Who here has a lift at home?

[MN 986]

Check out gesusa.com for lifts (no affiliation). I bought a BendPak 4 post lift from them a few years ago and it works great. My 3 car garage now holds 4 cars!
The Danmar lifts are a little cheaper and similar quality. Not sure you can get a good 4 post lift for less than $2000, but these guys had lowest pricing and great service for what I was looking for at the time.

[Jager]

Another member of this forum (thank you Paul) turned me on to this company: http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-TD6MR-Portable-Scissor-Lift-p/attd-6mr.htm

[stateofidleness]

oh man! I think I found my lift! http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=XH-PRO8000

I'm assuming you have the scissor lift you linked to?

I'm not even sure how I'd accept delivery of that 4 post lift??? 53' foot trailer delivery means you'll probably have to meet up in a parking lot somewhere with your own trailer (simple enough), but how would I coordinate the transfer from the big rig to the small trailer?

[Cloudsurfer]

Are you desiring a lift for added car storage, or to work on the car? A four post lift is for car storage or for an exhaust shop. If you want to work on the car, you'll find it virtually useless.

Any two post lift needs to be bolted to the floor, and you must have concrete that is of appropriate PSI and thickness. If you want to work on the car, you really want a two post lift, but with a car like a Porsche, you can get away with a scissor lift, but they are useless for any "normal" cars (BMWs, S2000s, Audis, etc) for anything beyond working on the corners of the car, as the scissor mechanism blocks access to the driveline.

[stateofidleness]

i like the stability of a 4 post lift and the advantage of being able to store 2 vehicles if I choose. The added clearance underneath is a plus (can't get that with a scissor lift)

I don't want one I need to bolt to the floor, so 2 posts are out.

Scissor lifts block too much access for floor jacks and bodies than a 4 post lift. How is a 4 post lift worthless?

[Hawke]

Got a two post lift, no floor plate and assrimick arms.

Allows you to get out of the car without hitting the door, and takes up less floor space.

As far as foundations go and bolting, there is nothing special needed. Normal concrete strength and thickness are OK.

I park the Porsche underneath, and keep either the Formula Ford or Lotus above.

Just remember, that most two post lifts are designed for front engined cars. Porsche being midengined has a different centre of gravety, so it can get unbalanced.

If you lift fiberglass cars, just remember that you must lift by the chasis, otherwise body up on the lift, chasis on the ground.

If lifting Formula race cars, the shorter front bars are usually not long enough, so some extension is needed.

[Mark_T]

I haven't bought a lift yet (next year's budget) but I'm going to go with the Max Jax Portable:

http://www.princessauto.com/car_hoists

It is reasonably priced, more than adequste in its lifting capacity, and can be unbolted from the floor and wheeled away when not in use. Plus (big plus actually) it can be operated on a 110V circuit. Most people don't have 220V in their garage.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by stateofidleness

i like the stability of a 4 post lift and the advantage of being able to store 2 vehicles if I choose. The added clearance underneath is a plus (can't get that with a scissor lift)

I don't want one I need to bolt to the floor, so 2 posts are out.

Scissor lifts block too much access for floor jacks and bodies than a 4 post lift. How is a 4 post lift worthless?

My scissor lift blocks almost nothing on a Porsche and can be used on almost any flat concrete surface. Plus it works in a garage with a normal ceiling height and has wheels so it can be moved when there's not a car on it.

[stateofidleness]

One other reason I like the 4 post lift is that I also have a 914, which as we all know, lives on the lift

I'd like to be able to have two cars in at the same time if I need to.

The scissor lifts look really functionally smart, but are you ever nervous about front to back balance? Also, my dad would like to be able to work on his F150 if he needed to, so there's a need for some "common ground" on the lift to be able to accommodate the Box, the Teener and the Truck.

[md10835]

Originally Posted by stateofidleness

oh man! I think I found my lift! Atlas Garage Pro 8,000

I'm assuming you have the scissor lift you linked to?

I'm not even sure how I'd accept delivery of that 4 post lift??? 53' foot trailer delivery means you'll probably have to meet up in a parking lot somewhere with your own trailer (simple enough), but how would I coordinate the transfer from the big rig to the small trailer?

my only problem with this type of life, as has been said, is that it's meant for more storage and less up/down action - a lot of boxster jobs involve going under the engine to remove something, then going through the engine bay to get the other line...

additionally, if you need to remove the wheel to do anything it's useless - try to replace the cv boots with that lift.

if you're looking to store the boxster for the winter in your dad's garage, then it seems like a good choice. assuming your dad (or mom) don't mind parking under another car.

[Frodo]

Hey Paul...

Awhile back I did my front motor mount and my water pump/thermostat. With your scissor lift, would all these parts be easily accessible? Ie, is the front part of the engine behind the back part of the lift, or do you have to be somewhat of a contortionist to reach stuff through the support structures of the lift?

[ProjectM96]

Just buy one of those ramps from pepboys. They lift the car 1 foot when you drive over them. Plenty of space to work on anything.

[Eric G]

Originally Posted by Jager

Another member of this forum (thank you Paul) turned me on to this company: Atlas TD6MR Portable Scissor Lift

I had this delivered about two months ago. Best damn money I have spent! Love how easy the system works.

[SoK]

Originally Posted by MN 986

Check out gesusa.com for lifts (no affiliation). I bought a BendPak 4 post lift from them a few years ago and it works great. My 3 car garage now holds 4 cars!
The Danmar lifts are a little cheaper and similar quality. Not sure you can get a good 4 post lift for less than $2000, but these guys had lowest pricing and great service for what I was looking for at the time.

Have a pic of your garage? How tall are the cielings?

[MN 986]

Originally Posted by SoK

Have a pic of your garage? How tall are the cielings?

Sorry, I don't have a picture, but my ceilings are 11 ft.

[jrj3rd]

I have a max-jax portable 2 post lift in my garage with 8 1/2 foot ceilings. Love it. Was one of the first buyers and highly recommend it. MaxJax Portable Two Post Lifting System by Dannmar.