Do you use a bridge jack?

[JohnnieMo]

I have a 4 post Lift King and I am trying to decide if it is worth it to invest in a bridge jack.







I like the system and they look convenient but they are stupid expensive. To date I’ve just been using either bottle jacks or scissor jacks the jack stands. It’s annoying and they don’t always align nicely. But they aren’t $1500+ either. I would even go with a manual one as opposed to the pneumatic but I don’t know which are any good.

Let me know what you do, if you own one, and if you think it’s worth it.

 

[LXCam]

Worth every stinking dime. Mine was half that when I bought it but if I had to write a check tomorrow for that much I still wouldn't think twice about it.

 

[MFortie]

Just put my new four post in and used the bridge jack for the first job with the lift. Well worth the cost IMHO.

 

[JohnnieMo]

The lift king version is listed at $1895 CAD. The lift was $3495 CAD. I just can't fathom how they justify that.

It's true that almost any bridge lift should work. If I could find a better value I would go that route. I've seen some manual ones closer to $500 but there's always the fear it won't fit.

I don't use a jack on the lift very often. It might be 6 to 10 times per year. Mostly the lift is used to store the 30th or else just doing oil changes etc.

Did you guys get the pneumatic version?

 

[fordnut85]

They are definitely worth it, doubles the usefulness of the lift. I would stay away from the air over hydraulic units for diy and no more than you will probly use it.

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[DARK AGE 53]

I know your question was about a bridge jack but have you thought about a mid rise scissor lift, I also have a four post lift and will be adding a mid rise scissor lift this spring.

 

[TheSasquatch]

I do not own one nor do I use one very often anymore. But when I was at a ford dealer that had 4 post with the 2 bridge jacks they were almost more useful than a typical 2 post. I could pull a car in and get it straight in the air as well as get the suspension up if I needed. If I get a 4 post in the future it will definitely have 2 on it.


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[joe_padavano]

This is why I don't get the four post lift for anything other than storage or oil changes. Even with the bridge jack(s), the rest of the lift is in the way of whatever you want to do.

 

[850xpeps]

This is why I don't get the four post lift for anything other than storage or oil changes. Even with the bridge jack(s), the rest of the lift is in the way of whatever you want to do.

I will be buying a lift in the future but I just find 2 post lifts sketchy for some reason lol I like how there isn’t much in the way of it.

To the op if I had your garage I would just sell the lift as I would be more sick of crawling under the lift for an oil change then backing up a couple ramps and dropping the oil on a low car. The truck needs nothings. Storing a car on it makes no sense because you can’t really park another under it with your height. And you have a massive thing taking up a full stall.


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[JohnnieMo]

To the op if I had your garage I would just sell the lift as I would be more sick of crawling under the lift for an oil change then backing up a couple ramps and dropping the oil on a low car. The truck needs nothings. Storing a car on it makes no sense because you can’t really park another under it with your height. And you have a massive thing taking up a full stall.


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[850xpeps]

Lol well then....... you win


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[JohnnieMo]

I know your question was about a bridge jack but have you thought about a mid rise scissor lift, I also have a four post lift and will be adding a mid rise scissor lift this spring.

So do you mean you can get a full scissor lift for the inside of the 4 poster? That’s a clever idea. I’m not sure if it would be worth it for me since I rarely lift the entire vehicle at once. The price would be almost the same though!

This is why I don't get the four post lift for anything other than storage or oil changes. Even with the bridge jack(s), the rest of the lift is in the way of whatever you want to do.

I hear you. I did look at a 2 post option but I mostly wanted the top level storage at that time. Knowing what I know now I would likely prefer not storing the car that way. It saves space but make it pretty annoying getting in and out of the lower car.

My biggest issue is that the 2 post would block the doors from opening if you parked between it. Being only 22’ wide I have an assortment of spacing challenges. I figured a 4 post would be better. It is, but those posts are still in the way.

I have yet to have any maintenance where the runways prevented me from accessing.

Lol well then....... you win

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I hear what you are saying though. It fits but just barely. I wish I had lifted the garage a few inches, or a few feet, higher.

 

[gnpenning]

I'm hoping to pick up a used 4 post this week. It has 2 air/hydraulic bridge jacks. Having worked in shops that had a choice of lifts. I used the 4 post the most and loved the bridge jacks. For me it's a must have.

Everything I have are 4x4 trucks except my classic car.

 

[FanaticalKilla]

Super nice to use IMO. Makes lifting anything on the lift much easier.

 

[c39er]

I have two jacks on one of my lifts and rate them 100% as a must!
So quick and easy to drive on and then raise car off the runways for most any kind of service work.

 

[Ji m]

I have a pair of bottle jacks that I use to (try to) do the same thing.

It's far from Ideal,
but for $1500,
I'd buy a 2 post lift to put next to the 4 post instead of buying a Bridge Jack
(though I fully accept that they're awesome and worth the cost(

 

[ybnormal70]

I have been looking a bridge jack for my Worth lift. Here are the best deals I could find:

http://www.completehydraulic.com/lifts-bridge-jacks-slrbj5.html

https://www.eagleequip.com/product/RAJ-66.html

https://www.gesusa.com/dannmar-drj-6-6-000-lb-capacity-rolling-bridge-jack.html

They range from $650-$1000 from manual to air. The Eagle for $700 with a 6,600lb capacity seems to be the best value. Shipped to me for $892 was their quote.

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[fatfillup]

I would buy the bridge jack. I think you will love it pretty quickly. If you aren't in a rush, you may find one at a price that is more palatable.

I personally like the four posts lifts. Much safer IMO.

 

[JohnnieMo]

I have a pair of bottle jacks that I use to (try to) do the same thing.

It's far from Ideal,
but for $1500,
I'd buy a 2 post lift to put next to the 4 post instead of buying a Bridge Jack
(though I fully accept that they're awesome and worth the cost(

I have been using bottle jacks as well. When I'm lifting something really heavy like the Duramax, the runways warp a fair bit. It is somewhat unnerving. I'm not really worried until I start running the deck up and down while suspended. That is the part that I don't like to do, and the thing I believe the bridge jack would safen up.

You are correct that a 2 post Max Jack would run about $2400. Not far from the cost of the bridge jack.

I have been looking a bridge jack for my Worth lift. Here are the best deals I could find:

http://www.completehydraulic.com/lifts-bridge-jacks-slrbj5.html

https://www.eagleequip.com/product/RAJ-66.html

https://www.gesusa.com/dannmar-drj-6-6-000-lb-capacity-rolling-bridge-jack.html

They range from $650-$1000 from manual to air. The Eagle for $700 with a 6,600lb capacity seems to be the best value. Shipped to me for $892 was their quote.

Thanks,

Kevin

Thanks for these Kevin. I think a manually operated one would be fine. Sadly, Lift King doesn't appear to sell one. I'm not sure these other brands would work on my lift. I don't have the thickened inside rail for the "rollers". I only have a bent deck plate down there. Lift King advertises to be a superior product, however now that I am looking at these designs, the stamped steel sure seems like a cop out.... particularly when I notice how much the entire runway bends when I put a bottle jack in there.

I fear if I got one of these other bridge jacks it would put all the weight on that inside lip. That wouldn't work. I need the sliding variety where the weight sits up on top of the deck, just like my jack tray. I'll snap a picture later to show what I mean.

Here is a pic I found online. Shows you how the inner rail construction is just stamped steel.

I would buy the bridge jack. I think you will love it pretty quickly. If you aren't in a rush, you may find one at a price that is more palatable.

I personally like the four posts lifts. Much safer IMO.

I'm not in a rush. Maybe I can find a "scratch and dent" model.

It seems like this is the right way to go, but I just have to scrape together the cash. I've often told my wife that the lift would pay for itself in vehicle maintenance fees alone. I'm pretty sure it's done that already in the 2 years I've had it. I just did a complete front end replacement on the 2006 Duramax, and probably saved $3000.

 

[kb1982]

I will be buying a lift in the future but I just find 2 post lifts sketchy for some reason lol I like how there isn’t much in the way of it.

To the op if I had your garage I would just sell the lift as I would be more sick of crawling under the lift for an oil change then backing up a couple ramps and dropping the oil on a low car. The truck needs nothings. Storing a car on it makes no sense because you can’t really park another under it with your height. And you have a massive thing taking up a full stall.


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As long as you have the lift arms in the right position, nothing sketchy about a 2 post. There is a car up in the air over the motor. Try that with a 4 post.

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[fatfillup]

As long as you have the lift arms in the right position, nothing sketchy about a 2 post. //uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180108/7bcab22d60afa7da6fd2f5726a6b400d.jpg[/IMG]

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That is the rub. Having the lift arms in the proper position. Without being a pro and having a varied fleet, and human nature being what it is, a four post eliminates having to think about arm placement. When I buy one, it will be a four post. Oh, not to mention, as we age, getting up and down 4 times to adjust the arms would get old pretty quick for me. I am 60 and I am fine standing up but getting up and down gets harder every year.

 

[DARK AGE 53]

Originally Posted byDark Age 53
I know your question was about a bridge jack but have you thought about a mid rise scissor lift, I also have a four post lift and will be adding a mid rise scissor lift this spring.

So do you mean you can get a full scissor lift for the inside of the 4 poster? That’s a clever idea. I’m not sure if it would be worth it for me since I rarely lift the entire vehicle at once. The price would be almost the same though!

No, stand alone.

 

[ybnormal70]

https://www.eagleequip.com/product/GLO-SJ.html

This $549 bridge jack sets on the top of the rails of your lift just like the jack tray in the picture you posted. It doesn't require the extra side rails.

Kevin

 

[JohnnieMo]

https://www.eagleequip.com/product/GLO-SJ.html

This $549 bridge jack sets on the top of the rails of your lift just like the jack tray in the picture you posted. It doesn't require the extra side rails.

Kevin

You are correct sir! It's perhaps a bit light duty at 3500lbs though. I was hoping for a 4500lb max to lift the Duramax.

I'll keep an eye open to see if I can find one with a slightly higher rating. Even 4000 would be enough I think.

 

[JohnnieMo]

It would appear that anything advertised as a "rolling" bridge jack won't work for me. I need the "sliding" bridge jack. There are an assortment available in that category, but I've yet to find one that has a rating of 4000lbs.

Here is another Canadian brand "Atlas" that has a 3500lb sliding bridge jack for about $1000 CAD. They have a warehouse in Calgary too, so that resolves shipping.

It also appears that the sliding jack is almost always manually raised, and not pneumatic FWIW.

The exception to all of this is of course that gold plated Lift King version that lifts 7000lbs.

 

[ybnormal70]

Ask and you shall receive:

4000lb $500 manual or $600 air
http://www.completehydraulic.com/lifts-bridge-jacks-clsbj4.html

7000lb $780
https://www.redlinestands.com/catal...twin-busch-7000-lb-sliding-bridge-jack-p-2695

Kevin

 

[brota]

Ask and you shall receive:

4000lb $500 manual or $600 air
http://www.completehydraulic.com/lifts-bridge-jacks-clsbj4.html

7000lb $780
https://www.redlinestands.com/catal...twin-busch-7000-lb-sliding-bridge-jack-p-2695

Kevin

Any reviews on those?

 

[Moose-LandTran]

Let me know what you do, if you own one, and if you think it’s worth it.

I used to use them every day in shops i've worked in. I think they're absolutely worth having, although i wouldn't both with air/hydraulic and would just have a manual one. Preferably i'd have two, they are very useful and make a 4-post lift have a much greater usability.