2 post lift for storage

[DUK]

Hey guys I'm going to install a 2 post lift to be used for storage only. Would anyone have pics of ramps or platforms they have built for this purpose. I've googled and came up with a few but thought there may be some great ideas here.

 

[wssix99]

So, you are looking to build a platform that you will put on a 2 post lift so you can store stuff on it? If so, a 4 post would be better for this kind of thing because the load on a 2 post lift is supposed to be balanced.

 

[killahog]

Duk, I have a 2 post lift on order and have been watching your post but apparantly not many people are using the lift for storage.

 

[DUK]

My problem with a 4 post is the post would be right in the drivers door of my wifes car. I've seen and read where guys have built some with the arms placed under each tire for balance.

 

[GRN96WS6]

Why wouldn't you just lift the car normally with the two post and place the locking pins in place then Park under it? Maybe it's me bit sounds like you're over complicating things.

 

[TrapperJ]

Why wouldn't you just lift the car normally with the two post and place the locking pins in place then Park under it? Maybe it's me bit sounds like you're over complicating things.

Wondering if the OPs thinking is storing the car with its suspension unloaded for an extended period of time could cause harm? I too am shopping a 2 or 4 post lift. My ears are wide open.

 

[DUK]

Porsche 911 with torsion bars, bilsteins, and poly/bronze bushings. Unloading the chassis for even a short time kills them.

 

[joebiodiesel]

How about something like this?

http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/6000-lb-single-post-storage-lift-sp-6k-ss-p-30989.aspx?kpid=38504&gclid=CP6j0MO1_sICFWFp7Aod0T8AuA

 

[wssix99]

My problem with a 4 post is the post would be right in the drivers door of my wifes car. I've seen and read where guys have built some with the arms placed under each tire for balance.

Ah, I don't know why, but I assumed you were talking about misc storage vs. a car.

How about something like this?

http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/6000-lb-single-post-storage-lift-sp-6k-ss-p-30989.aspx?kpid=38504&gclid=CP6j0MO1_sICFWFp7Aod0T8AuA

Or these: http://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/parking-lifts/plt-6s.aspx

 

[JMartens]

I'll get you some pics of the wooden platform I made for my two post this evening. Works pretty well. Drive on and off when easily when I want to play with the trans am.

 

[MScott]

Someone posted on here a while back about a set of wheel cradles that attached to the arms of a 2 post lift. (If I remember correctly it was for a Mohawk lift) I haven't been able to find the post, but it might be what you are looking for. The wheels rested on the cradles which were attached to the lift arms.

 

[Rod N]

Porsche 911 with torsion bars, bilsteins, and poly/bronze bushings. Unloading the chassis for even a short time kills them.

Huh?

 

[raceman17]

Huh x2. All my cars are always stored off the suspension.

 

[AMCguy]

Google image search for "wheel lift adapters". You'll see plenty of examples.

 

[sands35]

Huh?

Huh x2. All my cars are always stored off the suspension.

Cars are designed to sit on their wheels. Suspension hard points, shock and spring travel, suspension bushings, etc. are all designed so that "at rest" is with the wheels on the ground. Suspend the car for long periods of time not on the wheels and all those parts are stressed in ways they aren't designed. Perhaps older cars without sub-frames or rubber in the suspension will be OK, but not most cars designed since at least the 70s.

There are typically specific instructions for replacing specific suspension rubber (at least on BMWs since the 70s) where the bolts are released then tightened (no the car won't fall on you, that is a deliberate design choice by BMW) with the wheels on the ground so that the suspension rubber comes to rest at that specific location.

 

[rburke65]

Anyone have a price on the "wheel lift adapters" pictured on Google? They are from Mohawk. Thanks.

 

[Rod N]

Cars are designed to sit on their wheels. Suspension hard points, shock and spring travel, suspension bushings, etc. are all designed so that "at rest" is with the wheels on the ground. Suspend the car for long periods of time not on the wheels and all those parts are stressed in ways they aren't designed. Perhaps older cars without sub-frames or rubber in the suspension will be OK, but not most cars designed since at least the 70s.

There are typically specific instructions for replacing specific suspension rubber (at least on BMWs since the 70s) where the bolts are released then tightened (no the car won't fall on you, that is a deliberate design choice by BMW) with the wheels on the ground so that the suspension rubber comes to rest at that specific location.

I agree that I would never store my car with the suspension hanging for a long time but the OP stated any amount of time.

 

[JMartens]

Before I built the drive on ramps for my TA, I stored it for 3-4 months over the winter with no side effects. Every car is different but no problems on a GM f-body. I built the ramps for convenience of being able to jump in and drive when ever without having to move the arms. I have $200 in materials on mine.







The 2 x 6 supports under the LVL where ripped to fit in direct contact with the floor so the wood is all fully supported while driving on.

Sorry for the less than stellar pics, but its cold here and I didn't wanna pull the truck out.

 

[DUK]

That is exactly what I was looking for JMartens. Thinking of doing something similar in steel 2X3.

BTW- All rubber bushed cars are affected by unloading and extending the suspension. The rubber is stressed in a manner it wasn't meant to. I've seen several cars with torn or elongated bushings from such storing. And don't get me started on shocks. And I'm not taking a chance on $6k worth of them.

 

[JMartens]

Had planned on steel, but wood was available and easy to work with. Has worked well for a year now. In one of the pics, you can see that the tire sits right above the lift pad. All four tires do sit on the pads.

 

[Avplayer]

Damn must be nice to have 2 lifts....i just wish i had one

 

[JMartens]

Definitely nice for sure. Mine are from Greg Smith Equipment and considered hobby lifts and priced accordingly. My wife and I wanted parking for 3 and we were land locked so it was cheaper to go up. We looked at one lift as a garage bay. In doing so it was far cheaper to buy the lift than building a 3rd bay even if we hadn't been land locked. Once we were driving to ohio to pick up one lift we started looking at a second lift. I got a good salesman that was motivated to sell two lifts and it was just as easy to bring back one as two. We made a family vacation out of the trip and with gas, meals, lodging, lifts and some other things while I was at their store it was $4000.

 

[MScott]

Before I built the drive on ramps for my TA, I stored it for 3-4 months over the winter with no side effects. Every car is different but no problems on a GM f-body. I built the ramps for convenience of being able to jump in and drive when ever without having to move the arms. I have $200 in materials on mine.



The 2 x 6 supports under the LVL where ripped to fit in direct contact with the floor so the wood is all fully supported while driving on.

Sorry for the less than stellar pics, but its cold here and I didn't wanna pull the truck out.

Do you have a build thread on this? I would love to see how you built these and how they are attached to the lift arms.

 

[nehog]

I've been storing cars on my two post for years. Never, ever had any problems. The suspension has stops to prevent any problems from too much droop, the biggest problem is that the top car does drip a bit of oil, so I have to protect the bottom car with an old shower curtain on top of its car cover.

 

[rburke65]

JMartens, i...we....like that idea. I. Bought the metal ramps .... To load a mower into a pickup...... to lay across the lift arms in order to lift my mower to work on the underside. Worked well.

 

[JMartens]

I've more than got the money out of my lifts. Besides storing one car, the other has been used as an overgrown work bench, stored 5 furnaces and AC units while I built and apartment building, lifter countless items out of and into the truck. I just got done pulling the K member and swapping in a new (used) one with a better engine and ****** as she fried her ******.

I'll post some pics tomorrow of the bottom so the construction is a little more evident. The treads are 12 inch LVL's and the framing is all tight to the arms. With the angle of the arms it keeps everything in place. There ramps are not bolted to the arms in anyway yet can't shift a bit.

 

[DUK]

Did some work on this today...

 

[DUK]

Here is the final product and reason for not doing a 4 post...

 

[Iroc-Z]

Nice Duk. One question though. How heavy is the platform?

 

[motofool33]

nice Duk, i might steal that idea in the future for my buggy

 

[DUK]

~450 lbs.

 

[G-Ram]

now that is cool as hell

 

[tlmartin84]

How are you moving the platform if you need to use it to work on the car?

 

[jackblack85]

Great setup... I actually went the Mohawk route with the Wheel Lift Adapters. Been meaning to start a thread, but can upload some in-progress pics.

 

[DUK]

tlmartin84- that's what the other lift is for. But I also made provisions for my tractor front end loader forks to be able to lift it off. Just 4 3/8" bolts hold it on the pads.

 

[rsnip988]

Did some work on this today...

Here is the final product and reason for not doing a 4 post...

I was pretty set on getting a 4 post lift for car storage & maintenance, until I saw THIS!!! it's like the perfect marriage of both platforms for me! Thanks, I'm totally stealing this!

 

[JSTAN]

Subscribed.

What a great idea, now I have a future project for my 2 post lift.

 

[DUK]

No problem guys. Steal away. I am here to help if you have any questions.

 

[tcianci]

If that picture of the TA on the wood support is using the LVL's mentioned laid flat, you need to have your head examined. LVL material is strong as all get out when used as designed, laid flat, it doesn't have anywhere the strength of plain old 2x stock and can fail without notice. If I'm seeing the picture wrong, excuse me but if it is being used on the flat, watch out. I have seen LVL material just being used as a staging plank give way with just one guy on it.

 

[77Mini]

The platform you built looks really good.