There are several alternative jacks.
A so called uni-jack is a combo jack stand and hydraulic jac k.(<$100 USD)
There are floor jacks with raised saddles, where the saddle assembly is an extended rod, with a saddle at he top. You still have similar lift, but it is offset upwards by the metal extension. (<$100 USD and upwards)
There are floor jacks made for trucks, which have higher lift, and still have a low profile so they can get under lower clearance vehicles. ($500 USD and up)
The first two are available from common DIY tool suppliers. The latter is commonly available from industrial tool suppliers.
Similarly, there are truck jack stands which have extended height and can safely keep your ride up high when you work under it.
In a pinch, I have used bottle jacks supported by 8x8 blocks (cutoffs from polebarns). However other then cross grain compression, I would not rely on wood in a jacking system, and a split with lowering of the vehicle could be fatal.
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