Lift decision: Advice from lift owners please!

[bbh03]

I have a 2 car garage in my townhouse with a 9ft cieling. It will be getting a lift next month. I cannot fit a two post, so the decision is between a 4 post and a full rise scissor lift. The scissor seems to be more convenient for wheel and suspension work (dont need a bridge lift like you do with a 4 post), but the 4 post doesn't require installation, costs less and allows for extra vehicle storage.

Problem is the garage is sort of narrow (18 ft wide and it has two 8ft doors, not a single large door.

The other consideration is the cars. Has to be able to do full service on both a 911 and an M5 (big MFer). This could be a problem for the scissor lift.

Thanks in advance for any comments!

[PcarPhil]

I've got a 4-post lift and I love it except for the fact I can't do engine drops with it. The ramps are too close together to allow a drop.

[bbh03]

Ouch, that could be a problem for me...

Would you mind telling what brand you have and how much distance between the ramps?

[Tim Hancock]

To each their own, but I love my Bend Pak 48" scissors lift and I have had every car in my signature plus my Toyota Tacoma 4 X 4 and a friend's C5 Corvette on it. It is rated at 6000 lbs and best of all it is mobile and runs on 110. I bought mine 1 1/2 yrs ago for $1400 with free shipping (now I think they are around $1600).

I have done exhaust work, engine work and replaced a clutch on a 944 Turbo (which required pulling the exhaust sytem, the transmission, and the center tunnel mounted torque tube!) all while the car was on the lift. I usually lift the vehicle to a height that allows me to sit comfortably on an old office chair with wheels.

The room I do most of my car work in is also my paint booth so sometimes I need a large clear space for painting aircraft wings etc. The fact that it lays fairly flat and is mobile is a big plus for me. I typically park my 911 over it at night when not in use.

I typically use mine at least a couple times a week.

[greglepore]

I wouldn't get a 4 post w/ a 9ft ceiling. The only real advantage is the storage issue, and I have doubts as to whether you could actually do that w/ a 4 post in and 9ft ceilings.

[Carrera Kid]

I've got a 4-post lift and I love it except for the fact I can't do engine drops with it. The ramps are too close together to allow a drop.

This is the first I've heard of this, though it does make sense. I've got a 4-post and did plan on an engine drop at some point to do the clutch. The ramps are fairly close together, but I'm sure on another thread on lifts that at least one person mentioned doing an engine drop with a 4-post (maybe one with greater spacing). How about if you put the car with the rear wheels right at the end of the ramp (using the safety stops on the ramps of course!), then would the engine clear (being behind the end of the ramps) and just have the tranny between the ramps? I have to do this anyways for oil changes; something that nobody mentioned before, as the tank oil drain is in line with the passenger tire and ends up over the ramp, so you hang the back end over the end of the ramp.

I got the 4-post since the "footprint" of the mid-rise lifts made me nervous. I know there has never been an accident with them but they just seem a little unstable to me.

Rick
'87 Carrera

[bbh03]

This is the scissor lift I have been considering:

http://www.asedeals.com/scissor_lifts.html

I have to be able to do engine drops in 911s and tansmission drops in front engine cars as well.

[Emission]

What's the minimum height to use a 4-post for vehicle storage? I have 9'4" ceilings...

[bbh03]

You would have to measure the vehicles. The posts themselves are under 8 feet.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally posted by bbh03
This is the scissor lift I have been considering:

http://www.asedeals.com/scissor_lifts.html

I have to be able to do engine drops in 911s and tansmission drops in front engine cars as well.

I am pretty sure I could drop a conventional tranny with my Bend Pak, as the "platform" is relatively small and other than a couple cross stringers, it is pretty open in the middle ( recently pulled the pan and changed a tranny filter in my Audi A6 2.7 T). I built a set of 10" platforms that I lower my cars onto when doing alignment work, that could be used if need be, but thus far I have not encountered any part of any of my cars that I could not easily access while on the lift. But ANY kind of lift will trump no lift.

[1982911SCTarga]

But ANY kind of lift will trump no lift.

Aside from my 3/8" ratchet, my lift is one of my most used tools.
Brian

[jshape]

Don't forget that if you are planning to use a four poster for storage/parking of a vehicle and your garage is not almost two cars deep, a normal overhead garage door will not work. Probably obvious but I do know someone who was ready to order one and didn't factor in that very critical factor.

[Emission]

Originally posted by SoCal911SC
I measured a 5 series BMW, too. I don't remember the exact number, but definately aren't going to get a 5 series stored on a lift with 9 foot ceilings!

Emission, with 9'4" you could store 2 911s, I think, but it would be very close and they'd have to both be lowered down cars.

You reading my mind?

I was thinking of getting a 5-series and putting it under the lift (with the 930 on it). I need to do some measuring...

Yeah, I'd need to buy a new garage door too as my sectional won't work.

[PcarPhil]

Originally posted by bbh03
Ouch, that could be a problem for me...

Would you mind telling what brand you have and how much distance between the ramps?

Well...uhh....it's blue and I don't think it's a Bend-Pak. I'll try to find a manufacture name and measure the distance between the ramps when I get home.

My neighbor is letting me borrow the lift indefinetly since it was just sitting in storage and he wasn't using it. I didn't purchase it new so I don't know the specifics other than it has a 7000lb capacity.. Nice neighbor, huh!

[bbh03]

Well, I wans't thinking of putting the M5 under it, but that would be nice. I have to remeasure the ceiling and see if I have over 9'. I am accounting for the garage door (meaning I thought about it), but I haven't measured clearance yet until I see if the other factors work themselves out. Custom tracks can usually clear the car.

Thanks for the input all, I have to go do some measuring when I get home. Any comment on that full rise scissor link I posted?

[bbh03]

Ah, you beat me to it SoCal!

[Bill Verburg]

you need to decide what you whant the lift for, I mostly do wheels and brakes so the mid rise is perfect, you also do get good access to the front and rear suspension and engine of a 911.

Same w/ my Audi, wheels and brakes are great, muffler and drive shaft, not, but then I rarely need to look at them.

[mede8er]

Another vote for the mid rise.......just mke sure you've got some buddies around to help yo get it into the garage when they dump it out on the sidewalk.......

[bbh03]

So you mid rise guys, no problem dropping transmissions on a BMW (ever tried) as well as 911 engine/tranny drops? I'm looking at the Bend Pak model. Snap On is far too much coin (rather put it towards another Pcar). I may go mid rise if I am not loosing any accessibility over that full rise model I posted.

[bbh03]

I just re-read your post, Bill V. I guess middle access is not so good for the front engine cars, huh.