DIY car lift decision help

[MIDLIFE]

Good Morning,
I'm reaching out to anyone out there that can help me with making the best decision on what to buy. Here's my story. I'm a 58 year old who does light duty maintenance. Although I've been using floor jacks and jack stands all these years I'd like to go with a lift. A scissor or low/mid rise lift is what I can use in my situation. My garage height isn't such that I can take advantage of a full rise, and post lifts, including portables just isn't something I'm interested in. The majority of what I will want to do is oil changes, brake jobs, and tire rotations. I see benefits of the 10,000 lb. low rise, especially with the installation with only having the hydraulic hose running from the power unit to the lift. I could have hoses made with quick disconnects so that I could disconnect and not have the hose as a trip hazard when it's not in use. However, these sure appear to give very little access to the middle of the vehicle if you wanted to change transmission fluid for example. It almost seems that many of the brands are manufactured in one plant in China and painted/labeled for whomever is buying them that day as the dimensions/specs. are so similar. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I can't afford to buy the wrong one, this is definitely a one and done purchase. I'm not going to be using it professionally, I just want to do my own and help others. My widowed mother. mother-in-law, and single mothered son's fiancé have opened my eyes first hand to the need for people who could use honest simple vehicle maintenance.
Thank you in advance.

 

[Chevy-SS]

Punch out the ceiling and install full size 4-poster. Like you, I worked (at home) with floor jacks and jack stands for many years. 5 years ago, built a new addition and made damn sure to have plenty of ceiling height for a lift. Put in a 9,000lb capacity Challenger 4-poster and have been ecstatic ever since. It is just wonderful.

I know you are asking about something that would work in your low ceiling. But my suggestion is - you'll end up much happier if you raise the ceiling to accomodate a real lift.

Anyway, that's my $.02 ----------------- good luck with whatever you do!

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

I have a four post lift and can do just about everything on it..... A friend of mine has a mid rise lift and raves about it so my answer is ANY lift is better than jack stands.
Check out: www.gregsmithequipment.com

BTW! The ATLAS Quick Bay Commercial model may be the lift for you if you don’t have the ceiling height.

 

[txvwnut]

I have two mid-rise scissor lifts which are actually close to perfect for me since 90% of what goes on them is aircooled VWs. But I have done transmission swaps, clutch replacements and other middle of the car repairs in rwd cars and trucks. What I do is put the vehicle on stands using the lift then set lift on a pair of car dollies and roll it out of my way.

 

[CraigStu]

I think a good idea would be grab a dimensional drawing of the scissor lift you are considering. Put a car typical of what you will be working on jack stands. Slide around under there w/ the diagram and a tape measure. Trans drain on a front engine rear drive car might be close. But so many cars are front wheel drive now, w/ the trans next to the engine, I think you will be OK.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I have the Atlas 7K Kwikbay. I've had everything from my motorcycle to a full size pickup on it. I buried mine in a shallow pit in the floor, and decked over the running gear, so I can slide under the middle with a creeper.

Here's the lift in its hole.

Here it is with the bike on it, and the decking over the hole.

 

[pbon]

I’d look at a Max Jax if you don’t want to or can’t raise your ceiling to make use of a full height 2 post lift.

 

[MIDLIFE]

Good Morning,
Thank you for the responses, I'm continuing to research these things to death and I'm sure my wife is tired of me talking about them. I'm comparing numerous ones and still trying to make a decision.
Are any on the forum familiar with the Nussbaum Sprinter 7? I've read the instruction manual and watched a video and I'm not seeing where there are mechanical height stops. Surely I'm just missing something as I can't imagine it solely relying on the hydraulic pressure to hold the vehicle raised, especially if the vehicle needs to be up for any extended period of time. I'd appreciate any feedback whatsoever.

 

[bayseven]

Copied from a sellers website:
The hydraulic system of the SPRINTER works with two cylinders on independent hydraulic systems. A special safety device in the hydraulic circuit substitutes the conventional security latches and protects the lift from sagging. Mechanical synchronization is achieved by torsion bars at the bottom of the lift.

Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk

 

[bromley]

Have you checked out the Stratus MS8000E open scissor lift ? I'm considering this lift myself. Should be back in stock end of May. Looks like a well made lift. Check it out. Hope that helps.

 

[pbon]

Pretty much all lifts have mechanical locks that need to be released before they go down. It would be riskier if the hydraulics were the only thing keeping the vehicle up, for obvious reasons. A mid rise scissor lift would be my last choice. First would be full height 2 post, then full height 4 post, then mid height 2 post like max Jax, then scissor lifts. Too much in the way when you are underneath. But they do work fine for some stuff. You just have to determine whether one will do enough of what you want to do. And any lift is better than no lift.

 

[gunner3773]

I have had an EzCarLift since 2009. What you describe seems to describe my situation. If you have any questions, call the 800 number. You will speak directly with the owner, engineer, designer, Boytcho Manev. I really like my lift. BTW, completely made in the US with US steel and aluminum. As far as I know, there is not one Chinese part in it. He does use local shops in California for all the machining of parts.

 

[pbon]

EZ is like the quick jack — very low rise, only about half what a mid rise scissor or max Jax will do. Older EZ vs QuickJack comparison on GJ:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=274480

 

[kaymccampbell]

Good Morning,
Thank you for the responses, I'm continuing to research these things to death and I'm sure my wife is tired of me talking about them. I'm comparing numerous ones and still trying to make a decision.
Are any on the forum familiar with the Nussbaum Sprinter 7? I've read the instruction manual and watched a video and I'm not seeing where there are mechanical height stops. Surely I'm just missing something as I can't imagine it solely relying on the hydraulic pressure to hold the vehicle raised, especially if the vehicle needs to be up for any extended period of time. I'd appreciate any feedback whatsoever.

That's why I bought the Atlas. See those big silver rails alongside the lift platforms? those are the safety stops for the lift. Two sets of 2x2" steel teeth. They give you stops about every 4-5 inches on the way up. Synchronization between the sides is by a torsion bar running along the bottom of the lift.

 

[Jking24]

Good Morning,
Thank you for the responses, I'm continuing to research these things to death and I'm sure my wife is tired of me talking about them. I'm comparing numerous ones and still trying to make a decision.
Are any on the forum familiar with the Nussbaum Sprinter 7? I've read the instruction manual and watched a video and I'm not seeing where there are mechanical height stops. Surely I'm just missing something as I can't imagine it solely relying on the hydraulic pressure to hold the vehicle raised, especially if the vehicle needs to be up for any extended period of time. I'd appreciate any feedback whatsoever.

I don't know anything about that particular lift but i can tell you nussbaum is a top notch product. It's all that is used in Mercedes dealerships i know in their two post lifts they have a safety system that is unique to them and very good i could imagine they use somthing similar
on the Scissor lifts. All certified lifts have to have safety stops and i don't think nussbaum would build anything uncertifeid

 

[joel]

For this old geezer, a full rise lift, so I can walk under the vehicle, is WAY better for me than a lower rise lift. My ceiling wasn't high enough, so I hired a contractor.

 

[MIDLIFE]

Thank you again for the responses. If I had an extra bay that I could use I would consider a post lift. My daily driver will be sitting over top of the scissor lift so it won't be in the way. The concrete in my garage floor isn't thick enough to satisfy the minimum requirements for post lifts either. Maybe I should've had my contractor build my garage a couple of feet higher when I had it built 5 years ago. I can look back and regret not having the height and 6" floor poured at the time. I'm very fortunate to have what I have and can't go back now.
I've been looking at the Atlas and the Stratus MS8000E and they both look like quality units. From what I'm understanding June 1st is when a lot of the suppliers will be able to open and ship again. I'm going to run a separate circuit in my garage in the meantime in anticipation of buying something post Corona.

 

[Jking24]

You do not need a six inch pad for a two post 4" is generally all that is required

 

[tstaude]

I have a snap on mid rise 6500# scissor lift, works great and lifts a crew cab diesel.
even with an 8' ceiling you can lift most cars over 3'.
you will not regret getting one!
I picked up mine used for $800

The Atlas that Kay has looks good too, I almost picked up one of those.

I don't know if you are super picky or not, but here is one similar to what I have but a little rough looking:
https://buffalo.craigslist.org/tls/d/east-aurora-snap-on-lift/7119315589.html

mine lifts to 48" but I think this one is more like 36"

what is your ceiling height?

 

[ODIS]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=453126

 

[javyLSU]

I went with the Twin Busch S3-10E mid-rise scissor lift. One of the best purchases I've made. Nice lift, good access to vehicle underbody, no air needed to operate locks, and great pre- and post-purchase purchase support from their USA-based office.

My thoughts here:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7892867#post7892867

 

[MIDLIFE]

I've got 8' from the floor to the garage door opener.

 

[Bruce 993 SEA]

I've got 8' from the floor to the garage door opener.

Many here have gone to a jack shaft opener for clearance and used high lift door rails.

I had a mid rise scissors lift that was "portable". It was but not super easy to move. Had a bunch of different vehicles on it,,,the heaviest was the Silverado at 5300 lbs. My BIL has it and when he is done with it, my buddy wants it.

I have a lot of ceiling height in the new place so I have a 2 post now.

There is lots of info here and other places so you could find lots of opinions.

 

[Jagmandave]

I would have suggested a MaxJax too, but since Danmar is now out of business that ship has sailed.

I have a mid rise scissor lift - a no name Chinese brand that I've used for going on 6 years now with absolutely no issues. I understand there's a lot of Chinese resentment here - especially on this forum but when push comes to shove you have to do what you can afford to do - and all you folks advocating raising the roof and buying $5K lifts need to look at reality - not all of us can afford that stuff, but we still need to work on our cars. I think if the OP could afford to raise the roof on his garage and buy a $5K lift he wouldn't be here asking for help. Just my 2¢ but it bugs me that the only answer here for any question (or maybe the first answer anyway) seems to be spend a ton of money.

 

[tstaude]

I've got 8' from the floor to the garage door opener.

In my old garage I offset the garage door opener on a 16' door to get that extra clearance.

 

[Nicks garage]

I have a mid rise scissor lift in my garage, it’s great when it’s sunk flush into the concrete, I had it surface mounted before and it got in the way a bit when wanted a car parked to one side etc,

Vid shows mine being installed in the ground

 

[Bruce 993 SEA]

I just thought of another issue and an advantage with the scissors lift.

My Porsche and 540 BMW were too low to drive over the lift. I had to build 1 1/2 or 2 inch planks to drive on to clear the lift. Not a big deal but you did have to line up correctly. Also, I could not swing the front arms under the Porsche without lifting the front a little.

The advantage, as with the in ground scissors lifts, is they are out of the way if the car is parked over it on a regular basis. They also can be used for work platforms.

 

[MIDLIFE]

Thank you all again for the responses. I thought I'd let you know what I decided on. I ended up buying a Nussbaum Sprinter 7. I'm extremely happy with it. I wish I could've had a lift way before now, very grateful and blessed to have it now.

 

[brownbagg]

i got a two post, my advice, get a four post, at 58 you dont want to get on your knees to place the arms, also you can put wheels on a four post and drag it out to the drive way to work too. or just drag it out for more room in garage