In ground lift?

[BobH]

I'm in the planning stages for a new house and shop. I was looking at a Rotary 10k in ground lift. They seem to have fallen from favor and was wondering if there is any reason besides the difficulty to install. Bob

 

[bmwpower]

Ingrounds are considerably more expensive and there are environmental issues with the older units. New units appear to have fixed the old problems. I'm not positive, but I would think it would hard to install one of these in a residence as the inspector might question things and/or there would be too much red tape to go through.

 

[GearHead_1]

EPA and putting an oil reservoir in ground. Most businesses just don't want to have to deal with the potential problem.

 

[Fast Orange]

With the current crop of two post lifts and the access they give to the underside of a car,I can't see any benefit to an in-ground unit,unless you don't like the uprights. The old single post inground lifts I worked with were a pain when doing exhaust work and even got tricky on some trans work. As long as your floor meets the requirements for an above-ground and you have the headroom,I'd go with a nice two post.
George

 

[boiler7904]

We designed a car dealership a couple of years ago. All of the lifts (I want to say 26) are abouve ground units except for one bay where the lift installer counldn't make an above ground unit work. The reason was simple. They use the lifts a lot. If something were to fail to the point that a new lift was comparable to the cost to repair the old one, it would be an easy swap. That and all of the utility issues. The above ground units are also much more construction schedule friendly. No need for embeds or anything in the slab. Just bring power to it from overhead.

 

[wilbilt]

I would have to ditto the environmental issues. The potential for a "leaker" is definitely there.

I worked at a shop that changed locations and moved about a block away. They dug up the inground lifts and moved them. They require a big hole and lots of concrete.

One of them developed a tendency to leak down after the move, and was always low on oil. Gotta wonder now where that oil was going...


They do have a certain romantic appeal, though. Quiet, smooth hydraulic power coming right out of the ground...or something like that...

Will

 

[Aahz]

I sell quite a few inground lifts...dealerships favor them 2:1 since the new designs came out. While the old style had potentials for EPA issues, the new designs don't. The new units are almost exactly the same as a surface lift...electric / hydraulic...and the cylinders are encased in a plastic tub for secondary containment. Absolutely no EPA issues...(although the EPA actually exempted the old style lifts, provided you fixed them as soon as you found them leaking).

Most folks that buy ingrounds do it for one of a few reasons:
1.) Car dealer reasons....A. technician efficiency (an twin post inground is easier to work around B. Service center look (Dealer wants his building to look the best to win awards, etc.) C. Service manager wants to be able to view employees at work (two post surface lifts add "clutter" and make it difficult to supervise techs) D. More service bays in same amount of space...(an inground bay only requires 10' wide of space...a surface lift is 12' minimum..2' x 10 bays is two additional bays with average revenue of $90,000 per bay)

2.) Independent shops typically use an inground due to space requirements...it's very difficult to get surface lifts in some facilities, especially if they have always had ingrounds...working space comes at a premium price.

3.) Homeowners....actually...I haven't quite figured this out yet...but we have sold a few...I would guess the space utilization and look apply to ya'all...and if you're working out of your house...that $90K per bay would be a nice side job...LOL

 

[BQuicksilver]

Wouldn't the ingrounds also be best for very low/race cars? I've always fought with driving the car (track C5) onto blocks even with the lowest lifts.

I would love to know the best solution.

 

[gahi]

what is a two post inground?

Gary

 

[Ryan Wilke]

I sell quite a few inground lifts...The new units are almost exactly the same as a surface lift...electric / hydraulic...and the cylinders are encased in a plastic tub for secondary containment. Absolutely no EPA issues...

Aahz,

"...exactly the same as a surface lift..."
-- Are you referring to mechanicals and/or price?

Does your company have a web site where a fella locate some info on their inground lifts?

Thanks!
RW

 

[cncjerry]

http://www.rotarylift.com/Products/Product_Detail/Feature_Tour/Feature_Tour.asp

 

[Aahz]

Sorry...been a bit lax in checking the board here...We sell the Rotary shown above...10K and 12K capacity...for the lowest profile vehicles..either surface mount or inground...I would recommend using the Rotary RA Arms...they are 3 stage arms that have the lowest profile I've seen..This is our current pricing on the 10K..(includes shipping)...the 3-Stage arms are a few hundred more...http://www.standardus.com/cgi-bin/standard/R-SL210.html

 

[BobH]

Just what I was looking at. Are installation instructions available on line? It has to be more complicated than dig a hole and pour the plastic liner in concrete. They seem to cost about twice what an equal above ground would be, but not having posts in the way, priceless. Does any one have one of these? Bob

 

[wilbilt]

Isn't that the lift (with the optional arms) that GM specifies for the Corvette?

 

[sandtrap]

I'm in the planning stages for a new house and shop. I was looking at a Rotary 10k in ground lift. They seem to have fallen from favor and was wondering if there is any reason besides the difficulty to install. Bob

When I was building my garage I was thinking about an in ground lift. After a lot of investigating I went with a two post ascemetric 9,000lb Bend Pak lift. I'm really glad I did. When I'm not using it I just put the lift arms all the way up and it leaves that area very open. Just some thoughts. I don't know how to show pictures yet but I'll give it a try.

 

[sandtrap]

A coupe of other thought, The above ground lift allows you to store a car above another in the same spot and as for Corvettes mine has lifted mine and many others.

 

[Aahz]

YEs...The SL210 with RA arms are GM Recommended equipment for dealers servicing Corvettes. Other lifts will do it, but the arms do not reach all models recommended pick up points...Send me an e-mail at [email protected] if you want the install instructions...I'll be happy to e-mail you the .pdf files. It is a bit more complicated than digging a hole...much easier to do BEFORE the walls and roof are on in a residential application...(and before the slab is poured...) but it can be done in a finished garage...

Put "SL210 Instructions request in subject area for fastest response...

 

[Cyberbear]

I opted for in-ground because of several reasons:
1. My use would be infrequent, and I designed the installation so that the lift arms are hidden in the floor when not in use. I didn't want anything to trip over or step around when I wasn't using it.
2. Cost facter: I found a 6 month old used unit for $1000.00 inc. installation.
3. The above floor units clutter up the shop space too much.
4. We've all been brain washed to be paranoid about saving the environment, but nobody seems to think about where oil comes from: That's right - the ground under our feet, so a few leaked quarts of oil dosen't mean the end of life. My lift has a fiberglass housing to contain any leaked oil, and it's on private property where the feds have no jurisdiction. I get to decide what's good or bad, as long as I harm no one else.

 

[rburke65]

You found a lift for a $1000! A very nice find, you lucky dog. I think that the 'in ground lifts' use an environment friendly fluid so there is no threat to the ground. And, if you think that the Federal Government has no authority on your 'private property' and if you think YOU get to decide what is 'good or bad' you have another think coming!..... especially living in California! I will bet you are young of age from your post...
Wow....just checked your profile and see you are retired! Just don't understand how you would think that the Fed hasn't any jurisdiction on your property.

 

[zkdiesel]

New ingrounds are very awesome. I have two abovegrounds, but would still love an inground for more bay flexibility

Don't let these people steer you away from them cause they are not the norm
They are rotarys badass above ground lifts set inground with no posts to screw stuff up

 

[PCO6]

4. We've all been brain washed to be paranoid about saving the environment, but nobody seems to think about where oil comes from: That's right - the ground under our feet, so a few leaked quarts of oil dosen't mean the end of life. My lift has a fiberglass housing to contain any leaked oil, and it's on private property where the feds have no jurisdiction. I get to decide what's good or bad, as long as I harm no one else.

I spent 40 years in the land development industry. I wouldn't have lasted another 40 minutes if I uttered these words.