Anyone familiar with truck and bus service workshops knows that these places have one thing in common – a service pit equipped with a pit jack. Truck and bus fleets need regular undercarriage repairs because that’s where essential components like the transmission, wheel assembly, and exhaust system are. These components take a lot of beating, not least because of all the different kinds of terrains trucks and buses must traverse to get to one end of the continent from another. Let’s just say, truck fleets would be grounded for days on end without pit jacks.

If you are starting out in the workshop business or a DIY enthusiast without enough room in your garage for a service pit, you might be wondering what’s the best automotive pit jack you can buy with your hard-earned money. Here’s some good news for you. We have tested a wide variety of pit jacks for you to come up with a list of the top 5 products to buy in 2023. But before you can head over to the list, here are a few things to look out for in a quality automotive pit jack:

Weight capacity: A jack’s weight capacity is the maximum amount of weight it can lift without breaking something. So, if you are planning to lift trucks say as heavy as 6 tons, get yourself a pit jack that can lift way over that. This will keep the jack in working condition long enough to give you a healthy return on your investment.

Lift height: Are you planning to elevate lifted trucks? Trucks and buses usually have high ground clearance and customized vehicles can top even that with higher, beefed-up suspensions. So, if you are planning to service trucks and buses, you need a pit jack that can lift them high enough for you to reach their undercarriage easily and carry out repair jobs.

Robust construction: We can’t even begin to describe the importance of how well a pit jack is built. Is it made from strong and resilient alloys like steel? Does it have a rust-resistant coat? Does your pit jack have intuitive controls? These are the questions you need to ask before choosing your preferred tool.

Safety features: Nothing’s more important than user safety when it comes to working on heavy vehicles in workshop pits. Pit jacks with built-in safety features go a long way in ensuring that technicians and vehicles are safe and sound in the pit.

Without further ado, let us introduce our top 5 picks for the best pit jacks for trucks and buses in Canada.

1. The Scorpion PJ35S Automotive Pit Jack from Stan Design

Stan Design has been around for quite a while now and is known for producing some of the finest lifting solutions on the market. The PJ35S is one of the best pit jacks money can buy.

Pros:

35,000 lbs. lift capacity. 

Robust dual hydraulic arms for effortless lifting. 

Impressive lift height of over 20”. 

Multi-stage locking system ensures safe lifting. 

Stackable adapters fit any vehicle type. 

Expands to fit any service fit. 

Uses compressed air along with hydraulics for heavy lifting. 

2. The Autolift 20-Ton Air Pit Jack from Heavylift 

Manufactured in New Zealand and easily shipped to North America, Heavylift’s product line has been impressing users since inception. The Autolift doesn’t fail to impress as well!

Pros: 

More than impressive weight capacity of 20 tons. 

Generous lift height of over 15”. 

Collapsed profile of just over 7”. 

Expands up to 47”. 

Comes with a best-in-class 5-year warranty. 

3. The ST-HPJ 27/30/60-ton Pit Jack from SARV 

Born in India in 1989 and exporting to all parts of the world including Canada, SARV has become the hallmark of quality in the automotive pit jack manufacturing business. The ST-HPJ Pit Jack series proves to be the pinnacle of their engineering prowess. 

Pros: 

Lifts up to 60 tons! If that isn’t impressive, what is?  

Four wheels supported by roller bearings make for easy navigation inside the pit. 

Expands up to 47” to fit any pit across Canada. 

A combined compressed air and hydraulic system makes short work of lifting heavy trucks and buses.  

4. Pneumatic/Hydraulic Pit Jack from Maha Australia 

Maha is a big name in vehicle lifting solutions manufacturing. With a product line that features robust and high-quality truck jacks, Maha makes lifting heavy vehicles look easy.  

Pros: 

Combined pneumatic (compressed air) and hydraulic mechanisms make lifting trucks and buses quick and easy.

Hydraulic oil coated guidance pipe ensures long life.  

Fits into any service pit. 

Equipped with roller bearings for easy maneuvering in the pit. 

5. The Scorpion PJ15 Pit Jack from Stan Design 

When it comes to manufacturing pit jacks, Stan Design seems to be the undisputed king with products that beat the competition by a fair margin. The PJ5 is another winning product from Stan Design’s inventory to stand the test of time and rigorous service pit use.  

Pros: 

Class-leading weight capacity of 15,000 lbs. 

Dual hydraulic arms forged from high-grade steel to lift trucks and buses. 

Lifts over 20”. 

Fits in any service pit with a variable width – 34” to 42”. 

Now that you know what to buy, here’s something important to consider. If you are starting out in the garage business, you might be tempted to go for products that are cheap upfront. But sometimes cheap can cost you more in the long run. Go for products manufactured by reputable pit jack manufacturers known for their service network and promptness in complaint resolution. That way you can have a winning tool in your hands.