Bendpak RJ-45 vs RBJ4500

[srpope80]

Hello,

I assembled and have been using two Bendpak HD-9 lifts with the ultimate plan of getting a couple rolling bridge jacks to make life easier on various car work.

I'm concerned as it appears the RBJ4500 (according to the spec sheet) has a max reach of 57'', and as I'm the owner of a couple cars where the ONLY approved lifting point from the service manual is the pinch wells at the sills. (I saw a few posts explaining secondary lifting points, but I do not have that luxury)

Is the 57'' total reach on the RBJ4500 measured to the end of the arms or does the lifting pads give the total reach a few more inches? Has anyone measured with the pads on?

It seem disappointing that arms wouldn't extend near the edges of the ramps at the narrow adjustment.

Any help from current owners, etc., would be appreciated.

 

[PoorOwner]

It's very common unfortunately for them not to reach the pinch welds.

 

[pbon]

Maybe if you did not need to lift 4500# with each jack, you could custom make longer arms. The problem then is that they might not retract enough into the frame to get your wheels past them.

You may be better off using low profile aluminum jacks on the runners. And then jackstands. You might also look into whether there are other jack points that work even if not factory approved. Are there subframes? Suspension mounting points?

 

[WhoWhatNow]

What cars can't be lifted by the suspension pickup points?

 

[PoorOwner]

I would think you can make extended pads that goes like 5” wider starting with one of the included pads to weld onto. It shouldn’t bend anything if build correctly.

You can also lift by the control arm knuckles. I haven’t seen a service manual that circles the control arm area but everyone knows the arm holds the front weight of the car. what if you are changing control arms or need to move the arms for suspension work? Then defiintely lower it onto jackstands.

You can also use these. You need ramps or other creative ways to get the pinch weld about 8” high, after that slowly raise each side a bit at a time.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Powerbuilt-3-Ton-All-in-One-Bottle-Jack-Jack-Stand-640912/203116783

 

[pbon]

I had thought about making arm extensions, which drop into the pad holes at the ends of the arms and lock under the arm towards the jack frame and then extend out another 6”. Obviously weight capacity drops, but my heaviest car is 4000 lbs, so a jack would be at less than half capacity.

 

[cmarshack]

Did anyone ever some up with a solution for this? I have a Tesla Model S. The only approved jack points are very wide (about where the pinch welds would be if it had any) and cannot find any guidance that allows for lifting from the suspension components.

I welcome any suggestions.

 

[pbon]

SVI International makes extensions. About $300 a pair. They do droop a little. I have them. Don’t have a picture but you can read about the identical version for Challenger here:

https://rennlist.com/forums/991-gt3...lling-bridge-jack-challenger-lift-update.html

 

[ripnesscobra]

The part number at SVI is BH-7474-81 and they can be found here https://www.sviinternational.com/part/bh-7474-81/

I just ordered 2 sets at $375 per set.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pbon]

Most people won’t need 2 sets. You can jack from suspension mounting points and subframes in most cars and they are mounted more inwards and the standard arms will reach. Sometimes you need to do a job where you need access to those points at one end and then a set of extensions is useful so you can use factory rocker panel jack points on many unibody cars.

 

[tom86951]

Just to answer the original question for future searchers, I measured the arms on my rbj4500. When fully extended they are 55” inches from end to end. The round pads that drop into the holes in the arms extend past the ends by 1 inch on each arm. So when the arms are fully extended, it’s 57’’ across from the outmost points on the two round pads. So the 57” spec that BendPak publishes is true, but your lift point would need to be several inches closer to actually work safely.

 

[cmarshack]

SVI International makes extensions. About $300 a pair. They do droop a little. I have them. Don’t have a picture but you can read about the identical version for Challenger here:


I just ordered 2 sets at $375 per set.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you both, this is exactly what I am looking for!