Small lift for home garage? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Small lift for home garage?

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mimico_polak

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Hey all,
As we are preparing to move into our new place, I'm starting to make plans for the garage to be able to work on my cars a bit easier and have better access for regular maintenance (oil / brakes / wheel swaps).
I'm tired of having to use a jack on each corner so looking for something a bit more sturdy that can lift up a car. I'm not planning on pulling motors or don't need a full height, but I have about 10-12ft of overhead space that I can utilize.
I'd love to put together a kit car like the other thread...but there's zero chance of that happening as I know my limitations...nice to dream though.

Any recommendations for lifts for basic work? Heaviest car would be the Honda Odyssey minivan. Not planning on buying anything large as I'm thinking of small coupes / sport sedans as my next car.
 
Costco sells at least one model of quickjack. They are nice because you can drag them out of the way if you want (or into the driveway if the garage is full of other projects).

Used two post lifts are readily available for 1500-2000. Check your slab thickness before buying one (or budget for cutting out part of the slab and repouring something suitable. My old house had ~3", the new house has >6" (I haven't drilled all the way through to figure out how deep it actually is). Obviously a two-post gives you much more room underneath to work. I haven't seen someone store a car on a two-post lift but I don't know if there is a good reason that it wouldn't work.

I picked up a shop-built four post for a song that is currently storing winter tires but will hold the mini next year (I think, still want to conduct a full weight test using water first). It was so cheap I couldn't turn it down. Someone was moving and needed it gone. It was designed to hold two harleys.

If your garage is like mine, you will need to switch to jackshaft garage door opener for anything higher than a quickjack as the current opener will be very in the way.

Stacking something over the mini van is likely not possible. With a 12' ceiling, I can fit the mini with ~6' under the lift. The mini is not a tall car. To get the room to walk under, I had to take out a light fixture.
 
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I'd go 2 post - harder to install, way easier to work on vehicles. You can get them for under $2K new about $1K used.

I built my garage a few years ago, local bylaws restricted the ceiling height to 8' so I dug a pit. Never got to use it, the building inspector made me close it in to pass final inspection.
 
Mad Mike said:
I'd go 2 post - harder to install, way easier to work on vehicles. You can get them for under $2K new about $1K used.

I built my garage a few years ago, local bylaws restricted the ceiling height to 8' so I dug a pit. Never got to use it, the building inspector made me close it in to pass final inspection.
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They're not coming back, just slip and fall with a jackhammer. I'd have been inclined to fill the depression with foam and then a skim coat of concrete for appearance.
 
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Mad Mike said:
I'd go 2 post - harder to install, way easier to work on vehicles. You can get them for under $2K new about $1K used.
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Why do you say two post is harder to install? Obviously quickjack is the easiest, but a four post is a giant pain. Most garages slope so you need to shim out the slope on four legs. On my four post, that is most of an inch under the legs closest to the door. Two post only has to deal with the slope over 12" or so under the foot. If your concrete is thin, I wouldn't trust a two-post and the columns are bleeping heavy but otherwise, I don't see the problem.
 
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Something like this could be good for a home garage. You wouldn’t be able to work on the middle area but for what you are looking to do probably not a bad choice. The manufacturer is direct lift.
 
Cool thanks guy for the suggestions. I'm def not able to keep anything underneath....that'd be awesome but not going to happen.

I guess the Direct Lift / Quick Jack would be the best solution outside of any work in the middle of the car. The ramps are interesting if something needs to be done.

Not sure about the thickness of the slab, but I'll assume it's insufficient for a 2 post lift.
 
GreyGhost said:
Why do you say two post is harder to install? Obviously quickjack is the easiest, but a four post is a giant pain. Most garages slope so you need to shim out the slope on four legs. On my four post, that is most of an inch under the legs closest to the door. Two post only has to deal with the slope over 12" or so under the foot. If your concrete is thin, I wouldn't trust a two-post and the columns are bleeping heavy but otherwise, I don't see the problem.
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By hard to install I meant the concrete work in a residential garage. 2 post lifts like to be anchored into 6" of concrete, most res garages are between 2.5" and 4" so there will be cutting and digging. A 4 poster can sit on 2" of concrete, leveling them is easy using plates or high strength grout.
 
FullMotoJacket said:
BL-5000SLX for $1,400. I've seen them on sale for $1,100
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The price is great, but 5000 lbs is not ideal. A lot of vehicles are tickling that weight now and I prefer not to use something right at the top end of its rating. I just looked quickly and they also have BL-7000SLX for $100 more. It looks like each ramp is an additional 20 lbs. i would definitely be going for the heavier ones.
 
This QuickJack is definitely worth a look. Is this thing secure to go underneath?

The ramps that Gary said were around $1200 for the full length ones....seems like the QJ is just more but way more versatile.
 
mimico_polak said:
This QuickJack is definitely worth a look. Is this thing secure to go underneath?

The ramps that Gary said were around $1200 for the full length ones....seems like the QJ is just more but way more versatile.
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Quickjack has mechanical locks that click in. The hydraulics can be disconnected once the lift is up so the hoses aren't in your way. Same rules as any other lift, theoretically safe but I always throw some rims, axle stands or a hydraulic jack under to save my head in case the primary lift fails.

QJ makes two different length jacks, Costco has the short ones. Some of the reviews complained that they weren't long enough (IIRC a CTS was too long for the short length). It should be easy enough to measure the distance between jack points on the van.
 
GreyGhost said:
Same rules as any other lift, theoretically safe but I always throw some rims, axle stands or a hydraulic jack under to save my head in case the primary lift fails.
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I wouldn't go under one without stands. I've been called lots of things. Lucky ain't one of them.
 
GreyGhost said:
Why do you say two post is harder to install? Obviously quickjack is the easiest, but a four post is a giant pain. Most garages slope so you need to shim out the slope on four legs. On my four post, that is most of an inch under the legs closest to the door. Two post only has to deal with the slope over 12" or so under the foot. If your concrete is thin, I wouldn't trust a two-post and the columns are bleeping heavy but otherwise, I don't see the problem.
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I have a Rotary Revolution 4 post. Not that hard to install. Lots of adjustment for slope in floor. My floor has a lot of slope and all worked well. I think my lift allowed for 2 1/2" of adjustment. No shims. No need to bolt to floor either. 6' 2" of clearance underneath. Porsche on top. 12' ceiling.
 
FullMotoJacket said:
I wouldn't go under one without stands. I've been called lots of things. Lucky ain't one of them.
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I'm paranoid about being under suspended loads so belt and braces for me as well. The sticker price creates a problem for me. It wouldn't save enough to pay for the most expensive one and the cheaper one could kill me.

Not referring to the OP but if a guy is down and out, having to drive a junker, repair bills could justify a proper lift but if he had the money for a decent lift he could buy a better car instead.

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Dig a pit in the middle of the garage and put a steel cover on it when you don't need it.
;) is easier to lower the mechanic then to lift the car.
 
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