omowright
Well-known member
Has anyone lifted a vehicle completely off a 4-post lift on rolling/sliding jacks?
What are the advantages of one over the other?
What are the advantages of one over the other?
Rolling/Sliding Jacks?
- Thread starter omowright
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shortykorte
Well-known member
What is a sliding jack? I would assume someone somewhere has attempted to move a vehicle off a 4 post lift using standard rolling jacks.
engineer2
Well-known member
Yes, we used to do it all the time.
One advantage of a 4 post is that you can easily set it up for wheel alignments, but this is not something a typical DIYer is going to do. A 4 post with 2 jacking beams is also nice for suspension work since you can set the car down on the ramps to tighten the suspension bushings. The ramps also give you a nice work surface.
A two-post gives you full clearance around the wheels and is generally preferred for tire rotation and things like exhaust work where you need full access to the underside.
Most shops had at least one of each.
One advantage of a 4 post is that you can easily set it up for wheel alignments, but this is not something a typical DIYer is going to do. A 4 post with 2 jacking beams is also nice for suspension work since you can set the car down on the ramps to tighten the suspension bushings. The ramps also give you a nice work surface.
A two-post gives you full clearance around the wheels and is generally preferred for tire rotation and things like exhaust work where you need full access to the underside.
Most shops had at least one of each.
The sliding jack slides along the two ramps of the 4-post, the lifting jacks being accross so that only an end of the car can be lifted. I don't know much about the rolling jack but suspect it can lift off one side of the car as well. Hence the question. If I should have only one type, which?
APEowner
Well-known member
Here in the states the most common type of jack used with a four post lift is a Bridge Jack Can you provide a link to the other type that you're thinking of?
I got ya now. I use my rolling jack to lift an end, then have stanchions to hold up either the body or suspension then use the rolling jack for lifting the other side. I also have a static bridge plate I can use jacks or jackstands on for the same purpose. I'd luv to have to have two rolling jacks, but at a grand a piece it gets a little expensive plus their size can make it difficult to work around at times.
I have a 4 post Direct Lift. I have a sliding jack (cheaper than a rolling jack, same function) and a 3 compartment? air bag jack. I use the air bag on the rear axle. I have rear wheel drive vehicles.
I have had all wheels off using this setup.
Ken
I have had all wheels off using this setup.
Ken
c39er
Well-known member
I have a 22" long 4 post with 2 rolling air/hydraulic jacks. It's a lift extra long so the jacks can be stored completely at the ends of the lift and out of the way if not needed. I use this lift a lot.
I like using it for the antique car work I do over the 2 post lift I also work with.
Fast set up and way more stable for LWB heavy cars.
JMO.
I like using it for the antique car work I do over the 2 post lift I also work with.
Fast set up and way more stable for LWB heavy cars.
JMO.
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bobabuee
Well-known member
love custom sliding beam with trailer hitch gives me idea with mounting my winch to pull up non running cars & trucks
it great that people think so much differently!!!
it great that people think so much differently!!!
i have 1 rolling jack and i custom made a sliding beam from a heavy trailer hitch receiver. I cut and welded the receiver to fit the rails of my bendpak hd9
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You need to match the jack type to the lift.
Sliding jacks work on the smooth diamond-plate ramps (like the Atlas/Direct-lift, etc) but they don't slide well on the sandpaper-rough grip paint ramps (like Bendpak).
Rolling jacks need the lip to roll on (like Bendpak), the Atlas/Direct-lift ramps don't have this lift so a rolling jack wouldn't work.
bobabuee
Well-known member
you dont need rollers for bendpak on sliding jack sits on or in the "rails" not runways which have anti-skid paint.
i have sliding jack for mine hd-9stx lift.
i have sliding jack for mine hd-9stx lift.
Junkman
Well-known member
I have lifted my cars many times with the rolling jack on my Bend Pak HD9. I jack one side, and then place a stack of 2"x8"x 12" blocks under the frame on the runway, and then roll the jack to the other end of the car, and do the same. Then roll the jack out of the way to work on the car. Using this method, it allows the suspension to hang down, and I can do brake work on all 4 wheels at once. I have also replaced a complete differential using this method.
I am in the process of ordering my HD-9. However, I really can't believe the RJ-45 rolling jack is almost half the price of the lift! I totally get (and need) the functionality though. The Atlas RJ-45 (interesting that it shares the same model number as the Bendpak) looks like it would work on the Bendpak lift. It even has adjustable brackets. And at $400 less, I can live without the air function. Can anyone here confirm that the Atlas model will really work on the Bendpak lift?
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magimerlin
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We use at work "Worthy lifts. My Bay has the alignment style 4 post with 2 air jacks (2 air bags per slider) that I use on a daily basis. Easier to do tires that way and frond end work I use them alot to support the front so I can take both tires off.. it's a 12000k lift set up.. we have the 1200A lift in the link and the rolling air jack beams. Work great...
http://www.worthequipment.com/4postlifts.htm
sent from what use to be a great country...
http://www.worthequipment.com/4postlifts.htm
sent from what use to be a great country...
magimerlin
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It has lifted everything I have asked it to so far.. right up to a fully stocked ambulances...
sent from what use to be a great country...
sent from what use to be a great country...
bobabuee
Well-known member
from what i read i altas rj35 say yes it will work on HD9 it slides not on our run ways but on our rails going to loose some lifting height due to position jacking rails but gont see why would not work at the price point cant go wrong
here is link why it would work :
http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/4-...surement-Guide
for atlas rj45 to work on bendpak hd9 you have to know how wide roller jack rail is between the 2 lifts find out that and that will tell you.
at some point i might buy atlas rj35 for mine hd-9stx i have welder if need be
here is link why it would work :
http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/4-...surement-Guide
for atlas rj45 to work on bendpak hd9 you have to know how wide roller jack rail is between the 2 lifts find out that and that will tell you.
at some point i might buy atlas rj35 for mine hd-9stx i have welder if need be
JKady
Well-known member
Yup, lifted everything from compacts to class A motorhomes that way for various reasons. That said, it is no substitute for a 2 post lift, the 4 post gets in the way of most work you want a lift for.
buzz4041
Well-known member
I have two sliding bridge jacks on my direct lift 4 post. I use both jacks all the time on it. Best investment ever.
magimerlin
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I'm on the other fence here... I have never once at work wished I had a 2 post instead of my 4 post to do any of the work I have done... and I'm a full time mechanic....
sent from what use to be a great country...
The whole subject is so subjective, ya might as well argue is the sky blue. For the kind of work I do the 4 poster is the only way to go. It's only a hand full of times a two post would have been my preference as in dropping a subframe as a complete package. And to compensate for that I built some cantilever extensions to support the body so I can pull that off.
magimerlin
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No arguing here... that's just my preference.. reread my post carefully that you replied too... I'm agreeing about a 4 post... I have NEVER once wanted a 2 post instead of my 4 post I use at work... I do everything from oil changes to transmissions to engine swaps to brakes to ball joints and all front end work, etc..... from tiny little Volkswagen beetles to full size f550 king ranch to ambulances. I would never trade my 4 post... we are a small shop and know our limits of what we can and can not do though with what we do have....
Oh and for the record.... the sky is actually clear.... the blue color we actually see is light refraction.... scientifically proven infact.....lol...
Yup I went there.......lol....(now I'm just having fun and messing with yah...hahaha..lol..)
sent from what use to be a great country...
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magimerlin
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LOL.....4 post with bridge jack for me! And you can tell that the sky is clear from pictures of the earth during the day from space.
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