Rolling Bridge Jacks: How to Choose One for Your Four-Post Lift

Love your four-post lift but hate wrestling a floor jack onto the jack tray every time a wheel comes off? A bridge jack fixes that. It spans the runways, rolls under the car and lifts one end so the wheels hang free. The catch is that not every jack fits every lift. This guide shows you which one fits yours, and which one suits the way you work.

Our top picks at a glance

Chosen from the bridge jacks we carry, for the owners we hear from most.

Every bridge jack we carry, reviewed

All six, from the lightest to the heaviest duty. Each spec comes from the manufacturer, and each jack has limits worth knowing before you buy.

All six are in our rolling jacks collection.

How to choose a bridge jack

Here's every jack side by side. "Runway span" is the runway spacing the base can bridge. "Pad reach" is how far apart the lifting pads can be set.

1. Start with your runway spacing

This is the one number you can't work around. If your runway spacing falls outside a jack's span, no adapter will fix it. Find "width between runways" on your lift's spec sheet, or measure it.

A spacing match on paper is a good sign, not a guarantee. Makers measure from different edges, and a rolling jack needs the runway profile it was built for. Send us your lift model and we'll confirm the fit. AMGO lists its RJ jacks for scissor lifts too, as long as the spacing falls within the span.

2. Size it to the heavier end of the car

A bridge jack lifts one end, so match it to that end, not to the whole vehicle. The sticker in the driver's door jamb lists a maximum rating for each axle (GAWR). Choose a jack rated above the end you'll lift, and keep the whole vehicle within your lift's capacity.

• 3,500 lbs (SJ-35): Triumph rates it for one end of most cars, pickups and SUVs that fit the NSS-8 and NSS-8XLT.
• 5,000 to 6,000 lbs (RJ-5000, RJ-6H, RJ-6A): one end of most passenger cars, full-size pickups and large SUVs.
• 8,000 lbs (RJ-8A): full-size pickups, large SUVs and heavier vehicles.
• 10,000 lbs (RJ-10A): the heaviest vehicles, on high-capacity lifts.

3. Choose pneumatic or manual

Pneumatic (RJ-6A, RJ-8A, RJ-10A) lifts with shop air, about 116 PSI at the lift. AMGO doesn't publish an air-flow figure, so make sure your compressor can keep up with repeat lifts, not just reach the pressure. If you run a PRO-12SX, you already have air at the lift for its lock release.

Manual (SJ-35, RJ-5000, RJ-6H) needs no compressor, hose or outlet. For a home garage or a storage lift that sits for weeks between jobs, that simplicity wins. You trade a few pump strokes for fine control.

4. Check reach and height against your vehicles

• Pad reach: measure across the car between its lift points. Wide cars and full-size frames can sit near the top of a jack's range.
• Lowest height: the jack has to slide under the car. Measure beneath a lowered car, low exhaust or belly pan.
• Top height: trucks carry their lift points higher. Check the jack's top height with adapters.

Pads belong on the vehicle maker's lift points. ALI publishes a yearly lifting points guide that lists them.

5. Decide on one jack or two

One jack covers a front or rear brake job or one axle's tires; roll it to the other end when you're done. Two jacks lift both ends at once for four-wheel brake work, full rotations or suspension jobs. Most home owners start with one. Busy tire and brake shops usually want a pair.

6. Work on locks, never on hydraulics alone

A jack is built to raise a load, not to be the only thing holding a car over you. OSHA's workplace rule for jacks (29 CFR 1910.244) calls for separate support once a load is raised, and ALI's training teaches the same habit.

• Set the load on the jack's mechanical lock, or on rated jack stands, before anyone reaches under. Each AMGO RJ jack has a two-position manual safety lock.
• Keep the lift itself on its own locks before you use the bridge jack.
• Stay within both the jack's and the lift's capacity, and follow the jack's own instructions above anything here.

Our bridge jack listings don't claim ALI certification. If your shop or insurer requires certified accessories, call us before you order.

Home garage or busy shop?

• Home garage, occasional wheel work: a manual jack. The SJ-35 if you own an NSS-8 or NSS-8XLT, the RJ-5000 for an NSS-11 or NOS10000.
• Shop with air, wheels off daily: the RJ-6A, or the RJ-8A for full-size trucks. Consider buying a pair.

Delivery and pickup

Bridge jacks ship by freight and weigh from about 275 lbs (SJ-35) to 600 lbs crated (RJ-5000), so plan for help to unload. Triumph jacks show a flat delivery rate on the product page. For AMGO jacks, we call you with a freight quote after you order, before anything ships. You can also pick up free at one of our distribution warehouses, where our staff will load it by forklift.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use one brand's bridge jack on another brand's lift?

Sometimes. It comes down to runway spacing and whether the runways suit a rolling or sliding design. Give us your lift's make and model and we'll check.

How do I measure my runway spacing?

Measure across the gap between the runways at a few points along the lift, and compare it with the jack's runway span. Spec sheets usually call it "width between runways."

How much air does a pneumatic bridge jack need?

The AMGO RJ-6A, RJ-8A and RJ-10A each need 0.8 MPa, about 116 PSI, at the lift. Your compressor also needs enough volume for repeat lifts.

Will a bridge jack fit under my lowered car?

Compare the jack's lowest height with your car's clearance at the lift points. The SJ-35 is the lowest we sell, at 4.75 inches collapsed.

Can I leave a car resting on a bridge jack?

Not on hydraulics alone. Set it on the jack's mechanical lock if it has one, or on rated jack stands, before anyone works underneath.

Not sure which jack fits your lift? Send us your lift model, its runway spacing and the vehicles you work on through our Free Fit Check, or call or text 1-800-771-1278, and we'll match you to the right jack. Still choosing a lift? Start with our two-post vs. four-post guide or the four-post lifts collection. Every purchase comes with lifetime support, our price-beat promise and 0% APR Shop Pay Installments for qualified buyers. More help is on our buying guides page.