Another Lift question.....

[Jblakeslee]

I (like alot of others) am in the pleminary stages of buying a lift. Getting older, and just tired of laying on my back under a car.


And, like most, space is a issue. Have looked at the Max Jack, like it, But is it really comfortable working under it using a "chair" creeper?

The best option (I think) would be either a 2 or 4 post out in my driveway.

A 4 post might be the best choice, becuase I can just set it there, anchor it with bolts, or chain it to a tree...lol. I do not like in a area where someone would take the time to haul it off.... also, a 4 post can run off 110v. and I have a dedicited 110v 20amp outlet for my welder.

A 2 post would require drilling and mounting, and a 220v line run. Have not ruled that out....just want to consider all options.

So? How would either lift hold up out in the weather? I live in SC, does not get real cold alot, so I would not be limited by winter weather working outside. We very rarely see snow, just rain....

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance

Jim

 

[jazzbug8]

Lifts are designed to be installed in a garage where you have a protected environment away from excessive moisture, grit and grime. Manufacturers will not honer a warrenty for lifts installed outdoors. This is an expensive investment and replacement motors and hydraulic cylinders are costly to replace.

 

[GShelton]

I have a shop by me that has 3 lifts outside. Drive around and find a couple near you, and stop and ask them how well they're holding up. The weather there is definitely different than the weather here in Florida. We get a lot more rain. It is definitely not the best environment for lift but I'm pretty sure can be done.

 

[volaredon]

I have a shop by me that has 3 lifts outside. Drive around and find a couple near you, and stop and ask them how well they're holding up. The weather there is definitely different than the weather here in Florida. We get a lot more rain. It is definitely not the best environment for lift but I'm pretty sure can be done.

yeah but we arent all in Florida like you... an outddoor lift would not work well here in Illinois.... IDK where teh OP is located

OP Don't rule out a used unit. I bought one for a song and am going thru it as I go along before I put it up; I have both of the cylinders apart due to one having been a leaker according to PO; $30/ea for seals and stupid simple to do. i was amazed at that fact. I can see alot of black gook down within the cylinder barrel, remnants of the worn seals. I am doing both before I put it all back together for peace of mind.
It has served the PO well and whether for your own private use or even if you use it commercially... itll still last ya a lifetime. Parts have proven rather easy to get, there are places that still stock parts.
By the time all is said and done I will still have less ******* in mine than a new one.
and I agree about the "gettin older"/not wanting to roll around laying on concrete no more I can relate. but you'll have to cut off both legs and an arm to keep me from doing my own mechanical work on my vehicles.

 

[Jblakeslee]

Appreciate the input.....I have been looking for a used one for what seems like forever....I even have a friend who is the service Manager at a large Honda dealership keeping an eye out....problem is, they last a long time and hardly ever get changed out.....

So....as of right now, I am leaning towards the Max Jac.....I will probably install two location areas, one in the driveway because it can be rolled out and the extensions can be used...and one in the garage. Because of the lower roof in the garage, it will not go up all the way....but it will be ok for quick oil changes, and tire rotations.....

Sitting under the car is still alot better than laying on the floor...and like others, I am not going to be giving up my own mechanical work for quite sometime....

Not looking to make the purchase for another month or so, things may change, but that is the current plan....

Thanks, guys

 

[volaredon]

quit looking. Seriously the harder you search the harder it will be.... you buy that new one and 4 good used ones will come up for sale. Deals seem to come my way when I "give up" and then once U get the 1st one (of whatever I am looking for at the moment) then the deals will show up. Where a bouts are you located?

A few years ago when GM and Chrysler were going thru shuttering dealerships (and I had less than zero cash available at the time) there were alot of lifts for sale.

I found mine purely by accident. I wasn't looking for a lift at the time, had given up on my hopes of ever being able to afford a lift of my own, and was searching for something else at the time, and this one came up with whatever word I put into the search box. and there it was as plain as day, and as I said, too good of a price to pass up.

 

[Jblakeslee]

Located in South Carolina....

Thanks for the advice.......I think you are probably right.....the harder I look the harder it will be.....

 

[Jblakeslee]

anyone know of a discount code for the Max Jack? Everyone has free shipping, ...If I could get the cost under $2k I would buy the thing today...

 

[c4cruiser]

The MaxJax is designed for use inside. I believe the instructions say to not install it outside, but there may be a few people that have done so. The floor surface has to be level concrete and the specs are specific: 3000psi mix and a minimum of a 4" thickness. Chances are that driveways will not meet those specs, much less some garage floors.

 

[Jblakeslee]

I am aware that it is designed to be used inside....I am pretty sure that using it in a driveway, that meets the 4" thickness requirement would be fine....It is designed to be portable, you take it outside on a nice day, use it and then store it in the garage...

I plan on putting mounting areas in the driveway and inside....

 

[Jblakeslee]

Just for info, I spoke with several companies selling 4 post lifts. All of them said that leaving it outside is not a issue. They said to cover the motor, and make sure the cables, pulley's etc were well lubricated.
None of them had a issue with it.

 

[Angelfire]

I wouldn't install one outdoors here. The summer sun is brutal on everything so the paint would be gone in no time. The dust storms we get in the spring would stick to everything that's lubricated. Nah, I wouldn't do it here. YMMV of course depending on your location.

 

[krivasgarage]

I would think that the convenience of standing up straight would be offset by the inconvenience of inclement weather. I guess I like the shade too much. Does that make me a shade-tree mechanic?

 

[Jblakeslee]

Actually this entire process is probably dead in the water.....been reading more, and even for a 4 post lift they want a concrete thickness of 4" 3000psi....my slab is just over 3".....so looks like I spend more time laying on my back.....

 

[volaredon]

4 posters are less picky about slab thickness vs a 2 post...

cant wait to get mine put up yesterday I put 4 shocks on my Cherokee laying on cold concrete that was also wet by the time I was done with the back ones---melted snow soaked thru my cardboard laying surface... I had "just" enough kerosene in the torpedo to speed up the melt-off...

 

[Jblakeslee]

"4 posters are less picky about slab thickness vs a 2 post" Those were my thoughts also...I would think a because a 4 post has the weight spread out, it would not as critical as a 2 poster....

Question is: To lift or not to Lift?

I am going to check my slab again, I only checkd one corner that I could access easily, I might even drill a small hole somewhere.....

 

[mikeyr]

For me the beauty of the maxjax is that I drilled 2 locations, one inside the garage next to my 4-post and one in the driveway, the maxjax rarely stays out overnight but I like being able to work in the sunshine on nice days and in the garage on cold rainy days. Having both a 4-post and a Maxjax next to each other I can certainly say that for big jobs, I much prefer standing under the car instead of rolling around on creeper chair but its not that bad to do.

 

[volaredon]

but with the maxjax, which ever place you arent using it, you have the PITA of the concrete anchors sticking out trip hazard, tire puncture hazard etc.... cuz when being used, don't you have to secure it to the slab?

 

[groa944]

but with the maxjax, which ever place you arent using it, you have the PITA of the concrete anchors sticking out trip hazard, tire puncture hazard etc.... cuz when being used, don't you have to secure it to the slab?

The anchors for the maxjax don't protrude from the floor. They're threaded socket type inserts. When the maxjax isn't installed, there will be threaded holes in the concrete. I'd want to put a plug or possibly a plastic bolt of some sort in the insert to keep it clean when it's not in use.