Drive off 4 post lift onto platform?

johnsopa · May 8, 2015

I am going to purchase a BendPak 4 post lift shortly.

I have a concrete platform at the back of the garage that is about 40" above the main floor.

If I put the front of the 4 post lift up against the platform area, do you think it would be OK to drive off the lift (when it is raised to that 40" height) onto that platform?

I was thinking of ways to get more car storage space. Once the car was on the platform, I was planning to use four hydraulic jack/dolly devices to move the cars around on the platform.

Thanks,

John

dubber · May 8, 2015

Now this i would love to see some pictures of. Might also help you to get a better response.

holdover · May 8, 2015

there shouldn't be any problem doing it. It the platform will support what you want to put up there. You might need to build a metal ramp to close the gap between the lift ramps and the platform, something like they use when they drive a fork lift into a truck from a loading ramp, and you might consider a way to place and remove the front stop plate on the lift so when you use it as a lift a vehicle won't roll off it. Have 2 4 post Bendpacs and like them...

rsanter · May 8, 2015

I think you will be just fine doing that. In fact I have thought about the same thing several times (for different reasons).
I would think you will be putting a little more stress on the lift doing it so I would go slow and when stopping I would be really easy on the brakes as you will imparting a pendulum motion that may rock the posts. I would think it would be better to have the unit bolted down or at least linked to the platform you are driving onto.
Other than that, with just being carefull I think you will be fine

Bob

Jazzman442 · May 8, 2015

I have a much heavier 4 post lift and I am not sure I would put torque on it unless it was bolted down and also bolted tot he higher concrete slab.

Great Idea.

BDAZSVT · May 8, 2015

A lot of dynos are boxes the are mounted behind the lift. You back onto the lift the lift raises to the height of the dyno and on the one I used there were plates you put from the lift to the dyno.

kbs2244 · May 8, 2015

I think everybody is being overly cautious.
I would just get two of those ramps like they use on car haulers and go for it.
The local welding shop should have no problem making them to your size needs.

The dock plate idea is good, but those are pretty heavy.
They use lift trucks to put them in place.

wssix99 · May 8, 2015

johnsopa said:
do you think it would be OK to drive off the lift (when it is raised to that 40" height) onto that platform?

Lift - no. Elevator - yes.

An off-the-shelf lift will not be designed or certified for moving or shifting loads. Driving slowly would help avoid those complications, but I wouldn't bet my life or the cost of my car on that.

There are companies who make purpose-built elevators for what you want to do: http://www.aclifts.com/floor/autotrans.asp

You'll get hoards of folks telling you that you should go for the regular 4 post lift, anyway. If you do that, you'd just need to weigh your personal risk vs. reward. If a regular 4 post lift falls on you and tears up your car, your insurance company will probably not cover you due to the off-label use. Maybe that would be a problem for you and maybe it wouldn't?

Orange65 · May 8, 2015

I would consult the lift company. Driving off the lift at an elevation above ground level is going to cause a moment on the base plates of the lift that they may not be designed for. You may need to add some external bracing for the horizontal forces.

wssix99 · May 8, 2015

With a platform just a few feet up, a loading dock elevator may be the thing you are really looking for: http://www.bluegiant.com/Products/Lift-Products.aspx

tool-guy · May 8, 2015

Here's one that we modified to lift up so you can run cars onto a mezzanine floor. Total lift height is 9 foot.
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these photos were during assembly. it now has platforms that swing out making it a totally safe surface between the hoist and mezzanine.

DWoods · May 10, 2015

That lift is awesome. Any details?

Diesel Dan · May 10, 2015

Anchor both columns to the slab at the base and as high as possible using turnbuckles or similar to stabilize the lift. As long as it is rigidly attached and you go slow I wouldn't be too concerned about it, JMO. This way you can keep the lift mobile when not using it as an "elevator".

jgorm · May 12, 2015

BDAZSVT said:
A lot of dynos are boxes the are mounted behind the lift. You back onto the lift the lift raises to the height of the dyno and on the one I used there were plates you put from the lift to the dyno.

I backed tons of cars onto my dyno about 24" off the ground. I welded a spacer onto the lift to close the gap a bit. I see no issue with that at all.

Drive off 4 post lift onto platform?

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