2.5T+ Car Lift near Brentwood, Essex for a days use?

[youngsyr]

Hi all, I know many people on here have their own ramps at home and I need to spend at most a day under a car to sort out an exhaust leak.

Is there anyone near (say within 20 miles of) Brentwood, Essex (CM14) who would be willing to let me use their ramp/lift for a day? I'd be willing to make a contribution to the cost of the lift (say £70).

The ramp/lift would need to be able to lift a minimum of 2.5T, with lifting height of at least 1 metre for a normal sized family car (not SUV). I'd like as much clearance underneath the car as possible, wheels would be staying on and are not being worked on, so could either be a drive on ramp or lifting beam type lift. I could do almost any day, so not necessarily limited to weekends.

Please reply on here if you can help and we can take it from there.

[eltax91]

Not within 20 miles but there's a few of these types of places about: http://thisisyourgarage.com/

[youngsyr]

eltax91 said:

Not within 20 miles but there's a few of these types of places about: http://thisisyourgarage.com/

Thanks, I have looked around and it seems the nearest one to me is the other side of London (Pitstart, North Acton), so I'll probably spend more time getting to and from there than with the car in the air.

If no-one local can help, I guess that's where I'll end up though.

[GreenV8S]

You could always just walk into a few backstreet garages near you and offer cash for use of the ramp for a few hours. If they're quiet they might welcome the cash. I suspect that making it clear you know exactly what you're doing and have all the tools, parts, knowledge to do it promptly might encourage them to say yes.

[youngsyr]

GreenV8S said:

You could always just walk into a few backstreet garages near you and offer cash for use of the ramp for a few hours. If they're quiet they might welcome the cash. I suspect that making it clear you know exactly what you're doing and have all the tools, parts, knowledge to do it promptly might encourage them to say yes.

It's an idea, but all the garages I know nearby are very busy. Certainly too busy to give up a ramp for a half day or more for pocket money.

[tight fart]

A mot garage I know Toot hill way would probably do that for you, I'll ask tomorrow when I pop in.

[youngsyr]

tight fart said:

A mot garage I know Toot hill way would probably do that for you, I'll ask tomorrow when I pop in.

That would be great, thanks!

[Iddingtons]

Not sure if you'll get away with it, but might be an option depending on your ground clearance....

There is a drive up ramp near the recycling center in Brentwood:

https://goo.gl/maps/WRLaUKBu1MQ2

Might be of use to you.

[youngsyr]

Iddingtons said:

Not sure if you'll get away with it, but might be an option depending on your ground clearance....

There is a drive up ramp near the recycling center in Brentwood:

https://goo.gl/maps/WRLaUKBu1MQ2

Might be of use to you.

Wow, thanks for that - could be very useful! Do you know who owns it - is it part of a VOSA inspection centre etc (I know there is a way bridge around there?)? Just don't want to get on there, get the exhaust in bits and then be told to scarper!

[tight fart]

I did ask today and he said no, apparently he let someone use a couple of weeks ago and they left a mess..

[youngsyr]

tight fart said:

I did ask today and he said no, apparently he let someone use a couple of weeks ago and they left a mess..

OK, thanks for asking anyway!

[E-bmw]

youngsyr said:

Wow, thanks for that - could be very useful! Do you know who owns it - is it part of a VOSA inspection centre etc (I know there is a way bridge around there?)? Just don't want to get on there, get the exhaust in bits and then be told to scarper!

Way-back-when in years gone by MANY people just threw old engine oil down the drain when doing their own oil changes.

Then recycling centres started putting out oil disposal containers & some really good ones built things like this to encourage people to do exactly that.

Ask the "old hand" there & he will probably be the only one who remembers why it's there.

[Iddingtons]

youngsyr said:

Wow, thanks for that - could be very useful! Do you know who owns it - is it part of a VOSA inspection centre etc (I know there is a way bridge around there?)? Just don't want to get on there, get the exhaust in bits and then be told to scarper!

No idea I am afraid. It's just in the car park with no signage from memory.

I assume as suggested it was some old council measure but I've never seen it used. It occasionally gets all the weeds cleared out the center though so someone must maintain it.

[youngsyr]

Awesome, thanks guys.

I'll probably need to work out a way to raise the car as those shutters on the side look pretty high (6 inches?) and I don't have much ground clearance.

I'll pop down tomorrow and take a look.

[Iddingtons]

youngsyr said:

Awesome, thanks guys.

I'll probably need to work out a way to raise the car as those shutters on the side look pretty high (6 inches?) and I don't have much ground clearance.

I'll pop down tomorrow and take a look.

How'd you get on ? Did it work OK ?

Just curious as might use it myself at some point!

[youngsyr]

Iddingtons said:

youngsyr said:

Awesome, thanks guys.

I'll probably need to work out a way to raise the car as those shutters on the side look pretty high (6 inches?) and I don't have much ground clearance.

I'll pop down tomorrow and take a look.

How'd you get on ? Did it work OK ?

Just curious as might use it myself at some point!

I've been down to have a look and whilst it could be made to work, I think it would just be easier to go to the place in North London and hire a 2 poster.

The shutters are about 6" high, so I'd need to be able to raise my car above them somehow and even then it's a bit of an awkward height - the car would be between 3' and 4' off the ground, which would mean either stooping under it or cleaning all the crap out of the gap between the two ramps and getting a chair.

Thanks for the recommendation though - so close to being a great solution!

[Iddingtons]

youngsyr said:

I've been down to have a look and whilst it could be made to work, I think it would just be easier to go to the place in North London and hire a 2 poster.

The shutters are about 6" high, so I'd need to be able to raise my car above them somehow and even then it's a bit of an awkward height - the car would be between 3' and 4' off the ground, which would mean either stooping under it or cleaning all the crap out of the gap between the two ramps and getting a chair.

Thanks for the recommendation though - so close to being a great solution!

Ah, that's a shame.

It's a while since I have been down there so wasn't sure what state it was currently in. I'd forgotten about the shutters too.

Good luck with the fix anyway.

David.

[youngsyr]

Just to close this thread off, ended up going to Pit Start Garage in North Acton, rates were reasonable (£96 inc VAT for a full day) , place was ok, but traffic trying to get there was ridiculous, even after rush hour.