Joined the scissor lift owner's club!

[digitaldgp]

I sure like having mine!!

[rokemester]

Got the 911 up over the lift. Plenty of clearance for setting up the lift points. Just a few more minor final assembly steps.

[GH85Carrera]

I did the wooden ramps for a while. It is just a pain to get everything aligned and the car right on the ramps by myself. And what do you do withe the ramps once you are done.

In the end, I talked to a builder friend of mine. He sent over a crew to do my pit.


They cut the floor, and removed the concrete and hauled it away. Just that work would have put in in the hospital with a bad back.


They did put in rebar on the bottom, and used 3000 PSI concrete.







I moved the pump to a wall mount and just ran some conduit and brought in 110 volts to the pit.

After several years, I just love it. With the wood on the top, the entire lift and pit are essentially gone. It makes it easy to park my daily driver on that spot. Just move the plywood off, pull in and get the car on the lift.

[Rich Lambert]

Originally Posted by rokemester

Got the 911 up over the lift. Plenty of clearance for setting up the lift points. Just a few more minor final assembly steps.

Nice!

[rokemester]

YES! Love the pit approach. Maybe down the line...

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by rokemester

YES! Love the pit approach. Maybe down the line...

I understand. I used the wood ramps for a year.

Once you get the car on the ramps in the perfect spot, put the old analog low tech tennis ball hanging from a string in a the spot that allows you to pull up and park just right there easily next time.

[rokemester]

Yeah that’s my Uncle Bill’s old trick! Brings back GOOD memories.

[GH85Carrera]

Or you can go high tech and get a laser based parking assist with a video camera and 60 inch flat screen and have it guide your parking. Only a few grand and you are set.

The old tennis ball and a few cents worth of string and a thumbtack works with gravity and uses no electricity and works 100% of the time even if you leave it on all the time.

[rokemester]

+1 on that, plus my electricity bill is already to high! Here are a couple of final shots. Thanks again to earlier Pelican Rich who shared his ramp design. The yellow AccuPark (Home Depot on-line) chock block split in two fits the 2 x 10 ramp top perfectly.

[911pcars]

Is it possible to approximate the minimum distance from the scissor lift to the garage door with the car while raised? This for an installation with the base below grade where fore/aft lift position might be limited. I'd like to confirm, maybe maximize the space between the front of the vehicle and the back wall or equivalent while making sure the rear clears the garage door. A long depressed concrete base provides more flexibility, but this reduces the floor space underneath for maneuverability.

Not sure what part of a scissor lift is a valid reference point for all brands (mid-point of lift, center line of scissor pivot? Maybe manuf. specs and the center line of the vehicle?

I understand the position of a 911 on the lift is a variable. The type of garage door (swing or sectional), is probably not an issue other than max. height clearance.

Maybe it's best to shop each model's specs, then extrapolate from there.



Thanks,
Sherwood

[CBRacerX]

@rokemester I have found adding a small wheel stop before the front stop really keeps things simple and cradles the tires. You roll over that then the front stop engages. No need for e-brake or chocks on wheels. And you know just when the end of the ramp is about to be reached. Been using mine like that for 20 years.

[rokemester]

Originally Posted by CBRacerX

@rokemester I have found adding a small wheel stop before the front stop really keeps things simple and cradles the tires. You roll over that then the front stop engages. No need for e-brake or chocks on wheels. And you know just when the end of the ramp is about to be reached. Been using mine like that for 20 years.

YES! great idea! I’m going to order another yellow stop to place before the other one I have fastened! Excellent, thanks!!

[Geronimo]

I was pointed to this thread, not sure how I missed it in my search.

Well I have some overtime money to spend, and want to get a lift to make working on the money pit a little easier.

I was looking at the Bendpak, Titan, and a couple others. I would like to keep costs reasonable, so I can spend on sinking it into the garage floor and a few other garage finishings.

I saw the Titan a week or two ago for like 1780.00, but now it's over $2k... effing inflation! I see a lot of Bendpaks here, are there any others I should be looking at as well?

[efhughes3]

Well, my BendPak has served me well for about 17 years now.

Funny, reading the comments on the ramps-I’ve had a Porsche parked over my lift on ramps for 17 years. I’ve never found it any kind of challenge to park on ramps-you simply get a bead on lining the car up with the ramps. It’s not like trying to land on a moving aircraft carrier. I have cross 2 x 4 stops at the end, which “tell me when to stop”.

Considering I’ve had this lift in 5 houses in 3 states now, I’m glad I never felt the need to sink it in a pit.

[rokemester]

+1 on the ramps! Easy peasy to get my Bug and 911 over the lift properly. The Bug doesn’t really need the height clearance but the ramps make it easier to position the lift pads.

[H-viken]

Very happy with mine so far and don’t regret spending the extra hours sinking it down in to the floor

[Cairo94507]

I remodeled my 3+car garage about 3 years ago and added a BendPak mid-rise scissor lift sunk into the floor. We saw cut the concrete, formed, added rock, sand, crushed rock, rebar tied to the existing concrete and poured about 12" deep of concrete. We cut a channel into the floor and installed chases between the ramps and up to my front wall for the hydraulic lines. Installed and then porcelain tiled the floor. The lift is flush to the floor when down so not trip hazards. The controls are mounted on the side of the refer cabinet, above the bench. The hydraulics are located in a cabinet below the bench. Love the lift.

[GH85Carrera]

I use my scissor lift for more than just working on my cars. With the 1/2 plywood it makes a handy way to elevate the mower for servicing. I have had my gas grill up there.

My wife commandeered the lift to paint our front door. Way easier than bending over and doing it on the ground, or two saw horses.

My garage is on the side of my house. When I park on that bay it is far easier to back in and then just pull out and go. I can pull in front way, but I have to maneuver a lot, and to get out requires reverse and turn and go.

Since I am backing in most times it was more challenging to use ramps. I just use the old tennis ball to be centered up just right if I am going to put the car in the air. If I am just parking my car, it does not matter.

[jjeffries]

You guys who’ve sunk these into the garage floor ... nice work.

I’m still a 2X10 ramps guy, but I did finally add the SnapOn logos a friend thoughtfully cut for me. I know: “Little things please little minds”.



John

[thsupernge]

Originally Posted by Cairo94507

I remodeled my 3+car garage about 3 years ago and added a BendPak mid-rise scissor lift sunk into the floor. We saw cut the concrete, formed, added rock, sand, crushed rock, rebar tied to the existing concrete and poured about 12" deep of concrete. We cut a channel into the floor and installed chases between the ramps and up to my front wall for the hydraulic lines. Installed and then porcelain tiled the floor. The lift is flush to the floor when down so not trip hazards. The controls are mounted on the side of the refer cabinet, above the bench. The hydraulics are located in a cabinet below the bench. Love the lift.

Wow. I love the AC too. Wish it wasn't several hundred $ per unit per month around here. We get ripped off.
Amazing set up!