Notgrownup
Well-known member
If you want someone to help you spend money, you came to the right damn place, that’s for sure. 
Car lift - is it worth it when you're old
- Thread starter UpstateNY
- Start date
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
Enabling is a common theme here.lol
kaymccampbell
Well-known member
I'm older n dirt, and I bought a midrise lift for vehicle maintenance. It's been a grand thing in my little shop. Wouldn't trade it for the world. If it eases your path, and you've got the money, then do it. Putting a value on acquisitions based on life expectancy is silly. I'm over 40 years past my life expectancy. If I based my purchases on that, I'd still be living in a cardboard box. Enjoy your money, you can't take it with you.
bwringer
Well-known member
Following a serious injury a long while back that made working on motorcycles on the floor very challenging for a few years, a group of some VERY good friends conspired with my wife to buy me a motorcycle lift for Christmas.
That will always be one of the kindest, most thoughtful things that's ever happened to me.
I was getting very serious about buying a lift myself, and my wife had to find several subtle ways to stall me, from money worries to fretting about the logistics of transporting and setting it up, etc. and so on.
The lift was honestly a huge game-changer in every way. If I had room, I'd have a car lift as well. Even now that I'm having a much easier time physically, I'll never go back.
That will always be one of the kindest, most thoughtful things that's ever happened to me.
I was getting very serious about buying a lift myself, and my wife had to find several subtle ways to stall me, from money worries to fretting about the logistics of transporting and setting it up, etc. and so on.
The lift was honestly a huge game-changer in every way. If I had room, I'd have a car lift as well. Even now that I'm having a much easier time physically, I'll never go back.
Wiz02
Well-known member
@UpstateNY , glad you decided to pull the trigger on the lift. Even I , who the doc has given 5-7 years to enjoy life before the onset of serious side effects, don't look at at purchases with respect to lifespan.
Righy now I am debating getting rid of my project vehicle or adding a 4 post lift to make room for a new automotive toy. My 2 post lift was a total game changer. I waited too long to build my garage but I plan on spending as much time as I can either in the garage or cruising.
Do stuff that you enjoy, you never know what tomorrow will bring.
Righy now I am debating getting rid of my project vehicle or adding a 4 post lift to make room for a new automotive toy. My 2 post lift was a total game changer. I waited too long to build my garage but I plan on spending as much time as I can either in the garage or cruising.
Do stuff that you enjoy, you never know what tomorrow will bring.
60 - best decision was to add a 4 post lift to my garage. Cleaning, storage, whatever it is has made it much easier than bending over. I do some maintenance and it gets one of the cars out of the way. Glad you pulled the trigger.
This isn't nagging...it's professional coaching!
finn
Well-known member
Ok. Enough celebrating our success.
What else does he need? Maybe a new 7.5 hp two stage air compressor with a dryer?
How about a Tig welder?
What else does he need? Maybe a new 7.5 hp two stage air compressor with a dryer?
How about a Tig welder?
Ohhh, then you weren't going to like my advice! Buy the lift, an old Alfa Romeo and an old French car, and you'll get plenty of use out of the lift and won't have to feel guilty about what you spent on the lift!
Here's something practical for transporting a dozen cartons of ping pong balls:
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Installing it today, Sunday, it's going ok so far. I'll post pics once it's complete.
logical
Well-known member
I installed mine with an engine hoist and maybe 5 minutes of my wife's help about 10 or so years ago @ 50ish years old. I'm moving early next year and actually hope to just sell it with the house and buy new. Back then a Bendpak HD9 XW was under $3500 delivered...times have changed. I cut the steel ramps short and just leave the stumps attached. I lower them onto a set of RaceRamp trailer ramps. I had significant floor slope to deal with so even the longer OEM ramps wouldn't cut it. Alluminum is light but not nearly as light as foam.
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kngelv
Well-known member
You will have a smile for weeks. I put mine together last year and I smile every time I use it and kick myself for waiting so long. In hindsight it turned out to be a very expensive lift. Why? I got tired of sitting on stools and not standing because of my 8.5' ceiling. My son and I are out there all the time. Flash forward to now and I'm finishing up the interior of my new second garage. A 24' x 24' with a 12' ceiling. Another 1100 square feet of concrete to boot with the widened driveway into the rear yard.. Should be moving the lift back there in a few weeks.
James
Its after the weekend, where's the pics 
Forget age, I've wanted one for ages. I'm a procrastinator too but for me it's not just the money but then worrying about making the right choice on what you buy because you're stuck with it for a while.
I always liked 4 post ones better then 2 because you drive on and you're done. And now because you can move them. No messing around on your knees with arms. But I just recently bought a 2 post because it fell into my lap. Now I'm struggling with a few hurdles putting it up but am getting anxious to get that done.
Forget age, I've wanted one for ages. I'm a procrastinator too but for me it's not just the money but then worrying about making the right choice on what you buy because you're stuck with it for a while.
I always liked 4 post ones better then 2 because you drive on and you're done. And now because you can move them. No messing around on your knees with arms. But I just recently bought a 2 post because it fell into my lap. Now I'm struggling with a few hurdles putting it up but am getting anxious to get that done.
Lift is installed, and it goes up ! We just have to make the various adjustments for the locks and cables, get the sliding jack up on it and move it to it's final resting place, and then I'll post pics of the Vette falling off the lift ! Thank for all the prodding and poking, I needed it.Its after the weekend, where's the pics
Forget age, I've wanted one for ages. I'm a procrastinator too but for me it's not just the money but then worrying about making the right choice on what you buy because you're stuck with it for a while.
I always liked 4 post ones better then 2 because you drive on and you're done. And now because you can move them. No messing around on your knees with arms. But I just recently bought a 2 post because it fell into my lap. Now I'm struggling with a few hurdles putting it up but am getting anxious to get that done.
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You can't take it with you !!
If your kids say anything about it, make sure to tell them you are spending their inheritance.
When I started upgrading my tool collection a few years ago, I told my son "It's better than spending your inheritance on hookers and blow".
He calmly replied, "I wouldn't blame you if you did."
racecougar
Well-known member
It wasn't just identical; it came stickered with both brands. I use the heck out of it. Now that you have one, check out the 4 post lift modifications thread. I highly recommend adding lights to the runways. Illuminating the entire underside of the vehicle with just the flip of a switch is really nice. Also, no need for a roll-around oil drain pan taking up space; a simple drain pan bridge will do the trick.
If you work on solid axle cars and happen to have a lathe, make yourself a set of these stands for your bridge jack: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...ead-lets-see-them.347432/page-11#post-9923764
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RC,It wasn't just identical; it came stickered with both brands. I use the heck out of it. Now that you have one, check out the 4 post lift modifications thread. I highly recommend adding lights to the runways. Illuminating the entire underside of the vehicle with just the flip of a switch is really nice. Also, no need for a roll-around oil drain pan taking up space; a simple drain pan bridge will do the trick.
If you work on solid axle cars and happen to have a lathe, make yourself a set of these stands for your bridge jack: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...ead-lets-see-them.347432/page-11#post-9923764
View attachment 2355267
LED lights are arriving today, love the drain pan bridge idea. I have the sliding jack as depicted in this pic below. The sliding jack is heavy but it has nylon sliders that'll make it easier to slide along the top of the runway. But the jack tray, which also apparently slides on top of the runway, is all metal. It seems that it will scrape the paint off the runways when it's moved ? What am I missing ?
Thanks.
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![IMG_8097[1].JPG](/forum/data/attachments/2201/2201534-4afcb70bd157425065a5ddb0414ad948.jpg)
racecougar
Well-known member
I have two sliding bridge jacks, so I don't use the jack tray, but the one that came with my lift didn't ride atop the runways. It slid in the channels at the inside bottom of the runways. If your jack tray slides atop the runways, I'd drill, tap, and add nylon.
Just to confirm, your sliding bridge jacks do ride on top of the runways, not in the channels ? I find it strange that Direct tells you not to use the channels for the sliding jack as they're not strong enough, but they use the channels for the jack tray where you could use bottle jacks etc to place the same load as you could with the sliding jack ?
racecougar
Well-known member
Yes, you can see the bridge jacks above, and here:
Which lift did you purchase? The formed channels on the 9K are plenty stout to carry weight via the jack tray. You can't put the sliding jack down there, as it would be below the bottom of the runways, wouldn't have support on the vertical legs of the angles, and would rest only upon the upturned lip of the channels. It's designed to be installed as shown above.
So your jack tray does sit in the channels then, not atop the runways?
Which lift did you purchase? The formed channels on the 9K are plenty stout to carry weight via the jack tray. You can't put the sliding jack down there, as it would be below the bottom of the runways, wouldn't have support on the vertical legs of the angles, and would rest only upon the upturned lip of the channels. It's designed to be installed as shown above.
So your jack tray does sit in the channels then, not atop the runways?
It seems like most of the ones I've seen the jack and trays all sit down on the rails not up where the car goes.
Looking at ads here they're getting into the game of advertising them with the wheels and jack extra to compete on price then it jumps when you add that stuff in. I guess that works for people who are only buying to stack cars but I'm more interested as an actual hoist for working on.
Looking at ads here they're getting into the game of advertising them with the wheels and jack extra to compete on price then it jumps when you add that stuff in. I guess that works for people who are only buying to stack cars but I'm more interested as an actual hoist for working on.
I have the PP8S 8k lift.Yes, you can see the bridge jacks above, and here:
Which lift did you purchase? The formed channels on the 9K are plenty stout to carry weight via the jack tray. You can't put the sliding jack down there, as it would be below the bottom of the runways, wouldn't have support on the vertical legs of the angles, and would rest only upon the upturned lip of the channels. It's designed to be installed as shown above.
So your jack tray does sit in the channels then, not atop the runways?
My sliding/bridge jack is identical to yours pictured above, it slides on nylon runners atop the runways. My jack tray does not sit in the channels, it sits atop the runway, and has no nylon runners. My friend will be here in a couple of hours, we'll calibrate the locks etc. Then we'll lift the sliding jacking and install the jack tray.
My comments regarding the jack tray come from a tape measure wherein the jack tray, through measurements, would ride on top of the runways, but let me check back on that. I called Direct Lift, but they have a certified professional ***** on their tech line and he said the jack tray rides atop the runway with no nylon protection. There's no way they would design it that way. I'll get back to you on this, thanks for your assistance.
racecougar
Well-known member
That explains things. The 8k lift doesn't have the channels, just a flat return. I would not put any weight on that; keep it up on the runways.
Your jack tray will look like this:
The 9k jack tray looks like this:
Your jack tray will look like this:
The 9k jack tray looks like this:
racecougar
Well-known member
Actually, you can see the jack tray that came with my 9k in post #139 above, in the image with the C10 on the lift.
kngelv
Well-known member
That's not a great design for the jack trays. The runways will get scratched pretty bad.
James
James
c39er
Well-known member
Rolling jacks are better than sliding jacks...roll easy and stay down low when not in use..
pelletman
Well-known member
Yes Yes Yes, most definitely, and I would pick 4 post or Hunter type scissor lift over two post, which we have both 2 post and Hunter. Getting on your knees to set the pads on 2 post is pain in the ***
racecougar
Well-known member
Those aren’t an option for the OP’s 8k lift.Rolling jacks are better than sliding jacks...roll easy and stay down low when not in use..
In my case, I went with the sliders as I was able to buy enough of them at a low price point that reselling all but two left me with those two for free. Actually, I made a little money on the deal.
Additionally, the rolling jacks wouldn’t have allowed me to keep my lights, which is a dealbreaker for me. The lights are used on every job; jacks on probably every third or fourth job.
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Fordguy1964
Well-known member
I'm curious why someone would decide on a 4 post over a 2 post. Seems like you can do so much more with a 2 post and the cost seems lower for a 2 post as well. I am mentioning this since I am in the decision making stage of what to buy. Looking for answers for what to put into my new to me 30x60 garage. Wife has already said, "When are you getting a lift?" Delaying is not the right response at this point. LOL!
Wow!
Not to be snarky, but there are lots and lots of threads debating that very issue.
How long have you been here?
racecougar
Well-known member
Fordguy1964
Well-known member
Well, Yes. It HAS been discussed in several threads. My question was not to the several thread posters my question was to THIS poster asking him what swayed HIS decision. Given he has a lot of factors that lined up with mine I wanted to know why he went the direction HE did. Me being up in age and looking at my family's lack of historical longevity... given mobility... given other factors etc. I wanted his input on why he chose one over the other. Thanks for the concern though.
gizardlizard
Well-known member
Either way, get one ordered before the old lady changes her mind dude.
gizardlizard
Well-known member
Your father-in-law sounds bad *** to me. I hope to be able to still wrench at that age. My hat is off to him.
Notgrownup
Well-known member
Do you actually have a lift?
HoosierMark
Well-known member
Ford guy 1964. Interesting question. I have a two post but wish for the utility of a four post for my purpose. At almost 73. I would like to simply run a vehicle up on the lift and change oil or other minor things.. I do not have big confidence in my placement of the arms under frames but that could just be not having done it very much. But my concern is the foot print of the 4 post lift. Since it would not be used a lot I am concerned about dealing with two more posts. i do like the 2 post for ease of cleaning my z turn mower deck. Bottom line is user must decide how he will use what he purchases.
gizardlizard
Well-known member
Who is this question directed at?