Looking for a Two Post Lift Suitable for Storing a Car?

[Scud67]

I think this thread has gone "off the rails" a bit..... the OP was asking about a 2 post suitable for storing a car - Pretty much most of the two posts are suitable for this purpose as long as they are installed properly, safety equipment installed and in working order, and all of the correct lifting procedures are followed. I have yet to see any actual lift failures (that were not operator or installation errors). - or perhaps ignoring maintenance and inspection procedures...

 

[wssix99]

Pretty much most of the two posts are suitable for this purpose as long as they are installed properly, safety equipment installed and in working order, and all of the correct lifting procedures are followed.

Some of us do not believe these statements to be correct, so when they get posted without qualifications - you are going to get people chiming in with concerns.

We have yet to see a manufacturer of a 2 post mechanic's lift stand buy this statement and say they are suitable for parking. (Manufacturers have promote many suitable lifts, just not 2 post models.) We've had some interesting discussion on why this may be and I think we can honestly say that's all hypothetical until a lift engineer or lift laywer can chime in with more references.

I have yet to see any actual lift failures (that were not operator or installation errors). - or perhaps ignoring maintenance and inspection procedures...

Interesting thing that the UK has an agency that regulates this type of thing and tracks actual data. (The US won't have this because our product safety commissions are too buys chasing down millions of cribs with choking hazards.) http://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/fallofflifts.htm

What about the GJ favorite about the Chineese lift failure?

^ I don't see anyone in this thread buying one of these, but its a fun video to watch.

 

[wssix99]

I think this thread has gone "off the rails" a bit.....

As others have mentioned above, this happens a lot.

I think it would be helpful if the moderators went back, had discussion, and came back to us with new community etiquette for handling these types of situations - for off-label modifications.

I'm not a fan of the standard "don't try this at home" language and certainly don't think we should stop conversation about modifications or stifle creativity or stop talking about unsafe "watch-this" things or even intervene in the patently stupid. (Sometimes I see the latter posted, sit back for a while, and then go scan the news sites for the inevitable results. ...there are just some things that can't be fixed.)

Maybe we should kick off a new thread to come up with ideas and discussion? (This is probably not the place to drain that ocean.)

 

[lakeroadster]

I think it would be helpful if the moderators went back, had discussion, and came back to us with new community etiquette for handling these types of situations - for off-label modifications.

I hope not. Moderating ourselves by discussing ideas, with civility in mind, is the one thing I like most about The Garage Journal. Many / most sites moderate their members ad nauseam.

We have yet to see a manufacturer of a 2 post mechanic's lift stand buy this statement and say they are suitable for parking.

I have a Rotary 2 post. The manuals supplied with the lift doesn't say you can't use it for storage. Rotary also sells 4 post lifts. It's really not in their best interest, from a marketing perspective, to say that these lifts can be used for storage. Quite the contrary.

 

[wssix99]

I hope not. Moderating ourselves by discussing ideas, with civility in mind, is the one thing I like most about The Garage Journal. Many / most sites moderate their members ad nauseam.

We do OK. Probably because a lot of the sorts that would create a lot of disrespect and problems are the types that don't like cars or work with their hands. We do get a bunch of threads that read like a marathon ping pong game. When that happens, the creative points get droned out.

I have a Rotary 2 post. The manuals supplied with the lift doesn't say you can't use it for storage.

They really lock down their information. It seems that none is available publicly. If you hadn't said that manuals came with the lift, I would have wondered... It looks like you have to give them all your personal information, sell your soul, and get fitted with "the probe" just to get a brochure.

 

[lakeroadster]

I have a Rotary 2 post. The manuals supplied with the lift doesn't say you can't use it for storage.

They really lock down their information. It seems that none is available publicly. If you hadn't said that manuals came with the lift, I would have wondered... It looks like you have to give them all your personal information, sell your soul, and get fitted with "the probe" just to get a brochure.

Last year I called Rotary, gave them the serial number of my lift and talked to a tech guy about fiber mesh... wire mesh... re-bar because they don't specify in their manual what is needed. You'd think I was asking for his bank pin number? I never did get an answer, all I got was "yeah that's one way to do it". All the guy would do is specify concrete min. thickness and min. compressive strength, which is already specified in the manual.

Seemed ************ to me..

 

[wssix99]

^ I knew they must have gotten to you!

Must be painful...

 

[Scud67]

Like I said before - do what you want. After being an auto tech for most of my life, I feel completely safe in storing vehicles on 2 post lifts. And I have also never had any issues with suspensions of any vehicles stored in this manner.