New Toy - Single Post Lift
- Thread starter glmron
- Start date
andgott
Well-known member
Nice lift... I considered that type when I was first shopping for lifts- Looked at one from Greg Smith. I did a lot of research but never really found anyone who actually USED one, so in the end I decided on a four post.
Looks like it works well, though... I think it would have taken me a little time before I felt safe under it.
Looks like it works well, though... I think it would have taken me a little time before I felt safe under it.
JackAndy
Well-known member
That looks awesome.
I'm getting one for my garage:
Its 24'x38' but the ceiling is only 8' tall (the lift is 8'6").
I'm planning on moving the last 3-4 trusses at the back of the garage up 4'. That would allow me to lift a car up high enough that I can walk under it while keeping all the parking spots.
The car would have to be parellel parked or positioned essentially like this:
I was looking at doing a 2 post lift for a while and got a quote for $5,000 to raise 1/2 (back half) of the ceiling joists in the garage. Thats not bad but it makes more sense to get this lift and only raise 1/4th of the joists instead.
Ideally I would like to be able to put the lift against the back wall, parallel park a car over the lift and raise it with the lift still against the back wall. I think the motor would have to be moved to the side though so it might not work out.
Edit: Can you see the images?
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That looks awesome.
I'm getting one for my garage:
Its 24'x38' but the ceiling is only 8' tall (the lift is 8'6").
I'm planning on moving the last 3-4 trusses at the back of the garage up 4'. That would allow me to lift a car up high enough that I can walk under it while keeping all the parking spots.
The car would have to be parellel parked or positioned essentially like this:
I was looking at doing a 2 post lift for a while and got a quote for $5,000 to raise 1/2 (back half) of the ceiling joists in the garage. Thats not bad but it makes more sense to get this lift and only raise 1/4th of the joists instead.
Ideally I would like to be able to put the lift against the back wall, parallel park a car over the lift and raise it with the lift still against the back wall. I think the motor would have to be moved to the side though so it might not work out.
Edit: Can you see the images?
Sounds like you have a good idea, this lift will do exactly what you want. Make sure you get a couple of under hoist jack stands for when the car is up in the air to stabilize it.
To put it against the back wall is a good idea but remember the "pallet Jack" and wheels take up about the same space as the motor.
Cannot see any images but I get what you are trying to do.
JackAndy
Well-known member
Thanks Glmron. I think I got the pictures working now, sort of. I'll make sure to get those tall jack stands. They wouldn't hold the car by themselves would they?
The pallet jack feature isn't bad but I'll only be able to move this pallet jack around in the back of the garage because of the ceiling. I'd almost prefer the lift could be permanently installed but all of the permanent single post ones are for parking only and not service.
I suppose I could just chisel out the concrete in the shape of the footprint of the pallet jack and just semi-permanently park it.
The pallet jack feature isn't bad but I'll only be able to move this pallet jack around in the back of the garage because of the ceiling. I'd almost prefer the lift could be permanently installed but all of the permanent single post ones are for parking only and not service.
I suppose I could just chisel out the concrete in the shape of the footprint of the pallet jack and just semi-permanently park it.
isb cornbinder
Well-known member
I have developed a fear of my shadow. I used to go out jogging and I often heard applause behind me. When I would turn to look for the source of the clapping, all I saw was my shadow.
A local auto repair shop had a single post lift very much like the one pictured here. The shop was a Volvo specialist
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You don't want to use the stands alone, meaning, lifting he car setting it on the jacks then removing the lift. I would not recommend that. But I have had a car on the lift along with he stands for an extended period of time(over a week), no problem. You could store a car indefinitely with the lift and 2 stands.
You could absolutely remove the pallet jack part of the lift and leave it in one spot. You could also set it below the concrete but make sure you have at least 4" of concrete below the lift legs.
Good pics.
daygaragedreamer
Member
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2017
- Messages
- 14
Any updates or feedback you can provide on your single post?
JackAndy
Well-known member
The only update is that I've quoted it out and they can apparently ship the 240v pump in this unit instead of the 120v if you want for free. I'm guessing that would be much preferred. I haven't actually been able to order mine yet because I ran out of money!
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Just wanted to make some comments about this particular lift after owning one for the last two months. Its great! But there is one caveat. With it being a single post there is a significant reduction in torsional rigidity when compared to a two-post lift. Harbor Freight sells a lift jack stand for $65.00 with coupon that is just the ticket to solve this issue. Once the car is lifted I put the jack stand in the center on the opposite side of the column, screw the jackscrew a few turns, and the lift becomes very rigid. Very little movement of the car even when taking some big tugs on a wrench.
I love the fact that I can roll a car around in the shop on this lift by myself!
I love the fact that I can roll a car around in the shop on this lift by myself!
JackAndy
Well-known member
Awesome. Thanks for the feedback. Care to comment on who you bought it from and what the total charges were etc?
BNR automotive in Elwood IN. They're local so we picked it up with a trailer. No freight charges. ~$2600 with tax.
http://www.bnrautomotiveequipment.com/specialty-lifts.html
At the moment their site seems broken. Wasn't the other day.
http://www.bnrautomotiveequipment.com/specialty-lifts.html
At the moment their site seems broken. Wasn't the other day.
carsandcapp
Active member
What brand is that one?
And if one of the manufacturers of these single-posts figures out how to design removable drive-on ramps (with maybe a fold-down safety leg or two - off the outer ramp) they will have an absolute home run here.
DaveMcLain
Active member
I could never figure out exactly where I could put a 2 post lift in my building where it wouldn't be in the way one time or another.
A friend has one of these in the new garage that he built at his house. I had never seen one before and thought it looked really awesome so now I have one too.
I have the column stood upright now and tomorrow I'm going to get it all put together. Then I think I'm going to make a trip to Harbor Freight and get two of those recommended safety stands to make it extra stable.
It'll be super handy for doing oil changes on my wife's car etc. I can't wait to put it to work.
A friend has one of these in the new garage that he built at his house. I had never seen one before and thought it looked really awesome so now I have one too.
I have the column stood upright now and tomorrow I'm going to get it all put together. Then I think I'm going to make a trip to Harbor Freight and get two of those recommended safety stands to make it extra stable.
It'll be super handy for doing oil changes on my wife's car etc. I can't wait to put it to work.
For those of you that have this type lift, a couple of questions:
Thanks!
- What equipment was required for initial setup/assembly? How did you stand it upright after (or during) assembly?
- Is anyone using this for long-term storage (i.e. stacking two cars)? Any feedback?
- Use of jack poles would obstruct placement of a second vehicle underneath... Any concerns with storage (only... not service) without using jack poles?
- Any other thoughts or experience that you would share with a future owner?
Thanks!
DaveMcLain
Active member
The hardest part of the assembly is getting the post stood upright and bolted to the base. I used a small engine hoist,a chain and a lifting strap to unload all of the pieces one at a time from a flat bed utility trailer.
Next I used the hoist to stand the column upright. I did this using a few straps and a chain. It is very heavy and if you had a few guys to help it would be MUCH easier. Once it was standing upright on the floor I re-positioned the hoist again and picked the column straight up and set it on top of the base. Then my wife helped me to "walk" it around, get the bolts lined up and screwed into the base.
After that was done the rest of the lift went together easily and overall I think it took me maybe two hours to go from a pile of parts to working.
I bought two of the safety stands from Harbor Freight and they work great. With one snugged up under each end the lift is perfectly stable when wrenching on stuff. It couldn't be better really. I don't think that you'd need them if you were using the lift for long term storage and they were in the way. You could even just use one stand under either end and it would be fine.
I've used the lift a bunch over the last few weeks when working on my 1965 Galaxie all 3758lbs pounds of Ford. I did a power disc brake conversion and the lift was just so nice. When swapping spindles and running new brake lines I bet I ran it up and down 50 times!
It's a great tool.
Next I used the hoist to stand the column upright. I did this using a few straps and a chain. It is very heavy and if you had a few guys to help it would be MUCH easier. Once it was standing upright on the floor I re-positioned the hoist again and picked the column straight up and set it on top of the base. Then my wife helped me to "walk" it around, get the bolts lined up and screwed into the base.
After that was done the rest of the lift went together easily and overall I think it took me maybe two hours to go from a pile of parts to working.
I bought two of the safety stands from Harbor Freight and they work great. With one snugged up under each end the lift is perfectly stable when wrenching on stuff. It couldn't be better really. I don't think that you'd need them if you were using the lift for long term storage and they were in the way. You could even just use one stand under either end and it would be fine.
I've used the lift a bunch over the last few weeks when working on my 1965 Galaxie all 3758lbs pounds of Ford. I did a power disc brake conversion and the lift was just so nice. When swapping spindles and running new brake lines I bet I ran it up and down 50 times!
It's a great tool.
Thanks for the follow up!
EDIT: I'll add that I contacted the manufacturer and they said that the lift is designed for and can be used for long-term storage.
If at all possible I like to use large items like this for multiple things, aside from a car lift as it's intended, could it be used as an actual pallet jack for smaller heavy items? Such as moving a transmission or engine or a pallet of wood sheeting around?
Strongly considering this Ideal MSC 6kLP mobile single post lift also for my home garage.
How much room is needed from the wall to the car door?
I have a small garage and would like to place this as close to the wall as possible.
Any recommended vendors and "installers" for the Chicago area? Once upon a time I would do put it together and lift alone but I've hurt my self enough that I'd prefer some one younger or stronger to put it together.
Thanks!
How much room is needed from the wall to the car door?
I have a small garage and would like to place this as close to the wall as possible.
Any recommended vendors and "installers" for the Chicago area? Once upon a time I would do put it together and lift alone but I've hurt my self enough that I'd prefer some one younger or stronger to put it together.
Thanks!