Author Topic: vehicle lift - seeking your expert advice  (Read 979 times)

Offline longgone

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vehicle lift - seeking your expert advice
« on: October 16, 2007 - 11:17:29 PM »
Finally decided to bite the bullet and install a lift in the shop.  I have a 69 camaro, 70 cuda, land rover discovery and a GMC denalli XL that I'll probably be lifting with it to do maintenance and such on so I don't think I need anything excessive.  I don't think I'll ever own a really big vehicle, the denalli xl is probably the biggest I'll ever drive.  My shop ceiling is about 13" tall and it has a double wide garage door that when up would be in the way, I'll need to figure something out with it I suppose.

1. Looking for recommendations on type of lift to get and where to get it.
2. How do I tell if my concrete will hold a lift?  I have 6" floor but no idea about it's density rating.
3. What do people do about the garage door?  I could just have it in the down position but with no A/C that might make it warm in the NC summers...
4. Any tips or things to look out for?

No more  :working: soon....

Thanks in advance for your wonderful and sharing knowledge.  There truly is a goldmine of people and knowledge at C-C.
Thanks
Blueglow




Offline 70Cuda

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Re: vehicle lift - seeking your expert advice
« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2007 - 11:42:32 PM »
This is what I have and did a bunch of checking it out first and I normally keep my 70 Cuda on it:

http://www.liftsunlimited.com/prod-perfect-info.asp

I have the XLT with the free extra width extension and it fits just inside a normal single wide stall this way.  If you don't get the free extra width, good luck getting your truck on it and I have a full size 98 quad-cab Ram and this was the only lift I could find wide enough that I wouldn't have to fold my mirrors in on.  This comes with a full 1 foot square base and I have had no problems with the concrete holding up and 6" is plenty.  I have a 10'3" ceiling and have notched it out so I can fit the greenhouse of the 'Cuda up and in the ceiling and this allows me to go to the second highest notch and at that height, I can park my 05 Caravan underneath the 'Cuda.

I'm happy I bit the bullet and bought this lift and I know several people who have one including my Dad now.  If you are going to be taking the ramps off on a regular basis, spend the money and get the aluminum ramps.  I have the caster kit so I can roll the lift around in the garage but realistically, you probably don't need it and I would have been better off with the ramps instead.

I had my garage door reworked so it's snug to the ceiling and reused the existing opener and I don't have any concerns about hitting the car but I did center the lift in the bay so it's a bit farther ahead.  Some people say you have to switch to a jack shaft opener but mine has been fine and the lift has been in place for 4-5 years now.  I had this professionally done for less than $450 because I didn't want to tackle the door spring which I know people who have been hurt by.

I now fit 4 cars in a 3 stall but you will need to watch out and make sure the posts don't get in your way or you will still end up with a 2 car garage.  You may need to compromise on the width and not be concerned about getting anything bigger than a car on it or you may lose the other bay.

The 4-post lifts are great for storage but a two post non drive on one is better if you are going to be working on the bottom of cars all the time but you can use the 4-post for that and more if you can live with the drive on portion being in the way.  I do have two sliding jack trays so I can suspend the car on the lift and change tires or work on the rear-end - whatever.

Yes it is an investment but if you cannot build or get a bigger garage you'll be happy and you will find other things to do once you have it too that are so much easier - like detailing the underside, changing transmissions, exhaust, starter, whatever.

Oh yeah, if you have the bucks, they would build you a double wide lift too that would hold two cars but it's cheaper to get two lifts and more flexible that way and you could save some money by using a shared pump with disconnects.  Probably not a big deal to you but they will work with you.
« Last Edit: October 16, 2007 - 11:49:20 PM by 70Cuda »

Offline longgone

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Re: vehicle lift - seeking your expert advice
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2007 - 06:57:05 AM »
Nice looking lift but my main goal for a lift is being able to work on brakes, wheel bearings, change tires, etc so I'm thinking a 2 post is more what I'm seeking.  I don't need to be able to store a vehicle on the lift as my building is a 2 story metal barn with about 8 places I could park cars easily (6000sq ft).

Doesn't a 4 post lift make it hard to do wheel work as the car is really resting on the tires?

I know I can't do exhaust work on a 2 post due to suspension and body flex but don't think I would be doing that any way.  Most specialty stuff I'll leave to the specialty shops anyway.

Thanks
Blueglow

Offline 70Cuda

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Re: vehicle lift - seeking your expert advice
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2007 - 08:58:52 PM »
OK, if storage isn't your goal, get a fixed two post lift then.  I do plenty of maintenance with mine but yes, I have to jack the car up on the lift and use jack stands.

Offline IMNCARN82

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Re: vehicle lift - seeking your expert advice
« Reply #4 on: October 18, 2007 - 09:38:00 AM »
Someone here just posted on a cool scissors lift... :clueless:
'73 340 5 speed,RMS,BAER,... "Supercuda" (O[   ]||||[   ]O)  
'69 Dodge Charger 383,Auto                  (OiiiiiiiiiiIiiiiiiiiiiO)
13' Challenger R/T BlacktoP  6spd. (OO________OO)
71' Demon
75' Duster
87' Conquest TSI
56' Plaza
Boulder CO
Robert    "cuda bob"