I just cant work down low anymore. My knees and back are pretty well worn out. I've got three bodywork projects in the shop, and it dawned on me that the lower foot of each car still needs work. I dont do it cause its so hard to get down that low and then get back up again. So I figure if I get a lift that could raise the car up about two feet , I could stay in this hobby I so dearly love. I dont need to get the car way up in the air, just a couple feet. Is there a decent lift out there that you have experience with that wont bankrupt me? Any other creative solutions? Fountain of youth? etc?
we had some moveable lifts that you could roll under a car and it had a remote pump that would lift em 4-5 feet off the ground at wyotech. they worked pretty good. i d try eagle equipment.
Easy-lift is the one I have. Bunch of them out there. I think Tony here on the HAMB has a small scissor lift.
I've had a 4-post, Backyard Buddy for about 15 years now and I use it all the time for everything from mechanical repairs to waxing to changing oil to vehicle storage. It's never given me any problems and it's designed and constructed very well. Never felt the least bit unsafe under it. My 2¢
i actually bought a kwiklift last week. i dig this thing. it fits perfect in my garage and it lifts the car higher than i thought it would. you can also park on it when its not in use to save space. the kwiklift would put your lower bodywork at a good height.
About 16 years ago I bought a ammco 2 post 7 thousand lb lift. Its the best money I have ever spent. Before I purchased mine. {no HAMB then} I talked to all the mechanics and asked what was the best unit. They all liked the ammco. The only set back is you need 12 feet celing clerance. Its saved my back a bunch.. The only draw back is everyone will want to use it for their jobs.. Bobby.
Go to a big auto garage and ask for the companys name and number that sevices their lifts. Call that company and ask if they ever have or get in old lifts. A twin post above the ground lift used will be way cheaper than a sizzors lift, unless they have a used one of them too....stay away from the in the ground lifts....
This old hamber has had a Rotary 2 post assemetrical lift for about 10 years now , a great addition to the shop. I was finding it easy to lie under my cars to work on but hard to get back up,
Chaz, Get a full size lift. The footprint will be about the same either way. Which brand is up to you. I've got two and I am fixing to add a third to the garage. You won't know how you got by without it. Pm me if I can help in any way. Doc.
How do they do when installed on a pad outside? Thinking too, now that I have one of the rectangular steel, corrugated roof carports - Versa Tube brand - under construction if I raised it 4'-6' a hardtop car would fit at full lift.
I've seen drive-up lifts that scissor a car 2-3 feet up for under $1000. I think every Body Shop should use one for better quality work, and less employee burn-out
Any advice about driving up onto a Quicklift with a car with 3 pedals? Seems like you might need to sort of hang out the driver's window a bit to watch the front tire.
I've been lusting after a lift for some time. My thoughts are that the 4 post lifts are the safest-but you need add ons or extras or jacks to get the wheels off the ground. Scissor lifts give you the3 foot rise that is fine, and you can get to the wheels, but then with all the scissor mechanisms, you can't get to the underside of the car. Two post lifts make the most sense and I like the idea of an asymmetric lift, but there is no lift more inherently unstable and my understanding is that you need really good concrete and a perfect installation with the asymmetrics. It's recommended that you have your lift professionally installed,if you look on professional shop's lifts they all have this certification-but I don't know that I will.
Thanks Groucho. Look's like you have about 4' to go before roof meets roof. I'm guessing the 36 in the pic can go high enough for walking around underneath? My carport looks to be the same size - they call it a 20' x 20' x 10' (high) by 7' (before you bang your head on the turn to the roof angle. Not necessary in most area's, but as windy as it is here I sprung for enough extra panels to roof it right down to ground level. Doesn't take much more to turn it into a 'real' garage. Right now, I'm thinking the foundation will be 2-3 rows of grey cement brick. That'll get it up 16" - 24". Initially a gravel 'floor', but with the brick's in place most of the forming is done for a slab. That later. Look's like the roadster with top on will allow walking around underneath ok - I'm 6' tall. My pal has a big tall shop and only raises his lift far enough to roll under it on a stool. Even so, he can get his 46 Ford sedan all the way up if he want's to. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Not too far off topic, but where in the heck can you buy the swedged extension post's beside's the mfg? They want $400. for ten which seems a bit steep to me.
That professional bit makes me wonder sometimes. They go through and do things so quick that I'm pretty sure I can do a better job myself in a lot of area's. My pal got the roll-around-when-unloaded lift and it's really paid off for him. He has a 30' x 30' shop and the lift is in the 3rd place he's tried it now. Just depends on the project. His lift came with a heavy duty sliding tray for jackstands and the like. Get two when you get the lift if you can. Or at the least, make a 2nd one. I've seen the front of the car - up on the lift - up on jackstands on the sliding tray and the back on stacked up 2 x 4's and 4 x 4's. I couldn't watch what looked like an impending disaster and had to leave....
After 20+ years of doing bodywork on the floor, my knees are toast and have been since I "officially" retired from linework 10 years ago. I finally purchased a new 6K lb roll around scissor lift in '05 for $1400....it is a necessity in my shop. Any of you guys starting out or well into your careers as body line techs need to get one if the dos'ent have one.....you'll last longer and wont have to eat a handful of Advil every day; or wosre yet a case of beer.
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