Single post lift vs. Scissor lift

[RichardCSX6000]

I am looking at buying a lift to do a few things with. Maybe change oil, some under car cleaning and tire rotation (not cobra) and just mess around. I have a 9ft 3in ceiling in garage. I am 5'8". My car is 48" at top of row bar. So anyway it goes I have to crouch. I seen a utube vid showing a guy under a car on a rolling stool, using a scissor lift….anyone used that? Looks like the single post leaves car underside more open. Do you think the extra 10 inches gained with the single post is of any value since I could not stand under the car with the single post lift because of ceiling height restriction? With the single post lift I could get the car up to 5'2" or so before I run out of room, with the midlift scissor it goes 53" high total. I can park over the scissor so its out of the way. I put a couple of links on here to Greg Smith Equip which is where I will buy it since I live in Indy and don’t have to pay shipping by picking it up. Help me out here on some thoughts on each I may be missing. These are the only two I will pick from. Any ideas??? Sorry about the long post and all the rambling but I just cant decide! Thanks in advance!!

Master Series SPL-6 Portable Single Post Lift

Atlas TD6MR Portable Scissor Lift

[PaulProe]

Some questions to answer

Where are you going to store the single post lift? You can't just drive over it

both lifts are higher than the cobra is low. You'll need to drive onto 2x12 ramps to get the car up over the lift. and if it is the single post, you have to remove the center section of the ramp to get the lift under the vehicle

Pricing isn't that much difference from a two or four post.

If you're that close to Indianapolis, get Greg to come out to your shop and show you how to fit a two or four post lift into it. You'll be much happier.

Paul

[Jaydee]

I have a Molnar 2 post. Shed walls are 10 ft, but it peaks 13 foot in the centre. I just can't lift van higher then 4 feet. A centre single post, you need to go deep into the ground, you have a large base plate, and you can't do gearboxes or exhaust, without it getting in the way. A four poster takes a lot of room. A pit can be a cheap way, but more hassles and fume dangerous. Hard to carry a gearbox out of.
JD.

[MOTORHEAD]

Richard: I have had a scissor lift for some years now. Bought it when I had a Porsche 911. It was advertised with a 3.5" height which would fit under the 4.5" Porsche ground clearance. When i got it, there was a major bracket that was 5" tall !!! Had to build ramps !!. THe main drawback is limited acess to the center section of the vehicle, which for a Porsche is no problem because there is nothing under the center of a porsche but belly pan. Check the folded height of the lift you are looking at .
If I was to do it again, with limited ceiling height, I'd opt for a two post with arms that swivel out of the way, they have them in mid-lift models now.
Ted, ( ex hoosier)

[stevek]

You might want to take a look at this lift as it will give you the clearance you need and the accessability to work under the car.

MaxJax Portable Two Post Lifting System by Dannmar

[MOTORHEAD]

Yeah, that's the ticket !!

[vector1]

i would pick whichever meets the most of your goals. you will in the end make either one of them work.

[RichardCSX6000]

Thanks Ted. I knew the bottom of car would be somewhat covered but I do not do any work on car anyway, oil and cleaning only. I would use it to rotate tires on other cars. I am not certian of the clearance of Shelby but I think the scissor lift goes down 5.75 inches. What I like about it is it is out of way cause you can park over it...no added clutter! What I really am trying to decide IS since I can not get a full lift because of ceiling height does it really matter if it lifts 25 inches, 53 inches or 62 inches...anyway it goes I cant stand up under the car????? How did you use your scissor lift...with a creeper or what? Thanks