Easiest lift to live with

[lt1driver]

mohawk 2 post is about 8k, but best on the market.

 

[c39er]

Mohawk is total overkill for the average DIY'er. Pretty though!

 

[Mr.3-5-7]

I am in the planning stages of getting a Bendpak P-6b or a LR-60. For my low ceilings and heavy need to work on my cars, i believe they are the best viable options. I am leaning more towards the P-6b because it has a completely open center.

P-6b

LR-60

 

[Scud67]

I wouldn't consider the second one "a completely open center" - it has the piston in the center.... also, hard to get at brake lines, gas lines, some fuel filters, etc that are located on or near the frame rails and rocker panels. Not a choice I would consider - it also doesn't go to "full height" position.

 

[domer911]

The most useful advice I can offer is to source your lift first, then design the garage space around it. Seriously, that's solid advice.

Had I known then what I know now...

 

[Diesel Dan]

mohawk 2 post is about 8k, but best on the market.

For 8K I'd take the in ground rotary.

 

[alky]

The only negative for the 2 post is that mine is not asymetrical, so sometimes it is inconvenient to get in and out of the vehicle.

I don't quite understand this idea. I get that some have overhead connecting them and some have on the floor connections. Whats the difference between asymetrical and non asymetrical. I can only picture that there is two post and you drive the car between them.

Al

 

[dhubbard422]

I don't quite understand this idea. I get that some have overhead connecting them and some have on the floor connections. Whats the difference between asymetrical and non asymetrical. I can only picture that there is two post and you drive the car between them.

Al

Short answer, the length of the arms is equal on a symmetric lift and unequal on an asymmetric. Want to learn more, here's a write up:
http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Asymmetric-Two-Post-Lifts-Vs-Symmetric-Two-Post-Lifts

 

[dhubbard422]

If I won the lottery, an in ground 2-column lift would be very interesting, especially if I expected to use it regularly for the purpose of working on cars. But... if I won the lottery, a ginormous garage would be in the mix and space would be a minor issue if at all and the inconvenience of working around several above ground 2 and/or 4 post lifts in a huge workshop would be minor.

But, if you have to build a workshop on a budget, the size and/or height of your workshop may matter (for a variety of reasons). I'm currently planning my modest workshop around an in-ground scissor lift, such as a Bendpak P-6B. I really like the fact that it is flush to the ground which should make it much easier to move vehicles and other stuff around in my smallish workshop; I really do not want to have to dodge the lift posts all of the time. I've speculated that my projects may not even be on a lift most of the time...

So, I'm really ok with an in-ground, low to mid-rise lift in my detached workshop as I think that will suit me best in that space. However, I'm also lucky that I have an option to put a 2 or 4 post above ground lift in my attached garage, if I ever decide I need both...

 

[alky]

Short answer, the length of the arms is equal on a symmetric lift and unequal on an asymmetric. Want to learn more, here's a write up:
http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Asymmetric-Two-Post-Lifts-Vs-Symmetric-Two-Post-Lifts

excellent thanks dhubbard
that explains it!
lots of things to think about w your shop. Of course one thing nice about the smaller shop is less heating costs. Plus how many cars are you really going to have. So long as you can fit 2 or 3 that may be all you have time for anyways.
Al

 

[Mr.3-5-7]

I wouldn't consider the second one "a completely open center" - it has the piston in the center.... also, hard to get at brake lines, gas lines, some fuel filters, etc that are located on or near the frame rails and rocker panels. Not a choice I would consider - it also doesn't go to "full height" position.

Well all my cars are rear-wheel drive so a completely open center would be great for transmissions and driveshafts. As far as brake and fuel lines and the such, not a problem, my cars dont have those lines in a hard to reach place, and im not going to do ground-up restos on the thing. We have one at the shop i work at and i think it suits my needs as far as "full height" is concerned, i have a low ceiling and dont mind working on my back. I really just hate jacks and jack stands.

 

[Scud67]

So you will be leaning towards the first one pictured... are the two sides connected in any way? What happens if one side lifts faster than the other? On my 2 post, I have an adjustment (cable) - any on that one? My ceiling height is only 11'6" so I have a "base plate" 9k lb, but it still allows me to raise a vehicle high enough for me to walk underneath. That is why I said in a previous post that it all depends on the individual situation as to what lift is best for you.

 

[dhubbard422]

So you will be leaning towards the first one pictured... are the two sides connected in any way? What happens if one side lifts faster than the other? On my 2 post, I have an adjustment (cable) - any on that one?

A simple open T between the two separate hydraulic systems would allow for unequal responses when resistance varies. However, Bendpak uses a "Hydraulic Flow Divider" to compensate for differences in resistance. I suspect that these dividers are not foolproof, but I also suspect that they (usually) work well enough.

 

[12ozd]

Geez, those Rotary Smart lifts are nice but $7500!!! Thats a 2 post and a 4 post combined!

Do you want 1 lift that will do everything, or two lifts to share the duties? And space.
$7500 is about $1700 more than I paid.
Check another source, that seems high.