A lifting mechanism for a fork lift truck wherein a side shifting carriage is slidably supported on horizontal bearing bars that are directly attached to the upright of the lift truck. Lifting bars secure the bearing bars together and carry load roller bearings supported in the guide slots of the uprights. A hydraulic motor anchored to the bearing bar assembly at one end and the carriage at the other controls horizontal sliding of the carriage relative to the bearing bars. The interfitting arrangement of the bearing bars in the carriage reduces the load moment arm, reduces the weight requirement, and provides the operator with greater visibility as compared to prior side shift carriage mounts.
