SO Safe PowerLifter · Manhole Cover Lifter
Lift manhole covers with a button, not your back.
The PowerLifter is a hitch-mounted, battery-powered magnetic lifter that raises heavy manhole and utility covers so your crew never has to bend, pry or pull. It drops into any 2″ receiver, needs no wiring, and lifts up to 500 lbs.
★★★National distributor: Jet Line Sales & Service · Sold nationwide · Assembled in USA
November special · through Nov 30
$500 off every PowerLifter
Commit by November 30 and take $500 off each lifter. Buying for more than one truck? Multi-unit discounts stack on top. And a state safety grant can pay for part or all of it.
Offer ends in
- $500off each lifter
- 2+ UNITSmulti-unit discounts
- GRANTcan cover part or all
Heavier covers? We can reinforce the PowerLifter for more lifting capacity. Tell us what your heaviest covers weigh and we will dial in the right build for you.
Ask about a reinforced buildHow it works
Four steps. Zero lifting.
From our own field demo: one operator, one pickup, one cover. The lid comes up and swings clear without anyone putting their back into it.
Swing it out
The arm rides in your 2″ receiver. Swing the lifter out over the cover.
Set the magnet
Lower the magnet straight down onto the lid. No hooks, no pick holes.
Lock it on
Engage the magnet. The lid is held from the top, so hands stay out of the pinch zone.
Lift and swing
Push the button, raise the cover and swing it clear. Reverse it to set the lid back down.
The difference
The old way vs. the PowerLifter
Manual lifting Old way
- Bent over a 100 to 300+ lb lid with a pick or bar
- Fingers and feet in the pinch zone when it drops
- Strain on the lower back and shoulders, every lid, every day
SO Safe PowerLifter Better way
- Magnet grabs the lid, the battery-powered lift does the work
- Operator stands upright, hands clear of the lid
- Moves from truck to truck in any 2″ receiver
The real cost
One lifting injury can cost more than $100,000
Medical bills are only the start. Overtime, lost productivity, retraining and paperwork can double or triple the direct claim. One avoided injury can pay for more than one PowerLifter.
Source: SO Safe Equipment estimates based on OSHA injury cost figures. Run your own numbers with the OSHA Safety Pays estimator.
of all injury cases are sprains, strains or tears, the #1 injury type
come from overexertion: lifting, pulling and prying
back injury cases in a single year
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, 2015 data.
Specifications
Built light. Built to last.
| Lifting capacity | 500 lbs (actuator rated 2,500 N, about 560 lb). Need more? We can reinforce it for heavier covers. Contact us and we will dial in the build. |
| Magnet | 400 kg lifting magnet standard (about 880 lb pull); 600 kg magnet (about 1,300 lb pull) available |
| Power | 18V or 20V DC rechargeable system with flexible battery options |
| Mount | Any standard 2″ square receiver hitch rated for at least 600 lbs tongue weight; move it vehicle to vehicle |
| Wiring | None required |
| Frame | T6 aluminum, about 50 lbs with the magnet removed |
| Finish | Powder coated |
| Made | Assembled in USA by SO Safe Equipment |
Who uses it
Funding
A safety grant can pay for part or all of it
Cities, utilities and contractors are using state safety grants, workers’ comp programs and municipal risk pools to buy PowerLifters. Pick your state to see what’s out there, then send it to us. We’ll give you the product details and injury-prevention language your application needs.
$500 off + a grant
Commit in November for $500 off each lifter, then put grant money toward what’s left. Matching grants (like 1:1) can cut your share in half or more.
Your carrier or risk pool
Many workers’ comp carriers and city risk pools fund safety equipment even without a state program. Many fund equipment like the PowerLifter even without a state program, and we’ll help you ask.
Grant paperwork
We and SO Safe send the quote, spec sheet and safety write-up your application asks for. SO Safe grant guide
Programs, amounts and deadlines change. Always confirm on the program’s own page. Last checked November 2026.
FAQ
PowerLifter questions
What is the SO Safe PowerLifter?
The PowerLifter is a powered, hitch-mounted manhole cover lifter made by SO Safe Equipment. It slides into a standard 2-inch receiver, a magnet grabs the lid, and the battery-powered lift raises it so the operator can swing it clear without bending, prying or pulling.
How much can it lift?
It is rated for 500 lbs of lifting capacity. The lift actuator itself is rated at 2,500 N (about 560 lb), so the 500 lb rating keeps a safety margin. The standard 400 kg magnet (about 880 lb of pull) covers typical cast iron sanitary and storm manhole lids, and a 600 kg magnet (about 1,300 lb of pull) is available for heavier or stuck lids.
Can it be built to lift more than 500 lbs?
Yes. The PowerLifter can be reinforced for heavier covers at an additional cost. Contact us with the weight of your heaviest covers and we will dial in the right build. A reinforced build needs a receiver hitch rated for the heavier load.
How is it powered? Do I need to wire it to my truck?
No wiring is needed. It runs on a rechargeable 18V or 20V DC battery system with flexible battery options, so crews keep working instead of waiting.
Will it fit our trucks?
It fits any standard 2-inch square receiver hitch rated for at least 600 lbs of tongue weight, so one unit can move from truck to truck. Check the rating on your hitch before use; do not use it on a hitch rated under 600 lbs. The frame is T6 aluminum and weighs about 50 lbs with the magnet removed.
Can a safety grant pay for it?
Often, yes. In Minnesota the MNOSHA Safety Grant Program matches qualifying safety equipment up to $10,000, and many states and workers’ compensation carriers run similar programs. We can send the product details your application needs.
Where can I buy one?
Jet Line Sales & Service is the national distributor for the SO Safe PowerLifter and sells it nationwide. Call 855-JET-TOOL, use our contact form, or find an authorized dealer on the map below.
Can we become a PowerLifter dealer?
Yes. We are adding dealers. Call 855-JET-TOOL or email sales@jetlinesales.com to ask about dealer terms.
See the PowerLifter on your truck
Ask for a quote or a demo. We ship nationwide, and dealers are welcome.
Want to sell the PowerLifter? Email sales@jetlinesales.com about becoming a dealer.Find Your PowerLifter Rep
We sell the SO Safe PowerLifter nationwide. Find your state, then reach your rep directly.
Bryan Bjorgaard
National SO Safe Rep · West & Mountain
MT, ID, WY, CO, UT, NE, NM, AZ, NV, CA, OR, WA, AK, HI
Get a Quote from Bryan
Alysa Olson
National SO Safe Rep · Midwest, South & East
MN, ND, SD, IA, WI, KS, OK, TX and every state east
Get a Quote from AlysaLooking at more than the lifter? Send us one message and check everything you want info on: jetters, cameras, nozzles, trucks and more.
Contact UsSee the PowerLifter in Action
Watch the SO Safe PowerLifter work on our social channels.
