Inground Lift

[Diesel Dan]

I really haven’t found a downside to this lift.

They are the best, only reason I do not have one is I don constant cab removal of trucks and it won’t work for that application near as easy as my conventional two posts.

That was going to be my question.
Will an inground lift work for pulling cab/bodies off trucks?

 

[86turbodsl]

We have 6 of the rotary cassette style here at work and in 13 years i have never seen a problem with either access or equipment failure, and they are used professionally daily. If you have the money, i'd sure get one.

 

[maxpat82]

I never see a recent build shop with those.
2post are easy to install, reliable and can be replaced very easily if not....and can even be moved if placement is not optimal in a coupl years(good luck with a inground one)

Those are price prohibitive to buy, and high maintenance cost..

 

[rburke65]

Maxpat82......Where does the high maintenance cost come from?

 

[maxpat82]

Specialized work.
enclosed work, bigger hydraulic system

 

[Milton Shaw]

Corrosion problems on the old lifts came from not following the instructions. I bought a used single post lift over 20 years ago. Fully cleaned and wire brushed the cylinder and then welded up any pits that were deep enough to do much more than catch a finger nail. Then coated the cylinder with an underground rust inhibitor and wrapped the cylinder with two layers of pipe wrap. Used schedule 80 pipe for all the under ground and coated and wrapped it with two layers of pipe wrap.. Then important is to backfill with washed river sand not mfg ground limestone. The ones I have seen fail were not wrapped, not in river sand and yes they have a lot of corrosion around them...Things like where pipes penetrate the slab should have oversize sleeves to protect the pipe from slab movement due to temp changes. All this is required to keep from having problems with pipe 20 years down the road. I use my lift as much as a table base as I do for lifting cars. It makes a great workbench as you can have it any height you want to make it easier to work on wood or welding projects.. I could not stand loosing as much room as a two post above ground lift takes. Give me an inground any day..

 

[pbon]

If leasing a shop, you would buy 2 post lifts due to lower purchase and install costs and quicker install and cheaper return to original upon lease end.. If you own, the added install costs of in ground might be worth considering if you think they are better.

 

[ScaldedDog]

I don't know if the OP is still looking, but I've had a Rotary Smartlift for nearly 10 years, and vote a solid "yes". I've had everything from an 8000lb Excursion to a Ferrari Testarossa on it, with no issues, or access issues. Stone cold reliable, too.

Mark

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

 

[346ci]

When I first saw this post old memories of working for a dealership many years ago resurfaced. Almost all bad. The soil corroded the air and hydraulic lines. Many leaks and repairs. Not to mention having it drop to the
Lock and even jumping when going up. The thing was a death wish. After reading about it being a self contained unit omitting some of the failures of old I find it interesting. The concerns I would have, not knowing how the top is sealed would be, if changing oil and you have a spill or when washing or dripping snow, can any get in the"cassette" or box. If so do you have access to clean it out? What is the access for repairs or possible maintenance?

Sounds like the in ground lifts we had at my first dealership. The pole was in the center and made trans/drive train work a PITA, give me a standard two post lift any day.

I just walked through a new Ford dealer and noticed the same in ground lifts in the OP's post, wondered why they went with a 40 year old design then I noticed there are two poles. I'd still take a two post..