I want to purchase a portable lift. Any suggestions or Pros & Cons, Mid-Rise or Low-rise?
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Need to know more information. Are you talking about a four post lift, a two post lift, or a scissors lift?
Mark
Mark
quote:Originally posted by JR428CJ:
I want to purchase a portable lift. Any suggestions or Pros & Cons, Mid-Rise or Low-rise?
Im looking for a scissors lift.Mid-rise with swing arms like two post,low- rise has large padded runways that use rubber blocks.
I LOVE my 4-pole Direct Lift brand with casters!
I originally thought I wanted a 2-pole but ultimately the 4 pole works better for my needs...and storing a car underneath.
I originally thought I wanted a 2-pole but ultimately the 4 pole works better for my needs...and storing a car underneath.
It depends on your intended use.
A 4-Post lift is a great parking solution for stacking cars plus there are models that allow it to be moved around (without a car on it ofcourse). You can do some under-car maintenance with wheel/suspension work needing the addition of jack trays. The post gets in the way when doing wheel/suspension work.
If you do maintenance on your cars, a 2-post lift is better as there are no runners to get in the way and doesn't require add-ins. You can still use it to park a car underneath. Moving the lift once installed is difficult since the posts must be bolted.
A 4-Post lift is a great parking solution for stacking cars plus there are models that allow it to be moved around (without a car on it ofcourse). You can do some under-car maintenance with wheel/suspension work needing the addition of jack trays. The post gets in the way when doing wheel/suspension work.
If you do maintenance on your cars, a 2-post lift is better as there are no runners to get in the way and doesn't require add-ins. You can still use it to park a car underneath. Moving the lift once installed is difficult since the posts must be bolted.
I love my mid-rise. Best piece of equipment I've ever bought. It raises the car 54". Perfect for working on brakes, suspention, body.
No large posts to take up space in my 2 car garage. Wheels and suspension hang so no need to jack up as you need to with 4 poster.
Will
No large posts to take up space in my 2 car garage. Wheels and suspension hang so no need to jack up as you need to with 4 poster.
Will
I've got two Backyard Buddies -- love the lifts. They are no fun to put together, as they are so heavy to move around, unless you have a forklift or engine lift with a smooth floor to place the heaviest pieces.
I mainly use them for car storage -- they work great for that. Changing oil and other service work works great with these things as well as getting to the underside of the car other than brakes or suspension work. I would agree that the mid rise type of lift would work a lot better for working on brakes or suspension.
Mark
I mainly use them for car storage -- they work great for that. Changing oil and other service work works great with these things as well as getting to the underside of the car other than brakes or suspension work. I would agree that the mid rise type of lift would work a lot better for working on brakes or suspension.
Mark
thanks for the advice.Dont need to stack cars.4Post takes up to much room.Want something portable.Like 4NHOTROD idea Mid-Rise.
Will,
What brand mid-rise do you have?
What brand mid-rise do you have?
I've been contemplating a 4-post lift as well- tagging along.
David,
Even though you and Will may have a "thing" going, please, for the love of Panteras, keep us out of it! AHHH MY EYES!!! I can't get that out of my head!
David,
Even though you and Will may have a "thing" going, please, for the love of Panteras, keep us out of it! AHHH MY EYES!!! I can't get that out of my head!
I wonder if anyone even noticed that the central car in the second picture isn't a Pantera? 
David, that is just so wrong and gross. Laser etched into my retinas comes to mind. Damn, damn, double damn......
Wifey even asked what was wrong after my gasp of groaning grossness. Ouch. And I usually have pretty thick skin too. Posting something like that in Montreal must be a violation of some rule, non?
Later,
Mark
Wifey even asked what was wrong after my gasp of groaning grossness. Ouch. And I usually have pretty thick skin too. Posting something like that in Montreal must be a violation of some rule, non?
Later,
Mark
Corey,
If you want the best 4 post lift out there, don't go for the cheap crap from China. A lot of suppliers in the USA say they are built in the USA, but they are only packaged here. If you want the best mechanism that is made, Backyard Buddy makes the best one. If you find a Chinese made lift with this exact same locking mechanism and whole posts that are not made up of angle iron and straight steel pieces, then all can be forgiven. But I do not know if any of the foreign made lifts that come with this locking mechanism.
Yes, Backyard Buddies are more expensive, but they are really made that much better. I only know this because a friend of mine bought one of the $1995 delivered price Chinese made lifts and once he put it together he swore he would never go underneath it -- it is that unstable. He only uses it to store cars and will not do any work with a car on it up in the air -- it is that unstable.
I am only cheerleading for BB because I know they work -- you do not need to bolt them to the floor and they are the best out there. If you value your good health and don't want the chance of a car coming down on you, I would highly recommend one of these lifts -- and at the least, you should be looking at how they operate. The BB locking mechanism is the best I have seen in any lift. All of the Chinese ones I looked at had really screwy locking mechanism on them -- nothing like Backyard Buddy.
No, I don't work for them, nor do I get any commission from them. I am just an extremely happy owner of two of their lifts. Here is the web link to their site if you are interested:
Backyard Buddy Web Link
Best of luck with whatever you choose.
Mark
If you want the best 4 post lift out there, don't go for the cheap crap from China. A lot of suppliers in the USA say they are built in the USA, but they are only packaged here. If you want the best mechanism that is made, Backyard Buddy makes the best one. If you find a Chinese made lift with this exact same locking mechanism and whole posts that are not made up of angle iron and straight steel pieces, then all can be forgiven. But I do not know if any of the foreign made lifts that come with this locking mechanism.
Yes, Backyard Buddies are more expensive, but they are really made that much better. I only know this because a friend of mine bought one of the $1995 delivered price Chinese made lifts and once he put it together he swore he would never go underneath it -- it is that unstable. He only uses it to store cars and will not do any work with a car on it up in the air -- it is that unstable.
I am only cheerleading for BB because I know they work -- you do not need to bolt them to the floor and they are the best out there. If you value your good health and don't want the chance of a car coming down on you, I would highly recommend one of these lifts -- and at the least, you should be looking at how they operate. The BB locking mechanism is the best I have seen in any lift. All of the Chinese ones I looked at had really screwy locking mechanism on them -- nothing like Backyard Buddy.
No, I don't work for them, nor do I get any commission from them. I am just an extremely happy owner of two of their lifts. Here is the web link to their site if you are interested:
Backyard Buddy Web Link
Best of luck with whatever you choose.
Mark
quote:Originally posted by ktmike:
Will,
What brand mid-rise do you have?
http://www.liftsuperstore.com/...roadrunner/index.php
quote:David, that is just so wrong and gross. Laser etched into my retinas comes to mind. Damn, damn, double damn......
So true Mark!
Damn David even Will doesnt deserve that!
Sheesh, have you guys lost your sense of humour. What about all those Frenchy, poutine, strip club and maple syrup jokes?
Ok. I'm deleting it. Funny what's funny after a few Martinis.
Ok. I'm deleting it. Funny what's funny after a few Martinis.
David, we were kidding too, you should leave it as a reminder of 3 important rules:
1) Don't eat too much poutine, it could spoil your girlish figure;
2) Don't visit a Hooters in remote regions of the eastern bloc;
3) If you forget rule #2, don't drink too much while you're there
1) Don't eat too much poutine, it could spoil your girlish figure;
2) Don't visit a Hooters in remote regions of the eastern bloc;
3) If you forget rule #2, don't drink too much while you're there
David, I was just kidding too.
Nonetheless, eating 10 In N Out burgers at a crack will result in terrible gut wrenching nasty mid rise lifts as well. Yuck.
I felt like washing my eyes out with soap too -- I just don't think it would do any good.
Mark
Nonetheless, eating 10 In N Out burgers at a crack will result in terrible gut wrenching nasty mid rise lifts as well. Yuck.
I felt like washing my eyes out with soap too -- I just don't think it would do any good.
Mark
Check out the Dannmar Maxjax hydraulic/electric 2 post lift. You can get it delivered through Costco to your curb for around $2000. It's designed to be bolted to the floor and unbolted and wheeled to a corner when you're not using it. A few suggestions: Make sure your concrete floor is 4" inches thick and a 4000 psi mix. Contractors cheat and make the middle of the slab thinner than the edges. Have it installed professionally for around $200. Rewire the motor to run off 220 volts. It has mechanical pin supports at 2 feet and 4 feet above the ground. I've had mine for about 6 months and it's great.
That looks ideal for me at least. I'd considered getting a mid-rise scissor lift but the thought of having it in the way in my 2 car garage kept me from it.
FYI, the $2000 CostCo price is a special $300 off deal good through Dec. 11, 2011
FYI, the $2000 CostCo price is a special $300 off deal good through Dec. 11, 2011
quote:Originally posted by rbarkley671:
I'd considered getting a mid-rise scissor lift but the thought of having it in the way in my 2 car garage kept me from it.
Why would the midrise get in the way? You drive right over it.
Will
Doc with the Dannmar Maxjax can you open the car doors?
quote:Originally posted by 4NHOTROD:
Why would the midrise get in the way? You drive right over it.
Will
I use my garage for a number of hobbies and a midrise scissor lift would get in the way of most of them, tripping over it if nothing else. Also, to lift a car it would have to be repositioned toward the center. Finally, the scissor lifts block access to much of the underbody of the car.
I have a Direct Lift 4 poster with the sliding jacks. It does everything I need it to do and I'm able to park two cars in what was one space.
The safety lock system is as good as any I have seen, all in it was about $2K if I recall, although we did it as a group buy and got some extra discount.
I considered a 2 post, but they usually have an upper cross member requiring more height clearance. That plus they require securing to the floor and you need to be sure your garage floor is sufficient for that.
Julian
The safety lock system is as good as any I have seen, all in it was about $2K if I recall, although we did it as a group buy and got some extra discount.
I considered a 2 post, but they usually have an upper cross member requiring more height clearance. That plus they require securing to the floor and you need to be sure your garage floor is sufficient for that.
Julian
quote:Originally posted by JR428CJ:
Doc with the Dannmar Maxjax can you open the car doors?
Barely. It's a matter of getting the CG of the car where it raises evenly. I can only open the door about a foot when the car is in position to lift. I put the lift pads where the original jacking holes are in the frame. There might be other hard points you can lift at and have the car in a position where the doors can be opened. Plus, you can only space the lift columns so far apart. There are a few trade-offs. Thanks.
I ordered my four post lift wider than normal at the posts. Wasn't that much more money. I wanted more than a couple inches clearance from the mirrors when driving on/off.