Question for the 4 Post Lifts With Casters

[hd54kh]

I think a four post lift will be my best bet. I do have 12-18 months before I purchase.

Question is about using casters. How does it work. My vision for my use is the lift stays in the shop static most of the time. When I want to have an open space for example spray painting a car can I just roll it outside. My over head door is 10x12 so I have the opening.

Terry

 

[Falcon67]

Most I have seen are "leveraged" - you place the casters on the lower part of the posts and then lower the ramps to engage the casters with the floor and lift the unit. Review some of the 4 post instruction manuals.

FWIW - moving a lift empty should not be much of an issue provided the casters work well. I have some skates that I use on cars. I have tuned the casters to work easily - that required some disassembly and rework. With the 1450 lb dragster on them, one bump will send it rolling. With a 3000 lb car on them it takes two to control speed and direction. Add 1500 lbs for a lift and it'll be a chore to move the pair.

 

[Kev442]

Yup, lower it to the floor and the rails lift it up about 3". I make sure to have the casters pointed the direction I want it to roll before all weight are on them. It's not just push on one corner, you do have to constantly go from side to side to steer, but not a big deal.
With a car loaded I use a logging chain and a couple come alongs, I like to save my spine for other things.

 

[glentre]

I have easily moved my two by myself. As mentioned, just make sure the wheels are set in the right direction before you lower the lift to engage the wheels. The electric power to the hydraulic pump must be disconnected before you do any moving. Also, if you have a steep incline apron into your garage, it would be wise to have some help to make sure the lift heads in the right direction. If you have a gravel driveway you want to roll the lift out on, it may be impossible to do because the wheels are flat steel about three inches wide.

Also remember that if your garage floor is not flat, you might have to realign the lift ladders if it is not returned to the same spot it was in before being moved since you might end up with ramps that are not level or even.

Other that, go for it. It's not a big deal.

Glen

 

[leog]

They lift themselves as the deck gets close to the ground. As others have stated, make sure the wheels are aligned to the direction you wish to travel. The statement about moving from side to side is also very true. Mine is fairly easy to maneuver when not loaded, with a car on it, it is a bear. Slow and deliberate , nothing you can do in a hurry. Sweep the floor well prior to moving helps a lot. I believe I will try "tuning" my casters as Falcon67 has done.

 

[Falcon67]

Casters - I use the HF steel skates. The casters as delivered are sloppy. The tune up - take apart, hone the steel tube the rides on the axle to remove burrs and chips. Lubricate and re-assemble, tighten the axle bolt to allow minimal side play but not hinder rotation. I also lube the swivel ball bearings. After a tune up, my middle grandson can sit on one of the skates and ride it down the gentle slope driveway LOL. Ditto - with a load, try to start out with the casters rotated to roll in the direction you'd like to go. Excellent point.

 

[hd54kh]

Thanks good to know. I'll check out some videos, the ones I have watched were installation and never really saw features like castors in use. I figure I would only move as an empty lift to have an open floor space. I am thinking roll straight out the door prep space for paint, spray and reverse. Is it safe to leave something like the lift outside in the North Carolina elements for lets say a week. I can fab a cover for the controls/fluid tank if not weather stable.

Terry

 

[toolferone]

Here is a great video on the whole lift install. At 39 minutes he shows the wheel install.

 

[hd54kh]

Thanks for the link toolferone. Answered my question. I will be doing my own install and the video really explained the process.

Terry

 

[66Caprice]

One thing to watch out for is the width of your door. My Bendpac will not roll straight through the ten foot door I have. The lift is 10'6" wide and has to be worked through the opening. It's a real pain in the ***!....

 

[hd54kh]

Good point 66, I guess it can angle out one way and square up to get all the way out. I don't see this happening too often but ya can never tell.

Terry

 

[66Caprice]

Yes it's not too bad if you have the room inside the garage to angle it around the opening. I had a camper in the way so it was a sacrificed piece of trim from the man door for me to get it in there..

 

[rburke65]

This is why I really like my 12' wide garage doors. Love the extra width.

 

[James E]

Food for thought... .

I bought casters for my BendPak four post lift and I installed an extra-long power cord for those times that I felt like working outside. I've had my lift for several years and have never moved it outside.

The lift is not hard to move on flat concrete, but it's not easy, either. The towers get floppy, the flanges can dig into the floor when you push on the towers, the whole setup is unwieldy and doesn't want to move, then doesn't want to stop once you get it moving. It's just enough of a PITA that I have never felt compelled to move it any distance.

The casters are big and heavy and oddly shaped. They take up valuable storage space.