How important is a full height lift?
Discussion
There is a long winded reason for this question but in simple terms my question is how much value would you place on having a lift that can take a car to beyond head heigh vs something like a scissor lift that might give you 4ft ish of space to work in?
The reason for asking is that I currently have a blank canvas for building a garage. Our last house had a single garage and I got by but lifting a car is always a massive chore. Since moving, I now have a double garage but limited head height. About 2.5m. It was always my intention to build a garage on a 10m x 6m slab at the the top of our garden that the house's previous owner had poured to make himself a machine shop that he never got around to doing. The obvious plan for me there was to build an oak garage with approx. 4m apex height and comfortable space for three cars. These are pretty much available off the peg and would have allowed me to put a full height lift in, either a 2 poster or perhaps more likely a sunk full height scissor lift that would leave the space more flexible.
The reason I'm stalling on this plan is that realistically, a garage like that will cost us between £20k and £30k. Though it is not out of the question to spend that sort of sum, being sensible about things, I fear there will always seem like much more important things to spend that kind of money on for the foreseeable future which could mean a long old wait for my garage. First world problem, I know!
Whilst looking for a potting shed, this caught my eye.
https://www.gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk/log-cabins...
It isn't anything like what I imagined using to house a car but the way our garden is laid out, I could have two of them in different areas (or maybe even three if I ever needed the space) and I'd still be saving a fortune. Granted the quality of structure is far lower but they're quite well made in terms of material spec and treatment etc.
The biggest issues for me are door width so even though there is space inside for two small cars, you could only ever fit one in. At 5.5m long, it would be tight for working on something like our A4 Avant if I ever wanted to. But the biggest thing is that the ceiling height would limit be to low lift heights and I'm not quite sure how big an issue that would be. I'm coming from a place of never having had anything beyond trolley jacks and axles stands so I'm kind of wondering if I don't need to be quite so ambitious.
The reason for asking is that I currently have a blank canvas for building a garage. Our last house had a single garage and I got by but lifting a car is always a massive chore. Since moving, I now have a double garage but limited head height. About 2.5m. It was always my intention to build a garage on a 10m x 6m slab at the the top of our garden that the house's previous owner had poured to make himself a machine shop that he never got around to doing. The obvious plan for me there was to build an oak garage with approx. 4m apex height and comfortable space for three cars. These are pretty much available off the peg and would have allowed me to put a full height lift in, either a 2 poster or perhaps more likely a sunk full height scissor lift that would leave the space more flexible.
The reason I'm stalling on this plan is that realistically, a garage like that will cost us between £20k and £30k. Though it is not out of the question to spend that sort of sum, being sensible about things, I fear there will always seem like much more important things to spend that kind of money on for the foreseeable future which could mean a long old wait for my garage. First world problem, I know!
Whilst looking for a potting shed, this caught my eye.
https://www.gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk/log-cabins...
It isn't anything like what I imagined using to house a car but the way our garden is laid out, I could have two of them in different areas (or maybe even three if I ever needed the space) and I'd still be saving a fortune. Granted the quality of structure is far lower but they're quite well made in terms of material spec and treatment etc.
The biggest issues for me are door width so even though there is space inside for two small cars, you could only ever fit one in. At 5.5m long, it would be tight for working on something like our A4 Avant if I ever wanted to. But the biggest thing is that the ceiling height would limit be to low lift heights and I'm not quite sure how big an issue that would be. I'm coming from a place of never having had anything beyond trolley jacks and axles stands so I'm kind of wondering if I don't need to be quite so ambitious.
Unless you are going to start working commercially on cars, for most jobs getting it off the ground about 2 or 3 ft, especially of you can lift it on the chassis to allow the wheels to be hanging free would be enough, that would cover 95% of the typical jobs us home maniacs will encounter, i'm closing rapidly on 70 now and am quite happy driving my Prado up onto 4 ramps, allowing me to slide comfortably around on a creeper with things at a nice height for servicing.
If i was younger i would have bought a vehicle lift of some sort but not worth the expense and trouble now.
Centre apex will probably allow the use of a mobile pallet shifter type engine hoist.
If i had invested in a full height lift, i would have gone for a 4 poster that lifts the entire car wheels and all so its absolutely solid and jack individual wheels up whilst raised, seeing some the footage of cars on chassis only lifters falling from head height i would not want to risk working on my own.
If i was younger i would have bought a vehicle lift of some sort but not worth the expense and trouble now.
Centre apex will probably allow the use of a mobile pallet shifter type engine hoist.
If i had invested in a full height lift, i would have gone for a 4 poster that lifts the entire car wheels and all so its absolutely solid and jack individual wheels up whilst raised, seeing some the footage of cars on chassis only lifters falling from head height i would not want to risk working on my own.
Smint said:
Unless you are going to start working commercially on cars, for most jobs getting it off the ground about 2 or 3 ft, especially of you can lift it on the chassis to allow the wheels to be hanging free would be enough, that would cover 95% of the typical jobs us home maniacs will encounter, i'm closing rapidly on 70 now and am quite happy driving my Prado up onto 4 ramps, allowing me to slide comfortably around on a creeper with things at a nice height for servicing.
If i was younger i would have bought a vehicle lift of some sort but not worth the expense and trouble now.
Centre apex will probably allow the use of a mobile pallet shifter type engine hoist.
If i had invested in a full height lift, i would have gone for a 4 poster that lifts the entire car wheels and all so its absolutely solid and jack individual wheels up whilst raised, seeing some the footage of cars on chassis only lifters falling from head height i would not want to risk working on my own.
Thanks Smint. Echoes some of my thoughts. Definitely not doing any paid work. Just a tinkerer. I do fancy ripping an MX5 down to it's bare bones and putting it back together. Those are body on frame arrangements so a two post would have been great for separating the two but I think a low scissor lidt would work too. In an ideal world, I'd go for the height but if that meant waiting a few years rather than just getting on with it I think I might well be prepared to compromise. A 4 post would be great but any four (or two post for that matter) just seems to take up so much room and is stuck there so maybe starting to lean more toward the scissor type options. In an ideal world one of each would be nice! If i was younger i would have bought a vehicle lift of some sort but not worth the expense and trouble now.
Centre apex will probably allow the use of a mobile pallet shifter type engine hoist.
If i had invested in a full height lift, i would have gone for a 4 poster that lifts the entire car wheels and all so its absolutely solid and jack individual wheels up whilst raised, seeing some the footage of cars on chassis only lifters falling from head height i would not want to risk working on my own.
Depending on space available , and need to move about , a set of quick jacks may suffice, raise the vehicle to a comfy height to crawl about underneath, and work on suspension and brakes easily, and then stack away , so not in the way when not needed.
As an ex motor trade worker, I'd love a nice two poster , but lack of height , and then loss of space , means the quick jack's are my solution.
As an ex motor trade worker, I'd love a nice two poster , but lack of height , and then loss of space , means the quick jack's are my solution.
rigga said:
Depending on space available , and need to move about , a set of quick jacks may suffice, raise the vehicle to a comfy height to crawl about underneath, and work on suspension and brakes easily, and then stack away , so not in the way when not needed.
As an ex motor trade worker, I'd love a nice two poster , but lack of height , and then loss of space , means the quick jack's are my solution.
I have considered those but I think I like the idea of sinking a scissor jack into the floor. Partly because it's neat and keeps the jack completely out the way when not in use, but also because I think I'd feel happier with something that is positively fixed to the floor. It looks like I'd maybe get a bit more lift height with that set up too. As an ex motor trade worker, I'd love a nice two poster , but lack of height , and then loss of space , means the quick jack's are my solution.
I've got a two post lift. Personally I'm glad I went full height (mine lifts approx 6' 8" ft) as working underneath is far easier and less awkward. If i was building a new garage, I'd be fitting the same or considering building in one of those flush high lift scissor types. I also use my 2 post for storage in winter.
Edited by Rich_AR on Thursday 2nd March 16:43
I’m in the US and I have one of these.
https://www.maxjax.com/maxjax/
I’m sure I’ve seen them available in the U.K. It’s a good enough compromise. I never really use mine at full height. It’s also good in that you can store it away when you’re not using it. I have a smooth garage floor and bought a nice creeper that also tilts and it works for when the lift is up about 3 feet. I have a 4 car garage and fitted anchor points in 3 places so I can install the lift in different locations.
https://www.maxjax.com/maxjax/
I’m sure I’ve seen them available in the U.K. It’s a good enough compromise. I never really use mine at full height. It’s also good in that you can store it away when you’re not using it. I have a smooth garage floor and bought a nice creeper that also tilts and it works for when the lift is up about 3 feet. I have a 4 car garage and fitted anchor points in 3 places so I can install the lift in different locations.
I'd love a full height lift and so would my knees!
One thought that I console myself with is that at least I can access the car from above and below when it's on axle stands.
If I did have a lift I'd probably need to lower it down as soon as I'd raised I'd because I'd forgotten to do something from above first.
It would be up and down like a yo-yo!
One thought that I console myself with is that at least I can access the car from above and below when it's on axle stands.
If I did have a lift I'd probably need to lower it down as soon as I'd raised I'd because I'd forgotten to do something from above first.
It would be up and down like a yo-yo!
Bainbridge said:
I'd love a full height lift and so would my knees!
One thought that I console myself with is that at least I can access the car from above and below when it's on axle stands.
If I did have a lift I'd probably need to lower it down as soon as I'd raised I'd because I'd forgotten to do something from above first.
It would be up and down like a yo-yo!
haha, I have a set of small ladders for this exact reason. One thought that I console myself with is that at least I can access the car from above and below when it's on axle stands.
If I did have a lift I'd probably need to lower it down as soon as I'd raised I'd because I'd forgotten to do something from above first.
It would be up and down like a yo-yo!
I started my business with this lift.
https://bhrepairs.co.uk/
I was sorry to swap it for a 2 poster, and there's little the 2 poster will do that this won't. In some cases the scissors lift is better, as you can open the doors, and work on the inside. If I had space, I would have another of these in a heartbeat.
When I sold it, I did so for new price less a few hundred quid, so even if you buy it and don't like it, it's not such a big investment.
https://bhrepairs.co.uk/
I was sorry to swap it for a 2 poster, and there's little the 2 poster will do that this won't. In some cases the scissors lift is better, as you can open the doors, and work on the inside. If I had space, I would have another of these in a heartbeat.
When I sold it, I did so for new price less a few hundred quid, so even if you buy it and don't like it, it's not such a big investment.
2 poster, full height lift has changed me from ‘sick of working on cars now’ and ‘book it in a garage’ to fully restoring a defender onto a galv chassis.
3 years ago i was rolling around on my drive next to an axle stand and had been for 15 years working on cars. It was no longer necessity but just when I wanted to as over that 15 years I had managed to be in a position to afford to pay someone to do the jobs instead.
We were lucky enough to do a self build house and I got to design the garage from scratch. Put a 2 post lift in and it totally renewed my desire to do work again. Warm, comfortable, easier on the back/ knees. A pleasure to be involved again and no longer a chore.
The only time it’s difficult is when under my disco 4. I can’t lift it to full height because it fouls the roof trusses and so it’s always a ‘half bend’ situation.
3 years ago i was rolling around on my drive next to an axle stand and had been for 15 years working on cars. It was no longer necessity but just when I wanted to as over that 15 years I had managed to be in a position to afford to pay someone to do the jobs instead.
We were lucky enough to do a self build house and I got to design the garage from scratch. Put a 2 post lift in and it totally renewed my desire to do work again. Warm, comfortable, easier on the back/ knees. A pleasure to be involved again and no longer a chore.
The only time it’s difficult is when under my disco 4. I can’t lift it to full height because it fouls the roof trusses and so it’s always a ‘half bend’ situation.
Lotobear said:
If you're designing your garage from scratch, a full height 2 post is a no brainer IMO - working 'stooped' under one is a right PITA
One big advantage is the ability to store 2 cars when not in use - an 'open' roof design allows this.
Cheers Lotobear. If I design from scratch, it will likely be full height though that would mean having to go through a planning application as it would likely need to be over 4m. It's just hard to ignore the shear cost difference between a bespoke option and an off the shelf, lower roof option, permitted dev option. Not made my mind up yet though. One big advantage is the ability to store 2 cars when not in use - an 'open' roof design allows this.
Out of interest, any issues with storing your cars like that longish term? I can't see any obvious issues but I guess the suspension doesn't normally rest like that. Do you do anything to avoid oil drips on the car below?
Edited by Gad-Westy on Monday 3rd April 20:35
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