HI Les! (is that your name? I love your Avatar!) Well, I understand your concern, and perhaps Joe or another guy I spoke with, Ryan, can help answer your questions. Joe wasn't available the other day when I ordered a Tailbone creeper. It sits about 13" so rolling under my mj will be much better than this cheapy seat I have.
My '57 Chevy only weighs 3500, but looks like it would weigh alot more, but it is a large vehicle or a lot of mass. Anyway, when I did put my Cx9 on, my mj did creak a little more, but still had no trouble. I have my columns set at 118" (some people set them closer, some further apart, I felt that closer was better) and when lifting on the CX9, the lift pads are placed on the pinch moulding so the lever arm "thing" keeps more pressure vertically than say haviing the arms fully extended and picking up on a frame deep under the car. I don't have a degree in physics, but I think common sense goes a long way ; )
My Cx9 is new and it will rarely be on the lift, but I like to think I can lift anything I want! when I want! But you do have to ask yourself realistically~ How often would I be putting each particular vehicle on this lift? Mine are more for my classic cars as they working on seems like all the time!!! newer cars for oil change, Cv axles, brakes, etc, don't even need to be put at the top of the lift, just go to the height that the job can be completed).
I think the most important part is the drilling of your anchors!
I'm just having a discussion about your concern about the arm limit with my husband. These arms, let me tell you, I have to use a dolly to move them around! They are heavy! They make them look lightweight on some of the advertisments.
My common sense tells me the weight is dispersed/equalized through out the arms, so no one arm is "feeling" the weight. I do make sure my vehicles are strategically placed on the lift so that the weight is distributed equally as possible, taking in consideration of the motor being the heaviest, then lifting the car about a foot, shaking the car somewhat, then proceeding with reasonable caution. I still have some stands to order that are medium sized that I will place one in the front and one in the rear for added protection/stability, etc.
You're going through what many have contemplated before buying a lift. I was kind of the same! These are genuine concerns, but once installed~ you will love it! I was going back n forth between a scissor lift and the MJ~ I'm so glad I chose the mj!
oh, when I email at Joe's email address, they probably get flooded with emails, so probably be best to contact him. They do talk to their techs or engineers when I have questions they themselves cannot answer, so be patient ; ) Let not your heart be troubled, everything will come out ok!
dne'