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Recessed four post instead of ramps?

Lelandwelds

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Sep 6, 2017
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2,443
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Central Texas
Has anyone worked in a place with recessed four post lifts? I find it hard to believe a busy shop plays around with wooden blocks and removable ramps. Every place cant have room for the 3 or 4 ft long ramps a really low car needs. They cant be turning down work.

12 gauge garage recessed his scissor lift.

Anyone see problems with the idea?
 
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T_R

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Jul 2, 2015
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Maine
Most of the large commercial 4 post lifts have the long ramps on them. Usually like you said they are 3 to 4 feet long. The last 3 shops I have worked at I never had any trouble getting low cars on the 4 post lift. Vettes, Mustangs Camaros, Vipers all went up with no problem. My Chevelle went up and it's low enough to tuck the top of the front tires up in the fenderwell.

Your idea would work if you poured a slab specifically for the lift you want and didn't install the ramps. I don't see any problem with it.
 

rburke65

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Nov 10, 2007
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Location
Canfield, Ohio
I wouldn't see why you couldn't do that. As said, you'd have to form n pour the floor specifically for the lift. Hey....someone has to be first!
 

bulwnkle

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Apr 22, 2017
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Wouldn't a floor poured like that be a pain in the rear to work around?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
 
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Lelandwelds

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Central Texas
My car scrapes when I go through certain slight uphill corners and even humps across intersections. Anyway I don’t scrape onto my 4 post with 24” ramps

X...

Lol. Nice avatar.

My mechanical skills are limited. I actually almost hate the work and really want to reduce the effort and streamline the time required. It would help the value of this place if it was most of the way to everyones idea of the ultimate garage. I have a clean slate for the first time and want to really nail whatever I decide on.

So, as a working mechanic, you like to roll your toolbox under the lift? I thought of the waste oil drain and muffler stands but they're pretty light and I thought a ramp would work.
 

RWorth

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Aug 29, 2016
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Cape Cod , Mass.
Is the lift for storage or work ? If it's for work I'd go 2 post with a clear floor. If it's for storage and you don't have room for a long enough ramp, I'd fab a removable ramp. There are way too many negatives having a drop down in your floor.
 
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Lelandwelds

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Sep 6, 2017
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Location
Central Texas
Thanks. That is actually me. LOL

I understand what you are saying about getting it right, especially working from a clean slate. I am starting to think that some sort sloped approach might help you. If you recess the posts and deck into the floor, you could never park a car underneath.

X...

I didnt think of the parking issue. If I kept the depth to two inches and ramped it front and rear, it would probably work ok.

But moving a parked car twice daily over humps would be a bigger PITA than the bimonthly service job per vehicle. Only one vehicle is stupid low.


Is the lift for storage or work ? If it's for work I'd go 2 post with a clear floor. If it's for storage and you don't have room for a long enough ramp, I'd fab a removable ramp. There are way too many negatives having a drop down in your floor.

I couldnt see the negatives to a drop down. That's why I posted the thread to be ridiculed. Please be specific. Concrete costs more than internet server space.

Who said anything about a two post? I find the things unnecessarily dangerous feeling. The only one I worked under was a Chinese mfg which flexed EVERYWHERE at once. A four post can be used for storage and service work. Most importantly, to me anyway, it is idiot proof to hit the lifting points. There's no hands and knees squinting under the car.
 

Swegner99

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Joined
Jan 13, 2014
Messages
77
I work at a Ford dealership, our alignment rack is a scissor type and its recessed into the ground. Maybe a 2 foot deep pit, so you can drive right onto it.
 
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Lelandwelds

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Sep 6, 2017
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Central Texas
I have never done an alignment but the tech never gets underneath the vehicle, right? Only alignments are done on this lift? You dont do oil changes or change u jointsfrom this lift, do you?
 

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