Lets talk about garage lifts

Currently in the process of remortgaging the house as we are extending and I'm also planning on doubling the length of my garage and having a pitched roof put on.

The golf lives on the front drive under a stormforce cover and without a drop kerb so I have to use large rubber ramps to get her on and off the road, not ideal

Anyway as much as I would love a 2 post lift I cant see the budget stretching quite that far and garage pits seemed to be frowned upon

I've been eyeing these up, possibly with the intention of buying two

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283072832455

Or maybe one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232807935395

Just wondered what everyone else is using and with what budgets

I’ve long been mulling over the same thing. One other possibility I did see on the bay was a mobile single phase lifter. Think like a forklift front end on a (very heavy) base, but  mobile with wheels. Proper 2 arms, and good working height, so you can get right under. Only wish i’d Got one when I saw it! Steve S

I don't have the height to warrant such a thing. 

Jack, axle stands, and a comfy bit of cardboard to lay on.

Mdoftw you mean this kind of set up?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/153104521180

I've been rolling around on my back using axle stands most of the last 12mths and ive probably ruined enough clothing that I could of got my own industrial unit with 4 poster by now.

Ironicly most of my golf is actually finished and the underside is very done but I plan on removing and refurbing the ARB and wishbones in winter and I've had to do a shed load of work on my Skoda recently as well

Just make life easier, I'm not sure a tilter will slide underneath the golf though

I've also been looking at this tyoe of thing recently as I''m building a new garage.

Pits - great for working on undersides and doing exhausts, fuel lines etc. Not so good for suspension stuff as you can't really jack safely anywhere

Single post lifts - great for suspension and brake work but rubbish for exhausts, fuel lines etc

Twin post lifts - seem to be the best of both worlds?

4 post lift - if only!

So i think if you're going with tilt slide thing or a single post lift a pit would also be handy to do the stuff you can't do on the other one. If that make sense.

I've heard good things about 'Twin Busch' and not tooooooo bad on price

https://twinbusch.co.uk/index.php?cPath=2

Ian

They aren't terrible prices actually but outside I've my budget.
I'll probably end up going for a well serviced ex garage item.

I do like the look of the mobile thing I put in the first link and buying 2, if used with the platform rather than the fingers they can also lift the middle of the car

My only concern is how much space the ratchet handles require either side

Well I have been using a floor jack and jack stands for years, if I need real height I use 4X4's under the jack stands to increase the hight.  I have found that a roll around (okay I have concrete under my cars) works well

But my Brother who has a 36 foot tall garage, has a 4 poster lift that he bartered for, I think he said it cost him about 500 USD.



37 Packard in the front 89 mecedes on the lift.

He has more cars, and he can get a full sized Yukon up 8 foot and still have about 8-12 feet above it.

Hmmm ok I'm now considering scissor lifts

I started out looking like you but now I'm at four post ramps.

240v 16ft x 9ft went for £550 at weekend but still new they just over 2k.

I'm doing it to store two cars in one space but got to alter roof trusses too.

Surely apart from the hydraulics which are a bit specialist the rest of it is just motors, pulleys and belts.

Cant be that hard to service really

My 2 pence worth

Buy quality not cheap. Your life literally depends on it.

Servicing has a lot to do with the fall arrest systems. That Is the important part. Rest is just lube and electrical safety.

Scissor lifts have a reputation of danger / entrapment or limb removal but I have never actually met anyone who had a problem. But I can see the risk

Tilt lift need a lot of space given the angle etc and I don’t see the long term benefit of these - also a lot of force on one corner for old cars.

It I had the luxury of designing space for a ramp absolutely would and NEVER move house. I would the save even as little as 10 a month until I could afford a 2 poster and until that point use jacks and axle stands.

Also when installing a 2 poster sink the centre section don’t ramp it. Lowered cars often don’t go over the rise.

Regarding 2 and 4 post. I have always preferred a 2 poster. So much more room.

One day when I am clapped out and too old to use it I will achieve my dream of a personal workshop with a 2 post ramp and space to one side for floor work.

Jealous, ME, never !!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You speak a lot of sense.
At the moment I'm just looking at ideas and hopefully I can release enough from the extension budget to actually achieve this but as you said I'll probably never be able to move afterwards.

There is also the issue of ventilation to consider.

I've just been outside in ridiculous direct sunlight waxoiling the inside of the car

Currently my garage is probably hot enough to cultivate canabis plants I expect and every time I go in there I almost here my motorbike whimpering in the heat

If you're going to go 2nd hand then keep a good look out on the Facebook selling pages near you.

Just remember that a lot of them are 3 phase and they won't work on a domestic single phase supply and getting 3 phase installed by the electric board is not cheap!

And remember you'll have to go and get it, so you're going to have to pay someone to move it for you.

All these things start to add up and the 'bargain' suddenly becomes expensive.

Just a thought

Ian

Had a Tire Shop here in town that had 2 post lifts to raise and lower cars… They had  a truck up on the lift, and it was the second lift in the shop.  The Lift wasn't balanced and well toppled over to the right and the Domino effect took over as the truck took out the next lift which toppled and took out the next until it hit the alignment rack on the end…  quite the sight…. 3 crushed cars,,,, The truck wasn't that bad off.. twisted the bed a bit.

With 2 posters you have to make sure that they are well anchored…. When they re-opened they had all spanking new 4 post lifts.  Just saying….

Small 4 post lift - fits inside standard 8x16 foot garage. The height of the garage is just shy 10 foot.

You can jack off the platform if needed - or get a jacking beam.  Its been a great piece of kit for both working on the cars and storage.  Runs off single phase - just add a new circuit off the fuse box.

Thats what I wanted to see MRH1  

How much did the set up cost if you dont mind me asking?

Whats with the wires, are they on optimates

I agree four posts can be more trickey to work on car but I'd prefer my 35 year old car stored on its wheels v's jacking points.

Yeah its a charger lead.

The cost was about £1700 ( I think) -  they do a delivery/fitting service - think that was about £400. Well worth it - its a very heavy piece of kit!

I got the smallest model they do - ideal for a mk1. You can get a big car underneath no problem.  Link below

http://www.sjrgarageequipment.co.uk/parking-lifts/

^ Got me re-thinking mucker  

Ian

I've got the cj autos 3 in 1 tilter.

This as per advert ftw 

My garage is only 2.5m's in height so would like a lift but just not going to happen.

Used it on my mini and will on my mk1 once the garage extension is complete, very happy with it and heavy duty. Weighs 100kg but has wheels to role it out.