Car lift for Cobra or other small car

bliss · #1 (**permalink**) 10-31-2011, 01:58 PM

I searched, but couldn't find anything on an appropriate car lift for a Cobra - or any light weight smaller car. My goal is a lift for a garage environment - minimal bulk - with a detachable ramp - I'm interest in getting under the car - oil changes, cleaning, etc. - don't feel I need a lot of room and not interested to a big time lift - just something simple that can handle the weight and that allows as much access as possible.

Input will be appreciated.

byron w · #2 (**permalink**) 10-31-2011, 02:41 PM

Best deal on a lift available, IMHO ! The service was great and it assembled very easily.

Highly recommend it.
4 Post Lifts | CL 8,000 CSP 8,000 LB. Four Post Vehicle / Automotive / Truck / Car Garage Lift (Portable)

Byron

Zaphod B · #3 (**permalink**) 10-31-2011, 02:43 PM

If you don't need to lift it by the chassis, you can build a drive-on ramp out of wood. I think there is a picture in a member's gallery of a ramp that is three pieces per side, with one of the three pieces being a long one in the middle that you remove after driving the car on, leaving it on two smaller end pieces.

This won't get you very far off the ground, but it will be adequate for oil changes and general access underneath the car.

letsboogie351 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-31-2011, 02:56 PM

MaxJax Reviews -US

FWB · #5 (**permalink**) 10-31-2011, 03:07 PM

a used professional lift may be avail at same cost or cheaper.....

i just asked where i get my daily drivers serviced.....who they use when they need a lift. turns out they refurb. and sell used ones.
got a 7000 lb cable over and installed for 1000.00 US dollars. i had the ceiling height so i went for it...

Silverback51 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-31-2011, 03:15 PM

Go search this site. They have more threads regarding lifts than any other place I have found.

The Garage Journal Board - Powered by vBulletin

WildBill1965 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-31-2011, 09:55 PM

Go to Greg Smith Equipment they have all kinds of lifts, I have a 4 post and a 10k two post vary reasonable and they have been around for a while!

Bill

bobcowan · #8 (**permalink**) 10-31-2011, 10:06 PM

Have you considered a Quick Lift?

danc30 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-01-2011, 06:05 AM

X2 for a quick-lift

G-Pete · #10 (**permalink**) 11-01-2011, 08:56 AM

BendPak MD6P

check this puppy out...

BendPak MD-6XP Mid Rise Lift, 6,000 Lb. Capacity, Portable

Clayboy · #11 (**permalink**) 11-01-2011, 10:17 AM

Bliss,
If you are looking for a inexpensive homemade lift that works well, disassembles and stores easily... look in my gallery. Mine uses engineered floor truss material and plywood. It is internally braced and is stout as ....! All pieces are glued with construction adhesive and screwed together with deck screws, did I mention it is also very stout! It is based on another homemade lift designed and built by former CC'er Red Barchetta. For detailed photos of Red's setup go to www.cobraregistry.com - anything cobra and view his photos and description of the construction.
Bob

Zaphod B · #12 (**permalink**) 11-01-2011, 01:33 PM

Clayboy, your homemade lift was the one I was referring to. Very nice!

rodneym · #13 (**permalink**) 11-01-2011, 04:16 PM

bliss,

I recently went through a bit of a lift dilemma. There's a short 2 post lift that fits in a 8 ft ceiling (forgot the name) but I have a foundation crack running right through the middle of my garage floor. If I had it installed on either side there wouldn't be enough room for the Cobra, and I didn't want to repour.
I was then gonna go for the QwikLift, which I like a lot. I have also seen RedBarchetta's handmade lift in person (very cool).
But at this point I already had Race Ramps (the light weight foam ramps). So I bought an AC Hydraulic low profile floor jack from pelican parts. Then I bought 2 Race Ramp pedastals. I drive on to the 10" high ramps in front, park it, and lift the rear and put wheels on 12" pedastals. This give me PLENTY of room to get on the creeper and get to those hard to reach areas and clean away. Working on brakes would be a different story but you can't do that on a Qwiklift easily either. You would need the 'bridge' and you could accomplish the same with a jackstand.
Rame Ramps are certainly not the cheapest route BUT, I can literally pick these ramps and pedastals up with one finger and toss them in a truck or on top of my garage cabinets.
Talk about portable. Not a bad option.
I still envy the 2 post lifts but I just wanted to give you another option depending on your circumstances.

Dwight · #14 (**permalink**) 11-01-2011, 06:51 PM

I made mine out of scrap but you can use 2 x 4 and 2 x 6 wood.

13 inches high, 10" wide and 20" long. The ramps are 10 feet long.
I painted it Ford blue.
I pined it together so I could take it apart and stack it in the corner when I'm not using it. You need 10" x 10 feet to store it.
Dwight

bliss · #15 (**permalink**) 11-02-2011, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clayboy

Bliss,
If you are looking for a inexpensive homemade lift that works well, disassembles and stores easily... look in my gallery. Mine uses engineered floor truss material and plywood. It is internally braced and is stout as ....! All pieces are glued with construction adhesive and screwed together with deck screws, did I mention it is also very stout! It is based on another homemade lift designed and built by former CC'er Red Barchetta. For detailed photos of Red's setup go to www.cobraregistry.com - anything cobra and view his photos and description of the construction.
Bob

Your unit is awesome, but unfortunately I've no skills in that area. Race Ramps sells a unit called "portable pit stop" made with foam parts for around $2,600 that looks and works just like the one you built probably for a lot less. For that amount of money, I'd go with MaxJax as recommended here. But, something along the lines of your set up would work fine. Perhaps I can find someone to build one for me. Lifting the car up and being able to remove the center pieces of a ramp seems like a good solution for a home garage environment.

By the way, I live only 50 miles from you!

Zaphod B · #16 (**permalink**) 11-02-2011, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bliss

Your unit is awesome, but unfortunately I've no skills in that area. Race Ramps sells a unit called "portable pit stop" made with foam parts for around $2,600 that looks and works just like the one you built probably for a lot less. For that amount of money, I'd go with MaxJax as recommended here. But, something along the lines of your set up would work fine. Perhaps I can find someone to build one for me. Lifting the car up and being able to remove the center pieces of a ramp seems like a good solution for a home garage environment.

By the way, I live only 50 miles from you!

Bliss, if you don't have the carpentry skillz, find a local carpenter. Should be an afternoon's work.