Uneven weight on 4 post lift ok?

[timelinex]

I've got 8k 4 post lift. I need to change the tires on my Can-am maverick x3 max. The big hassle with lifting this thing is that since it's an offroader it is very tall and on top of that the springs extend forever. So no normal jack can do it without adding a bunch of stuff underneath.

Since this thing has a plastic skid plate from front to back. I was wondering if I can just park the middle skid plate on the right or left tire tracks of the lift and use that to lift it up. That would be IDEAL. But the only concern I have is having 2k lb on one side and zero on the other. It hat a big deal? If it is, what if I add like 600lb of dirt bikes on the other side?

On the one hand I cant imagine uneven weight can be a good thing. On the other hand, I know diesel trucks have insanely uneven front to back weight and that's fine (although it's not uneven left/right like this would be)

Anyone done similar?

 

[Yankeefarmer]

Your question should be asked of your lift manufacturer. Four post lifts have reduced capacity when the load is concentrated towards the center of the runways, such as a very short wheelbase vehicle. The other concern possibly more of interest to you, is that loading only one runway will introduce a bending load on the lift cylinder ram. Obviously vehicles do not distribute their weight evenly between the four lift points, but only the manufacturer (or an engineer who spends time analyzing the design) can tell you how much unbalance is permissible.

 

[c39er]

I'd be concerned about this uneven loading of the center of the runways on home owner import grade 4 post lifts especially.
True commercial or industrial rated lifts don't de-rate for short wheel base loading.
My SMO123 Rotary doesn't yet my HD14 BP does.

 

[finn]

I'd be concerned about this uneven loading of the center of the runways on home owner import grade 4 post lifts especially.
True commercial or industrial rated lifts don't de-rate for short wheel base loading.
My SMO123 Rotary doesn't yet my HD14 BP does.

I would express it differently: the Rotary is derated to 12k, so it can handle uneven loads. Additional derating isn’t necessary since uneven loads are likely in a commercial environment and the as specified rating is lower than a similar non commercial lift to accomodate that likelyhood.

Boss’s equipment, you know!

 

[Sumboodie]

Floor jack should lift high enough.

 

[timelinex]

Floor jack should lift high enough.

Said by someone that obviously has never tried to lift one of these. I have the highest range floor jack tractor supply sells. To lift the wheels off the ground I have to use an unwieldy amount of wood panels and hockey pucks. Not an amount that makes me confident enough to climb under.

There are special atv floor jacks which have tractor tire looking wheels....but I dont want to spend $400 for something I'll use once a year.

 

[pbon]

At some point if you put weight on one runner only, the lift will tip over. If the posts are anchored into concrete, it will happen later. I have no idea if 2000 lbs is enough. I would probable drive over sideways so the engine is inbetween the runners if the wheelbase is short enough.

I don’t know how high this CanAm is, but could you put a 6x6 sideways on top of the Jack to get a little more jacking range without reducing stability too much?

 

[D100CMB]

Just take a ratchet strap and tighten spring/a-arm/any part of suspension to frame before you use a floor jack. That will keep the suspension from drooping and then you can remove tires.

 

[larry_g]

Use the lift to lift from the top. Raise the lift, drive under it and then use 4 lift straps to span between the lift rails and the gocart A-arms. Raise the lift to pick up the rig. If the lift is wide enough then slide a couple of timbers across the ramps and under the roll bar and lift with the roll bar.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Sumboodie]

Said by someone that obviously has never tried to lift one of these. I have the highest range floor jack tractor supply sells. To lift the wheels off the ground I have to use an unwieldy amount of wood panels and hockey pucks. Not an amount that makes me confident enough to climb under.

There are special atv floor jacks which have tractor tire looking wheels....but I dont want to spend $400 for something I'll use once a year.

Said by someone that "obviously" doesn't know how to lift things..... how's that for being rude?

I have owned 2 of them. Never had to do anything like you are talking about. Also own a Unimog 406 on 46" tires, a floor jack works fine on that too.

 

[Yankeefarmer]

At some point if you put weight on one runner only, the lift will tip over. If the posts are anchored into concrete, it will happen later. I have no idea if 2000 lbs is enough. I would probable drive over sideways so the engine is inbetween the runners if the wheelbase is short enough.

I don’t know how high this CanAm is, but could you put a 6x6 sideways on top of the Jack to get a little more jacking range without reducing stability too much?

I hope this doesn’t sound disagreeable, but I disagree with your contention. If the weight you describe is centered on the runway, it will all act within the footprint of the lift. The majority of the weight will be transferred to the floor through the posts closest to that runway, but some will be transferred through the posts on the other side. There will not be any moment (force at a distance) to tip the lift over.

 

[Sumboodie]

Just take a ratchet strap and tighten spring/a-arm/any part of suspension to frame before you use a floor jack. That will keep the suspension from drooping and then you can remove tires.

Lift from the suspension.

 

[mrpizza]

What about a high lift farm jack and some tall jack stands?

 

[pbon]

I line the idea of use the lift to raise the 4x4. I once helped someone lift a sailboat so the bottom clutch be painted. We used heavy ratchet straps.

The weight was centered in the case of a sailboat. Maybe YankeeFarmer is correct that when all the weight is on one runner and no weight is on the other, there is no risk of damage to the lift or the lift falling over, as long as the weight is evenly distributed over that one runner.

 

[ATC]

Use the lift to lift from the top. Raise the lift, drive under it and then use 4 lift straps to span between the lift rails and the gocart A-arms. Raise the lift to pick up the rig. If the lift is wide enough then slide a couple of timbers across the ramps and under the roll bar and lift with the roll bar.

lg
no neat sig line

I like this idea.

I would not use only one ramp like OP wants to do.

 

[BillK]

Since this thing has a plastic skid plate from front to back. I was wondering if I can just park the middle skid plate on the right or left tire tracks of the lift and use that to lift it up.

Not sure about the lift but is a plastic skid plate actually capable of holding almost 2000 lbs up without breaking ?

 

[MFortie]

Looks like your getting about the same responses as from the Mav forum...

I would think non-symmetrical loading of the four-post would be a bad thing.

For my X3, I use either a rolling jack or the sliding jack tray with cribbing and a bottle jack. I did buy an air bottle jack that has a higher lift than my floor jack; haven't really used it yet with the 4-post as my Chevelle body is currently occupying the lift.

But I know exactly what you're dealing with (2018 X3 rc) and have resorted to lots of cribbing/blocking in the past. And since you're talking once a year...

Oh, and I always place whatever jack(s) I'm using on the skid plate directly under a frame/cage bar. I wouldn't trust the skid itself to support the weight of the X3.

Lastly, take a look at the Jack Daddy which works as a solution while offroad when you get a flat:
https://www.tufftrailgear.com/store/p28/jackdaddy-with-mounts.html

(No affiliation...)

 

[superspec]

Can you you line up and from the side and drive across the runners?

 

[csp]

Just take a ratchet strap and tighten spring/a-arm/any part of suspension to frame before you use a floor jack. That will keep the suspension from drooping and then you can remove tires.

If you can't get a jack under the suspended parts do this^^^^^

 

[dartman003]

Like larry g said, pick it up from underneath , I have lifted many trailers this way, including my car trailer .

 

[Maxcustody]

Obviously not as wide a machine but I drive one on normal and side loaded my Can Am.

 

[kbeefy]

I'd lift it on a single runner. And the 'plastic' skid plate will work fine. It's 3/8 UHMV and pretty tough.
When I use a jack I try to get it under some frame like Mfortie describes.



It can be done with a floor jack, but it *****. This is the front, the rear is even taller and more difficult to unload.

 

[Cardboard Man]

Why dont you try it and see what happens? Hell, you only have to get the tires an inch off the ground to change them. If it boggs down or starts getting squirrely you set it back down.

 

[workerbee]

At some point if you put weight on one runner only, the lift will tip over. If the posts are anchored into concrete, it will happen later. I have no idea if 2000 lbs is enough. I would probable drive over sideways so the engine is inbetween the runners if the wheelbase is short enough.

I don’t know how high this CanAm is, but could you put a 6x6 sideways on top of the Jack to get a little more jacking range without reducing stability too much?

The lift would never tip over even if it wasn't anchored at all. Because the ramps on a 4 post lift are inside the posts so the center of gravity would never be outside the posts. The concern is the uneven loading.

 

[ronr80]

I know this sounds unsafe but I once lifted a full size Dodge truck on my 4 post ramps , truck was too long so I backed it up rear wheels only and left the front on the garage floors , lifted the truck till the rockers were close , gave me enough room to do the job. R
Bend Pak HD-9

 

[kbeefy]

I know this sounds unsafe but I once lifted a full size Dodge truck on my 4 post ramps , truck was too long so I backed it up rear wheels only and left the front on the garage floors , lifted the truck till the rockers were close , gave me enough room to do the job. R
Bend Pak HD-9

I've done that with a class C motorhome, a box van, and a railroad service truck. Forward 12k.