Can I use 2-post lift for car washing or must scissor lift?

[foler]

Hi
Want to make undercarriage car washing place in my future garage.

So, need lift...
2-post lift, most versatile, I can use for anything, not only for wash, but in 99% this type of lift have some type of electricity on it.🤔 hmmmmm..Maybe some water/moisture isolation can do trick? Cant find any which is certified as waterproof.

1-post lift have some strange ramps which will block good access to undercarriage.
https://5.imimg.com/data5/LQ/SO/MY-2415577/single-...

Scissor lift have some even mobile option and don't have electricity on it and have little better access to undercarriage than 1-post lift.
https://www.garage-hirschi.ch/uploads/HYyOGNz8/737...

Build old school hole in the floor is I think obsolete in this days?
https://previews.123rf.com/images/nitikorn123rf/ni...


Is there a product that degreases well and does not leave stains on hot parts of the metal, such as the exhaust? Will have pressure washer with hot water.


Any suggestion, thinking, experience is welcome😉

[BelgiumBlues]

foler said:

Hi
Want to make undercarriage car washing place in my future garage.

So, need lift...
2-post lift, most versatile, I can use for anything, not only for wash, but in 99% this type of lift have some type of electricity on it.?? hmmmmm..Maybe some water/moisture isolation can do trick? Cant find any which is certified as waterproof.

1-post lift have some strange ramps which will block good access to undercarriage.
https://5.imimg.com/data5/LQ/SO/MY-2415577/single-...

Scissor lift have some even mobile option and don't have electricity on it and have little better access to undercarriage than 1-post lift.
https://www.garage-hirschi.ch/uploads/HYyOGNz8/737...

Build old school hole in the floor is I think obsolete in this days?
https://previews.123rf.com/images/nitikorn123rf/ni...


Is there a product that degreases well and does not leave stains on hot parts of the metal, such as the exhaust? Will have pressure washer with hot water.


Any suggestion, thinking, experience is welcome??

For a degreaser you need Bilt Hamber SurFex HD

[Miserablegit]

I use a karcher chassis cleaner - it does a good job - just slide it under the car - a lift is great for many things but I’m not sure about car washing.



If you’re into concours detailing then perhaps use the chassis washer and then put it on the lift for finishing

[Baldchap]

On my lift all the electrics are on a single post quite high up. Everything else is done by hydraulic rams and steel rope.

I guess you could wrap the electric components in situ and avoid directly spraying them.

How the water might corrode the other components, I wouldn't like to say.

[foler]

Miserablegit said:

I use a karcher chassis cleaner - it does a good job - just slide it under the car - a lift is great for many things but I’m not sure about car washing.



If you’re into concours detailing then perhaps use the chassis washer and then put it on the lift for finishing

Cant use this because I will do this for money, professionally. This will not look seriously towards service users.

[foler]

BelgiumBlues said:

For a degreaser you need Bilt Hamber SurFex HD

How To Use
Surfex HD is used on cool surfaces

[BelgiumBlues]

foler said:

BelgiumBlues said:

For a degreaser you need Bilt Hamber SurFex HD

How To Use
Surfex HD is used on cool surfaces

you are hardly going to be degreasing an exhaust after a 400 mile round trip - clean it when its cold, it wont leave residue behind

[SamR380]

A lot of two post lifts use hydraulics to do the lifting. Usually the pump and tank would be mounted on the side but I'd have thought this could be moved away and you could get some hoses made up. There might even be lifts available with remote hydraulic pumps.

[shirt]

The pump and tank are mounted on top of one of the legs. The control box (electrics) could easily be remounted anywhere you want it to be.

[foler]

SamR380 said:

A lot of two post lifts use hydraulics to do the lifting. Usually the pump and tank would be mounted on the side but I'd have thought this could be moved away and you could get some hoses made up. There might even be lifts available with remote hydraulic pumps.

this one is asymmetrical, galvanized against rust and have remote reservoir. Maybe was this one ok?

https://youtu.be/-GTLbjw6ELM

[SamR380]

foler said:

this one is asymmetrical, galvanized against rust and have remote reservoir. Maybe was this one ok?

https://youtu.be/-GTLbjw6ELM

Looks good to me, but I'm just some guy on the internet! Give them a ring, they might have something better.

[foler]

yes, i contact him but no one is certified ip65 for water. i can only improvize.

[GreenV8S]

foler said:

Cant use this because I will do this for money, professionally. This will not look seriously towards service users.

Really? Have you seen any professionals picking the car up to wash the chassis? I haven't. A wheeled waterjet is the conventional solution.

[Smint]

Might be worth seeing what professional rustproofers use, most if not all of those steam clean the underbodies before proofing process begins.
The place i used years ago had a huge drive on 4 post lift capable of lifing anything up to and including sizeable motorhomes.

For the sort of jobs you have in mind for safety i'd rather the vehicle was planted securely on its wheels than perched on 4 points of contact which you are about to fully lubricate, for awkward access a simple L shaped lance does the trick.
Another possibility would be one of those raised ramps you see at car sales sites, about 2 ft high made of galvanised angle iron, reverse up the slope and when far enough the whole frame tilts level and you put two legs down to keep it there...you see them for sale used sometimes on the bay circa £350.

[Krikkit]

I'd be thinking about a 4 post lift with a couple of jacking beams.

Easy lift for just an under chassis wash (less testing than the 2 post lift where you're scrabbling about siting the 4 pads), then if you want to remove the wheels and do the arches it's easy to get a jacking beam positioned properly.