Anyone have a garage lift at home?
Discussion
Baldchap said:
I have one, as do many PHers. Automotech do short and narrow ones to suit home garages.
Ah OK, I genuinely didn't realise there was such interest in these but we started getting quite a few enquiries at Concept Garage Equipment for them, and can certainly supply them no problem, but hadn't specifically been marketing to the home garage audience previously.marine boy said:
I have one of these, lost a bedroom on the new extension I'm building to fit in in but it will be worth it
Think there is a demand for compact 240V 4 post and 2 post lifts full height but more demand for mid-height lifts
That's really useful thanks! And who needs bedrooms when you have an awesome garage anyway!Think there is a demand for compact 240V 4 post and 2 post lifts full height but more demand for mid-height lifts
Niponeoff said:
Scissor lift, about 1m.
Look for:
Electric or pneumatic interlocks.
Plastic sliders or metal
Limit switches
I have a compressor but I didn't want to switch one on, every time I used the lift. I also made sure I didn't have plastic sliders.
Great point re compressor - not many folk would want one of those noisy things in or next to their house!Look for:
Electric or pneumatic interlocks.
Plastic sliders or metal
Limit switches
I have a compressor but I didn't want to switch one on, every time I used the lift. I also made sure I didn't have plastic sliders.
Pete54 said:
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.......
We can get Chinese equipment and yes there is more profit in those lifts but we tend to steer more towards European lifts for our customers where the budget will allow, as we find they are just better quality and more robust generally. Ultimately the customer is always right in the end of course!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.......
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.
Ah yes, that looks pretty good to be fair - as you say, probably looking at the cheaper end of the market but if it does what you need that's perfect.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.
We do some similar mid-rise and full-rise scissor lifts, though our full-rise are a little more expensive than what you have there.
davejones said:
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.
Yes, the Hofmann ones are good quality, though quite expensive. We were offered some mobile scissor lifts by our suppliers, that can be pushed around the workshop or garage even with a car on them, which looked great, but the quality just wasn't good enough for us to sell unfortunately. Safety first when there are tons of metal over your head!KTMsm said:
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
Wow! That's inventive! Are you sure that's safe though? I love the concept though of being able to move it around, and don't need the floor depth that you would to bolt it down either!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
Hereward said:
I have the Automotech 3.5 tonne mid-rise scissor lift. I have a low ceiling so cannot raise vehicles as high as I would like (especially my Touareg) but it's still vastly more comfortable than working outside with axle stands.
That looks good. I love the makeshift jacking beam made of wooden blocks - looks a little precarious! Definitely working indoors with a lift is going to beat laying on your back in the freezing winter on the driveway.Edited by Hereward on Sunday 12th February 22:13
Steve57 said:
I'm trying to decide what route to go, been looking at the possibility of making something along these lines rather than the £2k price tag that is attached.
it will mainly be for general underside maintenance/cleaning so plenty of room underneath.
https://www.sealey.co.uk/MR1-Carlift
or should i just go low/midrise scissor to give me the wheel off option but less underside access.
Mid-rise scissor seems to offer much more height, I don't know what the price of this Sealy one is, but you can get a decent mid-rise 1 phase scissor lift (no air needed) for under £2500 so that seems a more sensible choice perhaps.it will mainly be for general underside maintenance/cleaning so plenty of room underneath.
https://www.sealey.co.uk/MR1-Carlift
or should i just go low/midrise scissor to give me the wheel off option but less underside access.
Edited by Steve57 on Tuesday 14th February 15:16
alabbasi said:
I bought both my 2 post and 4 post used. You can get a decent brand for not a lot of money that way.
Just wondering, where did you buy these used? And did you get them professionally installed, and have them regularly maintained/serviced?I know there are some FB groups and lots of stuff on eBay and the like for 2nd hand lifts, but we see so many issues and accidents and so the best advice is to get at least some professional input to ensure they are up to scratch and installed correctly (eg. is the floor deep enough to bolt to).
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