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Originally Posted by priobe
Hello All,
I am hoping someone with a 4 post lift can help me shed some light on this project. I have a 2 car garage that 20 x 20 x 10.5. I could possibly modify the ceiling to allow the rollbar and windshield to pass thru the trust if needed. I rather not make the modification to the ceiling but based on the feedback I will decide. Here are some questions:
1. I would first like to know if it is workth the purchase.
2. Do you feel like the lift has given you more room to work on the Cobra or the unit has been in the way of some projects.
3. Are you able to work on the car from underneath or is space limited.
4. Do you find that you use the lift often
5. Are you able to park a car underneath or have the wife park underneath. Is the post wide enough 
Thanks |
1. One of the best purchases I have ever made for my car hobby. I have had my 4 post lift since 1995 and it has worked flawlessly. The brand I have is from:
http://www.stingerlifts.com/
I was able to uncrate the parts at the trucking company and fit it all in my Suburban to get it home. If you can change a water pump you can put one of these together so save the "Professionals Assembly" money and buy beer for your friends. I did not bolt mine to the floor. There is an option for wheels you put on temporarily that are kind of cool. You can roll it outside and pressure spray etc. I just would not move it with the car on it though.
2/3/4. Nothing beats popping the car up in the air and sitting on a bar stool to work under the car. When going to a show it is so easy to wax the sills, polish wheels etc in the standing position. Way easier on the back. My creeper collects dust now days.
Someone mentioned the Jacking Bridge. That is a must have. With a small floor jack sitting in it and you can easily raise part of the car if necessary. another cool thing is I have marks on the floor to position 4 jack stands (after raising the car) and then lower the lift and have the tires all suspended for doing brakes or a tire change for the track. I can go on and on with its versatility.
The space underneath it when working is limited by how high your ceiling is. My first garage had a very high ceiling so the only thing to worry about was hitting a car with the garage door. Most of the time I backed in the car I had on top as the bonnet was lower than the rear of the car. When it was high enough to be hit I wold lock to door to prevent an accidental opening and f'ed up paint. Where I live now I put it in a free standing garage in the rear of my house. The ceiling was too low for my liking so I cut some trusses and boxed in a rectangular opening to clear the car. A side benefit of this was I got some tire storage space in the area to the sides of the rectangle. I did this myself so note it was not on my garage built into the house. Before I would consider that I'd have a stuctural guy look at it first. so far the shop has not collapesed.
5. That will all depend on the cars on the lift and how high you can go. I park a couple of my low cars using the lift with the least used on top. If you are going to do this I suggest buying what was called at Stinger a "diaper". It is a pvc tube frame with some material stretched on it (removable) that will prevent the upper car from dripping on the lower one. That is pretty important.
I don't see any reason the wifes car would not fit between the post of most of the lifts on the market (unless she drives a dually :-) But you might be better off taking the lift spots for youself and let her have the "normal" space in the garage. You do have to get out of the bottom car and not raise up to soon or you will hit your head.
Just so you know I look at all the designs and felt the 4 poster the best for me. I did not like my suspension hanging or having to bolt it to the floor.
One thing to rememer though and you can read the different links on the net for this: you get what you pay for. Personally I would stear clear of anything from overseas. OK I have rambled along enough here. Good luck with the lift.
Later,
Richard