An Uplifting Experience! Hoist will change my life!

[Wood'nMetal]

After years of working on cars in the gravel I was finally able to pour a slab in front of my shop. Today I wrapped up the install of my CL find hoist and it's working great. These additions will seriously change my life!

If business is good in the coming months the next addition will be a roof over the slab.

 

[LXCam]

Major congrats bud, I can honestly say my lift was the best purchase I ever made in the shop. If you're looking for a cost effective cover look at those metal heavy duty RV awnings, they work great and are not very expensive. Plus depending upon how much of a ***** your local building department is, you can close in the sides as money becomes available. Where I live you can have a 3 sided structure like this without needing a permit.

 

[8man]

Great start, and here's hoping you have that roof before the next rain! Or as soon there after as possible.

 

[Wood'nMetal]

The RV cover was exactly what I was thinking! And too late, the rains are already here, this is the PNW after all!

I'm going to have a piece of tin cut and bent and attach to the top of the hoist to keep water off the pulleys and from running down inside the columns. Oh yeah, it's time for a bunch of gravel too!

 

[22george]

My lift is worth every penny l spent

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Congratulations!

Tommy

 

[Shadowdog500]

Congratulations!!!!

IMHO A lift is probably the most useful thing you can get for a shop.

You will want to get a tool cart to put your tools and stuff on while under the vehicle followed by a HF 20 gallon oil pan. Other lift related stuff will follow.

Chris

 

[rburke65]

I have not used mine a lot as I am still moving in per say, but I am loving mine. Have had the wife's car on it, and even the riding mower for a repair. A great tool. Good for you Wood n Metal! Couple of posts, a few inexpensive trusses, purlins, metal roofing.... You will be good to go.

 

[404]

You are living the good life now. Soon groupies will be flocking.

My life too changed when I got a lift. Moved from the mud to the stars.

 

[ishiboo]

Awesome. You'll need it keeping that Deville running!

 

[RandyL]

Fantastic.. I have no doubt that you are enjoying it, and will for a long time to come.

I can remember laying in snow drifts and swapping out trans to about everything imaginable. To have my building with a lift in it makes my later days very nice..I appreciate every time I touch the lift button.

Randy

 

[Buckgnarly]

I've always envied outdoor lifts, no way in hell I can pull that off here! How cold does it get there? Would love to work in the open with a lift.

 

[Wood'nMetal]

I've always envied outdoor lifts, no way in hell I can pull that off here! How cold does it get there? Would love to work in the open with a lift.

We don't have many cold days per se, maybe a few weeks in the high teens in winter. For the most part, winters are wet but warm.

 

[Bib Overalls]

I see the occasional outside lift around here but I don't recall ever seeing one in use.

 

[Wood'nMetal]

I worked for an RV dealer and we had a big four post that lived outdoors. I spent many cold and wet days under that lift!

 

[ADSR]

Very cool! Congrats!!!

 

[CNGsaves]

Congrats OP !!!

Your energy/dedication to get the slab down & lift running, will carry over to getting a roof over the lift as well. Good luck.

 

[The mean fish]

I think I'd rather work under my Jeep on a lift standing in the mud, out in the rain than lay on clean concrete. I'm spoiled now that I have a 2 post, I can't imagine doing some stuff without it.

 

[AMCguy]

Great setup.

 

[Wood'nMetal]

Thanks guys, can't wait to change the oil in the car tonight!

FYI, here's what I've got into it:
LaunchTech USA lift, nearly new off CL $800
Concrete slab $875
Paying daughters boyfriend to prep site and forms $275
Rebar, ties, misc. $200
10 Red Hat anchors and epoxy $49
5 gals AW32 oil $47

Total cost about $2,250. Savings to my back and soul: Priceless!

 

[LWW]

Since you've worked on an outdoor lift for a commercial service company I'm curious what the risks are and the maintenance needed to keep a lift outdoors?

My 7k 2-post doesn't have the capacity to put my "new" Ford Excursion up in the air and with the 4" lift and 34" tires ceiling height inside my garage is also a problem. If I could safely mount a new 10k lift on my nice flat 100' drive I would have no clearance problems and it would be perfect!

P.S. I'm in the East Bay of San Francisco so no snow or ice here, just about 2 months of "rainy" season.

 

[Wood'nMetal]

Since you've worked on an outdoor lift for a commercial service company I'm curious what the risks are and the maintenance needed to keep a lift outdoors?

My 7k 2-post doesn't have the capacity to put my "new" Ford Excursion up in the air and with the 4" lift and 34" tires ceiling height inside my garage is also a problem. If I could safely mount a new 10k lift on my nice flat 100' drive I would have no clearance problems and it would be perfect!
.

The lift I worked on outdoors was a four post Rotary, so there wasn't much exposed parts. We kept the motor covered but other than that, it lived in the elements. It was regularly inspected and I remember about 10 years in it got a repaint and complete service.

Most of the muffler shops around here have four posts that live outside.

I don't feel so confident leaving my twin post exposed because the upper sheaves are exposed and it's a straight shot down the columns for rain. Right now I keep the top of it tarped and the motor cover. Hopefully I can build a shelter over the whole pad. If that isn't in the cards, I will have a piece of sheet metal broke to cover the top of it to keep water out.

 

[Capt Chrysler]

I worked for an RV dealer and we had a big four post that lived outdoors. I spent many cold and wet days under that lift!

We had a policy that it had to fit into the shop. No Fit / No work.



Capt. Chrysler