Alternative to bendpak rj45 rolling jack?

[a52-830]

I wonder if anyone has made their own jack tray for cheaper? Probably don't have to be rolling either.

with the prices i see for things like just a piece of plate steel, i imagine that the only way you could get it for cheaper would be if you could bend the steel yourself.

if that were true, i bet you could get the steel a lot cheaper also . . . . .

 

[a52-830]

I would call to find out whether it is sliding or rolling it if there is a difference other than the word used to describe how it moves. If it slides on the runners, that would not be as good as rolling on casters on the runners attached to the inside of runners on many ramps.

slider is 499$, roller is 649$.

 

[pbon]

Also ask about shipping. The bendpak may be free shipping. And the bendpak are air versus manual, if that matters to you. Got to compare total price package.

 

[a52-830]

Also ask about shipping. The bendpak may be free shipping. And the bendpak are air versus manual, if that matters to you. Got to compare total price package.

completely true.

at this point, the only thing i need a compressor for is the locks on the lift and the cutoff tool. when milwaukee starts shipping the M12 cutoff tool, it will be only the lift.

i would prefer a manual jack anyway. if i did it several times a day, i would feel comfortable zipping it up and down. but because i dont, a manual allows me to watch everything as it slowly goes up.

of course, i need to stand under it, which, honestly, it non optimal. ideally, it would be a battery powered hydraulic unit with a remote control. . . . .

 

[Theruse]

I use Bendpak's JP3 platform with two scissor jacks. Bottle jacks didn't work since there wasn't enough clearance. The two scissor jacks work perfectly and I can place them anywhere on the platform

 

[a52-830]

I use Bendpak's JP3 platform with two scissor jacks. Bottle jacks didn't work since there wasn't enough clearance. The two scissor jacks work perfectly and I can place them anywhere on the platform

won't work for me, my lift is set wide. now, if they had a JP3W, i would likely have two.

 

[pbon]

I need wide was well.

 

[pbon]

Other companies make jack trays that are adjustable.

 

[a52-830]

Other companies make jack trays that are adjustable.

which ones have you found?

 

[pbon]

A lot of the jack trays have a sliding feature to widen them. Search and you will see.

 

[garyhgaryh]

Hey guys, what do you think of this jack?

https://advantagelifts.us/RJ-M-Rolling-Hydraulic-Jack-Manual

Will this work on a Ben Pak HD-9ST?

I know it's a manual jack, but I can get it for $500.

Gary

So an update on this jack. I found a guy who bought one and never used it. It's sitting on a piano dolly. Just for kicks I asked if he would take $300. He basically said, "yeah sure". I'm picking it up in a few days at his hanger. He says it weighs 350 lbs. It's a manual jack, but at this price, i'm ok.

I'll update when I actually get it.

He sent pics and it actually is on rollers. It appears it will work with my HD-9ST. The roller has a U channel and it will roll on the outer tip of the U channel on the Bendpak ramps.

 

[a52-830]

interesting. it looks like it is built on one of those jack trays they also have listed.
if true, it tells you something about the capacity of those trays . . . . . .

tonight i came across this:

https://www.garageautoequipment.com/QRJ03H-3-500-lb-Capacity-Rolling-Jack-p/qrj03h.htm

675 *shipped*, 3500 lbs rather than 4500 though . . . . .

 

[a52-830]

so, i pulled the trigger on an Atlas RJ-45 (PROJACK45).

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-RJ-45-Rolling-Jack

i drove to NH to get it from a greg smith location. it had the dual feature of being the closest and avoiding sales tax.

two hours. got it home, about 30 minutes to unload it from the van, remove the packing, and put it under the lift.

sadly, there was no manual with it. i can't find one online anywhere.

so i went to lunch. after i got back, i dropped the lift until the U channels were under the ends of the jack. i pulled the arms out, put them so that the nylon rollers were up against the insides of the ramps, and raised the lift until the first locks clicked. i then settled it down on them, and went to check it out.

it doesnt fit. the axles for the rollers stick out too far, and rest on the sides of the U shaped channel:



not the best image, but it shows the problem. of course, it won't slide along. there are no grooves on the wheels, so i can't pull the arms back slightly and have them roll along the inside walls of the channel.

it is saturday, and the store closed at noon. has anyone got this to work? is there something i missed? when i called the earlier to verify the pickup price (811$), i asked if it fit the bendpak lift. the guy said he thought others had bought it for them.

so here i am. no manual, no jack, and looking like i am going to have to spend another two hours to take it back and get my money back.

pointing out what i did wrong would be appreciated. . . . . . . .

 

[jcar302]

so, i pulled the trigger on an Atlas RJ-45 (PROJACK45).

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-RJ-45-Rolling-Jack

i drove to NH to get it from a greg smith location. it had the dual feature of being the closest and avoiding sales tax.

two hours. got it home, about 30 minutes to unload it from the van, remove the packing, and put it under the lift.

sadly, there was no manual with it. i can't find one online anywhere.

so i went to lunch. after i got back, i dropped the lift until the U channels were under the ends of the jack. i pulled the arms out, put them so that the nylon rollers were up against the insides of the ramps, and raised the lift until the first locks clicked. i then settled it down on them, and went to check it out.

it doesnt fit. the axles for the rollers stick out too far, and rest on the sides of the U shaped channel:



not the best image, but it shows the problem. of course, it won't slide along. there are no grooves on the wheels, so i can't pull the arms back slightly and have them roll along the inside walls of the channel.

it is saturday, and the store closed at noon. has anyone got this to work? is there something i missed? when i called the earlier to verify the pickup price (811$), i asked if it fit the bendpak lift. the guy said he thought others had bought it for them.

so here i am. no manual, no jack, and looking like i am going to have to spend another two hours to take it back and get my money back.

pointing out what i did wrong would be appreciated. . . . . . . .

This is why I dropped the extra money for the real one. Between possible headaches, time and gas it wasn't worth the risk.
I would of also bought the rj6000 instead since the design is similar.

With that said, you may be able to swap out the bottom rollers for ones that run along the guide.

 

[pbon]

I totally appreciate the effort. I am buying an HD-7 or -9 but not the only jack bendpak sells now, the RJ-4500 that is higher in the middle and does not fit some low cars like the old RJ-45. I was thinking about an Atlas but can cross that one off the list.

 

[garagelogician]

So an update on this jack. I found a guy who bought one and never used it. It's sitting on a piano dolly. Just for kicks I asked if he would take $300. He basically said, "yeah sure". I'm picking it up in a few days at his hanger. He says it weighs 350 lbs. It's a manual jack, but at this price, i'm ok.

I'll update when I actually get it.

He sent pics and it actually is on rollers. It appears it will work with my HD-9ST. The roller has a U channel and it will roll on the outer tip of the U channel on the Bendpak ramps.

Any update on this? I'm getting close to pulling the trigger on an HD7 lift, and I'd really like to save some money on the bridge jacks.

 

[bobabuee]

any updates?

 

[Fahrer]

From my experience I would make sure the arms extend far/long enough for your intended purposes. I have an HD-9 and a RBJ-4500 and the arms do not extend far enough to lift by the pinch welds on a Honda Accord, Subaru WRX, or the jack pads on a BMW e36. I'm sure this will be the case for many cars and many bridge jacks. As far as I am concerned, for my cars the arms on the bridge jack are useless - have to put the jack under the differential in the rear and some other suitable point in the front, jack it up with a hockey puck on the main tube of the jack, then put support blocks under the rails/jack pads or other "factory lift points", then lower the car down on the support blocks. (BTW, I don't consider the differential nor the suspension a factory lift point.). Not the way I had envisioned using the bridge jack when I bought it.

Anyway, you too may need to find alternative jack points so be forewarned. Do some measuring on your car then check and recheck the specs on the jack. Make sure the specs are accurate.

 

[911mike]

I have used my rolling jack on over 100 different cars and trucks and I never have a problem. You talk about the pinch welds but these are designed for easy access for your factory tire jack. They are not the best points to lift from just a point you can access from the outside to change a tire. There is several other internal lift points well within the arm reach of the rolling jack. I mainly work on exotic sports cars with extreme values so I have to be safe to protect these investments.

 

[pbon]

Looks like I have two problems now if the RJ-4500 arms won’t reach the factory jack pad lift points on a narrow car like the BMW E36 - one of my lowered cars is a 99 M3.

The RJ-4500 also has less clearance in the center than the old RJ-45.

I need an alternative jack to address these two issues. These are premium priced jacks. I am not going to pay a premium for a jack that requires me to drive onto planks or use alternative jacking points.

 

[JMURiz]

I messed up procrastinating as well....wonder if we can petition to get the old RJ-45 model made again. Seeing as most with lifts have sportscars on them.

 

[a52-830]

I messed up procrastinating as well....wonder if we can petition to get the old RJ-45 model made again. Seeing as most with lifts have sportscars on them.

i remember reading somewhere (this thread? too lazy to look) that this is part of a plan to certify the jacks, so i doubt that they are going to want to manufacture any more that dont meet those criteria.

i dont think anyone really stocked them, did they? everyone seems to get them drop shipped from bendpak, so there isn't a stash of them anywhere. . . . .

 

[pbon]

Yes, I recently got Jeff to have 2 made for me. He said they will offer them for as long as their limited stock of the old frames lasts. Same expensive price as the new version and it may not be certified but it is lower profile. If you can’t reach Jeff, his assistant Liliana Chavez, knows the details.

 

[a52-830]

Yes, I recently got Jeff to have 2 made for me. He said they will offer them for as long as their limited stock of the old frames lasts. Same expensive price as the new version and it may not be certified but it is lower profile. If you can’t reach Jeff, his assistant Liliana Chavez, knows the details.

and there you go, proved wrong again.

how long is the turn around time for getting one made?

 

[James E]

I use an RJ45 on my HD9 lift. I have run into issues where the pinch weld jack points on a car are too far apart for the RJ at full extension, but I was always able to find an even better frame or hard point to use to lift the vehicle.

I have also had cars where the jack points were too narrow for the RJ's arms when they were fully retracted. In those situations, I simply retract the arms and put rubber blocks on top of the center-piece of the jack (the flat area into which the arms slide).

I have yet to find a car that I couldn't lift with the RJ45.

 

[pbon]

and there you go, proved wrong again.

how long is the turn around time for getting one made?

I believe it is a matter of days. I was told one was being made for me the next day, but mine was coming with my lift and it took a few days to make the lift. It’s the freight that may take a while.

 

[jcar302]

I've been using my rj45 for about 9 months now.
Seems there is always a solution for each issue I find.
In a perfect world, you drive on and pick up the car from any spot at any time.
It's not always that simple, so I do other things.
MY frame is too narrow for the jacks so I just put a piece of 1x2 on it on the center section, i'd love the optional kit, but a few hundred bucks is kinda ridiculous for what you get.
Sometimes I spread out the out the arms and put them under my jacking rails (aftermarket for a fox mustang).
Sometimes I lift it from an easy spot, take the wheels off and set the jacking rails on 4x4 blocks.
I've even just parked the rear wheels on short pieces of 2x10.

I just don't think there is a one size fits all solution.
Regardless, the rj45 saves me hours and a back ache.

I also have the jp3 jacking tray to sit things on if necessary.
The bad part of that thing is that I had to have a buddy weld extensions on it, since it didn't sit level with the runners.

 

[00vprgts]

Same issue here. I’m finalizing my order for the Hd-7W tomorrow. I had them verify the driver over clearance of the new RBJ-45 and it is 4.5 inches. That does not work with my Viper unless I back onto the lift and it will still not work at the outside frame jack points. I decided not to order it and added the jack tray and thinking about picking this up for $300 and just use my jacks stands on the tracks.

//advantagelifts.us/ABJ-2-Air-Bag-Jack

 

[jcar302]

Same issue here. I’m finalizing my order for the Hd-7W tomorrow. I had them verify the driver over clearance of the new RBJ-45 and it is 4.5 inches. That does not work with my Viper unless I back onto the lift and it will still not work at the outside frame jack points. I decided not to order it and added the jack tray and thinking about picking this up for $300 and just use my jacks stands on the tracks.

//advantagelifts.us/ABJ-2-Air-Bag-Jack

I tried a bunch of different methods of lifting the car before the rj45.
The problem was that none of the inspired confidence in standing under the car.
The jacking tray isn't really that useful.
Jack stands under the car scared the **** out of me, on top of the fact to get them under the car in the first place you have to place the car into a serious pitch. I realize it would be the same on the ground, but it just didn't sit well with me.

Park the wheels on some 2x10 or 2x12, put the rolling jack all the way forward when you drive on and just do it that way.
Any other method I used just felt like I was gambling with my safety.

 

[00vprgts]

I have done a ton of work with the car on 4 jack stands. The nose of my car is just under 3.5 inches. I don’t really want to buy a lift just to always have to park on 2X12’s which also reduces my ceiling clearance by another 1.5”. With the Hd-7, there won’t be enough length to just leave it forward and then pull it back for when I need it. I would have to park on 2x12’s all the time.

 

[jcar302]

I have done a ton of work with the car on 4 jack stands. The nose of my car is just under 3.5 inches. I don’t really want to buy a lift just to always have to park on 2X12’s which also reduces my ceiling clearance by another 1.5”. With the Hd-7, there won’t be enough length to just leave it forward and then pull it back for when I need it. I would have to park on 2x12’s all the time.

Trust me, I get it.
I'm 43 and the car on work on is the car I had when I was 18.
I've spent plenty of time under jackstands myself.
Maybe it's my age, maybe it was having kids, but the feeling under the car on jackstands on the lift just didn't sit well with me.
With the slide jack it felt like it was still on the wheels and tires.

I also don't remember seeing any really good short jack stands.

I'm by no means telling you what to do, you obviously know your situation better than I do, i'm just saying if you have never lifted a car off a lift, put it up and then went under it, it may not be the best feeling.
If the space determines that's the way you have to do it, I guess it is what it is.

BTW, I have the extended ramps and even with them my exhaust clips the front cross bar of the lift, so even driving on in the first place I need a little wood on the ramps.

 

[00vprgts]

Trust me, I get it.
I'm 43 and the car on work on is the car I had when I was 18.
I've spent plenty of time under jackstands myself.
Maybe it's my age, maybe it was having kids, but the feeling under the car on jackstands on the lift just didn't sit well with me.
With the slide jack it felt like it was still on the wheels and tires.

I also don't remember seeing any really good short jack stands.

I'm by no means telling you what to do, you obviously know your situation better than I do, i'm just saying if you have never lifted a car off a lift, put it up and then went under it, it may not be the best feeling.
If the space determines that's the way you have to do it, I guess it is what it is.

BTW, I have the extended ramps and even with them my exhaust clips the front cross bar of the lift, so even driving on in the first place I need a little wood on the ramps.

I’m with you. I was all set the pay the ridiculous amount for the jack until I found out about the clearance. I would. Would rather have the bridge jack over other options. Can someone take a measurement of the RBJ45 and a photo. Is the center of the jack 4.5 above the tracks?

 

[pbon]

This is the picture bendpak sent me of the rj45

 

[00vprgts]

This is the picture bendpak sent me of the rj45

Is that the first version (prior to the certified version)? The highest point is 3 inches? That’s what I need.

 

[pbon]

That is the picture bendpak sent me two months ago when they agreed to make the RJ45 until their stick of old frames ran out. My understanding is that a few years ago. A Ferrari owner got bendpak to modify its rj45 for a lower minimum height and that bendpak incorporated the changes into rj45 made since then. Jeff, member msk here, was involved. He or his assistant Liliana could confirm.

I agree $1175 is at the expensive end of the range for a 4500 lb bridge jack. A few people looked into other options. One even bought an Atlas jack but it did not fit. A creative person with some skills or ideas and friends with skills could probably modify another jack to fit but it has to have the right rollers and spacing and depth from the top of runners to bottom. Ideally you would want to see and measure before spending the money and expecting to modify to fit.

 

[a52-830]

A creative person with some skills or ideas and friends with skills could probably modify another jack to fit but it has to have the right rollers and spacing and depth from the top of runners to bottom. Ideally you would want to see and measure before spending the money and expecting to modify to fit.

and, they would need to be sure that there were no applicable changes made to the ramps over time. what might work great on a 2017 HD9 might not on a 2013 HP9, as an example . . . .

 

[a52-830]

i pulled the trigger and bought two RJ-45's from Bendpak.

after my issue with the atlas jack (which was a problem getting all sorted out), i decided that i should just bite the bullet and get a Bendpak unit. looking around, i figured out that there appeared to be no RJ-45's extant. then, i read here that pbon had gotten "Jeff" at Bendpak (GJ user JSK) to build him two RJ-45's.

as i have said, they are not exactly what i want. i wanted manual pumps, not air over oil. but i decided that they were the most of what i wanted: they were guaranteed to fit my lift, and they were likely as well made as the lift itself.

so on a Friday i called Bendpak, and asked for Jeff, and was directly connected (i like a SVP who answers his own phone from an unknown caller). he was pleasant, knew what i was talking about (even if i was not completely sure of the details of the previous order). i told him i wanted the older jacks because of height issues. i wanted two because if i was going to end up with two anyway, which seemed likely over time, i would prefer they be identical. he told me that he would need to have someone check the warehouse, and get back to me. he handed me off (emailing both of us so i knew what was happening) to someone named Robert, who managed to find what i needed, collected the one third down payment they needed, and sent people off to get it dealt with. Jeff kept checking in to make sure things kept moving.

i was lucky, they managed to get me from request (Friday) to shipped (second Monday) in just over a week. i paid the outstanding balance, and it was on a truck that evening. the jacks arrived today, securely wrapped and strapped to a pallet. from the back of the truck to both sitting on the lift in about 90 minutes. (note, the pallet was 600 pounds. i am fortunate that i have a skid loader, so i put the pallet forks on it, and it was easy to get off the truck)

are there things i would change about the lift and the jacks? sure there are. am i happy with my purchase? very. some people here complain about Bendpak. they have always been responsive and pleasant to me when i contacted them. they worked a "special" for me when they really didnt have to.

i would certainly recommend them if you are considering them. they have a quality product, which comes with documentation, is securely packed, and delivered in a reasonable time for no additional charge. their service has been excellent.

 

[pbon]

Mine are still on a trailer along with my lift while my garage is renovated. Tell us how you like these jacks compared to the other bendpak jacks.

 

[a52-830]

Mine are still on a trailer along with my lift while my garage is renovated. Tell us how you like these jacks compared to the other bendpak jacks.

well, it will take a few days before i can raise them. my large compressor is not near the lift. i need to install air fittings on it, and try the small "hot dog" compressor i have in that space. if it proves inadequate, which i assume it will, i will need to move the big compressor, which is A Project. while it is accessible, there is not enough clearance to get it out without removal of a bunch of stuff.

 

[Tom Vermont]

So grateful for these timely updates about the bridge jacks!

I ordered an HD-9 today, and switched my planned order from two RBJ-4500's to two RJ-45's. I play with Little British Cars, and currently have a lowered TR6, but my gold standard for "low" is the pre-1974 MG Midget. If I ever get a Healey on the lift, I'll be glad for the additional 1.5" of clearance too.

My salesman said the RJ-45 was discontinued, and Jeff is on vacation this week, but thanks to this thread I was able to send him to Lillian, who OK'd the RJ-45 substitution. They quoted me "2-3 months," but I said I'd wait. I'll post again when they ship.

Other tidbits I gleaned, that most of you might already know, but maybe another Noob like me will find useful:

Bend-Pak's standard powder coat color is gun metal grey now, for all lifts, but the salesman said they had some black ones in stock at no extra charge. Powder coating them a less depressing color costs $885, and I couldn't justify it, personally. Grey it is!

All prices are going up September 1st. I don't want to spoil our nice discussion with politics, but the fact is that these things are made of steel and come from China, and that means importing them is about to get much more expensive.

Thanks for the great information, pbon, A52-830 and everyone else.

Tom