Car lift never seen one like it

[dura eagle]

My good friend gifted or long term loaned me a car lift. Not sure what to think about it. He knew I was going to buy a new 4 post lift when I got my shop finished. A friend of his wanted rid of it so he bought it to me. Not what I wanted but the price is right.
it has 4 tall stands that you put under each corner and you can remove the lift. Also included is a bunch of different pads to go on the forks.
Runs on batteries
Thoughts ????

 

[wssix99]

Looks similar to a single column lift:

 

[dura eagle]

That is sure enough the same concept. Never seen one like that before either.

 

[Steve from Socal]

It is a wheel lift for trucks/buses

 

[firebirdparts]

The rigid forks would seem to limit your geometry for pickup points.

I have a crown walkie stacker that is just like that, but 1/3 the size and with pallet forks. So it's curious for that reason.

 

[kaymccampbell]

That was/is something purpose built, but not for cars, unless it's made for a junkyard to harvest the innards before scrapping the shell.

 

[mike93lx]

If you wanted a four post, that doesn't look like a good replacement. Guess it depends on if free was enough of a benefit. It's going to eat up a lot of space and is no where near as useful as a four post for storage

 

[jack stand]

Better than a floor jack but it's a huge thing to have hanging around.
Show us the pads you mentioned that slip on the forks.
Same with the jacks.

 

[46MGTC]

There's a reason that sometimes things are free.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I would respectfully say thanks but no thanks.

 

[58Yeoman]

Nice trailer, though.

 

[Lou's Garage]

I have had occasion to use single column lifts and, except for the very lightest vehicles, I was uncomfortable. This lift has a broad column with two widely spaced forks, if anything it should be more stable than the units I've experienced. I'd like to see what it has for pads to the car/truck. J&D Incorporated appears to have been a small fab shop and this lift might have been a one-off custom or part of a product line that had little or local success. If I didn't have a lift and someone offered it to me for free, I'd take it and I'm a bit skittish about that sort of thing as I've already had one car fall on me. Ask the owner about its idiosyncrasies and try it out. If you're uncomfortable, stop using it or use it only for tasks you feel it's appropriate for.

Lou Manglass

P.S. make sure the safety works!

 

[firebirdparts]

Me too. Very curious about the attachments and the also the jack stands. I'm guessing no reasonable person would build a jack stand that is actually stable for that purpose. it would just be too big.

 

[Oldsnapper]

It is a wheel lift for trucks/buses

I have used wheel lifts for trucks/buses and this is way wider and the forks are longer than on the wheel lifts.

 

[Old Man Roger]

One just like it sold locally last week.

 

[Colin Len]

I'm sure it's awesome for the right purpose but for my needs that would be useless. Its so big I doubt it'd even fit in my garage at all. Free isn't always the best deal. But hard to turn down when a friend is just trying to help.

 

[Viper98912]

I mean, technically, yes, you can use one of those walkable battery powered forklifts to lift up something heavy like a car

 

[Steve from Socal]

I have used wheel lifts for trucks/buses and this is way wider and the forks are longer than on the wheel lifts.

I wonder if these are tire dollys for ag/mine equip?

 

[Old Man Roger]

I mean, technically, yes, you can use one of those walkable battery powered forklifts to lift up something heavy like a car

The one I saw had pads and extensions for truck frames. I almost want to say it might have even had little portable ramps to drive over it if you wanted top leave it in place.

 

[dura eagle]

More photos.
Very well built just not too practical in my opinion. I think ultimately it needs to find another home.

 

[ATC]

With a platform on it, that would be awesome for mowers/ATV/SXS/Motorcycles/Golf carts/etc...

 

[drokihazan]

This looks like a deathtrap. I'm sure your friend means very well and it's so cool they went out of their way to do this, but I'd have to decline this bulky and sketchy looking thing.

 

[Wrench97]

Mobile Column lifts, some of the new ones can wirelessly connect up to 32 of them.

 

[Ryno CW]

This almost looks like a manual hand truck used for barn equipment. I'm not sure even with the outriggers I'd be able to trust this because those arms are not exactly the most stout looking things for lifting a car. Maybe for farm use but I don't know.

 

[mike93lx]

This almost looks like a manual hand truck used for barn equipment. I'm not sure even with the outriggers I'd be able to trust this because those arms are not exactly the most stout looking things for lifting a car. Maybe for farm use but I don't know.

Whats the conversion for farm lbs to automotive lbs?

 

[Old Man Roger]

Which weighs more, 6000lbs of ************ or 6000lbs of F150?

 

[Ryno CW]

Whats the conversion for farm lbs to automotive lbs?

Yeah I'm less concerned with flipping a John Deere versus dropping a Porsche.

 

[Ryno CW]

Yeah I'm less concerned with flipping a John Deere versus dropping a Porsche.

Not even this one.

 

[mike93lx]

Which weighs more, 6000lbs of ************ or 6000lbs of F150?

How rusty is the F150?

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

If it had more vertical lift, it would make a great elevator.

 

[firebirdparts]

Well, the add-ons look versatile. Interesting design.

 

[mikedodge]

I wouldn't trust that thing lifting anywhere near its 6000lb capacity.

With those arms stuck in place you're limited to what you can lift with it then all that dicking around with those attachments... seems like he unloaded it on you because he didn't know what to do with it himself.

 

[Old Man Roger]

I'D take that thing in a heart beat If my garage was bigger.

 

[Fixr]

I'd take it in a heartbeat and use it well within its rated limits. I would not use it for a long bed crew cab pickup, but I'd use it carefully for my Highlander or smaller, lighter vehicle, paying close attention to weight distribution. I would definitely use the jack stands to stabilize the vehicle, not as the sole means of support. I've seen considerably sketchier single-sided lifts on the market. All of the ones I've seen in person were bouncier than I liked, and the name-brand one that was demoed at our shop did not get purchased for that reason. This one appears considerably sturdier than that demo unit.

Note that one of the reasons I'd take it is that I don't have any sort of lift. This one could live outside under a tarp and not eat up garage space. I would much prefer a 2-post lift and the shop space to use it, but the portable would beat hell out of what I have now.

 

[Wrench97]

I'd take it in a heartbeat and use it well within its rated limits. I would not use it for a long bed crew cab pickup, but I'd use it carefully for my Highlander or smaller, lighter vehicle, paying close attention to weight distribution. I would definitely use the jack stands to stabilize the vehicle, not as the sole means of support. I've seen considerably sketchier single-sided lifts on the market. All of the ones I've seen in person were bouncier than I liked, and the name-brand one that was demoed at our shop did not get purchased for that reason. This one appears considerably sturdier than that demo unit.

Note that one of the reasons I'd take it is that I don't have any sort of lift. This one could live outside under a tarp and not eat up garage space. I would much prefer a 2-post lift and the shop space to use it, but the portable would beat hell out of what I have now.

Your highlander may actually weight more then a long bed pickup.....
Full size vans can be the hairy ones especially if you don't know what's in the back....
I had a locksmiths van once the 12k lb lift picked it up about 3" and hit the bypass.

 

[Fixr]

Your highlander may actually weight more then a long bed pickup.....
Full size vans can be the hairy ones especially if you don't know what's in the back....
I had a locksmiths van once the 12k lb lift picked it up about 3" and hit the bypass.

The reason I mentioned extra long vehicles was because the lifting arms are pretty close together, and long vehicles have a lot of leverage when they are nose or tail heavy. My old Highlander is just over 4000 lbs and a lot shorter than a long bed crew cab pickup, and way less likely to have a bunch of weight cantilevered way out at one end or another. For a long heavy vehicle, I would actually prefer a 4 post.

 

[NBN]

The OP lift is similar to a UNIC lift I used for years. Heavy and cumbersome, but useful when you need it. Use it a few times and send it down the road for the price you paid for it. Someone else would love to have it.

 

[JABgj]

No thank you. Too unstable. Go for the 4 post.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Honestly, if it were given to me, I'd take it. . . right to the scrap yard. It would be a seriously hard pass. I'm not putting one of my vehicles on it nor getting under it.

 

[dougf]

I would happily take it, but I wouldn't use it as a vehicle lift. For my uses of restoring hit and miss engines, tractors, implements, etc... I would lay a 1/2" sheet of steel across the arms and bolt it in place, then use it as a workstation for engines or even a welding and brazing station. If its easy to roll around it would be great for loading and unloading heavy things into a truck bed also. Would save a lot of bending over!