Cable ramp ILO base plate on 2 post lift?

[67King]

Has anyone done this? Removed my lift from a house we are listing, just moved into a new house where I have a 42X21 workshop. IN old house, I had to narrow the lift due to both ceiling trusses (had to go through ceiling and box in) and a narrower space. I can't get a replacement floor plate, Atlas suggested that I have one fabricated at a local shop. However, I noticed that it put grooves in the old garage floor. So I'm wondering, is there any reason I can't just use heavy duty cable ramps, instead? They are similar in size, rated at about 12,000 pounds. I can't see a downside. Am I missing something? Surprised this isn't more common, unless there is a concern that they'll be damaged from welding, or sharp stuff falling on them.

 

[mikedodge]

You also don't want to be driving over the cables and having road dirt and other stuff getting onto them. Is there enough clearance between the cables and the floor to fit it under them? Seems like it would be easier to get a piece made to lengthen the cover you already have.

 

[firebirdparts]

the protection from dirt and impacts you get is not that impressive, but it's something. I would be mildly concerned about something falling on the hydraulic line. Cable ramps would actually be better if you could hold them still. If they slide around you could really damage something.

 

[67King]

Thanks guys for the reply. For some reason, I didn't get the alert anyone had, so sorry for the delay.

Think I may have been ambiguous. The lift came with a baseplate, which is a steel plate, about 9' long that goes between the two columns. It is 11" wide and about 2" tall. The column's plates have notches in them so it nests between them. I had to cut about 1' out of it to make it narrower in the old house. Can't get a new one, I can have one made. Or I can weld up more plates to that one.

The cables and hydraulic line run across the floor, and this baseplate sits on top of them. SO it is just a piece of stamped steel probably 3/16" thick. Lots of dirt and stuff collects over the years. Also, the metal ground away at the concrete and put little groves on each side of it. The cable guides that I have seen are also 11" wide, so the notches will keep them from moving. But they are enclosed on the bottom, and there is a tray where the cables and hydraulic line can go, and then a cover. I'm trying to think of a drawback, as it would be softer than the concrete, so it won't put notches in it, and hopefully even preserve the epoxy I put down. Would presumably be cleaner, since the entry points for dirt are only the sides, not the entire length.

 

[mikedodge]

You were pretty self explanatory, that's what lifts have if it's not overhead.

Like I said the biggest issue would be if there's enough clearance between the floor and cable having a bottom to it and stuff getting into it. With the normal plate dirt and water can get under it. With what you're looking at the dirt and water, oil and other contaminants would come in from the top since those covers aren't meant to seal that well and the enclosed bottom will hold it there. Plus there's no way of easily cleaning under it once everything is in place. The only advantage is the ease of getting it vs having to find a place to make the new plate or welding an extension on to the old one.

 

[67King]

With what you're looking at the dirt and water, oil and other contaminants would come in from the top

This is what threw me off, was thinking the the dirt comes in from the bottom, as every time I tried to sweep up the area, it would build up at the ramp.

 

[firebirdparts]

The drawback is that a cable cover will slide around when you run over it. If you stop that, it's generally superior to the plate. I would think.

 

[67King]

The drawback is that a cable cover will slide around when you run over it. If you stop that, it's generally superior to the plate. I would think.

I assume the notches in the post floorplates that the normal floorplate fits into would hold them in place, a well. At least the ones I've been looking at that are the same size have tabs and notches so you can affix several together. All that said, now that I've got everthing in the new place, it looks like I'm going to keep it the same width, so I can re-use my floorplate. But, I may check into the cable guides as it will likley better protect the floor.