Scissor lift advice (again!)

Scissor lift advice (again!)

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rcx106

Original Poster:

188 posts

120 months

Thursday 23rd April 2015
quotequote all
Scissor lifts give limited access because they sit right in the middle where you often need to be to do your work. But here's a thought, could I use the scissor lift to raise the car onto some tall 1 metre "truck" axles stands (own a set already)? Then I'd have the access smile and the scissor lift is then moved out the way.

Concerns: If I lift the car with the scissor lift, will I still have any jacking points to place the axle stands?

I do actually have space for a 2 post lift, and the price difference is not all that big, £800 for scissor vs £1000 for the 2-post lift. The trouble is that my pad is 5m wide which lets me fit two cars side by side, but a two post lift is 3.4m wide and needs to be at least 0.6m from the edge of the pad. So I end up with one bay for working on one project instead of two.

I know that with the scissor lifts you're neither standing not lying down (more like kneeling??). It's all a compromise right.


rcx106

Original Poster:

188 posts

120 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
I've decided to leave the 2 post lift for now because it looks like the only safe way to fit a two-poster is to install a concrete base. Doing small concrete pads to sit the posts on requires the pads to be "keyed" under and existing floor, and I only have a patio covered by a roof. The "keying" adds a lot to the foundations ability to resist turning moment as the car tries to tip the posts and that I don't want to risk it.

For now may use a scissor lift. In the future I might put in a pair of piles into the ground to anchor a two post lift. But none of the manufacturers give specs for piles because most garages have a concrete floor.

Some importers of chinese lifts gave me silly small specs for the foundations, saying it just needs 50cm pads. I'm not going to go with that... A quick search on two post lifts on the HSE gov website will soon make you want to play safe smile

rcx106

Original Poster:

188 posts

120 months

Wednesday 6th May 2015
quotequote all
Looks like there's a pit under there anyway.

rcx106

Original Poster:

188 posts

120 months

Thursday 7th May 2015
quotequote all
Useful stuff Bearman, thanks. Just saw this, if it could grab a full car it would be great, but it's only good for bare chassis because of weight restrictions and lack of mounting points: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/car-roller-chassis-tilte... via @eBay_UK