QuickJack vs. Mid-Rise Car Lifts
QuickJack and mid-rise lifts occupy an interesting middle ground in the vehicle-lift world. Neither requires the towering columns of a traditional full-height two-post lift, both can work well in garages with limited overhead clearance, and both give you considerably more access than leaving the vehicle on the ground.
After that, they start heading in different directions.
A mid-rise lift is typically built around a larger lifting structure that raises the vehicle higher and creates a substantial working position for service. QuickJack spreads the lifting system across two independent, low-profile frames. It doesn't reach the same working height, but that's also part of what makes it so compact and portable.
How High Do You Need to Go?
More lifting height can be extremely useful. BendPak mid-rise lifts are designed to provide additional room for service work while maintaining a relatively compact footprint compared with a full-height lift. For shops and garages where technicians regularly need that extra elevation, a mid-rise system can make a lot of sense.
QuickJack takes a different approach. It raises the vehicle high enough to get all four wheels off the ground and provide useful access underneath without trying to turn your garage into a full-service lift bay.
That covers an enormous amount of real-world work. Brakes, wheels and tires, suspension, fluid changes, detailing, track preparation and plenty of general maintenance can all be tackled without needing several feet of lifting height.
QuickJack Has a Much Smaller Presence
This is where QuickJack separates itself most clearly.
A mid-rise lift is a substantial piece of shop equipment. Even portable versions require room for the lifting structure itself, and that footprint needs to be considered when planning the workspace.
QuickJack essentially disappears when you aren't using it. The two frames collapse to a low profile and can be stored along a wall, beneath a suitable vehicle or elsewhere in the garage. Built-in urethane wheels help with moving and positioning them, and there are no permanent columns or mounting points determining where you have to work.
For a home garage that still needs to function as a parking space, storage area and everything else a garage inevitably becomes, that flexibility is hard to ignore.
What About Undercar Access?
Both designs get you underneath the vehicle, but the experience isn't identical.
The additional height of a mid-rise lift gives you more vertical working room. Depending on the lift's design, however, the central lifting structure can occupy some of the area beneath the vehicle.
QuickJack keeps the lifting structures along the sides. Its open-center design leaves a clear path between the frames, which can be useful for oil changes, exhaust work and inspections. Meanwhile, the frame-engaging design leaves all four wheels completely free for service.
One Stays in the Shop. QuickJack Can Leave with You.
For many owners, this might be the deciding factor.
A mid-rise lift can be an excellent centerpiece for a dedicated service area. QuickJack doesn't really need a dedicated area at all. Use it in the garage, move it to another bay or pack it with your equipment for a track day. Available power options make it possible to build a setup around where and how you actually work.
That mobility is also why you'll see QuickJack used by mobile mechanics, race teams and enthusiasts who don't always know where the next project will happen.
Different Lifts for Different Workspaces
BendPak builds mid-rise lifts because sometimes additional lifting height and a more traditional shop setup are exactly what the job calls for. QuickJack exists for a different reason.
It takes the essential benefits of a frame-engaging vehicle lift and packages them into something you can move, store and take with you. There's less structure occupying the garage, no permanent installation and plenty of access for the maintenance most enthusiasts perform regularly.
If you're building out a dedicated service bay and want more elevation, a mid-rise lift deserves consideration. If your priority is keeping the garage flexible while still getting all four wheels off the ground, QuickJack is very difficult to beat.
Have Questions About QuickJack?
Visit QuickJack Support for additional product information, resources and assistance.