Garage Lifts...Looking

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Prof, Sep 20, 2006.

Car Parts
  1. Prof

    Prof New Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    23,178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 19, 2006
    Location:
    Wadsworth, IL
    New home has four car garage...I think more is better in lots of ways...so I am looking for a lift...to work on cars, and to add to the storage capacity of the garage. Plan to change one of the doors to go straight up rather than up and over the space (19 foot ceiling) and add the lift.

    Anyone have experience with lifts? The ones I have been looking at are about $5k...any issues to consider? Thanks in advance.
     
  2. Voodoo

    Voodoo Full Access Member

    Messages:
    1,417
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 21, 2006
    just wait for the smashed finger, group to chime in. there awsome but one thing i would suggest is not going with the 4 post set up and go with the 2 post unless the post ho's come into play and u know how that goes, the more post u have the better it is :p ;) :D
     
  3. Wifey

    Wifey Artificial Wifey Intelligence Supporting Member

    Messages:
    26,303
    Likes Received:
    3,641
    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Voodoo - that was very clever of you:rock: I want a lift also, I was gonna wait and see what everyone else came up with. Maybe I will get a face lift instead ;)
     
  4. Prof

    Prof New Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    23,178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 19, 2006
    Location:
    Wadsworth, IL
    Took me a minute or two to focus, its 4:31 here! But I now appreciate the "post ho" comment. Pretty sharp for this time of the night!:D :D :D
     
  5. Prof

    Prof New Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    23,178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 19, 2006
    Location:
    Wadsworth, IL
    No way, we love you the way you are. Thought I saw you on a post by Manic this evening...:eek: :eek:
     
  6. Silverback

    Silverback New Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    16,758
    Likes Received:
    1
    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Location:
    The Deep Dark Jungle
    I would agree, go with the 2 post. That way everything is open to you to work on. Much better than a drive on ramp 4 poster.
     
  7. SilvrSRT10

    SilvrSRT10 Full Access Member

    Messages:
    6,865
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 22, 2006
    It depends on what features you want. A two post asymmetrical is a really cool lift to have but you have to bolt it to the floor. The four post does not have to be bolted and is available with steel casters in case you ever want to move it from one bay to another for whatever reason. The two post will lift the vehicle from the chassis. The four post by the wheels. There is a sliding bridge on the four post the allows you to place a bottle jack anywhere under the vehicle to lift it. I think a four post will raise higher than a two post. If your planning on stacking cars, be careful with the two post or you'll dent a door getting in and out of the car. I've seen four posts for $2500 ball park. Just some thoughts. Have fun hunting.
     
  8. Prof

    Prof New Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    23,178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 19, 2006
    Location:
    Wadsworth, IL
    The perspective of experience is sooooooo clear! Thanks for your views, lots of pertinent points...keep them coming friends. this is learning time for Roy!
     
  9. FSTJACK

    FSTJACK Full Access Member

    Messages:
    4,546
    Likes Received:
    1
    Joined:
    May 17, 2006
    Location:
    San Diego/El Cajon
    Patrick and I have recently acquired a 9000# 4 post lift. I paid 2800 including tax. We did pick it up with my car trailer in Temecula to save freight charges. We have used the heck out of it in the 2 weeks we have had it. From oil changes to Caltrack Instllation to clutch work.
    This makes it possible for an old guy like me to work on something. I am way too fat and disabled to roll around on the ground anymore.


    These things are coming down in price to the point that almost any back yard mechanic can get one.
     
  10. eddie102870

    eddie102870 Active Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    10,008
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 22, 2006
    Location:
    Alabama
    ive seen several 2 and 4 post lifts for around the 2800.oo range, also you can find shops that are going out of business and get them cheaper. had a friend that bout some for 800.00 a piece form a muffler shop that went under.
     
  11. JMB Justin

    JMB Justin Active Member Preferred Vendor

    Messages:
    2,649
    Likes Received:
    1
    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    Location:
    Hillsboro MO
    Ive using a 4 post Challenger and a 2 post Bend Pak in my shop. If you plan to use the lift for stacking cars, the 4 post is definitely what you want, just because you dont have to set the posts under the vehicle, you can drive right on it. If you plan to really work on the car alot while its up in the air, I would strongly recommend a two post, as the ramps prohibit pretty much any suspension work, and always seem to be in the way unless your working in the middle of the car. If you have the jacks that slide down the middle for your 4 post, then you can do suspension work, but the ramp still always seems to be in my way when im using the 4 post. With the two post, setting the posts underneath the vehicle will take less than a minute once you know where they should go everytime. Im 6'3" and yes my 4 post goes high enough that I can stand up completely underneath it, but I barely have to tilt my head to clear on the 2 post. Anyone 6" or less should not have a problem with most of them that are on the market. If you plan to work on cars as well, make sure the height when all the way down is as low as possible. The bend pak I use is 4" and can get under a stock ride height gen 2, and my lowered 2" SRT4 without any problems. Also make sure it comes with truck adapters if you choose a 2 post. Thats my $.02,
    Justin
     
  12. RedSrt007

    RedSrt007 Active Member

    Messages:
    5,622
    Likes Received:
    1
    Joined:
    May 17, 2006
    Location:
    San Diego,Ca
    :hmpf: :motz: :thefinger: (and yes, it is my middle finger thats flat :dontknow: )
     
  13. womsterr

    womsterr Has Left the Room - Banned from VTCOA!

    Messages:
    540
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 22, 2006
    Location:
    Kennesaw, GA
    I thought if your storing a car its better with the weight of the car off the suspension. It would seem that maybe a 2 post might be better. No?
     
  14. Prof

    Prof New Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    23,178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 19, 2006
    Location:
    Wadsworth, IL
    Thank you sir! While I can get down under the car...getting up is problematic, painful and from time to time impossible! Probably making the decision to forego NOS in deference to a lift!
     
  15. Silverback

    Silverback New Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    16,758
    Likes Received:
    1
    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Location:
    The Deep Dark Jungle
    I'm fat. I'm disabled. I can roll around on the ground.:dontknow: It's getting off the ground that I have trouble with.:D :p
     
  16. Prof

    Prof New Member Supporting Member

    Messages:
    23,178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 19, 2006
    Location:
    Wadsworth, IL
    As usual...you folks are giving me data overload! How niave of me to think you would make it possible for me to make an easy decision.

    I want to use the lift on my cars and truck...but I also want to store my "brick" which gets very little use. I'm also told that my move to northern Illinois in the next month will severly limit the use of the SRT 10 due to wet/frozen roads in the winter...

    Decisions, decisions, decisions...guess I will just put it in the hands of the spousal unit that is much more analytical than this old absent minded prof...

    Many thanks for your input all!
     
  17. Riff62

    Riff62 Full Access Member

    Messages:
    2,092
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 19, 2006
    Location:
    NE PA
     
  18. vmf700

    vmf700 New Member

    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2006
    Location:
    Raleigh, NC
    SilvrSRT10 makes an excellent point about the two-post lifts. Another thing to consider with a 2-post is your concrete floor thickness. The minimum requirements is 6 inches with 8 inches preferred. Most residential garage floors are 4 inches. You need to check this out before purchasing.

    Myself, I like the Backyard Buddy, which is a four post and does everything SilvrSRT10 pointed out. It costs about $3k. There are a number of companies offering both kinds of lifts with prices ranging from under $2000 to over $3000. Check out a Hemmings Muscle Car Magazine and you will find a number to choose from, keeping in mind that you get what you pay for, and an off-shore built lift for $1500 might not be as cheap as a $3000 US made lift when your vehicle has crashed to the floor.
     
  19. TheSickness

    TheSickness Full Access Member

    Messages:
    25,973
    Likes Received:
    0
    Joined:
    May 18, 2006
    Location:
    Haunting your soul
    Hey Ron get the 2 post.....:p
     
  20. Kevan

    Kevan Full Access Member

    Messages:
    4,797
    Likes Received:
    1
    Joined:
    May 31, 2006
    Location:
    New Albany, OH
    Since our driveway is already badly cracked (thank you, builder!), and our garage has a room above it so it's height is only 8', I was looking at something like this:
    http://www.hardingsteel.com/st24c.htm
    They have plenty of other options as well. I'm just too afraid to have my dream crushed when I call for a price. :D

    Here's a link to the Backyard Buddy:
    http://www.backyardbuddy.com

    Here's a link to a cool 2-poster from SuperLifts:
    http://www.superlifts.com/s10a.html
    Looks perfect for our trucks.
     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2006