Manual lift

[Black66e]

I have a detached garage which does not have any power source. I would like to install a 4 post lift for storage but do not want to spend the money at this time to run electricity to the garage (about 100 yards from the house). Does anyone know if there is a 4 post lift available which has some sort of manual device (crank, hydrolic pump. etc.) which I can use without electricity? Thanks

 

[DARK AGE 53]

Not sure but BackYard Buddy had a four post that used a 12 volt car battery for power.

 

[regguy1]

I'm not sure if a battery powered one exists, but a manual one (if such a thing even exists) would require so much gear reduction in order to lift that much weight by hand you'd likely be cranking it for hours.......

 

[DARK AGE 53]

I'm not sure if a battery powered one exists, but a manual one (if such a thing even exists) would require so much gear reduction in order to lift that much weight .

It's been probably 15 plus years since I bought my BYB, when I was first thinking about a lift I gave BYB a call and asked if they had anyone near me that owned one of there lifts. I got a name and phone number and gave them a call, called the guy and he said sure come on over. When I got there he had two BYB with big 60's Mopars on them, he gave me a demonstration on how they worked.

I never asked him why he went with the 12volt unit, once I saw the lifts in action I was sold....I did buy the 110 volt unit though.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Why not get yourself a small generator to run the lift?

 

[Black66e]

Thank you for your prompt replies. I called up backyard buddy and they told me that they do have a lift which runs on a car battery. In fact, they told me that that is what they use when they go to fairs and shows. They said that it actually raises the lift faster than 110v (but not faster than 220v). The unit is not on their website but is available if you call them up. The additional cost for the trolley on which the battery is located is minimal.

 

[Zeke]

And if you add a solar tender, you're off the grid! With power whenever you need it. I'd get some low voltage lighting too. Congratulations.

 

[onewaydave]

And if you add a solar tender, you're off the grid! With power whenever you need it. I'd get some low voltage lighting too. Congratulations.

To not have Homeland Security know when one lifts their vehicle.

Priceless.

Dave.

 

[NitroPress]

To not have Homeland Security know when one lifts their vehicle.

Priceless.

Shows what you know. Lifts have n-ray transmitters built into the hydraulics and they know every time you miss a safety lock. Log enough misses and the black helicopters come take your entire shop away. Going off mains power just makes them laugh.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Hey Black66e, I don't understand how you are going to have a garage with no electricity (but a lift). How are you going to actually work on anything with no electricity? You won't be able to run any power tools, a compressor, lights, etc...You really might want to have it wired, or at least get yourself a generator...I really wouldn't be able to do much in my garage with out power...Your basically limiting your self to basic handtools, and limiting yourself to daylight working...I'm a little confused...

 

[theoldwizard1]

Thank you for your prompt replies. I called up backyard buddy and they told me that they do have a lift which runs on a car battery.

You probably want the biggest deep cycle marine battery you can buy.

The solar Batter Tender is a great idea !

Personally, I would buy a generator. One big enough that it could run a compressor !

 

[Zeke]

Hey Black66e, I don't understand how you are going to have a garage with no electricity (but a lift). How are you going to actually work on anything with no electricity? You won't be able to run any power tools, a compressor, lights, etc...You really might want to have it wired, or at least get yourself a generator...I really wouldn't be able to do much in my garage with out power...Your basically limiting your self to basic handtools, and limiting yourself to daylight working...I'm a little confused...

I wish my grand pa was here to read that. He had barns and shops on a farm and electricity was scarce. He even had a forge for farriers. They could run a pump or a lathe with a one cylinder engine. They burned for heat.

 

[kesslerbmw]

I wish my grand pa was here to read that. He had barns and shops on a farm and electricity was scarce. He even had a forge for farriers. They could run a pump or a lathe with a one cylinder engine. They burned for heat.

I understand exactly what you're saying, and appreciate the tools used "back when," but we are in a different time.

I'd rent a trencher and run some line, enough for lights and the lift before choosing any other option. I'm sure at night once and a while you'll be out there and having lights over head is a nice part of living in today's time.

 

[colbiwon]

There is also this 4 post lift that uses 4 hi-lift jacks.

http://hamercarlift.com/

 

[steve308]

That should be a lot of fun lowering especially if one jack gets away from you!!!!

 

[LutzTD]

There is also this 4 post lift that uses 4 hi-lift jacks.

http://hamercarlift.com/

nothing like a jaw smasher jack x 4, I would have thought those things were outlawed by now..... If youve never used a hilift I suggest you try one out before you buy a set of 4

 

[CARS]

They still sell frame straightening racks with manual hydraulic pumps. Why couldn't you hand pump 4 cylinders linked together?

 

[Black66e]

I plan on using the lift mainly for storage. If I need to use power tools I will be in the driveway next to the house.

 

[rlitman]

I'm not sure if a battery powered one exists, but a manual one (if such a thing even exists) would require so much gear reduction in order to lift that much weight by hand you'd likely be cranking it for hours.......

I doubt that. I've got a 1 ton chain hoist. It's 40:1 reduction.
Now I've never lifted more than about 700lbs with it, but it only takes about a minute or two to drop my snowblower from my garage's loft to the floor about 7 feet below. It's actually 2 ton rated when I double the chain around a pulley at the hook, which would make it an 80:1 reduction. But still, that's less than 5 minutes, not hours.