MaxJax and Crew Cab

[AKMopar]

I am considering purchasing a maxjax but wonder if it could handle my old Dodge crew cab 4x4 with a 6.5 foot bed. The truck weighs about 5500 pounds, below the 6K max the lift advertises it can lift but I wonder if that is pushing my luck. Any thoughts out there with you guys that own one of these lifts? Thanks for your time!

Jeremy

 

[pac man]

I believe the 6000 lb rated capacity still carries a hefty safety factor, so I'm sure you are WELL below the actual limits of the lift.

 

[ponchopower]

Are you putting the lift outside? Because regardless of the weight, if you're using a MaxJax you probably have height restrictions and will not likely be able to lift the truck much with the lift. If you have taller ceilings, I'm not sure I'd choose the MaxJax. I really enjoy mine, but only have it because a taller lift would not fit.

 

[Mike007]

I'd have no reservations as long as your concrete is up to it.

 

[AKMopar]

Ponchopower, I am thinking of the Maxjax because my ceiling is only 10.5 feet; I don't want to punch holes in the ceiling to make a two-post fit in, I don't want permanent posts in the floor because the garage is only 26 feet wide and things are already a tight fit, I don't have plans to move anytime soon, I don't want to modify the garage ceiling with different trusses, and I don't want to move all of my garage door tracks. A Maxjax, though not ideal, is the best solution I can come up with for cost, accesibility to the center of the vehicle (vs a scissors lift), it will allow me to lift my truck and wifes Expedition to at least a comfortable working height for brakes, tires, driveshafts, differentials, etc... and it will allow me to raise my Barracuda to a good working height for most anything I want to do with it.

Mike007, I hope the concrete is up to it, the house was built in 2006 so I would think it is up to the task. I am trying to find the paperwork for when the house was built so that I can figure out what contractor poured the garage floor and I can hopefully get an idea from him on the thickness of it.

Thanks for all the input, much appreciated!

Jeremy

 

[ponchopower]

I have to say, we each have our own circumstances. However, my shop is only 20' wide and my ceilings are way less than 10 feet. This is my shop and not my "parking garage" so maybe that makes it different. However, if I had 26' of side clearance, 10' ceilings and could knock holes above the ceilings, I wouldn't even consider a MaxJax. Personally, I wouldn't try to lift my 3/4t Dodge Cummins but I'm a little conservative when it comes to lifts. I would be concerned not only with the gross weight, but also the weight distribution. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy my MaxJax, but would have loved to have different options available to me. With the master bedroom directly above the low ceilings, I can't even lift my '66 GTO convertible to full height with the top up. I have a steel beam 7'9" above the center of my garage - left to right. Are you sure you would have to mess with your trusses and change anything on your garage doors? If it's just knocking holes in the ceiling, then for me it would be a no-brainer. You could also then save a bunch of money by getting a used 2 post.

 

[Matt M PA]

Perhaps some sort of mid rise could be an alternate?

 

[AKMopar]

I wish that I could find a used two-post lift but they just don't come up for sale here, I live in Alaska and not a lot of shops to begin with and even fewer that go copletely out of business and sell their lifts. I would like to get the two-post but I would permanently have to plant it someplace where it would always be in the way of my truck doors (it's a crew cab) or my wifes doors opening. I really don't want to hear the wife complain about the posts in teh middle of the garage floor everytime she walks out there to get herself and the kids in her vehicle. Even if I completely rearranged my garage (move all of my work benches/tool storage shelves/freezer/welder/compressor blah blah...) I would still have space issues as the garage is full of not just mechanical tools but woodworking tools as well and I use them all. I keep telling myself "in another 5 or 10 years you will probably be in a different house and you can design the garage with a lift in mind" but I don't want to wait that long to have a lift as I am only getting older and at 40 I think I have waited long enough. Who knows, maybe I just need to be patient.

I thought about a mid-rise lift but the only ones I can see are the scissor lifts and they don't offer an open center.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Why don't you ask the company ?

 

[Mike007]

Why don't you ask the company ?

What is he going to ask them? It's rated for 6000 lbs and he's at 5500. I will add I would probably get 2 sets of the tall tall jacks stands as a safety precaution if I was lifting a full size. I'm actually considering it for my 3500lb Jeep. I literally just finished my install a few minutes ago. I bought the 6" pad extensions and I have to say, I'm happy with the lift height. Seems higher then what I had pictured.

 

[regguy1]

What is he going to ask them? It's rated for 6000 lbs and he's at 5500. I will add I would probably get 2 sets of the tall tall jacks stands as a safety precaution if I was lifting a full size. I'm actually considering it for my 3500lb Jeep. I literally just finished my install a few minutes ago. I bought the 6" pad extensions and I have to say, I'm happy with the lift height. Seems higher then what I had pictured.

I bought these for use with my MaxJax, they're perfect height and good for stability on large vehicles and also very useful for supporting various components while working:


http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/2-Ton-Low-Tripod-Stand-p/ht52008.htm

 

[ponchopower]

The issue I would have is the weight distribution. The maxjax is rated for 6k but that assumes that the weight is evenly distributed. The range of how unequal the front to rear bias can safely be narrows as you approach higher loads. Trucks are notoriously front heavy. Again, I'm conservative when it comes to these things but.....

 

[Dolfan]

I agree with ponchopower about being conservative. I've got a MaxJax and I've put my Dakota QC on it but I think that only tops out around 4900#. You 10.5 ceiling height is pretty good as I only have about 8 more inches and depending on it you have an opener in the way you should have a good amount of usable space.

I'd wait on Gabe from Dannmar to comment on the thread, I'm sure he'll see this after the holiday and get the comments from the company on that size vehicle, but the front/back balance will be real important.

 

[regguy1]

I agree with ponchopower about being conservative. I've got a MaxJax and I've put my Dakota QC on it but I think that only tops out around 4900#. You 10.5 ceiling height is pretty good as I only have about 8 more inches and depending on it you have an opener in the way you should have a good amount of usable space.

I'd wait on Gabe from Dannmar to comment on the thread, I'm sure he'll see this after the holiday and get the comments from the company on that size vehicle, but the front/back balance will be real important.

I agree, the length of that truck would be a concern, I had 7000 pound full size 2 post lifts in my prof. shop and I always thought twice about those long trucks going up. I had a front / rear twin post in ground and would use that one for large trucks.

 

[gcan]

I have a 2007 F-150 supercrew and have lifted it with my MaxJax, I used the lift to rotate the tires. The MaxJax had no trouble lifting the truck but as indicated above the length was the isue, it took several tries to get it balanced.
Even after several attempts the stability was still a concern so I barely cleared the ground and rushed to get the tires rotated and for sure wouldn't get under it without addittional support.

Just my $.02

 

[AKMopar]

That 2007 Supercrew of yours probably weighs as much or more than my old one-ton. The newer trucks are much heavier than the older ones, even when comparing a one-ton to a new half-ton. The truck sits high enough I don't really need to get it 4 feet in the air but to get it and the wifes Expedition up high enough to do wheel work would be the main reason, I get tired of dragging my jack around the garage and putting up jack stands etc... I would get the most use out of it with the Barracuda (about 3100 lbs), the motorcycles and Kubota sub-compact. Thanks for the continued input here, lots to think about.

Jeremy

 

[arb905]

Do what makes you happy. You have to live with the decision. Build a make shift vehicle scales, find your balance point on the frame and mark it. First time you lift it mark the frame or ground for future use. As far as the concrete make sure its solid. If anything once you know where you are going to put it, break out two areas where the posts will be mounted and dig a deeper hole, then refill with concrete and rebar. Those tall jackstands are smart for any lift. The shop that worked on my company trucks didn't realize how much weight we carried around and flipped a truck backwards off the lift while changing the tires. Smart lesson in balance.

 

[ponchopower]

That 2007 Supercrew of yours probably weighs as much or more than my old one-ton. The newer trucks are much heavier than the older ones, even when comparing a one-ton to a new half ton

Jeremy

Well the new ones sure don't Weigh more. Just be careful. A failure with that truck off the ground could easily be fatal even if you're not completely under it. If the lift post is trying to support very uneven and heavy weight distribution not even front and rear extra supports eliminate the risk. I refuse to lift my dodge even an inch with my maxjax.

 

[472scout]

I think in that small of a garage it's just going to be in the way about 85% of the time. I would go with 4 tall jack stands and an air frame jack for now. The air jack won't take up much room, is easy to move around, can be stored outside if necessary, and will still be handy to have once you move to a larger garage and get a post lift. You can also use it to lift/work on axles.

This one is only rated for 2500 lbs, but you get the idea.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200318919_200318919?cm_ven=Aggregates&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Auto%20Repair%3EJacks&cm_ite=144591?ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=144591

 

[472scout]

Just found this on craigslist. I have no connection to the seller:


Lincoln 5000lbs Air Jack !!!!LAST DAY MUST GO!!!! (Anchorage)
Date: 2010-12-23, 11:13AM AKST
Reply to: see below

Lincoln 5000lbs Air Jack

This Jack new cost me $2800.00

LAST DAY!!!! I WANT TO BE OUT "TODAY"...... MAKE AN OFFER!!!!!!!

THIS IS NOT THE "CHEAP" VERSION YOU FIND... TOP QUALITY!!!!!! *****LINCOLN****

Will sell for $1200 CASH Obo. It needs to go!!

Closing shop and sell equipment!!

250-7000


* Location: Anchorage
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

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