Scissor Lift....pull over or back over?

[TylerRNEMT]

Hello,

I am considering buying a mid-rise scissor lift in the near future. Due to 9'6" ceiling clearance and the fact I have to "shimmy" cars around to get my boat in a 2 post even a Max Jax isn't really doable.

Due to my set up I typically back into my garage. My question for those of you that have one is: Can you either pull over or back over your scissor lift and still use it in either orientation? Because of the curb at the end of my drive I have to back in my lowered car to not scrape, but I would much prefer to have the power/hydraulic unit at the far end of the garage. Is it ok for me to back over the lift and still use it full height?

Thanks!

-Tyler

 

[TylerRNEMT]

Forgot to mention.... the car typically used with the lift is a 2003 Mach 1 Mustang

Occasional use for my Tahoe and friends/family cars but I can park them easily in either orientation

 

[tigeraid]

That's.... an interesting question actually, I don't know. My scissor certainly looks "even" from front to back, and the little arms that slide out, slide out equally in all four directions. I can't say for certain, but I don't see why you couldn't.

Of course, you could turn the lift around 180 degrees if that was a real worry.....

Make sure you have some cash to make ramps, btw, because scissor lifts and lowered cars do not get along. Hell, even my stock ZQ8 S-10 needs to use them to clear the exhaust over it! I use a pair of 2x10s.

 

[chrismenke]

Mine is symmetric front to back. The main consideration would be which way it creeps as it rises, and placing it so you don't creep into a garage door.

 

[mg67rt]

On the Bendpac I use, either way works fine. I've had no issues.

 

[ratdoggy]

That's.... an interesting question actually, I don't know. My scissor certainly looks "even" from front to back, and the little arms that slide out, slide out equally in all four directions. I can't say for certain, but I don't see why you couldn't.

Of course, you could turn the lift around 180 degrees if that was a real worry.....

Make sure you have some cash to make ramps, btw, because scissor lifts and lowered cars do not get along. Hell, even my stock ZQ8 S-10 needs to use them to clear the exhaust over it! I use a pair of 2x10s.

I also needed ramps I need 2 2X10 on each side and I bought some race ramps.
I also bought some quick disconnects for hydraulics so I can get the power unit out of the way...
I also marked the floor as to where I need to position the ramps as trial and error ***** every time you move the ramps.

 

[goingtoarizona]

It doesn't matter, but sissors lifts will move forward or backward as they go up so you'll want to take that in consideration set it up up accordingly. Another consideration is that sometimes if you're working under the car, like on an oil change, you may have better access in one direction or the other. Other than access, it doesn't matter what direction you put the car on the lift.

Don't forget that you'll still need to be aware of balance. If you lift your front engine Mustang, make sure that you don't put it too far forward and tip your lift.

 

[TylerRNEMT]

Thanks everyone for the advice...this is exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for!

I fully intend to build a set of 2x12 ramps that "interlock" to make it easy to remove at least the center section once the car is up. Depth wise I shouldn't have any issue regardless of which direction the lift rises towards. I want to put the hydraulic/motor assembly along the back wall hence the reason for the question in the first place so "turning the lift 180 degrees" kind of goes against the point here anyway.

Thanks!

-Tyler

 

[patdown]

I have a Bison MR6K-38 mid scissor lift. The user manual states to have the engine end of the vehicle over the hydraulic ram end of the lift.

Try to get the user manual of the lift that you want to purchase and go from there.

 

[cspcrx]

I setup mine as depicted in the manual so I pull over it and the engine sits over the cylinders. I have seen pictures of it used the other way so it may not matter.

I also needed ramps. My CRX and Audi both will not clear with hitting it. The CRX is obviously lowered by the Audi is on stock suspension. Audi just hits.

P5215598_zpsb17b82a8 by Victor M, on Flickr
P6025611_zpsea172020 by Victor M, on Flickr
5A6B59F9-9298-4125-80E6-8A08CD05BA06_zpsxytroebp by Victor M, on Flickr
PB256018_zpsaef17e48 by Victor M, on Flickr

 

[ItsNemo]

Flush mount it...pulling over becomes a non-issue. I always put the engine over the hydraulic side.

 

[dkroth]

Your location is not set.

If you live in snow country parking over the lift is going to be messy and it will lead to premature rusting of the lift.

Also, if you have other family members who drive/park in the garage it can be a challenge to train them to park properly over the lift or next to it.






.

 

[SouthLake]

The lift will work in any direction. I would not flush mount it or sink it in. The beauty of a scissor lift is the fact you can reconfigure the garage / space for the job you are doing. I move mine all the time.

Don’t buy the $700 plastic race ramps. Make your own for $50 using 2x12 that is set on top of 2x2 down the sides.

I have removed the motors in mid, rear, front engines cars with ease. Don’t buy the atlas as it’s reach is like 6” less than the bendpak and it makes for fitting mid sized unibody cars almost impossible. The bendpak fits anything!

 

[ratdoggy]

The lift will work in any direction. I would not flush mount it or sink it in. The beauty of a scissor lift is the fact you can reconfigure the garage / space for the job you are doing. I might mine all the time.

Don’t buy the $700 plastic race ramps. Make your own for $50 using 2x12 that is set on top of 2x2 down the sides.

I have removed the motor in mid, rear, front engines cars with ease. Don’t buy the atlas as it’s reach is like 6” less than the bendpak and it makes for fitting mid sized unibody cars almost impossible. The bendpak fits anything!

I wouldn't flush mount it either...Unless you have a big enough garage where it can have enough room around it that you don't have to move it at all..
I have to move mine around the garage depending on the car (and what I'm doing) I'm working on at the time sometimes forward or back and sometimes side to side...

 

[TylerRNEMT]

Thanks for the advice! I’m not going to flush mount it as I have to rearrange things in the winter to get my boat, the Mach 1, and my daily driver all in at the same time. In the summer I leave my daily outside and will plan on parking the Mach 1 on the Ramps over the lift all the time. In the winter I will slide the lift under my boat and shift it and the Mach over against each side wall so my truck can squeeze in between