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Bendpak RJ-45 Bridge Jacks - thanks Santa.

HIRISC

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 9, 2006
Messages
828
Location
Minneapolis, MN
I've had my Bendpak HD-9XW four post lift for awhile now, but hadn't installed any bridge jack or jacking tray setup to allow me to get the wheels off my car/truck while on the lift.

I was swapping winter wheels/tires recently on my wife's car - one at a time - using my trusty floor jack and thought it would be nice to be able to take all four wheels off at once during wheel and/or tire changes (not to mention suspension/brake service), so I decided to splurge on a couple Bendpak RJ-45 air actuated hydraulic bridge jacks.

These formerly were 'sliding' bridge jacks - on a blocks of plastic/poly. They are now 'rolling' bridge jacks and use a concave wheel that rolls on the top edge of the four post's bridge jack channel. The wheels do not roll 'inside' the channel, thereby eliminating the need to keep them operating-room clean.

After reading a Forum thread regarding the use of RJ-45's with low ground clearance auto's, I emailed Jeff Kritzer at Bendpak directly. He alleviated my concerns and informed me that the current RJ-45 configuration - coupled with my relatively new HD-9, allow the bridge jack to sit as low as possible relative to the ramps.

The net result provided a very low 2.75" drive over height (no pads) and 3" clearance requirement with pads. My lowest car's lowest point off the ground is 3.5", so I must be doing something right :)

My HD-9XW is setup on the wide setting - that is 44 3/8" between the ramps. The RJ-45 adjusts to allow for use on both the narrow or wide settings.

I bought the bridge jacks here - easy as pie, shipped free directly from Bendpak. http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/BendPak-RJ-45-4-500-Lbs-Rolling-Bridge-Jack-p/rj-45.htm

I had the jacks shipped to my office, then had our local courier bring them over to the garage with a lift-gate equipped truck. These weigh nearly 300lbs each. Some guys move them around on furniture dollies. I didn't have those, so I used my engine hoist and a spare tire lying around to prop up the jack for placement on the four post.

Conveniently, the four corner safety bolts that retain the RJ-45's width-adjustable arms (those that rest on the lip of the four post) matched up perfectly with some axle straps I had lying around and made short work of lifting these little beasts.

Very simple to get working. Operated fine on both my mini Craftsman compressor or the big Quincy.

No time to jack anything up, but I tried a couple cars on it with no clearance issues. That said, when I drove the Ford on the lift, I chose to push both bridge jacks to the front 'just in case'.

All in all, very pleased with these.

Blah blah....On to the pics.

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e-tek

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
10,690
Location
Saskatoon, SK
When did they sart using the rubber pads?

Ya - those must be BRAND new! Your set-up looks super clean! :thumbup:

I ended up getting my jack right at the time they went to the sliding blocks and they totally sucked. A couple months back Jeff made me a deal on some roller retro-fits and now mine is a roller - what a difference!!

Two jacks might be nice in some situations, but will also take up quite a bit of room under the car. I use mine to lift one end, block it up from the ramps to leave the open area open, then slide it out of the way - or to the other end if I want the entire car up. But your cars are mostly new so you're likely not doing the same kind of full-resto work I do, so no matter.
 

volvo

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 19, 2006
Messages
1,304
Location
PNW 45th Parallel
...
Thanks for sharing your install & good fortune to have two lifting jack set ups. You will enjoy those shake free units compared to the large center air bag style lifts that bounce all over the place. Great write up & pictures. Enjoy :drool:
 
OP
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HIRISC

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 9, 2006
Messages
828
Location
Minneapolis, MN
Ya - those must be BRAND new! Your set-up looks super clean! :thumbup:

I ended up getting my jack right at the time they went to the sliding blocks and they totally sucked. A couple months back Jeff made me a deal on some roller retro-fits and now mine is a roller - what a difference!!

Two jacks might be nice in some situations, but will also take up quite a bit of room under the car. I use mine to lift one end, block it up from the ramps to leave the open area open, then slide it out of the way - or to the other end if I want the entire car up. But your cars are mostly new so you're likely not doing the same kind of full-resto work I do, so no matter.

I was formerly concerned about two bridge jacks taking up too much room on my std. HD-9 that I have at home so I never pulled the trigger.

When I was looking for a four post for the shop, I had the space for the -XW version. The extra ramp length made all the difference. On the relatively short wheelbase cars I own, there is enough room for nearly complete undercar access with the bridge jacks shoved together on either end.

As you know, rolling them is very easy.

I often swap full sets of wheels/tires. The bridge jacks will basically take the place of my midrise scissor lift.

Worst case is just to take both of the bridge jacks off the four post entirely. 10 minute deal.

:beer:


...
Thanks for sharing your install & good fortune to have two lifting jack set ups. You will enjoy those shake free units compared to the large center air bag style lifts that bounce all over the place. Great write up & pictures. Enjoy :drool:

Thank you. They are a splurge that my back will appreciate.

:beer:
 

James E

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 21, 2010
Messages
16,507
Location
Raleigh, NC
HIRISC, I just got one of those RJ45's and love it. I only wish mine was blue, to match the lift and that there was enough storage space to mount all of the accessories on the jack.

I also wish I had bought mine sooner.
 

Fskof

Active member
Joined
Jan 17, 2010
Messages
25
Location
New Berlin, WI
HIRISC its about time you splurged a little...lol
How have you been? Hows your son doing? Is he driving yet? lol :)

Getting the two Bendpak RJ-45 Bridge Jacks is the way to go. It makes tire rotations quick and simple.
 
OP
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HIRISC

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 9, 2006
Messages
828
Location
Minneapolis, MN
HIRISC, I just got one of those RJ45's and love it. I only wish mine was blue, to match the lift and that there was enough storage space to mount all of the accessories on the jack. I also wish I had bought mine sooner.

An accessory tray would be handy!


HIRISC its about time you splurged a little...lol
How have you been? Hows your son doing? Is he driving yet? lol :)

Getting the two Bendpak RJ-45 Bridge Jacks is the way to go. It makes tire rotations quick and simple.

Lol.

All good here. Our son is 18 months old now. He is doing great, thanks.

Swing by at C&C and say 'Hi'

:3gears:
 
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Fskof

Active member
Joined
Jan 17, 2010
Messages
25
Location
New Berlin, WI
An accessory tray would be handy!




Lol.

All good here. Our son is 18 months old now. He is doing great, thanks.

Swing by at C&C and say 'Hi'

:3gears:

I wasnt able to make it this summer because I was so busy with work but I will be there in 2013!

Hows the cobra project coming along?
 

pmason0

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 12, 2011
Messages
251
Location
East Tennessee
The clearance you have to watch, I ended up putting some plywood down to clear my bridge jack. Is I have hit it. Most of the time I just keep it to the back of the lift until I need it.
 

2001RedCoupeBandit

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 6, 2012
Messages
229
I didn't know you were so rich! Nice Ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's Bandit and I TOO have the RJ-45, haven't tried it out yet. It is still pretty heavy, but slides easily. i was going to lube the wheels or rollers one day. My vette sits low and it clears easily, BUT, I backed my Vette on the Lift.

Congrats and Thansk to YOU for ALL the advice and help you gave to me in getting my lift!! I really appreciate it. I will post pics soon, btu there are so many, it will take a long time.

Congrats and I'm glad your digging the RJ-45. Just noticed, you got TWO!! LOL I only got one just because I won't use it that much, but it sure makes the lift much more useable.
 
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HIRISC

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 9, 2006
Messages
828
Location
Minneapolis, MN
Sweet lift jacks, and that GT is beautiful.... thanks for the detail on the lift jacks, making me drool ..

Thanks much and you are welcome.


I didn't know you were so rich! Nice Ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's Bandit and I TOO have the RJ-45, haven't tried it out yet. It is still pretty heavy, but slides easily. i was going to lube the wheels or rollers one day. My vette sits low and it clears easily, BUT, I backed my Vette on the Lift.

Congrats and Thansk to YOU for ALL the advice and help you gave to me in getting my lift!! I really appreciate it. I will post pics soon, btu there are so many, it will take a long time.

Congrats and I'm glad your digging the RJ-45. Just noticed, you got TWO!! LOL I only got one just because I won't use it that much, but it sure makes the lift much more useable.

You're welcome for the help. Looking forward to your pics.

:beer:
 

cmarshack

New member
Joined
Oct 15, 2019
Messages
3
Location
So Cal
I ended up getting my jack right at the time they went to the sliding blocks and they totally sucked. A couple months back Jeff made me a deal on some roller retro-fits and now mine is a roller - what a difference!!.

Resurrecting a super old thread. Who is Jeff and where can i get a set of retrofit rollers!?
 
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