We talk a lot about our industry-leading vehicle lifts — the full-scale installations that raise some of the heaviest vehicles around.
But some jobs need a more particular approach. And a vehicle lift alone isn’t always the answer.
So, to help you get a full understanding of everything your workshop needs, we’re looking at the alternatives and accessories to our full-scale lifts — and all the scenarios where you might need something different.
Here’s what you need to know:
Low-Level Lifting
If you’re working on the shop floor doing low-level lifting jobs, you won’t always need a full-size piece of kit.
And when it comes to space-saving, there’s nothing more compact than our Heavy Duty Bottle Jacks.
They’re handheld and fully mobile — which means they’re quick to set up, and easily handled by a single worker.
(And when they’re not in use, you can store them away in a tight space without a problem.)
But don’t let their size fool you:
Our Bottle Jacks are designed for some of the heaviest weights around, with capacities from 3 tonnes all the way up to 50 tonnes.
Or if space is less of an issue, you can get the same level of flexibility and mobility from our High Capacity Trolley Jacks.
They’re perfect for low-level maintenance jobs where you don’t need to raise the whole vehicle — like changing tyres or working on brake assemblies.
While they may not reach the high lifting capacities of some of our Bottle Jacks, they can be more comfortable to operate. You can wheel them across the workshop and into position — and operate the lifting controls from a standing position.
Handling Heavy Components
When you’re removing units from the underside of a vehicle, there’s only one reliable option to do it safely:
Our Totalkare Transmission Jacks.
They’re a perfect match for our Mobile Column Lifts, giving you a safe and controlled way to take out gearboxes and engines from a heavy-duty vehicle — without the risks of manual handling.
As well as their sizeable lifting capacity (either 1,000kg or 2,000kg), our Transmission Jacks also come with an adjustable tilt and turn adaptor for precise positioning. So whatever type of vehicle or chassis you’re working with, you can get a perfect fit for a safe and secure detachment.
Lifting From a Pit
Vehicle Inspection Pits are great for their ease of use and access to the underside of vehicles. But just like most vehicle lifts, you won’t be able to access the wheels and their surrounding systems.
The solution?
A jack that’s designed specifically to integrate with your pit.
With a Hand-Operated or Air-Operated Pit Jack, you can raise heavy-duty vehicles up from the platforms of your inspection pit, giving you full access to the wheels, suspension and braking system.
Both of our pit jacks run on rams that slide horizontally along the rails in your pit. So, you can easily reposition them for different vehicle lengths — or even use them independently to raise the front or back of the vehicle at different times.
Our Hand-Operated Pit Jacks come with a lifting capacity of 12,000kg–20,000kg — and our Air-Operated Pit Jacks come in 12,000, 16,000, or 20,000kg models.
Raising From a Vehicle Lift
If you’re not using a Mobile Column Lift or an In-Ground Lift, you’ll face the same problem you have with a pit:
These lifts attach at the wheel — which makes the wheels inaccessible.
For these types of lifts, a Heavy Duty Jacking Beam is essential.
Just like with a Pit Jack, our Jacking Beams attach directly to the vehicle lift itself. So, you can raise up a vehicle that’s already on the lift and get direct access to the wheels and surrounding systems.
And the best part?
They’re a perfect fit for any type of lift. (Or even an inspection pit!)
Our Heavy Duty Jacking Beams come with a lifting capacity of either 12,000, 16,000, or 20,000kg — which means they’re ideal for almost any heavy duty vehicle you’re likely to see in a commercial workshop.
Need Some Advice on Lifting Accessories?
We’re known for our vehicle lifts. But we’re so much more than that!
Our commercial vehicle experts have helped countless workshops like yours to find the best pieces of kit to solve every kind of challenge — from flexible solutions and compact equipment, to giving your lifts and pits an extra boost.
So, if you’re looking for an upgrade and you don’t know where to start? Our team of specialists is just a message away.
This article was originally published by Totalkare Ltd.
