Sliding Jack

[Grabber70Mach]

I've got an older Ben Pearson tubemaster Corp. four post lift. I'm looking at adding a sliding Jack to it for doing brake work etc., on my vehicles. I have to use a slider as there isn't a lip on the inside of the runners like the new ones have. I'm looking at three options and would like opinions on which is the better choice. Also enclosing some pictures to show the runners on the lift and the inside measurement between them. Thanks.

https://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/auto-lift-3500lb-sliding-jack-p/sj-35.htm

https://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/amgo-hydr-5k-jack-p/j5h.htm

https://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/atlas-rj-35-sliding-hydraulic-jack-p/xh-projack35.htm

https://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-RJ-35-Sliding-Jack

 

[dagofast]

When the lift is completely lowered, you're going to need to know the dimension from the floor to the top of the runway. Some rolling/sliding rail jacks hang lower then others and will therefore hit the floor first when you lower the lift. On the other side of the coin, some are taller and might present a clearance problem with sticking up too high to allow lower vehicles to be driven on to the lift.

You have some homework to do since you are not buying a jack made specifically for your lift. You should ask for full dimensional drawings of any aftermarket rolling/sliding jacks before you purchase them to make sure they will work with your lift.

 

[CraigStu]

Those sure don't look like much fun to use. 300# and you have to slide it on diamond plate? None available w/ some type of rollers? I'd either grind down the surface or weld on a piece of 1/8x1.5 flat stock. And a hand pump? No way to use air?

 

[Grabber70Mach]

When the lift is completely lowered, you're going to need to know the dimension from the floor to the top of the runway. Some rolling/sliding rail jacks hang lower then others and will therefore hit the floor first when you lower the lift. On the other side of the coin, some are taller and might present a clearance problem with sticking up too high to allow lower vehicles to be driven on to the lift.

You have some homework to do since you are not buying a jack made specifically for your lift. You should ask for full dimensional drawings of any aftermarket rolling/sliding jacks before you purchase them to make sure they will work with your lift.

Thanks for the input. Those are some things I hadn't thought of.

 

[Grabber70Mach]

Those sure don't look like much fun to use. 300# and you have to slide it on diamond plate? None available w/ some type of rollers? I'd either grind down the surface or weld on a piece of 1/8x1.5 flat stock. And a hand pump? No way to use air?

I don't think it'll really be too bad. I made a sliding jack plate years ago and though not as convenient as a roller would be, it's doable. Not using it on a daily basis I just can't justify the substantial cost difference to get an air actuated model. Thanks for the input though.

 

[MWitte]

I have the Atlas RJ-35 jacks on my lift. They do slide surprisingly well on the diamond plate ramps of my Atlas lift. I couldn't imagine having a 4 post lift without them.

 

[Grabber70Mach]

I have the Atlas RJ-35 jacks on my lift. They do slide surprisingly well on the diamond plate ramps of my Atlas lift. I couldn't imagine having a 4 post lift without them.

Thanks

 

[Grabber70Mach]

Went ahead and picked up the Atlas Jack on Monday from Greg Smith equipment. No problem sliding on the diamond plate runners. Definitely feel I'm going to be pleased with this decision.

 

[CraigStu]

Cool. Looks like it will work fine. I love your ingenuity on using the lift to get it off your truck. Back in the day while working as a Lexus tech one thing that was tough was getting a transaxle out of it's shipping box. Heavy and so it took two to lift it and one to kick the box away. Then we had to get it up onto the trans jack. One day I had an inspiration. Grabbed a piece of chain and bolted one end to the tiedown hook of the car on the lift. Lowered the lift and bolted the other end to the trans. Ran the lift up so trans came out of the box and up to the trans jack. Did it all myself. Didn't take long til every tech had a 4 ft piece of chain and several bolts in his box.

 

[dagofast]

 

[Grabber70Mach]

Cool. Looks like it will work fine. I love your ingenuity on using the lift to get it off your truck. Back in the day while working as a Lexus tech one thing that was tough was getting a transaxle out of it's shipping box. Heavy and so it took two to lift it and one to kick the box away. Then we had to get it up onto the trans jack. One day I had an inspiration. Grabbed a piece of chain and bolted one end to the tiedown hook of the car on the lift. Lowered the lift and bolted the other end to the trans. Ran the lift up so trans came out of the box and up to the trans jack. Did it all myself. Didn't take long til every tech had a 4 ft piece of chain and several bolts in his box.

Thanks

Thanks


I'm definitely going to get used to having this real quick. I've had my eye on them for a while and probably will be kicking myself soon trying to figure out while I waited so long.

 

[dagofast]

You're gonna love it! Don't kick yourself, we all feel like doing that for crawling around on concrete for years, decades even, until we get a lift. The delay in adding a sliding/rolling jack is only worth a little extra slap the next time you put on aftershave.

I was considering adding a second rolling jack for mine, but the money just went towards a new washing machine. Maybe someday?