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MaxJax Install

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Imatk

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Joined
Mar 13, 2008
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322
Was wanting to get a Bendpak hd-9st but my ceiling height is just too darn low at 9'.

SO I'm now looking at the MaxJax, which apparently won't be available until August, since Bendpak bought out Danmar.

Been watching videos and reading here and have a couple questions for folks that have already done their installs.

1. I have 4" of concrete at the corners of my garage (test holes) I'm assuming I'll have 4" where I drill for the install.

Is that too little? I know it's the minimum, but wanted to see if anyone had issues with just 4".

Also should I do the epoxy anchors because of the 4" or am I ok with the mechanical anchors?

2. Trying to figure out how far away to mount the column closest to the wall.

The largest car I have is 75" wide, what is a good width from the back of the columns to to place for that size?

I read 115" is good from the inner parts of the column, but trying to figure out overall width.

Also I'm not too troubled with having to walk around the column, my garage isn't very wide either so moving the column far enough away that I can walk by puts the outer column into where my second car would park.

So I wouldn't be able to have the car on the lift and park my 2nd car overnight.

Not a HUGE deal, but just wondering if anyone else has experienced the same and has any tips.

Thanks for any help!
 
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c4cruiser

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Oct 8, 2012
Messages
359
Location
Lacey WA
I've had a Maxjax for 4 years now and it does come in handy for DIY car repairs and maintenance.

Like you, I assumed that the garage floor was 4" thick as specified in the plans. Not so. Once I got the basic locations down for the posts, I used a hammer drill to one hole for each post. Turned out the slab depth was 2-1/2". That was just going to work. I also had a few cracks in the slab and were about 6" away from where the post plates were going to sit.

So I called up a concrete guy to get him to look at what mods would be needed. He recommended cutting out the floor area and pouring a new slb. I went with a pair of 12" deep pours that was 4'x4' and 5000psi mix. Once the new pads cured, I used 7" long epoxy anchors. I was told that it's not a good idea to use epoxy if you drill all the way thru the slab. The epoxy can drain out of the hole making them useless.

I set the two posts about 130" side to side. You ned some extra space for the lifting arms to swing in and get positioned to lift the car safely. I have lots of room to walk around the car; if you get one of the posts too close to a wall it could make it really hard to escape from that side if something bad happens.

I used some quick disconnects for the hydraulic linse so that the cart holding the pump can be moved when its not in use. Any hydraulic hose shop can get them. I also wired up a single 20A circuit (my Maxjax is a 120v unit) so I don't hve to worry aboud running a shop var, air compressor, or other equipment. My Maxjax was able to use either hydraulic or auto trans fluid. I chose hydraulic as it is easy to find and is a little cheaper than ATF.
 
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isb cornbinder

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Nov 3, 2010
Messages
7,073
Location
Pacific South West, BC, Canada
Where does the "portability" come into the listing, if the lift must be bolted to the floor. I wonder if a person could use a steel plate to extend the foot-prints of the lift posts and still be safe.
 
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MileHighRover

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Mar 13, 2018
Messages
1,118
Portability because you can remove 5 bolts per column, tilt back onto the installed wheels, and move each column wherever you want to store them.

c4cruiser, MaxJax came with no leak quick disconnects when I bought mine early last year. I hated having the portable power unit in the way and the hoses on the ground. I installed the power unit on one of the columns and had a hydraulic shop make a hard line to run up to the ceiling to connect the two columns. Then some shorter hoses to connect everything else.
 
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MileHighRover

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Mar 13, 2018
Messages
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It's strange that Bendpak claims its been redesigned from the ground up by them. Other than the red wheels and the grey paint, it appears exactly the same as mine. They even have old MaxJax pictures and videos on their website. How is this unit completely redesigned?
 
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MileHighRover

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Mar 13, 2018
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JRC3 said:
Inb4 the problems and extensive modifications.
Click to expand...

I purchased mine March of 2019. Haven't had a single issue. I think I got in just before all the issues with the paint and vehicles getting stuck in the raised position.

As with anyone else looking at lifts, I'd love to have a full size but with 10 foot ceilings that just wasn't going to happen. For me and my experience with my MaxJax, it's been invaluable and has made working on my vehicles so much more enjoyable.

The Bendpak website doesn't state what's been changed, just that it's been redesigned from the ground up. If they fixed the issues that plagued Dannmar towards the end, it'll be a good product.
 
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Imatk

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Mar 13, 2008
Messages
322
Spoke with a MaxJax rep as to the redesign:

Small adjustments, but most notably, the carriages are taller to prevent binding while raising or lowering (something that happened on some previous MaxJax models). We also upgraded all the hydraulic hoses and fittings.

I've read that a lot of guys upgraded their fittings because of leakage. So that's a nice plus... and also read about cars getting stuck, so it looks like they've addressed the big problem spots.
 
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Imatk

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Mar 13, 2008
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322
isb cornbinder said:
If I use your reasoning, my house is mobile. I unbolt it from the foundation, put it on wheels and I have a 4000 sf mobile home.
Click to expand...

C'mon that's hardly the same.

I watched a video of a guy who installed his column in about 5 minutes.

I need to portability since I'll likely be putting the outer column wider than my other car can park so I'd need to move the column to park both cars... that's my current thinking anyway.
 
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Jagmandave

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Nov 6, 2011
Messages
6,302
Location
Overland Park, Ks.
There was nothing wrong with the MaxJax IMHO, other than the issue with using the wrong powder coat on the columns. My buddy has been using his since they sent new columns and it works beautifully. He has one of his columns right against the wall, but we work on tiny British cars like Minis and Sprites.

Wonder what the new pricing will be like - my buddy paid $2K delivered.

The other brand lift posted above is $2800 plus the wheels and who knows what else.

Where did you see that "All new from the ground up" info?
 
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infinkc

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Joined
Jan 19, 2012
Messages
862
Bendpak has the grandprix lift for 9’ ceilings.
I had a maxjax at my old house. It worked very well for me for what I needed it for.

I used it 98% at the lowest setting, the highest setting just wasn’t tall enough to do that much more work with.
 
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gagecalman

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Feb 5, 2020
Messages
194
Location
MD
I'm trying to learn more about lifts.

The OP states he wants a Bendpak HD-9ST but his ceiling height is just too darn low at 9'.
The specs state the height is 88". So why doesn't the HD-9ST work?
It seems like any lift will be limited by the top of the vehicle hitting the ceiling.
Thanks for the great info!
 
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MileHighRover

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OP
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Imatk

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Mar 13, 2008
Messages
322
Jagmandave said:
There was nothing wrong with the MaxJax IMHO, other than the issue with using the wrong powder coat on the columns. My buddy has been using his since they sent new columns and it works beautifully. He has one of his columns right against the wall, but we work on tiny British cars like Minis and Sprites.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm thinking I'll have to figure it out once I get the things. I want to place it against the wall, but have to figure out how much space I'll need.
 
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Imatk

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Mar 13, 2008
Messages
322
gagecalman said:
I'm trying to learn more about lifts.

The OP states he wants a Bendpak HD-9ST but his ceiling height is just too darn low at 9'.
The specs state the height is 88". So why doesn't the HD-9ST work?
It seems like any lift will be limited by the top of the vehicle hitting the ceiling.
Thanks for the great info!
Click to expand...

The HD-9ST would work if I didn't want to park underneath it.

My idea was to have the HD9-ST and be able to use it as a lift and be able to park my two cars with it.

But ceiling is too low.

So if I'm going to not be able to park then I'd rather have a lift that has complete access.
 
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gagecalman

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Feb 5, 2020
Messages
194
Location
MD
Imatk said:
The HD-9ST would work if I didn't want to park underneath it.

My idea was to have the HD9-ST and be able to use it as a lift and be able to park my two cars with it.

But ceiling is too low.

So if I'm going to not be able to park then I'd rather have a lift that has complete access.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the explanation. Now I understand.
 
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