How do you store your 4 post caster kit?

[Junkman]

I have been wondering what is the best way to get the caster kit out of the way, when it isn't being used. I am thinking that the best way would be to make a bracket out of flat steel and a piece of 3/4" black iron pipe and weld it to the upright columns as shown in the pictures. With this method, they will always be in easy reach when needed, and out of the way. I am not certain if the wheel jutting out will become a safety problem of walking into it. How do you store your wheel kit, and what do you think of my storage idea?

 

[OldCarGuy]

I would be concerned that you would hit yourself in the shins with the casters mounted to the posts. I would temporarily clamp them in place to try it out first.

When I purchased four lifts from Stinger, they threw in the caster set along a rack they made up that also stores the aluminum ramps.

 

[ownsaglock]

Do you think welding to the columns would mess up your warranty or cause liability issues of some type? If no I think youve got a good plan.

 

[Junkman]

There would only be a liability issue if they could prove that my welding to the columns cause some structural damage that resulted in the failure. I don't see this as being much of a problem. The only part of any 4 post lift that I can see as being a problem is the cables. If a cable fails, then the lift can fall the distance of the next safety lock, and stop. If that safety locks were to fail, then your heirs will be the ones dealing with the manufacturer on the liability issue.
I do see the wheels sticking out and hitting your shins as a possible problem, but once you know that they are there, I doubt that it will be an issue. I just can't seem to find a good place to store them that is convenient to access when you need them. They are heavy enough that I don't want to be dragging them around the garage to use and then store after use.

 

[cc_rider]

Wow, those suckers are big! I was wondering how you could move a whole lift around, now I know.

So I guess this means you don't just leave them on there? I assumed you would mount the casters on the posts, raise the lift and move it, then lower it back down, leaving the casters in place. Live and learn...

c.

 

[Junkman]

When you leave the casters on, and the lift gets to the bottom, then the posts raise. If you have it high enough that the posts aren't raised, then the drive on ramps are at a severe angle, which will reduce your ground clearance as you drive the car onto the lift. With the number of people on this site that have 4 post lifts and caster kits, I am surprised that there are not more comments, so far.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I have a Stinger lift in my garage, just like OldCarGuy's, with the caster kit and the storage rack. The system works pretty well.

 

[Old Moparz]

Just saw this thread.

I have shelves at the center of the rear wall of my garage. One of them has enough clearance to just slide all four casters on there upside down. I think the casters are about 6 to 8 inches high, so there's about 10 to 12 inches to the bottom of the next shelf. Although they aren't as easy to access as say the most used drawer in the tool chest, these aren't something I pull out too often, maybe 2 or 3 times a year?

I like the rack Old Car Guy has, especially for the ramps. I need to find a better way to store the 4 ramps I have instead of just leaning them on the wall waiting to mash a toe or shin.

 

[PxTx]

If the ramps do not have gussets, you can turn them 180 degrees and keep them on the deck of the lift. That is what I have recommended to others with a lift similar to yours.

 

[DARK AGE 53]

I don't have casters for my Back Yard Buddy lift but if I did I'd fab up a rack like OldCarGuy has.

 

[PxTx]

The BB casters have a reverse design with the stationary part on the column, but I'm sure you could make something work. Here is what BB offers:

 

[wilbilt]

Just bolt that sucker down and be done with it.

 

[Ehill101]

This is what I did, had an old broken ****** Jack so I used the metal adjusters from the table top and bolted them to the sides using the bolt that holds the top cap on. I doubled one side due to the post that has the pump on it wouldn’t accommodate it. All I did was use the mounting pin and mounted one to the other and they hang together out of the way perfectly. Hope this helps anyone searching for a different solution.

 

[BruceMc]

Just bolt that sucker down and be done with it.

And this is where they've lived since I did just that, about a week after I first installed the lift.

 

[dagofast]

Mine are hanging high up on a wall. I've only gotten them down once since I got the lift 4 years ago.

 

[MFortie]

Mine are leaning up in a corner; never used them...

 

[finn]

My shop came with 16’ of shelving wrapping (or wrapped by) an inside corner. The bottom shelves are about 16-18” off the floor. The caster kits fit nicely down there. They don’t take any valuable wall space, or useful floor space, but are near to the lift when I need them.

 

[Yankeefarmer]

I‘m planning to build a wall rack for mine, but I’d rather spend my shop time working on my project car, so they’re piled on the floor in an out of the way place. I will be using them soon to use the lift to install some additional lighting on my high ceiling.

 

[glentre]

You might want to really think about how often you will actually move your lift. I think most lift owners never move their lifts or maybe once a year. In the five years I have had my two lifts, I only moved them once and that was when the garage was new and I moved them to paint the floor. Mine are stored in the attic above the garage. You might consider getting them out of the garage altogether, like in a shed or basement if you will not be moving the lift frequently.

Glen

 

[Lucky Llama]

I hang mine off the bolt that sticks through the top of the post.

 

[A747]

I have a Direct Lift or one of its clones. I hang mine on the safety locks with rafter hooks, one caster per post. I use my lift exclusively for car storage and operate the lift once or twice a year only to exercise the HPU. The casters are mostly out of the way so little chance of bumping into them. Anybody who operates the lift with the casters still hanging is an oblivious buffoon.

 

[racecougar]

I hang mine on my pallet racking. Like others, I've only used them once when getting the lift position dialed in; the lift has been bolted down since.

 

[Ipassgas]

I too hang them from the bolt in the top. If you weld a bracket to the post, I'd put it high. I'm more likely to damage my leg, than hitting my head on a caster that's higher than my head.