Cheap, space-saving vehicle lifts?

I

Ian Rawlings

Guest

• Mar 5, 2006

• #1

Hello hive mind, just a quick question regarding vehicle lifts. I'd
quite like one (wouldn't we all) but am unwilling to get a second-hand
hydraulic lift and can't afford a new one. My garage also doesn't
have a lot of height clearance or enough space so a 2 or 4 post lift
wouldn't work too well.

Does anyone know of any alternatives, e.g. the kwiklift drive-on ramp
that gets a car far off the ground enough to easily get under it? Not
so much an issue with the landy of course but I do have other cars
that need work from time to time.

Kwiklift is on www.kwiklift.com if you've not seen them before. No UK
pricing or availability details.

Thanks for any pointers.

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!

 

S

steve

Guest

• Mar 5, 2006

• #2

Ian Rawlings wrote:

>
> Kwiklift is on www.kwiklift.com if you've not seen them before. No UK
> pricing or availability details.

Nice idea.

Steve

 

I

Ian Rawlings

Guest

• Mar 5, 2006

• #3

On 2006-03-05, steve <[email protected]> wrote:

> Nice idea.

Indeed, although I'd prefer a short scissor lift, there are several on
ebay that you drive the car over so the platforms are between the
wheels, put rubber blocks under the jacking points then lift the car
up. You can then leave them there all the time and drive over them
when parking. I would however always be nervous about working under
them. A brand new one that lifts the car 3 feet costs about £2,000
which is way out of my budget.

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!

 

I

Ian Rawlings

Guest

• Mar 5, 2006

• #4

On 2006-03-05, Ian Rawlings <[email protected]> wrote:

> Does anyone know of any alternatives, e.g. the kwiklift drive-on
> ramp that gets a car far off the ground enough to easily get under
> it? Not so much an issue with the landy of course but I do have
> other cars that need work from time to time.

Also quite interesting if a tad expensive;

http://www.restorationramps.co.uk/

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!

 

D

Derek

Guest

• Mar 5, 2006

• #5

"Ian Rawlings" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 2006-03-05, Ian Rawlings <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Does anyone know of any alternatives, e.g. the kwiklift drive-on
>> ramp that gets a car far off the ground enough to easily get under
>> it? Not so much an issue with the landy of course but I do have
>> other cars that need work from time to time.
>
> Also quite interesting if a tad expensive;
>
> http://www.restorationramps.co.uk/
>
> --
> Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!

I like the look of it sadly my garage roof is far too low plus they look ok
with normal motors but 2 1/2 ton would make me a little wary I fancy a
workpit (which is way down the list of things to do )
Derek

 

I

Ian Rawlings

Guest

• Mar 5, 2006

• #6

On 2006-03-05, Derek <[email protected]> wrote:

> I like the look of it sadly my garage roof is far too low plus they
> look ok with normal motors but 2 1/2 ton would make me a little wary
> I fancy a workpit (which is way down the list of things to do )

I'd end up falling in the pit and breaking my neck, what with having
at least three left feet so that idea's out for me..

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!

 

R

Richard Brookman

Guest

• Mar 5, 2006

• #7

....and Ian Rawlings spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...


> On 2006-03-05, Derek <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I like the look of it sadly my garage roof is far too low plus they
>> look ok with normal motors but 2 1/2 ton would make me a little wary
>> I fancy a workpit (which is way down the list of things to do )
>
> I'd end up falling in the pit and breaking my neck, what with having
> at least three left feet so that idea's out for me..

Plus the very real danger of petrol fumes accumulating in the pit and
catapulting you into outer space the next time you light a fag or your clogs
strike a spark on the concrete.

IIRC, there are regs for the installation of inspection pits that require a
vent pipe from the lowest level of the pit to the outside, with forced
extraction through a spark-free fan.

--
Rich
==============================

There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary
and those who don't.

 

I

Ian Rawlings

Guest

• Mar 5, 2006

• #8

On 2006-03-05, Richard Brookman <[email protected]> wrote:

> Plus the very real danger of petrol fumes accumulating in the pit
> and catapulting you into outer space the next time you light a fag
> or your clogs strike a spark on the concrete.

Indeed, and for this very reason I only dance in gumboots.

> IIRC, there are regs for the installation of inspection pits that
> require a vent pipe from the lowest level of the pit to the outside,
> with forced extraction through a spark-free fan.

I think this has been discussed here before (pits that is), carbon
monoxide from running engines is a real danger too, especially if you
pass out at the bottom of the pit and the engine continues to run.
Not even rubber clogs can protect you from that one.

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!

 

E

EMB

Guest

• Mar 6, 2006

• #9

Richard Brookman wrote:

> Plus the very real danger of petrol fumes accumulating in the pit and
> catapulting you into outer space the next time you light a fag or your clogs
> strike a spark on the concrete.

I've been in a pit that had a wee fire - not at all a recommended
pastime. Still the damage was limited to losing my eyebrows so I guess
alls well that ends well.


--
EMB

 

A

Austin Shackles

Guest

• Mar 6, 2006

• #10

On or around Sun, 5 Mar 2006 11:42:58 +0000, Ian Rawlings
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:


[lifts]

and on the same subject - anyone had first-hand experience of largeish
vehicle son 2-post lifts? It looks "wrong" to me - and I imagine your
ground anchors need to be very good. But then again, you see 2-post lifts
rated up to 4 tons.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; and
therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee"
John Donne (1571? - 1631) Devotions, XVII

 

W

[email protected]

Guest

• Mar 6, 2006

• #11

Ian Rawlings wrote:

> Hello hive mind, just a quick question regarding vehicle lifts. I'd
> quite like one (wouldn't we all) but am unwilling to get a second-hand
> hydraulic lift and can't afford a new one. My garage also doesn't
> have a lot of height clearance or enough space so a 2 or 4 post lift
> wouldn't work too well.

I'd much prefer a 4 poster rather than some of the alternatives whose
main problem seems to be that you can't raise and lower them at will
and most are going to be pretty hard to get dead vehicles onto, if
that's an issue. I recall seeing in a LR mag somebody showing off a
contraption that looked a little strange - looked like 4 high lift
jacks and the rails of a 4 poster if you see what I mean. I how you
were expected to lift it evenly - anyone else seen one of these in
operation? If it did work (picture showed it with a 110 up in the air
outside) then it might suit your needs - cheap, not enough lift to
punch your roof out etc. But I can't recall any names, although it
looked vaguely like it may be a Scottish manufacturer judging from the
background.

Regards

William MacLeod

 

S

Simon Isaacs

Guest

• Mar 6, 2006

• #12

On Mon, 06 Mar 2006 09:33:09 +0000, Austin Shackles
<[email protected]> scribbled the following nonsense:

>On or around Sun, 5 Mar 2006 11:42:58 +0000, Ian Rawlings
><[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>
>
>[lifts]
>
>and on the same subject - anyone had first-hand experience of largeish
>vehicle son 2-post lifts? It looks "wrong" to me - and I imagine your
>ground anchors need to be very good. But then again, you see 2-post lifts
>rated up to 4 tons.

was discussed on the 101 yahoo groups a while back, chap couldn't make
his 101 (ambi or rad bod cant remember) look anywhere close to to safe
on a 2 post lift rated at 4 tonnes.
--

Simon Isaacs

Peterborough 4x4 Club Newsletter Editor and Webmaster
Green Lane Association (GLASS) Financial Director
101 Ambi, undergoing camper conversion www.simoni.co.uk
1976 S3 LWT, Fully restored, ready for sale! Make me an offer!
Suzuki SJ410 (Wife's) 3" lift kit fitted, body shell now restored and mounted on chassis, waiting on a windscreen and MOT
Series 3 88" Rolling chassis...what to do next
1993 200 TDi Discovery
1994 200 TDi Discovery body sheel, being bobbed and modded.....

 

L

Lee_D

Guest

• Mar 6, 2006

• #13

Ian Rawlings <[email protected]> uttered summat worrerz funny about:
> On 2006-03-05, Ian Rawlings <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Does anyone know of any alternatives, e.g. the kwiklift drive-on
>> ramp that gets a car far off the ground enough to easily get under
>> it? Not so much an issue with the landy of course but I do have
>> other cars that need work from time to time.
>
> Also quite interesting if a tad expensive;
>
> http://www.restorationramps.co.uk/

I've a vision of wandering in the garage bleary eyed, early morning...
getting in the car...thhwwop. Damn!



101 one would be interesting, but how would I tell if it was on it? ;-)

Lee

 

I

Ian Rawlings

Guest

• Mar 6, 2006

• #14

On 2006-03-06, Lee_D <[email protected]> wrote:

> I've a vision of wandering in the garage bleary eyed, early morning...
> getting in the car...thhwwop. Damn!

Reversing off it would be fun if you neglect to drop the end..

Getting a dead car onto it is the main reason I'd not go for something
like that, and given that most of the times I've needed to get my car
up in the air have been times when it's been dead, it would be a real
PITA. Also much of my engine is only accessible from the top and the
engine plus gearbox have to come out the top too.

> 101 one would be interesting, but how would I tell if it was on it? ;-)

Light aircraft in the canvas?

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!

 

R

Richard Brookman

Guest

• Mar 6, 2006

• #15

....and Austin Shackles spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...


> On or around Sun, 5 Mar 2006 11:42:58 +0000, Ian Rawlings
> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>
>
> [lifts]
>
> and on the same subject - anyone had first-hand experience of largeish
> vehicle son 2-post lifts? It looks "wrong" to me - and I imagine your
> ground anchors need to be very good. But then again, you see 2-post
> lifts rated up to 4 tons.

Had the Disco on a 2-post lift when I had the new tyres at ATS. He took a
LONG time getting the balance right before he lifted it more than 6" off the
deck. Seemed stable enough once it was up there. Pity the experience
shagged the EAS settings, leaving me with a tail-down Disco for a day or
two.

--
Rich
==============================

There are 10 kinds of people in the world - those who understand binary
and those who don't.

 

A

Austin Shackles

Guest

• Mar 6, 2006

• #16

On or around Mon, 6 Mar 2006 19:18:46 -0000, "Richard Brookman"
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>...and Austin Shackles spake unto the tribes of Usenet, saying...
>
>
>> On or around Sun, 5 Mar 2006 11:42:58 +0000, Ian Rawlings
>> <[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:
>>
>>
>> [lifts]
>>
>> and on the same subject - anyone had first-hand experience of largeish
>> vehicle son 2-post lifts? It looks "wrong" to me - and I imagine your
>> ground anchors need to be very good. But then again, you see 2-post
>> lifts rated up to 4 tons.
>
>Had the Disco on a 2-post lift when I had the new tyres at ATS. He took a
>LONG time getting the balance right before he lifted it more than 6" off the
>deck. Seemed stable enough once it was up there. Pity the experience
>shagged the EAS settings, leaving me with a tail-down Disco for a day or
>two.

hmmm. bearing in mind that one of the things I'm likely to want to lift is
the minibus, I'm inclined to go with my instinct and go for a 4-poster.
There seem to be quite a steady supply going cheap second hand - might be
due to rules about testing in a work environment - it may be prohibitive to
re-test once it's been moved, or cost enough that it's not worth not fitting
a new one, or something. I've seen 3-ton 4-posters going for 300 notes or
even less, alleged to be complete and working.

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
"Would to God that we might spend a single day really well!"
Thomas À Kempis (1380 - 1471) Imitation of Christ, I.xxiii.

 

I

Ian Rawlings

Guest

• Mar 6, 2006

• #17

On 2006-03-06, Richard Brookman <[email protected]> wrote:

> Had the Disco on a 2-post lift when I had the new tyres at ATS. He
> took a LONG time getting the balance right before he lifted it more
> than 6" off the deck. Seemed stable enough once it was up there.

If I had a two-poster I'd make damned sure that I made up some rigs
for the ends that fitted whatever vehicle I wanted to lift, e.g. some
cups that went round the landy chassis to stop it sliding off
sideways. Getting front-to-rear balance right might be hard though.

As it is I'm going to look at a three-post platform lift soon, one of
those things that you lift a short platform up to within a few inches
of the chassis or jacking points and then put blocks on to contact the
lifting points, if it's got enough safety features and looks
reasonably well looked after I reckon I'll go for it. At the price
he's asking it would have to be cronically bad for me to turn it down.

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!

 

E

EMB

Guest

• Mar 7, 2006

• #18

Austin Shackles wrote:

> and on the same subject - anyone had first-hand experience of largeish
> vehicle son 2-post lifts? It looks "wrong" to me - and I imagine your
> ground anchors need to be very good. But then again, you see 2-post lifts
> rated up to 4 tons.

I've spent 15 years or so using 2 post lifts and provided they are set
yp with the correct arms they will lift anything within their rated
capacity quite safely. The first time you lift a (previously unknown to
you) vehicle you may have to have a couple of attempts so as to get the
balance correct. However if you do so then the hold down bolts do
absolutely nothing (tried it for fun with a 4WD Hilux on an unbolted
lift to see what happened).


--
EMB

 

E

EMB

Guest

• Mar 7, 2006

• #19

Austin Shackles wrote:

>
> hmmm. bearing in mind that one of the things I'm likely to want to lift is
> the minibus, I'm inclined to go with my instinct and go for a 4-poster.

If you go for a 4 poster either get one with the 'wheels-free' option or
get a jacking beam, otherwise you've lost at least half the
functionality. The *only* reasons I can see for having a 4 poster are
wheel alignments, and quick turnaround work that doesn't involve removal
of the wheels (eg an exhaust shop, but that comes unstuck when you need
to extend the suspesion to fit a tailpipe).


--
EMB

 

I

Ian Rawlings

Guest

• Mar 7, 2006

• #20

On 2006-03-07, EMB <[email protected]> wrote:

> I've spent 15 years or so using 2 post lifts and provided they are set
> yp with the correct arms they will lift anything within their rated
> capacity quite safely.

I've just managed to buy a Bradbury three post platform lift, rated to
3 tonnes, for £75 ;-) It's in good condition despite the price, an ex
Renault dealer in Portsmouth has just shut up shop due to Renault
switching franchises to desperate and cheap ex-Rover dealers. There
were something like 7-8 vehicle lifts in the place, the four
three-posters he was selling for noddy money (all sold now), the rest
for more but still cheap.

There's a two-post finger lift in good condition left, he wants £350
for it, which is a steal. The catch is that you have to remove it
yourself, during working hours, in the next two weeks as they have to
vacate the building.

I think there might be another four-post too but not sure. I think he
mentioned £500 for one of the four-posters.

If anyone wants the contact details, send me an email from a proper
email address but bear in mind the requirement to take it away
yourself within working hours. All three-phase stuff.

--
Blast off and strike the evil Bydo empire!