Car lift pro/cons

[MotoSook]

Hey Souk, can I get a materials and measurements list for your platfrom. It looks perfect!

Bill, I just saw you post today.

I just got some 12 feet long 2X4's and some threaded rods. I cut the ends of 2X4's to get the slope....low as I could on my table saw. It helps if you have a helper to guide the 12 foot 2X4...and not have to rely on a ladder and muscles like I did. I didn't shorten the 12' 2X4's any. Cut the threaded rods to length and drilled through holes in the 2X4's. A couple of nuts and washers...and the sides were done. Looks like 8 2X4's per side. You could use 4X4's, but it's hard to get them in 12 feet lengths.

I tied the fronts together to prevent the two sides from spreading and sliding. Used some lag bolts I had in the garage and a short length of 2X4. The chain was found in the garage, so was the carabiner (sic?). W/o the chain the ramps slide forward everytime I hit it...The weight of the lift keeps that from happening. The rear cross member is just dropped in, to prevent the rears from coming together. It's not really needed, but It keeps the two sides square.

The ramp has held up well except for when I abused it working on brakes and suspension...a good hammering suffer it is not!

Just stud squality 2X4's...cheap and replacable when the really wear out.

I'm so use to parking on the ramps when I get home, I don't even think about lining up the car. There's enough slop in the width of the sides...no clutch or gas..just hit it at a good speed and brake at the end.

Edit: I just lined up the sides, centered on the front wheels, then screw the lag bolts through...measure for your own track width and tire width. It's really pretty simple. Good luck.

[Bill Verburg]

Thanks Souk! Just what I needed to know

[Les Paul]

Once again I'm not at home but I called my son and he measured my garage ceiling height at 9'6". The unit is called a Feener. It was made in Kansas. I googled that name and nothing came up. When I get home tomorrow morning I'll find the adress. The unit is really perfect for Porsches if you have a 911/930. I got to thinking how long I've had it and it is probably at least 10 years. When I first got it if figured only the 930 would fit on top. So at the time I was restoring the 356 and had done a bare metal paint job on the 356. The paint was perfect. When I measured the clearances I knew it would be tight to get the 356 underneath between the front wheels of the 930 without hitting them on the top of the 356. Well I'd had the 930 up and down numerous times before the 356 came home from the paint shop, sans engine. It was in December and a big ass blue norther was moving in the very night we got the 356 home from the paint shop. My son who was 6 at the time got inside to steer and I was pushing from behind. The wind was howling and the sleet and rain were soaking our ass so I had coached him how to apply the brakes as the car got close to the front of the lift. I'm pushing and trying to gauge both front tires from the 930 above. They hang down as the central 4x4 beam intersects a 2x4 beam that sits right behind the front wheels and against the gas tank. The weight actually is evenly distrubuted so it has never even creased the gas tank. Anyway, being ever so careful watching the front etc I missed watching the wheels. I noticed the front left 930 wheel was mighty close to the top of the 356 as its ass was jacked being as there was no engine in the bay. So, congratulating ourselves we check everthing and in the quirky light I think I see a big ass crease on the top right side of the pristinely painted 356. Sure enough, the front left wheel had crunched a perfect little furrow about 1 inch deep and 8-12 inches long. I popped it out from inside but it had already cracked the paint up. Man oh man. What luck. In the intervening years I have managed to keep from hitting anything else from above. But, about 2 years ago my wife calls me at work sobbing. I'm so sorry, you're going to kill me etc. Maybe, so what happened? She didn't have the clutch all the way in and when she hit the starter the car jumped forward hitting the front 4x4 beam dead center. Since the car is an outlaw and has no bumper I was expecting the worst when I got home. Yea it was bad but what the hay, I managed to pull it out and it almost looks like new. Bottom line if your garage is at least 9'6'' this thing fits like OJ's glove.

[widebody911]

Mine is a Mowhawk HR-6. It was $2300, but lifts 4', which is 9" higher than the HF version, and is made in the USA. (What guy wouldn't give a little for an extra 9"?)

I formed out a box for my lift when I formed up my garage foundation, and I ran a 2" ABS pipe under the slab out to the stem wall for the hydraulic line and safety cable. A friend of mine is a cabinet maker, and I traded some welding for a cabinet/workbench combo which covers the left controls and pump.







More pix and details here

[911pcars]

"The lift will only low as fast as the hydraulic fluid can escape the rams"

No mechanical stop? Is this a common non-accessory? Have you timed yourself on a creeper lately? I realize motivation is high when your car's about to crush you, but what if you have your finger in the gearbox fill hole when this happens (or asleep)?

Sherwood

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by 911pcars
[No mechanical stop?

my Snap-On mid rise has one stop at full lift.

[MotoSook]

Sherwood, that's only if the mechanical stop fails. There are four mechanical stops on my lift. FIrst stop gets the wheels about 12 inches off the ramps.

[cantdrv55]

So with a scissors type lift, what can't you get to under the car? Do the frames block access to anything?

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by cantdrv55
So with a scissors type lift, what can't you get to under the car? Do the frames block access to anything?

access on a mid rise is kinda 3/4-9/10 between a drive on and a post lift.. but the many routine jobs are 99/100.
and fwiw a good mid rise platform, like Souk's, that's properly leveled with a water tube or transit, is a home run for wheel alignments and setting height & rake.

[aigel]

Nobody has mentioned autolifters yet. They advertise in the American car mags. Unfortunately I need a bigger yard or garage before I can go get one

http://www.autolifters.com/

Their two post lifts that are free standing are an awesome deal. And the height restriction is much less that way.

Note that the scissor type lifts are great for the 911, since there isn't anything in the area where the lift sits, however, for any other car (especially RWD or AWD) you will be majorly screwed if you'd like to do a transmission, driveshaft, exhaust or other job in that area!

George

[Bill Verburg]

Ron, You only have 1 stop on your Snap On?

Mine has 4 or 5

[Wayne 962]

So does this Harbor Freight one have a mechanical stop?

-Wayne

[Wayne 962]

We sell this one:

http://www.drivewerks.com/catalog/shopcart/TOOL/POR_TOOL_ACHyd1_pg9.htm

-Wayne

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Bill Verburg
Ron, You only have 1 stop on your Snap On?
Mine has 4 or 5

Hi Bill..
yep only one stop and one larger piston than yours.. I paid $1,400 used for one year at a shop. It's made by a Canadian co that starts w/ a W. I called them and they only sell to Snap-On in the US.

[RoninLB]

here's an old pic.. it weighs enough to cripple 4 guys lifting it. I rolled it off a flat bed.

[MotoSook]

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
So does this Harbor Freight one have a mechanical stop?

-Wayne

Has four stops and two rams, just like Bill's. See pictures on the first page. 6000 lbs capacity.

[RoninLB]

while I'm doing this lifting..
this is another pelicanheads pic of my model on a shop floor. Mine is 3/4 in below floor level and surrounded by 4 level platforms. 3/4 ply fills the rectangle if needed. On both rect ends is diamond plate covering a concrete platform and 1ft dia drain, which is plenty strong for a jack.

[Randy Webb]

I am a renter....

[widebody911]

I like the height of the 2-post lift, but I didn't want to give up the floor space.

[cantdrv55]

It'd be cool to have a 2 or 4 post lift but someone like me who just does regular maintenance, it's probably overkill. Hell, Souk's lift might be overkill but I think I'm going to get one. I will be doing my own suspension soon though (tbars, shocks and tie-rods) so the lift will come in handy. Plus, the money I can save by going the HF route can go to more P-car upgrades.