Triple High Auto Lift ???

shopnut · Sep 17, 2009

HAS ANYONE RESEARCHED THESE?

Any info on manufacturers, rough pricing, delivery charges, and special requirements would be appreciated.

I have enough ceiling height to store 3 cars vertically in the main bay of my shop and thought one of these lifts might be worth considering. Plus, it would be really cool to look out of my second-story bay window and have a Chevelle SS grill staring me back in the face!

I found one made by Harding Steel that could be modified to fit in my shop. I would need the standard version shortened about 4ft, but that should still leave room for my classic cars on the upper two racks. I would leave the lower slot high so I could park anything there.

Here are my thoughts so far:

Floor loading: Recommendations are 6” concrete (I have 4”) but I could probably deal with that by adding large steel plates under the feet for extra shoring.

Shipping: Package size shouldn’t be much longer (with my 16’ high version) than a single 4-poster since the runways on the smaller lifts are around 14’ long anyway. Certainly, it would be heavier (maybe twice as much?).

Set Up: Erecting this thing would be quite a production and might require equipment rental.

Price: Guessing over $10K, but might be reasonable comparing it to building a two-car garage addition.

Convenience: Will be a bit of a hassle taking that top car out for a Sunday drive.

Any other thoughts?

Remember - they don't call me the shopnut for nothing :willy_nil

akdiesel · Sep 17, 2009

Interesting. I did not see anything about single phase wiring, but I am sure it is easy to adapt the control unit for single phase.
The major con you mentioned in my eyes would be access to the top vehicle. By building a seperate shop for your vehcicles if you have the room would be better since vehicles need constant upkeep.

Todd.Brock · Sep 17, 2009

If I had a garage large enough and three cars, let alone three classics worth keeping on a lift, I guess I could deal with the 5 to 10 extra minutes of having to listen to those nice motors warm up and rumble and move out of the way. Just put the one you drove the least on the top?? ... :lol_hitti

shopnut · Sep 17, 2009

Found another manufacturer, but with a 2-post version...

Might be a bit nicer to look at, but attachment to floor would be much more critical.

Here is the link:
http://www.klausparking.com/products_3015.asp

I need prices to see if any of these lifts are within my reach!

Shocker · Sep 17, 2009

I would be worried about the concrete. With only 4" I think the pressure could get to it and cause some buckling. When I poured my slab, I went with a 6" for just that reason.

Mike

shopnut · Sep 17, 2009

Shocker said:
I would be worried about the concrete. With only 4" I think the pressure could get to it and cause some buckling. When I poured my slab, I went with a 6" for just that reason.

Mike

Thanks for the warning Mike.

Before the shop was built, I anticipated that I might be installing a 2-post single car lift someday, so I had a 7ft strip across the main 26ft wide main bay (tall area of the shop) increased to over 6" thick where I figured the post anchors would be drilled. Probably overkill for a single car lift, but I like overkill. I figured I didn't need it anywhere else since the 4-posters don't load the concrete too severely and don't even need to be anchored down.

I NEVER dreamed about going three cars high though :wtf:

I may still be okay with a 2-post triple stacker if the feet are over that thick strip. Plus, I should never be loading it to it's max rating. I'll see what the professionals say...

akdiesel · Sep 18, 2009

I have been wondering about the strength of the normal concrete slab versous the thicker version like the 6". BendPak and others of the same type four post lifts states that you can use these lifts with the normal slab thickness.
So if you have a 9000# rated lift with an 8000# truck on the lift, the weight of the lift, and an 8000# truck below the lift, you have approx. 17,800# of weight resting on a normal slab of concrete.
Granted, you have 8 contact points, but just the same as one of these three car lifts that are rated at 6000# for each level coming in at around 21,000#
That is a lot of weight non the less, and I too would be leary of that much weight of the three car lifts fully loaded on a normal slab, esspecially one that has not been tested by an engineer.
There is another topic about a bad concrete job that was just done and once that concrete has been smoothed out we are assuming it is all ok if it looks good on top.

shopnut · Sep 18, 2009

Here are some more mfrs:

http://www.parkplusinc.com/v_range.php?subcat_id=8&cat_id=25

http://www.geminilift.com/parkinglifts.html

I think the 2-post design would look better in the shop - it wouldn't look like a skyscraper under construction, but Klaus is the only one I found so far and they are in Germany

(high shipping costs). The four post style would, however, be easier to attach clear panels to, thus "sealing" the cars off from most of the shop dust.

JamieK · Sep 18, 2009

Just don't let this happen to you...

Looks like one failure on the top would take out all your cars.

Jamie

mechamunch · Sep 18, 2009

JamieK said:
Just don't let this happen to you...

Looks like one failure on the top would take out all your cars.

Jamie

Ouch!!!!!!!!!

ymerej · Sep 18, 2009

JamieK said:
Just don't let this happen to you...

Looks like one failure on the top would take out all your cars.

Jamie

At least there's the insurance agent right next to that lift! :lol_hitti

Stacking three high on a 2-post lift just sounds unstable to me. I'd go with a 4-post just for the peace of mind stability. But if I had the space, I'd go for two, two high lifts instead of one three high lift. More proven technology, less catastrophic damage in case of failure, less time getting the top car down, no worries about concrete strength, etc.

But it would be cool to see the grill of your Chevelle out the second floor window.

Omphaloskeptic · Dec 16, 2012

Wow, Shopnut - A THREE-STACKER!? And people think I'm on drugs! lol

shopnut · Dec 16, 2012

Omphaloskeptic - Crazy idea, huh. It's probably good you revived this old thread because there is another player in the game. Bend-Pak now has a PL-14000 that looks pretty interesting. And prices seem "reasonable" for this type of specialty lift.

Here's a link incase anyone is interested: Bend-Pak PL-14000 Triple Stacker

akdiesel · Dec 17, 2012

Hmmm very interesting and very similar but on a smaller scale.
Had this in operation for about three years now.

shopnut · Dec 17, 2012

akdiesel said:
Hmmm very interesting and very similar but on a smaller scale.
Had this in operation for about three years now.

I see it's a tried and proven method then

. Cool.

Triple High Auto Lift ???

shopnut

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