Anyone have a garage lift at home?
Discussion
andyconceptge said:
Genuinely interested, as our business sells garage equipment, and wondering if there is enough demand for home lifts for us to start spending on some advertising of this.
I have 2 lifts at home, baseless 2 post by Twin Busch and a in ground scissor lift by Automech. Both i would consider as the low end of the lift market, while both are perfect for the diy use, i would not want to earn my money with them. I would go for better quality ones that are 2/3 time the cost.
So my long winded question is what end of the market are your lifts ? you are going to be hard pushed selling a 6-7k bendpack lift to a guy who is going to use is a few times a month.
I have a 2 pot lift, supplied by Prestige Lift. Makes life so much pleasanter!
Mine is at the lower end of the ranges and so has manual locks - which is a bit of an annoyance. It also take some searching around to find a supplier who would bundle all the bits and pieces together and still give a sensible cost.
Given these all come from China I suspect there is a considerable profit margin. Probably the market for private sales is not that bit, having enough headroom and suitable foundations does restrict their application but.......
Mine is at the lower end of the ranges and so has manual locks - which is a bit of an annoyance. It also take some searching around to find a supplier who would bundle all the bits and pieces together and still give a sensible cost.
Given these all come from China I suspect there is a considerable profit margin. Probably the market for private sales is not that bit, having enough headroom and suitable foundations does restrict their application but.......
I've got THIS ONE from Automech Services.
As suggested above, they're probably not the best quality though it's served me well for a good few years now, from changing a subframe on my old 190E, to various other jobs on many other cars. The only one it didn't like was an L322 Range Rover which I think was slightly over it's comfort zone, though it got it to a height I could do what I wanted to on it.
The lift itself, which was a lot cheaper at the time to the currently linked one, was only the start of my expense, raising the garage ceiling was my main challenge, though I can now get a full sized car up in the air which is handy for keeping it clean. Unfortunately, this is about all I can do nowadays as, due to illness, I've lost most of my strength so struggle with lots of what used to be routine jobs.
Incidentally, I don't get the thing about not being able to work on the gearbox/prop area? I'm assuming the scissor lift in question has connecting bars between the two ramps, as I can (and have) done these things frequently with mine.
As suggested above, they're probably not the best quality though it's served me well for a good few years now, from changing a subframe on my old 190E, to various other jobs on many other cars. The only one it didn't like was an L322 Range Rover which I think was slightly over it's comfort zone, though it got it to a height I could do what I wanted to on it.
The lift itself, which was a lot cheaper at the time to the currently linked one, was only the start of my expense, raising the garage ceiling was my main challenge, though I can now get a full sized car up in the air which is handy for keeping it clean. Unfortunately, this is about all I can do nowadays as, due to illness, I've lost most of my strength so struggle with lots of what used to be routine jobs.
Incidentally, I don't get the thing about not being able to work on the gearbox/prop area? I'm assuming the scissor lift in question has connecting bars between the two ramps, as I can (and have) done these things frequently with mine.
healeyneil said:
I use a scissor lift which gives me maybe a metre of lift. Only downside is no access o gearbox/ prop area
..
I have changed the gearbox on an MX5 using a scissor lift. On a different MX5 I've changed the engine. Exhausts as well.
An advantage of this type of lift is that it's portable so (weather permitting) can be wheeled outside to work outside if required.
.
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At the moment it has a 20mm ply sheet on top (making it into a bench) and a T140 Bonneville on top.
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Versatile as a ... lift.
Edited by finishing touch on Sunday 12th February 11:13
I’ve got a Hofmann two post duo lift which is great - bought it new around ten years ago for about £4.5k fitted - as I was fortunate to build the workshop I could specify the floor loadings needed for the columns - this is a clear floor model that makes using it a doddle. I’ve also got a “cheap” Automech four post “parking” lift - this does not need to be bolted down, however I would strongly advise anyone to do so as it moves too much for my liking if not secured to the floor. It uses a hydraulic ram system so raising and lowering takes longer than the Hofmann, I think it cost me around £1800. I guess it all boils down to budget and purpose, I use mine to work on race cars of mine and friends and a lot of my racing mates have, or are considering installing lifts.
I've got one and have use of a couple of others
Mine is a single post lift which is essentially mounted on a large pallet truck - which is great because I can move it around indoors or out (great if I want to jet wash the underneath of a car outside) but I don't trust it for a second and the centre bar means it's useless for exhausts etc
I have use of a two post and a four post at a friend's garage it really depends what job I'm doing as to which is most useful
I know a couple of garage owners who are using the cheap eBay Chinese lifts and have done for some years without issue circa £1,800
Mine is a single post lift which is essentially mounted on a large pallet truck - which is great because I can move it around indoors or out (great if I want to jet wash the underneath of a car outside) but I don't trust it for a second and the centre bar means it's useless for exhausts etc
I have use of a two post and a four post at a friend's garage it really depends what job I'm doing as to which is most useful
I know a couple of garage owners who are using the cheap eBay Chinese lifts and have done for some years without issue circa £1,800
daveenty said:
I've got THIS ONE from Automech Services.
As suggested above, they're probably not the best quality though it's served me well for a good few years now, from changing a subframe on my old 190E, to various other jobs on many other cars. The only one it didn't like was an L322 Range Rover which I think was slightly over it's comfort zone, though it got it to a height I could do what I wanted to on it.
The lift itself, which was a lot cheaper at the time to the currently linked one, was only the start of my expense, raising the garage ceiling was my main challenge, though I can now get a full sized car up in the air which is handy for keeping it clean. Unfortunately, this is about all I can do nowadays as, due to illness, I've lost most of my strength so struggle with lots of what used to be routine jobs.
Incidentally, I don't get the thing about not being able to work on the gearbox/prop area? I'm assuming the scissor lift in question has connecting bars between the two ramps, as I can (and have) done these things frequently with mine.
Interested as to why you felt the L322 was the limit on your 3.5t lift? I've got the Automotech single poster which is 2500kg and I've had an L322 on that, I think I had some props under it as well as I was pretty sure it was at or above the lifts capacity!As suggested above, they're probably not the best quality though it's served me well for a good few years now, from changing a subframe on my old 190E, to various other jobs on many other cars. The only one it didn't like was an L322 Range Rover which I think was slightly over it's comfort zone, though it got it to a height I could do what I wanted to on it.
The lift itself, which was a lot cheaper at the time to the currently linked one, was only the start of my expense, raising the garage ceiling was my main challenge, though I can now get a full sized car up in the air which is handy for keeping it clean. Unfortunately, this is about all I can do nowadays as, due to illness, I've lost most of my strength so struggle with lots of what used to be routine jobs.
Incidentally, I don't get the thing about not being able to work on the gearbox/prop area? I'm assuming the scissor lift in question has connecting bars between the two ramps, as I can (and have) done these things frequently with mine.
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