Help Me Choose a Lift
05-02-2010, 08:40 PM
#61
Here's a pic.
The trusses are not as much in the way as they look in the photo. They are 10' apart and it looks like I will be able to lift the 928 and our 09 Altima all the way up. Our Yukon XL is another story...
The center 2x6 behind the basket ball goal can easily be moved to the side if needed but so far it doesn't look like it will be too much in the way.
Don't have any pics of the delima yet.
I know, strange place for a BB goal, but we don't have concrete on the driveway outside the garage so this is the only place I could find to mount one when my daughter started playing BB. The bottom 8" or so will probably be trimmed off.
The trusses are not as much in the way as they look in the photo. They are 10' apart and it looks like I will be able to lift the 928 and our 09 Altima all the way up. Our Yukon XL is another story...
The center 2x6 behind the basket ball goal can easily be moved to the side if needed but so far it doesn't look like it will be too much in the way.
Don't have any pics of the delima yet.
I know, strange place for a BB goal, but we don't have concrete on the driveway outside the garage so this is the only place I could find to mount one when my daughter started playing BB. The bottom 8" or so will probably be trimmed off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLUjq6ijvVc
05-02-2010, 08:50 PM
#62
Rennlist Member
That's a Greg Smith Equipment video that I have watched several times. They sell lots of Chinese lifts including the Direct Lift 9D that I bought, so that video makes me feel pretty good about the DirectLift products.
http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/At...atlas-nine.htm
http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/At...atlas-nine.htm
05-14-2010, 03:37 PM
#63
Rennlist Member
Any news here?
I am also hoping to put a lift in my new garage this summer. I really like the MaxJax lift because it offers the better lifting setup of a 2-poster, I can move it out of the way for most of the year (expect to only use it a couple of times a year), and I can take it with me if & when I move. Plus when the posts are installed, I can park my tractor between them.
Hey... can I use that sucker to get at the blades on my mower deck?
I am also hoping to put a lift in my new garage this summer. I really like the MaxJax lift because it offers the better lifting setup of a 2-poster, I can move it out of the way for most of the year (expect to only use it a couple of times a year), and I can take it with me if & when I move. Plus when the posts are installed, I can park my tractor between them.
Hey... can I use that sucker to get at the blades on my mower deck?
05-14-2010, 03:47 PM
#64
Rennlist Member
My DirectLift has worked out well. Very happy with the purchase.
Yes, you can use the lift for all sorts of other lifting. A couple of days ago I raised my 4 wheeler to change the oil using a 2x4 across the front pads and placing the rear pads on the frame just in front of the rear wheels.. Haven't tried lifting my mower yet to get to the blades, but I'm thinking that won't be too difficult either.
Yes, you can use the lift for all sorts of other lifting. A couple of days ago I raised my 4 wheeler to change the oil using a 2x4 across the front pads and placing the rear pads on the frame just in front of the rear wheels.. Haven't tried lifting my mower yet to get to the blades, but I'm thinking that won't be too difficult either.
05-14-2010, 03:52 PM
#65
Chronic Tool Dropper
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Any news here?
I am also hoping to put a lift in my new garage this summer. I really like the MaxJax lift because it offers the better lifting setup of a 2-poster, I can move it out of the way for most of the year (expect to only use it a couple of times a year), and I can take it with me if & when I move. Plus when the posts are installed, I can park my tractor between them.
Hey... can I use that sucker to get at the blades on my mower deck?
I am also hoping to put a lift in my new garage this summer. I really like the MaxJax lift because it offers the better lifting setup of a 2-poster, I can move it out of the way for most of the year (expect to only use it a couple of times a year), and I can take it with me if & when I move. Plus when the posts are installed, I can park my tractor between them.
Hey... can I use that sucker to get at the blades on my mower deck?
05-14-2010, 05:29 PM
#66
we have lift off!
Earlier I jumped in on this thread, as I was, too, looking for a lift. Although I do some wrenching, my primary application was storage.
Earlier advice was against the "Maximum One" single post lift, based on the thought that it didn't offer enough clearance to allow me to service the car, but I really couldn't find anything better. The primary factors in my purchase decision were (in order): safety, storage use/space efficiency, price, and appearance. So I went with it.
First, the purchase experience was fantastic. I was given all the information I needed which was important because I was a little anxious about this - a lift can be dangerous, it's a lot of money, and I have no experience with lifts. Don't even know anyone who has one. The last thing I want to do is drop my car and do $100k+ of irreversible damage to three cars and my house, or worse, kill me or someone else! So, when I initially approached American Custom Lifts, I was just shopping. However, there was good follow up at that time, and when I was ready to buy, we picked up where I left off.
The lift order was placed on April 5, and arrived in Atlanta via LTL on May 4. AC Lifts coordinated an installer and shipping. The lift was shipped to the shippers terminal where the installer picked it up, brought it over and put it in.
The communication was throughout - the installer called to understand the layout and specifics of the installation to make sure he knew of any obstacles well in advance. I quickly grew confident that the installer selected was experienced and and capable of handling the job. I was also called when the lift was nearing shipment, during shipment, and after installation by both the installer and AC Lifts.
The lift I chose is available in both a 120v and a 240v power unit. Within 3 days of ordering I quickly changed to a 240v outlet when I realized that the gas dryer in the laundry room left an electric dryer circuit available for an extension to the garage (a full run from the panel would have been a challenge). While I think the 120v would have been sufficient, I wanted to make sure I had plenty of juice for quick lifts.
Installation - A last minute change at work required me to be out of town on installation day. My presence wasn't required, although when a couple questions came up the installer called and we talked through the lift placement and electrical connection. When I arrived home the next day, the lift was all set up and ready to go. All of the packing materials were removed. I did have to wipe down the unit to remove some concrete and shipping dust. I had just wiped everything down in my garage the prior weekend to remove the spring Georgia pine pollen, so I wanted that showroom appearance. In a follow up call, AC Lifts noted that feedback and was sincere in that wipedowns are standard instruction to the installer.
by the way, in that follow-up call, I also noted a few areas where the white paint was chipped. Perhaps from shipping, or maybe from installation. Not a big deal, and, it is something I'll be driving my car over, but I did mention it. AC Lifts had a can of touch up paint at my house within two days!
Beyond that, the installation was and is solid. With the construction of this lift, some spacers were used to make sure the lift was level and square in my garage, which did vary 0.25" over the area of the installation. A check with my 4 foot level showed that the platform was as flat as a pancake. All holes for the base were drilled completely through my concrete. I was left with a bag of bolt hardware, so I suspect my particular installer may have used larger/longer bolts than what came with the unit. (He said on the phone, "I'm a bolt bigot").
Lift - The lift itself is very strong. I have the unit rated for 4500#. The platform barely flexes with the 928 on it. The single post is 0.5" steel with the base consisting of multiple 1" steel plates. The unit has movable drip pans to keep the car below clean. I lift also comes with removable diamondplate aluminum ramps. This allows cars with low clearance to get up on the platform. The ramps do not have to be removed when raising/lowering the vehicle.
Lift operation - It's easy - a single electrical button to turn on the pump. The pump fills the hydraulic cylinder that lift the platform. When the lift rises, the large, heavy metal pin clicks as the carriage passes each safety stop. Once the car is lifted in position, you depress the lever to open the valve that allows the cylinder to expel oil back into the reservoir. This lowers the platform until the metal pin rests on the safety stop. That is so that you take pressure off of the pump and allow the lift to be supported by steel.
To lower the lift, you raise the lift slightly, then pull a cable that moves the pin away from the safety stops, then depress the lever until the platform is lowered to the floor.
This particular lift does not have any limiters or lockable switches. The electrical switch and lever are six feet off the ground, so a small child wouldn't be able to reach it. I suppose if it were a worry, you could at least install a locking electrical switch at the pushbutton to prevent someone from raising a vehicle. Given that you have to lift the vehicle off of a safety stop in order to lower it, I think this would effectively prevent someone from lowering your vehicle, too.
As far as raising the vehicle in my tight (10.5 foot) residential garage, I do need to be cautious to make sure I don't lift my car through the ceiling! I'll probably mark with tape my limit on the post.
Allright, allright. This is my first lift, so I'm a bit verbose. The bottom line is this: I love this thing. It allows me to keep my daily driver, my 928, and my wife's grocery getter out of the weather and safe in the garage. Although expensive when you consider the cost by itself, my next choice was to build another attached garage. Not only would that have chewed up some room, the cost of the lift is a fraction at what it would have costed to erect another structure (with electric service, a wash sink, A/C - why not?).
I can't wait to show the guy down the street who has a 350Z under a cover on his driveway...
Enough of that - here are some pics:
Earlier advice was against the "Maximum One" single post lift, based on the thought that it didn't offer enough clearance to allow me to service the car, but I really couldn't find anything better. The primary factors in my purchase decision were (in order): safety, storage use/space efficiency, price, and appearance. So I went with it.
First, the purchase experience was fantastic. I was given all the information I needed which was important because I was a little anxious about this - a lift can be dangerous, it's a lot of money, and I have no experience with lifts. Don't even know anyone who has one. The last thing I want to do is drop my car and do $100k+ of irreversible damage to three cars and my house, or worse, kill me or someone else! So, when I initially approached American Custom Lifts, I was just shopping. However, there was good follow up at that time, and when I was ready to buy, we picked up where I left off.
The lift order was placed on April 5, and arrived in Atlanta via LTL on May 4. AC Lifts coordinated an installer and shipping. The lift was shipped to the shippers terminal where the installer picked it up, brought it over and put it in.
The communication was throughout - the installer called to understand the layout and specifics of the installation to make sure he knew of any obstacles well in advance. I quickly grew confident that the installer selected was experienced and and capable of handling the job. I was also called when the lift was nearing shipment, during shipment, and after installation by both the installer and AC Lifts.
The lift I chose is available in both a 120v and a 240v power unit. Within 3 days of ordering I quickly changed to a 240v outlet when I realized that the gas dryer in the laundry room left an electric dryer circuit available for an extension to the garage (a full run from the panel would have been a challenge). While I think the 120v would have been sufficient, I wanted to make sure I had plenty of juice for quick lifts.
Installation - A last minute change at work required me to be out of town on installation day. My presence wasn't required, although when a couple questions came up the installer called and we talked through the lift placement and electrical connection. When I arrived home the next day, the lift was all set up and ready to go. All of the packing materials were removed. I did have to wipe down the unit to remove some concrete and shipping dust. I had just wiped everything down in my garage the prior weekend to remove the spring Georgia pine pollen, so I wanted that showroom appearance. In a follow up call, AC Lifts noted that feedback and was sincere in that wipedowns are standard instruction to the installer.
by the way, in that follow-up call, I also noted a few areas where the white paint was chipped. Perhaps from shipping, or maybe from installation. Not a big deal, and, it is something I'll be driving my car over, but I did mention it. AC Lifts had a can of touch up paint at my house within two days!
Beyond that, the installation was and is solid. With the construction of this lift, some spacers were used to make sure the lift was level and square in my garage, which did vary 0.25" over the area of the installation. A check with my 4 foot level showed that the platform was as flat as a pancake. All holes for the base were drilled completely through my concrete. I was left with a bag of bolt hardware, so I suspect my particular installer may have used larger/longer bolts than what came with the unit. (He said on the phone, "I'm a bolt bigot").
Lift - The lift itself is very strong. I have the unit rated for 4500#. The platform barely flexes with the 928 on it. The single post is 0.5" steel with the base consisting of multiple 1" steel plates. The unit has movable drip pans to keep the car below clean. I lift also comes with removable diamondplate aluminum ramps. This allows cars with low clearance to get up on the platform. The ramps do not have to be removed when raising/lowering the vehicle.
Lift operation - It's easy - a single electrical button to turn on the pump. The pump fills the hydraulic cylinder that lift the platform. When the lift rises, the large, heavy metal pin clicks as the carriage passes each safety stop. Once the car is lifted in position, you depress the lever to open the valve that allows the cylinder to expel oil back into the reservoir. This lowers the platform until the metal pin rests on the safety stop. That is so that you take pressure off of the pump and allow the lift to be supported by steel.
To lower the lift, you raise the lift slightly, then pull a cable that moves the pin away from the safety stops, then depress the lever until the platform is lowered to the floor.
This particular lift does not have any limiters or lockable switches. The electrical switch and lever are six feet off the ground, so a small child wouldn't be able to reach it. I suppose if it were a worry, you could at least install a locking electrical switch at the pushbutton to prevent someone from raising a vehicle. Given that you have to lift the vehicle off of a safety stop in order to lower it, I think this would effectively prevent someone from lowering your vehicle, too.
As far as raising the vehicle in my tight (10.5 foot) residential garage, I do need to be cautious to make sure I don't lift my car through the ceiling! I'll probably mark with tape my limit on the post.
Allright, allright. This is my first lift, so I'm a bit verbose. The bottom line is this: I love this thing. It allows me to keep my daily driver, my 928, and my wife's grocery getter out of the weather and safe in the garage. Although expensive when you consider the cost by itself, my next choice was to build another attached garage. Not only would that have chewed up some room, the cost of the lift is a fraction at what it would have costed to erect another structure (with electric service, a wash sink, A/C - why not?).
I can't wait to show the guy down the street who has a 350Z under a cover on his driveway...
Enough of that - here are some pics:
05-14-2010, 07:11 PM
#67
Rennlist Member
That's what I'm thinking... The garage bay where this sucker will go has an overhead door that won't allow me full-height lifting unless I install it much further/deeper in the garage, but then I may be on top of my work bench. Not sure - I will have to measure the clear area between the bench and the door opener to be sure. But 48" lifting is fine for suspension work, and good enough for undercarriage work, if not as comfortable as standing straight up under the car.
05-14-2010, 07:41 PM
#68
Chronic Tool Dropper
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Gaz--
I've been thinking hard about the shorter lift. I really like the idea that I can just roll one of the columns out of the way when it's not being used. There's also a convenience factor, since I can go pick up the lift at Moorpark maybe 45 mins from the house, and avoid all that annoying shipping damage that some on the garage forums have had problems with. I have all the install tools and the power is already there for it. Just need to pull the trigger one of these days.
I've been thinking hard about the shorter lift. I really like the idea that I can just roll one of the columns out of the way when it's not being used. There's also a convenience factor, since I can go pick up the lift at Moorpark maybe 45 mins from the house, and avoid all that annoying shipping damage that some on the garage forums have had problems with. I have all the install tools and the power is already there for it. Just need to pull the trigger one of these days.
05-14-2010, 07:44 PM
#69
Archive Gatekeeper
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Bob-
Pull the trigger! You'll love it! All the kids are doing it!
Except me..... sigh
Pull the trigger! You'll love it! All the kids are doing it!
Except me..... sigh
05-14-2010, 10:23 PM
#70
Chronic Tool Dropper
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Go for it Rob! We'll fab a 3/4" baseplate and use some JBWeld to hold the plates to the floor. No drilling into your post-tension floor.
Seriously, you could buy a 4x8 chunk of plate and bolt through to the little lift columns. The plate is the same stuff that the street repair guys use to temporarily cover street excavations.
Seriously, you could buy a 4x8 chunk of plate and bolt through to the little lift columns. The plate is the same stuff that the street repair guys use to temporarily cover street excavations.
05-14-2010, 11:23 PM
#71
Any news here?
I am also hoping to put a lift in my new garage this summer. I really like the MaxJax lift because it offers the better lifting setup of a 2-poster, I can move it out of the way for most of the year (expect to only use it a couple of times a year), and I can take it with me if & when I move. Plus when the posts are installed, I can park my tractor between them.
Hey... can I use that sucker to get at the blades on my mower deck?
I am also hoping to put a lift in my new garage this summer. I really like the MaxJax lift because it offers the better lifting setup of a 2-poster, I can move it out of the way for most of the year (expect to only use it a couple of times a year), and I can take it with me if & when I move. Plus when the posts are installed, I can park my tractor between them.
Hey... can I use that sucker to get at the blades on my mower deck?
The next time a US manufacturer complains about their business prospects ... ask them if their f-ing sales people bother to follow up on f-ing customer enquiries?!
05-15-2010, 12:42 AM
#72
Nordschleife Master
Matt,
LOVE IT!!! I set my garage up to potentially put THREE of the single arm lifts in it! What was the final cost of lift, shipping and install if you don't mind me asking? I would put my race car (2750#) on my lift and leave just enough room for a 928 underneath. I do have a possible problem with that lift you have though... reaching the controls. Since I am in a wheelchair, I can't get to stuff as high as your controls are located... would they be able to reposition them lower, or possibly remotely?
Also, what is the height from the ground to the top of the lift post and do they tie it in to the house at the top as well as the bottom, or just as the bottom?
LOVE IT!!! I set my garage up to potentially put THREE of the single arm lifts in it! What was the final cost of lift, shipping and install if you don't mind me asking? I would put my race car (2750#) on my lift and leave just enough room for a 928 underneath. I do have a possible problem with that lift you have though... reaching the controls. Since I am in a wheelchair, I can't get to stuff as high as your controls are located... would they be able to reposition them lower, or possibly remotely?
Also, what is the height from the ground to the top of the lift post and do they tie it in to the house at the top as well as the bottom, or just as the bottom?
05-15-2010, 04:53 PM
#74
Instructor
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Coral Gables, Florida
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How about four post lifts? I have been thinking about the ones that you can move around (when not loaded of course) I kind of like the idea of using it for storage of one car on top one on bottom and also having the ability to roll inside the warehouse if I need to make space or reorganize, also rolling it out side for other (dirty) work is a plus. I would get it with the optional rail lifters for doing wheel/break work. Anyone have suggestions on the four post? Does anybody own one?
05-15-2010, 05:21 PM
#75
Matt,
LOVE IT!!! I set my garage up to potentially put THREE of the single arm lifts in it! What was the final cost of lift, shipping and install if you don't mind me asking? I would put my race car (2750#) on my lift and leave just enough room for a 928 underneath. I do have a possible problem with that lift you have though... reaching the controls. Since I am in a wheelchair, I can't get to stuff as high as your controls are located... would they be able to reposition them lower, or possibly remotely?
Also, what is the height from the ground to the top of the lift post and do they tie it in to the house at the top as well as the bottom, or just as the bottom?
LOVE IT!!! I set my garage up to potentially put THREE of the single arm lifts in it! What was the final cost of lift, shipping and install if you don't mind me asking? I would put my race car (2750#) on my lift and leave just enough room for a 928 underneath. I do have a possible problem with that lift you have though... reaching the controls. Since I am in a wheelchair, I can't get to stuff as high as your controls are located... would they be able to reposition them lower, or possibly remotely?
Also, what is the height from the ground to the top of the lift post and do they tie it in to the house at the top as well as the bottom, or just as the bottom?
The controls consist of the oil tank, a valve, and a pump/motor mounted on top. On the front of the motor is an electrical box where the lift pushbutton is located. The total length of that assembly from bottom of tank to top of motor is 31" and is simply bolted to a metal bracket that's welded on the side of the post. That bracket could be anywhere. The actual connection to the lift is simply two hydraulic hoses. I would think that this type of modification could be easily accommodated.
The top of the lift post is 9'5". It does not connect or attach to the house.
Regards, Matt