Quote:
|
Originally Posted by wfbarto
Thanks Moe....real good info to pass on....any other recommendations on lifts for the average garage do-it-yourselfer?
|
Always research first, google is an excellent tool for opinions & customer complaints about quality. Decide first if it will be primarily used for storage or service or get both kinds if budget & space permits, more convenient to do everything for an advanced DIYer. Always meausure first, width & height to see how practical it will be in your garage, especially ceiling height & garage door clearance at full height with a car on the lift (really bad to scrape the roof of your pride & joy or break the window). If you are building a storage building or house plan on making the space for easy access & always make sure the concrete is thick enough to hold the load (plan plan plan), especially if it will be bolted down. Get the optional aluminum ramps for a drive on if available they are less than half the weight of steel.
If you plan on removing the body from the frame the twin post is the only way to go, you can lift the body & roll the frame out or just work on it underneath & store the shell above out of harms way. The twin post are available 2 ways over or under with a floor plate for the cables to pass through, the under being the best choice for low ceiling heights but the concrete must be thick to support the load. The overhead 2 post is safer from a rigididy standpoint though, I have seen older floor plate 2 post's bowing in at the top after years of use in service environments, at that point the lift & or concrete will need replacement or repair, this could be a tragic situation if anything breaks resulsting in death, serious injury & damage to the car & surrounding areas. remember saftey first your life is worth more than a crappy lift. Same goes for the portable 4 post drive on lifts, if it is not bolted down or level they are kind of scary when you are working trying to pry or force something as they do move around alot. They can tip over also causing a tragedy as mentioned above. So if you plan on working with a 4 post I would bolt it down just for safetys sake, they are kind of tipsy & most that I have seen already have the mounting holes in the base of the posts. Get/borrow a hammer drill & go to home depot/menards/lowes, anywhere they are sold & get the proper concrete stud anchors in the largest diameter that will fit & bolt it down at least 6 inches deep in the concrete or recommended depth, any less they can pull out a chunk of the floor & its all over.
Any more ??? or insight please comment, I could have left something out. Hope this is helpful. REMEMBER SAFETY FIRST LIVE LONG & HAVE FUN DOING IT.