lifts!

[fiznat]

I was wondering if some of you guys who have lifts in your garages could share some of your experiences with them: convenience using a jack and stands, installation costs and things that we should consider when looking at lifts.

Right now a real lift is somewhat out of my budget, but I still like to think about it as I will definitely be doing it at some point. Just wondering if some of you guys who already have them could post your setups and tell us about em!

 

[OI812]

Good idea I would also like to know about this. Must not be out of my buget, because the bank says I can still borrow more.

 

[Wile1Coyote]

Well first of all you need to have a ceiling height of about 12 feet to really get the most out of it. My Ceiling is 9' 11 1/2" so mine is pretty tight. Good thing I have short cars! Mine is a four post which I got locally for $2,200. It seems like a lot but I had been paying $550 per winter to store my GTS so I figure it will pay for itself. I got the caster kit so I can move it around (with a car on it if I want) which is great, I can pull it out into the driveway to do some underbody detailing or cleaning and not get the **** all over the garage, the casters are a pain to store though, I am going to make some sort of a wall rack for em but I haven't yet. The only other tip I can give you is to put something on the floor under the removable ramps when you pull a car on and off or the steel from the ramps will mar the floor up pretty bad. Learned that one the hard way.

 

[DARK AGE 53]

I've had a four post from www.backyardbuddy.com for over five years now, might be one of the best on the market.

 

[jstbecauz]

If you have the ceiling height I would recommend a two post. Most two posts require 12' in order to install them. They are the most versitile of the two. However if you get a four post with air jacks that is good too. Otherwise you can not remove the wheels while it is up in the air. I can get you a two post installed for a little over $2,000. That is what they are now. I am not selling them I can just point you in the right direction.

 

[OzCop]

I have put off installing a two post for the past year. I have seen some reasonably good deals for the lifts themselves, but shipping and installation can drive the price up quite a bit. I would definitely be interested in one installed for 2K if it is 9000 lb. or better.

 

[JasonJ75]

I tried long and hard to figure out how to get a lift into my garage...It just wouldn't work, its only 8' tall, and that's on the deep end. Even if I could get a 4-post to squeeze in, one mistake and I'd put my car into the living room.

Guess it'll have to wait for the next house. The only problem is that any house with a garage worth speaking of is 800,000+ around here.

EDIT - Dark Age...Looks like a great site you posted there, I just hate it when they don't post prices. Don't make me call dammit..

 

[DARK AGE 53]

I tried long and hard to figure out how to get a lift into my garage...It just wouldn't work, its only 8' tall, and that's on the deep end. Even if I could get a 4-post to squeeze in, one mistake and I'd put my car into the living room.

Guess it'll have to wait for the next house. The only problem is that any house with a garage worth speaking of is 800,000+ around here.

EDIT - Dark Age...Looks like a great site you posted there, I just hate it when they don't post prices. Don't make me call dammit..

Depending on which way your trusses run you may be able to modify them to accetp a lift.

You need to find another place to live, for that kind of money I hate to think what I could have here.

Backyard Buddy must have just changed, they use to have all the prices listed. Just to let you know there four post standard sells for $3,570 ( plus shipping ), that's higher then most lift companies but I feel it's worth it.

 

[stiff///M]

Anybody know anything about these lifts? They seem to be the best priced from what I can find.

http://www.directlift.com/direct_park7.htm

 

[428]

Been checking into these.

http://www.autolifters.com/4p_features.html
http://www.eagleequip.com/

 

[Godzila]

Take a lookie here
http://www.kwiklift.com/
this will solve all of your heighth problems, no offense ment Napolean!
I got one, I like it, you can also lay it flat, or get the caster set and play hotwheels in your garage in the winter with a car on top

 

[byrdman]

I'm leaning towards the Rotary two post asymmetrical myself.

Here's a couple of other links:
list of lift manufacturers
"Automotive Lift Institute"

 

[Glen]

Take a lookie here
http://www.kwiklift.com/
this will solve all of your heighth problems, no offense ment Napolean!
I got one, I like it, you can also lay it flat, or get the caster set and play hotwheels in your garage in the winter with a car on top

I've seen that website before. Can you really park on it on a daily basis? Have you used the bridge to take the wheels off? Anything about it you don't like?

 

[casaleenie]

I've got the Kwiklift also..... I couldn't own the Cobra without owning the lift.
More accurate description would be drive on ramps that jack up and legs log in place. ..
Absolutely wonderful.. and great people to deal with... They run specials all the time and they deal.

and yes, I park the car on it 100% of the time. Probably a little over $1000. dollars. Nothing about it I don't like... Easy to assemble and take apart...

 

[Godzila]

Glen
What he said
Casaleenie
I think I v'e got a little over $1700 in it with the powder coat,jack tray and casters & freight?
You must be a Gypsy you will need to teach me how to get a deal, I never do
Look forward to seeing you at the OCC events!

 

[casaleenie]

Godzila,

Danny from Kwiklift was on his way to Carlisle from Oklahoma. He was pulling a trailer with three or four lifts on it. I met him in Columbus Ohio at 2:00 am at a donut shop and we loaded the lift into my pickup.
In fact he dropped two of them off at the same donut shop that night.No freight, no tax.
Special price.. They run specials all the time...
It included the cross bracket/jack stand and the wood wedges for driving up onto the ramp in the flat position...
Not familiar with the casters????

 

[Karlos]

New guy in the forum here and really liking what I've seen. The two post lift is definitely better for working on cars but not so good got storing. Its not a good idea to let the wheels hang loose for weeks or months on end. Both types have their benefits, just depends on what your objective is. K.

 

[Ken Greene]

well This company has come up with an adaptor to allow you to do a wheel lift with a two post lift. therefore allowing you to leave the suspension loaded
http://www.mohawklifts.com/consumer/tire.php

 

[capo72]

well This company has come up with an adaptor to allow you to do a wheel lift with a two post lift. therefore allowing you to leave the suspension loaded
http://www.mohawklifts.com/consumer/tire.php

That is a pretty cool idea. Hoping to get a 2 post soon, and that would be a nice addition to it.

Jeremy

 

[aero]

Depending on which way your trusses run you may be able to modify them to accetp a lift.

You need to find another place to live, for that kind of money I hate to think what I could have here.

Backyard Buddy must have just changed, they use to have all the prices listed. Just to let you know there four post standard sells for $3,570 ( plus shipping ), that's higher then most lift companies but I feel it's worth it.

Do's anyone have pic of a moded garage roof I would like to see that

 

[Apex Rex]

For those of you with lower celing garages look into "scissors lifts". They lay low to the ground, and can lift the car 4 feet in the air. My dad just picked one up recently, and its perfect for our garage.

 

[killer305]

New guy in the forum here and really liking what I've seen. The two post lift is definitely better for working on cars but not so good got storing. Its not a good idea to let the wheels hang loose for weeks or months on end. Both types have their benefits, just depends on what your objective is. K.

AFAIK two posts lifts are fine to store a car on, in fact i heard thery are better than leaveing pressure on the suspension

 

[dkn1997]

I really hate when companies put products on thier website and won't put prices!!! what are they so afraid of?

 

[killer305]

I really hate when companies put products on thier website and won't put prices!!! what are they so afraid of?

my guess is to have you call them, so they can put more effort into selling you the product

 

[Old Moparz]

Hi, I'm new to the forum & wanted to add to the lift topic. After shopping on & off for over several months, I detemined that a 4 post lift was the one I needed. For the amount of times I will be working under the car as opposed to just needing another parking space, the 4 post made sense for me because of the stability & mobility inside the garage.

I sketched several layouts for another bay, but decided it was cheaper in the long run to go with a lift. My garage has a 12 foot hight ceiling, but with lighting, I have a little less. Clearance is really needed for working under the car so you can stand, but some manufacturers claim a minimum height of 8 feet is all that is needed for parking one car above the other. Of course that depends completely on the car's height, so taking measurements are a good idea.

The least expensive one I found, in terms of the lift price with the shipping fees, was Bend Pak. The one I ordered was this model, a wider than standard one with a 9000 pound rating: (Actually ordered 2 of them)

http://www.e-autolifts.com/pf/pf.html

The dealer I placed my order through was this one, & prices are on the site:

http://www.e-autolifts.com/

The price includes the shipping, & I picked it up at a local freight terminal with my car trailer. It can be delivered to you, but in my case I am in a remote location with no access for a Truck. The forklift operator loaded it from the rear of the trailer by lifting the packaged lift from the end.

I haven't installed mine yet, but hope to start this coming weekend. I ordered the drip pans & casters with mine, but decided not to get the jack tray. If I need to raise the car, I'll do it on the floor. I'll post back & let you know how it goes as I put it together. I wanted to do it myself because if something happens with it at a later date, it will be good to know how it comes apart to repair it.

Bob

 

[Double Venom]

My direct lift and the way I hung / store the "casters".
2K delivered with a few drip trays, the casters and the jacking tray. 25 years without one, now it isn't going anywhere until my probate!

The Wlly's that is pitured is a completed car (in for upgrades and some modifications) with a running BB (514) I can and did move this car all over the shop on the lift by myself. Not a piece of cake to move with a car on it, but totally do-able.
Direct Lift 866-347-5438
DV

 

[Wile1Coyote]

Double Venom any chance of getting a better pic of your caster storage solution? I need to do something I am tired of kicking these things all the time.

 

[RedRacer74]

You can use a lift in as little space as 10 1/2 feet. A floor plate model would be required. I have had customers install four post lifts with this ceiling height. Others have cathedral'd the ceilings to have the lift clearance. Beware of garage door and opener clearance also.

My lift cost $300 to install and is from American Equipement in New York. I am getting a 9000lb floor plate model.

 

[Ramjet]

Anybody know anything about these lifts? They seem to be the best priced from what I can find.

http://www.directlift.com/direct_park7.htm

I have one. Bought it about a year ago. Works great.

 

[Rob07002]

I tried long and hard to figure out how to get a lift into my garage...It just wouldn't work, its only 8' tall, and that's on the deep end. Even if I could get a 4-post to squeeze in, one mistake and I'd put my car into the living room.

Guess it'll have to wait for the next house. The only problem is that any house with a garage worth speaking of is 800,000+ around here.

EDIT - Dark Age...Looks like a great site you posted there, I just hate it when they don't post prices. Don't make me call dammit..

Hey Jason,
My buddie, also Jason, had the same type setup. About 7' on one end going up to 8 maybe 8.5' . He bought a sicssor(spelling) lift from EagleLifts for about $2000 Ior around there, free shipping and just plugs into 110v and no assembly other then the hydrolic lines... It doesn't raise hight enough to walk under, but at least you can get alot done and buy a nice rolling stool to sit under to do work.....

 

[Wile1Coyote]

I have a four post lift in my garage at 9' 11" with two darts on or under it. It's tight but beats paying for offsite storage.

 

[khunter]

http://www.kwiklift.com/

I bought one for my two car garage and love it