Ok, some good points made AGAINST the kwik lift... although it still
seems safer then jackstands. My space for an actual 4 post would be sort
of tight, and the garage door becomes an issue. I can't simply extend
the tracks, because the roof of my garage is sloped, and the short side
of the garage has the door tracks tight to the ceiling already. The
mid-point of the garage, which would be the lowest point over the lift,
is 9 feet high.
When the door is open, I have just over 7 feet of clearance. The section
of floor space under the high side of the garage is 23' deep, and the
garage door intrudes 7 &1/2 feet into that space.
If I move around some benches, compressor and equipment, that could
marginally be made to work. Most lift needs are for LBC's, but it would
be nice if I could get my Crew cab Long bed frontier on there (approx
144" wheelbase).
The only spec's I have at the moment are for the Backyard buddy lift,
which needs 14&1/2 feet for a model which can accommodate my truck, and
the posts are 7' 5" high, which would foul the door. If it were moved
forward enough to clear the door, there would only be just under 1 foot
of space in the front of the lift. Doesn't seem like very much....
Their smaller model needs 13 1/2 feet, and the posts are only 6' 9"
high, which clears the door. But I would have to give up the ability to
lift my truck. That might just be the reality of it. Also, backyard
buddy may be a nice lift, but it's going to be close to 5K between the
lift, delivery, and accessories... Thats more then I want to spend...
I know there are others other, BendPak, Direct Lift, etc... I would
rather not have to anchor to the floor though...
Paul - Is the Direct Lift the one that BackYard Buddy talks down all the
time? BTW, I appreciate the offer, but I'm in Maryland....
Marc
Paul Parkanzky wrote:
> I can speak from experience here. I have a 4-post lift. I bought a
> Direct Lift Pro Park 7LL when I was in the same place as the OP. The
> lift is a bit tight in my garage, but much handier to use than the
> Kwik Lift (Which I also looked at). If I remember right, I paid $1650
> for my lift a few months ago. I agree completely with Trevor, but I
> took it one step further. I have a stool, and I bought a little
> rolling table that adjusts in height:
>
> http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Rolling-Work-Table-p/httc304c.htm
>
> It's as quality an item as you'd expect a $99 work table to be, but
> this gives me a work space that follows me and my stool around under
> the car. I still have to hunch over and make my way to the tool chest
> now and then, but I find that I accumulate most of the tools I need
> frequently on the work table (or on the little table under the main
> table, or in the cabinet, etc...). I bought the cheapie thinking I'd
> see if I used it or if it was just in the way in the garage and that
> I'd buy a 'good one' if I found it to be useful. I love it, but I
> don't see any point to getting a nicer one. It does exactly what I
> need it to do and I don't feel bad using it to rest heavy parts on or
> giving it other abuse.
>
> I still can't store a car on the lift, because I haven't raised my
> garage door tracks yet. This also limits the height to which I can
> lift a car by quite a bit. But it's plenty comfortable to sit under a
> car on the lift. The Kwik Lift is sort of cool, but only saves you
> the small hassle of jacking the car up and putting the stands under
> it. A real lift makes the entire time you're working under there
> nicer.
>
> I don't know you are Marc, but if you're anywhere near Grand Rapids,
> MI and want to see a 4-post lift in action and take some measurements
> just shoot me an email. There's an e30 BMW being parted out on it
> right now, so it's a great opportunity to see it getting some use.
>
> -Paul
_______________________________________________
Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
Shop-talk mailing list
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shop-talk
http://www.team.net/archive
|