drill a hole near the top of each one. Run a piece of threaded rod through the hole at the top of the hi-lift jack and through both 2x4s. Secure with washers and nuts on each side. The two 2x4s angle outward at the base, forming a tripod with the jack as the center leg.
- Set the base: Place a wide, flat board under the jack's foot to keep it from sinking into soft ground. Set the tripod so the jack is vertical over the stump.
- Wrap the stump: Wrap a heavy chain around the stump as low as possible — the lower the chain, the more root you'll catch. Get it tight.
- Connect the chain to the jack: Hook or wrap the chain to the jack's lifting mechanism.
- Start jacking: Pump the jack handle. The stump will start to lift. The tripod brace keeps the jack from kicking sideways as the stump resists and shifts.
- Reset if needed: If the jack tops out before the stump is free, block under the stump to hold your progress, lower the jack, re-rig, and go again.
Pro tip: This works best on stumps up to about 6 inches in diameter. For bigger stumps, you'll want to cut the major lateral roots with a reciprocating saw or axe first to reduce the resistance. The jack has the force, but the chain needs to be able to hold it.
Pro tip: The threaded rod through the top is the key detail that makes this work. Without the brace, a hi-lift jack pulling sideways on a stump is genuinely dangerous — it stores a huge amount of energy and can whip around violently if it tips.
Safety note: Hi-lift jacks are one of the most dangerous common tools. They store enormous energy under load and the handle can kick back hard enough to break bones. Keep your face and body clear of the handle arc at all times. Wear gloves and safety glasses. Never stand in the path the chain would travel if it snapped — use a rated chain, not a random one from the garage.