This Type of Lift - Is It Ok for Our Cars?

[Pawel66]

I tried to do a proper search, found a lot about hoisting points, 2 vs. 4 post lifts etc., but I faild to find the answer if this type of lift (portable lift, as on the picture) is ok to use for our cars. I just found one picture in one thread it may be (enclosed).

I am not after pros and cons and which type is better, but rather - is lifting the car along the sills like on this type of jacks an acceptable idea?

So: is it ok to have this kind of lift for weekend amateur small jobs? If so, what should I pay attention to?

[Bonnyboy]

I did lots of research on these lifts before I bought one and I couldn't get along without it now.   Not as handy as a four post but i just don't have the room (ceiling height)

From everything I found - yes our cars are ok to be supported by the frame rails in the locations they are supposed to be lifted. 

I marked the center of my car (with a paint blob underneath) and the center of the lift so I try to march up the paint blobs so I get a balanced lift even if I extend the arms for various lifting positions.    also I lift the back by extending the lifting arms of the hoist under the axle / trailing arms so I don't let the rear end just hang down. 

The locking mechanism is something to look for on the hoist as some have a hokey bicycle brake handle moving a cable and you still have to move it manually to lock it in place - I removed my handle and just use a stick to lock it.

Also - check the length of hose from the hydraulic pump to the hoist - if it is too short it will be inconvenient.  Most are ok but I saw a chinese no name brand in a small garage and there was nowhere to put the pump that was convenient .

If you look hard auto dealers tend to have these for displaying cars but tend not to use them that much and may be available if you hit them near the end of the month.   If buying used check the seal for the hydraulics - a couple I have seen are weeping a bit.   

And most important make sure it is low enough for you car to drive over - there is not alot of room  - my MGB won't make it over my hoist but the Pagoda does.

[Pawel66]

Thank you for your kind answer!

Space is my issue as well. On the other hand the frequency and the type of work I do on my car is not very demanding for a professional lift. I need it just for Pagoda and 190SL for the future. I do not need any lift to get under my W463  . So the max weight I require is not that high.

I think then it would be important to determine how far from outside to set the supports. You say you have arms on your lift. I was looking at those lifts with plates and I wonder how far towards the center you should set them. Is it ok if support lines are as I mrked on the picture?

What I am currently looking at is the QuickJack. I see they are sold in Germany and they are about EUR 1000 plus shipping. It has the plates on which you just set rubber pads. The required clearance is 10cm, so I hope it will work. I will do the measurements to check if/how it will fit. They have a kind of "automatic" lock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f-NEIWgk18

[Garry]

I am also in the process of looking for a lift for my new garage being built at the moment.  Ceiling height is my problem (I have a ceiling height of 3.4 m) and I am thinking about going with a two post. The four post ones i have seen need a higher ceiling.  I would be also interested in comments on other types of hoists that others use.


Garry

[Bonnyboy]

I have used all of the points noted except at the forward end of the trailing arms.  And yes - if you lift the rear axle be careful that the rubber pads are in good contact where you want them once you start lifting.

I borrowed one of those lifts and after a day in my garage I couldn't live without it and convinced the owner to sell it to me.  I don't think I would continue in this hobby if I didn't have the lift.

 

[wwheeler]

The simple solution for restricted areas is  -https://www.maxjaxusa.com/ I have two these units in different locations and never had an issue. My brother-in-law has one and loves it. Yes, it is not heavy duty, but great for a DIY. Easy to install and is portable. It will indeed spoil you. And no, I do not work for this company! I am just glad somebody recognized the needs of the average DIY and built something that works.

They say that it requires an 8'celing. There are two positions - one at 2' off the ground and another at 4'. The 4 ' requires an 8' ceiling. But the good news it that you can drill your own "stop holes" based on ceiling restrictions.   

Wallace

[Pawel66]

I looked at those and indeed they seemed to be a good solution. Yet space remains the issue...

I think if the solutoins I am looking at are plate + pads rather than lifting arms, the question is probably to place the pads where the 4 support points are used for the lifting arms (one of them seen on your picture - fron right), then I think it should work fine.

Of course there are disadvantages of the QuickJack type solutions - height, side access, but then again - for my weekend purposes - to install the missing clamp, small fixes, cleaning of underneath and wheel wells - it is probably enough.

[jameshoward]

Ahhh, happy days. Putting the old girl on planks and axle stands in a tank hangar all winter and doing the rear axle swap; drums to discs; master cylinder; all lines; under-sealing; handbrake cables; er....

Pure hell.

Still, the jacking operation looks very professional in comparison to the red VW beetle in the picture above.

 

I tried to do a proper search, found a lot about hoisting points, 2 vs. 4 post lifts etc., but I faild to find the answer if this type of lift (portable lift, as on the picture) is ok to use for our cars. I just found one picture in one thread it may be (enclosed).

I am not after pros and cons and which type is better, but rather - is lifting the car along the sills like on this type of jacks an acceptable idea?

So: is it ok to have this kind of lift for weekend amateur small jobs? If so, what should I pay attention to?

[Pawel66]

It is a cool kind of hell...

My trouble is that I need to lift the car for shorter time more often. This Quickjack seems to be a match to what I need...

[Bonnyboy]

The beauty of the scissor lift is that when you are not using it is stores nicely under the car so you don't even know its there - but when you need it to say clean the mud off the rocker panels - you can lift the car right up.    I have spray painted markers on the floor of my garage so I know where to put it back if I need to drag it outside to lift up my wife's car or my golf cart.     

The entertainment value alone is worth price of admission.

[Pawel66]

I will get one. Just need to measure the car.

The disadvantage of scissor lift with plates is, I guess, that it fits just limited number of cars. The 4 point scissor one would cover wider range of cars. But it is more difficult to find one...

[66andBlue]

Not sure what you mean with a limited number of cars. It all depends on how well the arms can pivot and how many different plates you have.
See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=HBRrwjDPKUc

Perhaps you had something more simple in mind like this type?
https://www.automotechservices.co.uk/products/as-7530d-garage-scissor-lift/

[Pawel66]

Alfred, yes the 4-point scissor one can accomodate more cars, like the one from your first link. Just cannot find a decent one for a decent price here.

What I am looking at is this: https://www.quickjack.com/car-lift-systems/bl-5000slx-portable-car-lift.html

[jaymanek]

I have various types.
I have the max jax at home. great for occassional use.

However this is my favourite.

https://www.automotechservices.co.uk/products/as-7532b-3-2t-mid-rise-scissor-lift/

Obviously the 2 poster has advantages in terms of access to the underside of the car.

However the only jobs that it hinders, are underside bodywork and exhaust work, in my experience.

The automotech lift above, or its small brother, are both excellent lifts. Dont even need bolting to the ground and are completely sturdy.
No question of posts being ripped out of the concrete floor or any stability issues.

I have 3 of the above lifts at work and have recommended to various club members, who are delighted with them.

[Pawel66]

It looks good indeed!

My hesitation is this type, or the 4 point support one that you also see on the page.

I think the extendable platforms help make the lift fit more cars.

[Mike Hughes]

Looks like a pretty neat lift!  The only reservation I might have looking at the specs is that the length of the ramp is 1460 mm, 1994 mm if both the front and rear extenders are deployed and locked.  The wheelbase of a Pagoda is 2400 mm so what is the desired method of lifting a Pagoda? Placing blocks on the ramps under the relevant lifting points?

[Pawel66]

That was my original question. Yes - the pads on the plate/ramp either under the "normal lifiting points or under the places next to factory jack holes (towards the ceneter of the car). I was not sure there, and thas is what I asked.

[jaymanek]

Yes just place supplied rubber blocks under jacking points.

Although I cant recall if I ever tried my pagoda on this type of lift, I cant see why it wouldnt work.

[Pawel66]

Thank you, that is what I would think!

[Dash808]

What I am currently looking at is the QuickJack. I see they are sold in Germany and they are about EUR 1000 plus shipping. It has the plates on which you just set rubber pads. The required clearance is 10cm, so I hope it will work. I will do the measurements to check if/how it will fit. They have a kind of "automatic" lock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f-NEIWgk18

I currently have a QuickJack that I bought on special last year from the SEMA show.  In my opinion the QuickJack isn't so quick and I wouldn't recommend it as the two lifting systems have to be almost exactly parallel to each other to raise the vehicle safely.   
Positioning and adjusting and readjusting and re-re-adjusting the two systems to ensure both are are exactly parallel takes a fair bit of time in general and once they are positioned and the vehicle is in the air it is only accessible from the front or the rear since the QuickJack occupies the whole length of both sides of the vehicle. 

Also a note, I bought the larger QuickJack for use for my trucks but just thinking about it and the 113's jacking points and it especially does not seem like a good solution.



I'm in the process of designing/ rebuilding my garage & house and the end goal is to have a two post lift.  Atlas makes a quality product and has specialty lifts for low ceilings as well. 
https://www.atlasautoequipment.com/product-category/lifts/two-post-lifts/baseplate-2-post-lifts

[Pawel66]

I certainly understand limited access from the sides. No doubt that double post or 4 post lift is better than scissors lift. Then there is space and price factor.... And all of a sudden - scissor lift is not that bad  .

[Dash808]

I certainly understand limited access from the sides. No doubt that double post or 4 post lift is better than scissors lift. Then there is space and price factor.... And all of a sudden - scissor lift is not that bad  .

I agree, tough decision and each space saving style lift has their pros & cons.  I guess it also comes down to how much access you think you need and the type of work you want to be able to do. 

[Pawel66]

Yes, certainly. Nothing serious. it is a trade-off, I know. My key concern was: can I lift a Pagoda with 4 points support near the factory jack areas, or I have to go from bottom of the S frames to the rear suspension points.

[dirkbalter]

Pawel,
Have you seen this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_3648917981&feature=iv&src_vid=rkGbqC9YWhM&v=_OYPgIQpfQo
Dirk

[Pawel66]

It is great, but it is a lot of space...