So I would like to be able to work on the MR2 easily as well as the other family cars and honestly am investigating what options there are for home garage car lifts.
I'm not looking to be able to have a stroll underneath, but something that I can drive the vehicle onto and in a couple minutes be able to investigate or start work.
I've seen the quickjack system, that looks reasonable... the heaviest car we have is the campervan coming in at about 2500kgs so it would be ideal if it could lift that, but if it were waaaay cheaper and could only do the MR2 then fair enough.
I've been looking on eBay and there are the occasional "portable" mid rise lifts.. and then loads of 4 or 2 post ones, none of which would work due to height and just not being able to transport the things and I've no idea how to service or maintain them..
Interested in what everyone else is doing or would like to do?
Saw an ad for Halfords the other day. They do a scissor lift up to 2.5ton. Not cheap, but I think when you're talking lifts...
If you can find one; Maxjax looks amazing
Realistically how high could you lift the campervan in the garage anyway for it to be worth putting in the equation?
Quote from: jvanzyl on March 22, 2022, 19:48quickjack system
I have found myself looking here on an alcohol fueled late Friday night.
Would more that suit my
needs wants.
Quote from: Call the midlife! on March 22, 2022, 20:37Realistically how high could you lift the campervan in the garage anyway for it to be worth putting in the equation?
Ah that's a good point.. it's 2.1m high as is! Shall have to measure... if not to cope with the van it'll still need to cope with the Alhambra
I'm getting a scissorlift in the new garage. Seems to be the best thing this side of a 2-poster.
Quote from: Alex Knight on March 22, 2022, 22:08I'm getting a scissorlift in the new garage. Seems to be the best thing this side of a 2-poster.
Which one you going for?
Quote from: jvanzyl on March 23, 2022, 09:55Which one you going for?
Haven't decided yet, they all seem quite similar.
@jonbill has a scissor lift - brilliant little thing. There was a pic of it on here somewhere?
Quote from: Alex Knight on March 23, 2022, 11:28Haven't decided yet, they all seem quite similar.
This is my dilemma... they cost between 900 (quick Jack) and 1800.. I'm sure they can't be the same quality etc
Quote from: Alex Knight on March 22, 2022, 22:08I'm getting a scissorlift in the new garage. Seems to be the best thing this side of a 2-poster.
Remember that with a scissor lift the car is on it's wheels/ tyres, so the scissor lift is OK for access across the car between the wheels, but not the best for under arch work.
PS
Times move on ! A short scissor , likely a double scissor lift that can fit inside the longitudinal wheel base will allow access to the arches, as
@shnazzle correctly observes below.
Quote from: Joesson on March 23, 2022, 15:58Remember that with a scissor lift the car is on it's wheels/ tyres, so the scissor lift is OK for access across the car between the wheels, but not the best for under arch work.
PS
Times move on ! A short scissor , likely a double scissor lift that can fit inside the longitudinal wheel base will allow access to the arches.
I was under the impression most of the scissor lifts lifted by the frame, not the wheels.
Edit: having just Googled it, it does indeed seem to be the case that the majority of them lift via the jack points. This would allow for arch work. Great for brakes etc
Just had a look at some of the lifts on offer.
As mentioned at the beginning of this thread if you don't "want to stroll underneath it" then the option is that you would be on your back/ on a crawler and then the underside of the car could be too high to work on!
Edit.
Of course the lift can be lowered to, a convenient height for working on your back/ on a crawler. But how is that different to working with the car on axle stands?
NB
Whatever system of lift remember to engage some sort of mechanical stop to prevent any unwanted downward motion when working under an elevated load.
Do not rely on hydraulic lifting systems being fail safe.
They are not.
Quote from: shnazzle on March 22, 2022, 20:22Saw an ad for Halfords the other day. They do a scissor lift up to 2.5ton. Not cheap, but I think when you're talking lifts...
If you can find one; Maxjax looks amazing
The Maxjax does look the business.
Having just read the installation instructions I note that the requirements of the concrete floor are unlikely those to be found in an "average" domestic garage.
There attention to detail does leave something to be desired though:
Minimum concrete base thickness 4.25 inches.
Minimum drilling depth for anchor bolts 5 inches with a note to be sure not to drill through the concrete!
FYI, we are having a 150mm concrete base poured for the lift location.
General consensus says that 100mm is the minimum, but 150mm is better.
Quote from: Alex Knight on March 23, 2022, 17:24FYI, we are having a 150mm concrete base poured for the lift location.
General consensus says that 100mm is the minimum, but 150mm is better.
Sounds like a good job in progress.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TILTING-CAR-LIFT-ADJUSTABLE-CAR-RAMP-MOBILE-LIFT-CJAUTOS-CL01-1-5-ton-/234000476295?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0
So this would in theory do the trick.. not sure there would be much cash for access to the Center parts of our cars? It's half the price of the quickjack system..
Dude check out equipment for garages they are based near at Alban's there's one I used to want from them but now I fancy the a frames from CJ autos
Equipment4garages mid rise lift
https://www.garageequipment.co.uk/Vehicle-Lifts/Scissor-Lifts/Mid-Rise-Scissor-Lifts/E4G-MR10TD-Scissor-Lift-Mid-Rise-1-Metre-Lift-with
I always find Costco stuff is good quality and their customer policies if there are any issues, excellent.
https://www.costco.co.uk/Tyres-Automotive/Garage/Trolley-Jacks-Axle-Stands/QuickJack-Portable-Automatic-Car-Lift-System-Jack-1587kg-Capacity-Model-BL-3500SLX/p/315646
No personal experience of this lift but in case you've not checked it.
Quote from: Oddshoes on March 29, 2022, 20:05Dude check out equipment for garages they are based near at Alban's there's one I used to want from them but now I fancy the a frames from CJ autos
These guys are pretty cheap! I'm assuming kwik lift is a knock off of quick jack? but lifting 3.5T for under £1k is very cheap..
Quote from: rusty0273 on March 29, 2022, 22:02I always find Costco stuff is good quality and their customer policies if there are any issues, excellent.
https://www.costco.co.uk/Tyres-Automotive/Garage/Trolley-Jacks-Axle-Stands/QuickJack-Portable-Automatic-Car-Lift-System-Jack-1587kg-Capacity-Model-BL-3500SLX/p/315646
No personal experience of this lift but in case you've not checked it.
Yes Costco is definitely the cheapest for the quickjack system..
Right- I'm likely going down this route:
https://www.garageequipment.co.uk/Vehicle-Lifts/Scissor-Lifts/Kwik%20Lifts%20and%20Accessories/e4g-kl3500AC-portable-kwik-lift-ac220v
If I add the extension plates it should be able to lift the California and so I can increase the jobs I can do myself and safely.
Is everyone else on that site? Not loading up for me spinning but nowt else
Quote from: Ardent on August 30, 2022, 19:41Is everyone else on that site? Not loading up for me spinning but nowt else
Works fine for me.
this is the scissor lift I'm looking at at the moment
https://www.youtube.com/user/Equipment4Garages
they sent me size details to see if I can fit it in my (nearly finished) garage
Quote from: Mollydog on September 13, 2022, 08:42this is the scissor lift I'm looking at at the moment
https://www.youtube.com/user/Equipment4Garages
they sent me size details to see if I can fit it in my (nearly finished) garage
Can't make out which lift your contemplating from the link, but if it fits, not forgetting height wise of course, a lift of any type would be a big bonus for you as your videos always seem to be of you working outside on your 2.
I keep looking at these lifts but the problem I have is the available length of garage isn't really long enough to accommodate the movement of the lifts in the forward and backward motions.
Because they don't lift in a direct vertical plane I don't think I can fit one far enough forward to not be fouling on the garage door when it's raised.
Plus I tend to slide under the car from the side when it's on stands or from the front and then pull myself along using the braces etc.
A previously unmentioned but valid point. My problem is the garage width, very tight down each side, but I can get in to work, remove the wheels etc. I usually get under from one end or the other, when the car is on axle stands, the rear to middle has a section of vinyl flooring removed from our kitchen and "recycled". I use a piece of carpet, topside down, as a crawler mat.
Above 2 posts.
+1
Quote from: Joesson on September 13, 2022, 10:53Can't make out which lift your contemplating from the link, but if it fits, not forgetting height wise of course, a lift of any type would be a big bonus for you as your videos always seem to be of you working outside on your 2.
You're right, I've been working on my cars outside for years, in fact we moved in our present bungalow around 38 years ago and it had a single garage you couldn't drive in a new Mini in, so never used it to work on cars
but not for long now
Just before covid hit us, I bought timber to be able too build my own log cabin garage, I drove down to Bristol with a trailer to pick up the timber
(https://i.postimg.cc/3RGPpw89/IMG-1160-SMALL.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/TYfZLGZq/IMG-1176-SMALL.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Y215CjyC/IMG-1181-SMALL.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
would you believe it covid hit and I couldn't even get materials to start me off
I had to first cut back some of the trees
(https://i.postimg.cc/VkZjzXHk/P1220150-SMALL.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/76MtwLP4/P1220201SMALL.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/mkRhcvF5/04.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/0j15srdB/IMG-2525-SMALL.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
This past June/July they made a start (I was to build it but my back gave in)
(https://i.postimg.cc/rpHtM5vV/IMG-0934-HEIC.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/N0MWzG5X/IMG-1180-HEIC.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/vZmqQqbF/IMG-1249-HEIC.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pXcFh0xQ/IMG_E1563.HEIC.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/KzgfZ6Sp/IMG-E1729-HEIC.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Ssfg4ts8/IMG_1788.HEIC.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
https://youtu.be/VoEQwJVKP-A
The stage I'm at now is:
lay the insulation for the floor, walls and roof,
get some barn doors made
Finally electrics
I've tried to keep the images to just a few, so if you want to see the full build with lots of images, video clips and the thread of build from the beginning
https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/212380/building-timber-garage-workshop
Quote from: Mollydog on September 23, 2022, 08:33You're right, I've been working on my cars outside for years, in fact we moved in our present bungalow around 38 years ago and it had a single garage you couldn't drive in a new Mini in, so never used it to work on cars
but not for long now
Just before covid hit us, I bought timber to be able too build my own log cabin garage, I drove down to Bristol with a trailer to pick up the timber
(https://i.postimg.cc/3RGPpw89/IMG-1160-SMALL.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/TYfZLGZq/IMG-1176-SMALL.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Y215CjyC/IMG-1181-SMALL.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
would you believe it covid hit and I couldn't even get materials to start me off
I had to first cut back some of the trees
(https://i.postimg.cc/VkZjzXHk/P1220150-SMALL.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/76MtwLP4/P1220201SMALL.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/mkRhcvF5/04.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/0j15srdB/IMG-2525-SMALL.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
This past June/July they made a start (I was to build it but my back gave in)
(https://i.postimg.cc/rpHtM5vV/IMG-0934-HEIC.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/N0MWzG5X/IMG-1180-HEIC.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/vZmqQqbF/IMG-1249-HEIC.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/pXcFh0xQ/IMG_E1563.HEIC.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/KzgfZ6Sp/IMG-E1729-HEIC.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
(https://i.postimg.cc/Ssfg4ts8/IMG_1788.HEIC.jpg) (https://postimages.org/)
https://youtu.be/VoEQwJVKP-A
The stage I'm at now is:
lay the insulation for the floor, walls and roof,
get some barn doors made
Finally electrics
I've tried to keep the images to just a few, so if you want to see the full build with lots of images, video clips and the thread of build from the beginning
https://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/212380/building-timber-garage-workshop
Making a lot of us very jealous. Looks like a great project. Hats off to you.