Thread: 4-post lift
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Old 01-04-2003, 10:23 PM
Cobra Chuck Cobra Chuck is offline
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Default Re: 4 POST LIFT

Quote:
Originally posted by terry lee


BUMMED
Yesterday I went over to my "Toy Chest" (warehouse / storage) to see about installing a lift. Bay is 30' x24' with 14' ceiling so I have plenty of room. Only to find out that the owner and local zoning doesn't allow any automotive work on the premises, not even hobby stuff like I tried to persuade them it was.

Now comes PLAN "B":

I checked into another post here on CC about enclosed trailers, which I also need. I really like the "Trailex" low profile type trailer with 11' long ramps. What this is saying to me is that I could drive a car into the trailer, back trailer up to garage door opening, put ramps in place up on jack stands, pull car out onto ramps, and whalla, a low profile lift. At least it is up off the ground with some access below. I already have the floor dolly to scoot around on. The rear door is an awning type, and the alum ramps are detachable and stored under trailer when not in use.
Any thoughts?
TL
Consider these issues with plan "B". Misplacement of your jack stands could lead to eccentric loading of the ramp causing it to roll laterally one direction or another. It was designed to distribute it's load across it's entire width at both ends of the ramp thus making it stable. Loading the ramp on a single smaller point (jack stand) may also overload the ramp locally causing buckling or bending. I am not saying the idea could not be made safe, but I am saying be very careful about your design and using equipment for applications other than the original design. I am not proposing a design because I am not a registered engineer, but you may consider supporting your ramps with a combination of jack stands and a sufficiently large beam (wood or steel) that would span the two jack stands and the ramps. The ramps would bear upon the beam that was attached to the jack stands. It would be good to attach the ramps to the beam (bolts or pins) and to attach the jack stand to the beam (bucket, brackets or pockets). Make sure you have chocked the trailer wheels both directions and have jack stands under the rear of the trailer.

After writing all of this it may be less hassle to find a new shop space that would allow your hobby and a 2 or 4 post lift.

Cobra Chuck
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