Bought a Mid-Rise Lift

[goodfellow]

Like a lot of you guys I was real excited about the MaxJax lift, but after measuring and remeasuring my small garage numerous times I finally had to face reality and make compromises.

I've seen numerous mid-rise lifts at other garages, shows, etc, and finally decided on the Harbor Freight version. Mid-rise frames are all pretty much made in China -- so it comes down to the pump quality.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91315

I used one of their flyer $400 off coupons for this lift, and the whole thing out the door incl. tax was $1065.

It's powered by 220v motor which moves it fairly quickly for a mid-rise. Here are some pics from today's project. It took almost five hours to unload, clean, and setup the unit.

I'm pretty beat right now.

Just got it home -- glad it was a nice day

Used the cherry picker to unload it myself

Fresh out of the crate --

All the hoses attached and fluids filled

 

[DARK AGE 53]

From what I can see it looks like a good value for the money, one thing though, where's the arms or does the frame just sit on the ramps?

 

[Uncle Buck]

That rig looks slick, I must admit. I was a bit concerned where the secondary locking device for the system was located in the event the hydraulics failed until I noticed it,s place on the bar between the lift cylinders.

Yea, looks slick.

 

[Stephenw]

Congrats...

I have the Snap-On version and I really like it. I looked at the manual on Harbor Freight's website and there are supposed to be arms on yours.

Here's mine...

 

[goodfellow]

From what I can see it looks like a good value for the money, one thing though, where's the arms or does the frame just sit on the ramps?

Yeah -- I han't installed the arms and pads when these pic was taken. They are now installed and work fine.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Man, I now have lift envy!

 

[goodfellow]

Congrats...

I have the Snap-On version and I really like it. I looked at the manual on Harbor Freight's website and there are supposed to be arms on yours.

I noticed that you don't have the hose connected to yours. Do you have a quick disconnect in the rams? I'm thinking that this might be a good solution to mine as well.

 

[Stephenw]

I noticed that you don't have the hose connected to yours. Do you have a quick disconnect in the rams? I'm thinking that this might be a good solution to mine as well.

Mine has a quick disconnect (came with that feature). The disconnect is similar to those used on Bobcats for connecting the hydraulics on accessory attachments.

 

[goodfellow]

That rig looks slick, I must admit. I was a bit concerned where the secondary locking device for the system was located in the event the hydraulics failed until I noticed it,s place on the bar between the lift cylinders.

Yea, looks slick.

I was as well Buck -- but the guys at HF were pretty cool about answering many questions. For questions they couldn't answer they immediately placed a call to a tech support person and I was able to get my issues resolved on the spot. Pretty good customer service from HF I must admit.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Goodfellow, I'm also trying to decide if the Maxjack will work for me. I like its features, but need to make sure my slab mets the specs for thickness and PSI. It was poured in 1997 and went through the local building codes/inspection as well as the entire building.
What were the reasons you decided the Maxjack would not work for you?

Also, where can I get that $400 off coupon for HF????
thanks,

 

[Stephenw]

Here's the quick disconnect...

 

[67pete300]

Good stuff! Now you can work on the Jag standing up!

 

[goodfellow]

Goodfellow, I'm also trying to decide if the Maxjack will work for me. I like its features, but need to make sure my slab mets the specs for thickness and PSI. It was poured in 1997 and went through the local building codes/inspection as well as the entire building.
What were the reasons you decided the Maxjack would not work for you?

Also, where can I get that $400 off coupon for HF????
thanks,

Tarheel -- the simple fact is that my shop just wouldn't have enough room for the MaxJax. I looked at all the specs and then measured "nine ways to Sunday" but it still wasn't going to fit and still allow me to have access to two bays. I could have made do with one, but I like having two full bays in order to minimize shuffling cars.

My house is vintage 80's so the slab is OK. They poured thick slabs in those days.

The coupon came from one of their store flyers that I received in mid-January. It was called "We're Rolling Back Prices" flyer # 2411.

Pretty much all their most popular large hydraulic equipment was discounted in that flyer. The sale ends February 28th

 

[goodfellow]

Here's the quick disconnect...

Thank you sir!!! that helps a lot.

 

[goodfellow]

Good stuff! Now you can work on the Jag standing up!

Absolutley Pete!! I'm getting too old for creepers, stools, and the constant bending. Money well spent -- at least that's what I tell the wife

 

[DARK AGE 53]

Did you order your lift or did your local HF have it in stock?

 

[goodfellow]

Did you order your lift or did your local HF have it in stock?

This is a special order only. The stores usually don't stock anything this big. It only took 10 days to get delivered to my local HF store.

 

[HIRISC]

I noticed that you don't have the hose connected to yours. Do you have a quick disconnect in the rams? I'm thinking that this might be a good solution to mine as well.

It looks like the HF version has a cable to the mechanical safety - that might not be as easy to 'quick' disconnect. ???

You're going to love it (and wonder how you did for so long without one). I love mine.

 

[DARK AGE 53]

This is a special order only. The stores usually don't stock anything this big. It only took 10 days to get delivered to my local HF store.

Was there any shipping charges?

 

[goodfellow]

Was there any shipping charges?

No shipping charges! HF doesn't apply shipping charges if the item is ordered from the store and picked up at the same store. That's a competitive advantage with HF.

 

[wachuko]

Congrats. Excellent price as well. That is the same one I have (only that I have an US pump/motor):

And it has provided many years of trouble free work. I do wish it had the auto-unlock instead of that cable, but no big deal.

 

[fxdlryan]

goodfellow,

Congrats on your lift, maybe you should have had another open house and just jacked folks for help when they showed up, . Seriously, if you need help in the future, I'm not that far off, give me a yell. I hope you like your new acquisition as much as I like my new 4 post.

Ryan

 

[goodfellow]

Many thanks for the kind offer Ryan ---

 

[go4dave]

that looks nice,, but it doesn't seem to have any working room down the middle. For the price, i guess ya can't beat it. It looks like a large version of my Chopper lift, does 1 end get anchored to the concrete?

 

[wachuko]

...does 1 end get anchored to the concrete?

No. Sits free. No need to anchor it. Only thing I did was to place two metal plates under the wheels to protect the tiles.

And because it is under the center section of the car there is really no issues for working front or rear engine cars. I have done suspension work, engine work, etc. without the lift being in the way.

 

[914forme]

Wachuko, How far under the ****** does that lift come on your 911? I work on 914s and would love to have a lift, but if it restricts engine access to much these are not for me.

 

[wachuko]

Wachuko, How far under the ****** does that lift come on your 911? I work on 914s and would love to have a lift, but if it restricts engine access to much these are not for me.

To drop engine with ****** you will need to remove that brace you see here. That brace is not present in the front and the lift has more in the inside. So it makes no structural significant difference to do away with it and have the area clear for when the ****** comes down. I have a photo somewhere of a lift without it. I will look for it and upload it.

With that out of the way engine and ****** comes down without issues. This is a mod most 911 owners that have this lift have done. I (knock on wood) have not had the need to drop the engine on any of my cars. By the time I need to do that I hope to have the two-post in place and not have to deal with ramps nor stuff in the way.

I was planning on keeping both lifts but the wife is already taking photos of this one to put it up for sale.

 

[914forme]

Looks like a two poster is still better for me, thanks for the detailed shot, and aditional info.

 

[wachuko]

Looks like a two poster is still better for me, thanks for the detailed shot, and aditional info.

NP, here are the photos I was looking for... See how the rear brace was cut to allow for dropping the engine with ****** attached.

 

[mx757]

I looked at those "made in China" mid-rise lifts...yea price was right, but in end I went with a Mohawk USL-6000
way over built and it weighs twice as much as the made in china stuff and metl is twice as thick too... downside was price $5000 bucks but I felt it was best mid-rise lift for the money. at the time I bought it I was renting a house so fixed lift was out the question.... I've since bought a house....now just need bigger garage....

 

[Iron-Iceberg]

I want one of those Mohawk 6000s bad. Ive been looking for a few years now and they never come up used anywhere by me. If anyone has one they want to sell let me know.

 

[mx757]

I want one of those Mohawk 6000s bad. Ive been looking for a few years now and they never come up used anywhere by me. If anyone has one they want to sell let me know.

Mohawk stopped making them... but come April 2009 they are going to sell them again according to Ray Pedrick...but price went up almost $1000! ouch!

Maybe you can get a discount ? salemanship...

 

[Iron-Iceberg]

Ill have to use my, Old Car Guy salesmanship. And see if they need some one to Demo one for them.
One of the shops I work at has 3 of them. I am always trying to get them to sell me just one.

 

[viseth]

DOES either harbor freight lift operate on 110 volt? My garage is 110 and I've read people claiming the cheaper harbor freight able to run on 110 volt

 

[wachuko]

DOES either harbor freight lift operate on 110 volt? My garage is 110 and I've read people claiming the cheaper harbor freight able to run on 110 volt

Yes. And so does the Danmar unit... http://www.dannmar.com/index.asp

After having both, if you can afford it, go for the two post unit... like I said before, I got a lot or work done on my mid-rise but compared to the low-rise two post I just love the flexibility of being able to put it against the wall when I am done, plus nothing in the way when working under it...

 

[mikeyr]

beautiful spiders!

I bought my 73 124 spider new in Feb. 74 and only sold it last year, I miss that car.

 

[Dolfan]

Wachuko, do you normally just leave the posts in place? Based on the pics I would guess yes?

 

[wachuko]

Wachuko, do you normally just leave the posts in place? Based on the pics I would guess yes?

Only because I take so ******** long to finish working on the cars

Once I am done I put them away against the wall...

Recently I had it setup in the holes that make it closer (FIAT Spider is a small car), and about a week ago I moved it to the setup a little bit further apart to work in the 964.

Once I am done with working on the brakes in the 964, they will go back against the wall as I do not need them for finishing the work in the FIAT (carpet and top).