Scissor Lifts

"theloudmouth" (theloudmouth)
12/22/2016 at 18:06 • Filed to: None

What does Oppo know about these for home garage usage?

We’re reno’ing our entire house next year (first floor gut, add a second floor, demo the 2-car and adding a 3.5 car with an independent third bay). This is what I’m thinking for the 3rd bay. It only needs 13" concrete, doesn’t take up any space when not in use (so, honestly a big chunk of the time) and seems perfect for my “home servicing” needs. I’ll do bigger jobs (engine removal, rear end removal, etc.), just not every day.

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DISCUSSION (22)

HammerheadFistpunch > theloudmouth
12/22/2016 at 18:16

“call for price”

ooof.

theloudmouth > HammerheadFistpunch
12/22/2016 at 18:21

Edited for a link with price, $3500

Svend > theloudmouth
12/22/2016 at 18:28

I don’t have any extensive experience with scissor lifts but there are a lot of scissor lifts out there. They are much of a muchness really but find what’s right for you be it a portable plug in electrical unit, a hydraulic fitted lift or an recessed hydraulic lift and what’s right for your pocket.

HammerheadFistpunch > theloudmouth
12/22/2016 at 18:32

thats pretty reasonable.

theloudmouth > HammerheadFistpunch
12/22/2016 at 18:38

Yeah, a bendpak 2-post is basically $3000 and takes up tons of space in a single bay environment. There are some extremely clean installs online.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/325858-bendpak-sp-7x-lift-purchase-question.html

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > theloudmouth
12/22/2016 at 18:43

I’d see about finding a good quality 2 post lift. Although it may take up a bit more space when not in use, you need less concrete in the base, it’s cheaper, and you have more room to work underneath the vehicle when the lift is in use. Something like this.

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-PV-10P

Urambo Tauro > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
12/22/2016 at 18:50

The limited space that a scissor lift affords is a deal-breaker for me. I don’t know if I’d even be able to do my exhaust with all that in the way. Better to just have a few strategically placed swing arms.

shop-teacher > theloudmouth
12/22/2016 at 19:22

Interesting idea. Looking at that graphic, there isn’t much floor space between the scissors.

Frenchlicker > theloudmouth
12/22/2016 at 19:35

Since the height required would be roughly the same I would go the two post route. It just seems like overall you would have more flexibility of use.

theloudmouth > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
12/22/2016 at 19:45

The concrete isn’t an issue, they dig and pit the concrete just around the base where it’s required, they’re not much cheaper in the scheme of things, and the area around where the lift takes up there really isn’t anything (it’s all in car between the jack points everything like drive shafts and brake lines are centered in the chassis). I originally thought 2 post or bust but it also makes detailing the car really hard.

theloudmouth > shop-teacher
12/22/2016 at 19:48

It’s 31" when in use, but there’s really not much there other than the drive shaft which is centered. A 2-post is better for access (I’ve used them a good amount) but I’m trying to realistic since most of the time the 2-post will just be in the way, including for work space, detailing,etc. I could even add a 4-post above this if I wanted.

theloudmouth > Urambo Tauro
12/22/2016 at 20:08

What exhaust issue? Or I guess it depends on the car, for my E92 there’s literally nothing under the car where the lift raises. It’s all central down the spine of the car or interior to he car at the outer sides so isn’t in the way of anything.

Kinja'd!!!

If I moved up it’d be to a Porsche for a fun car and then there would definitely be nothing in the way.

Urambo Tauro > theloudmouth
12/22/2016 at 20:24

Yeah, it really depends on the car.

My Mustang’s exhaust is getting rusty, so I immediately thought of that when I tried to visualize using scissor lifts. It’s not as centralized as some cars, and the H-pipe assembly takes up a fair amount of room. IIRC, my fuel lines run along a rail on one side of the car, and those scissor pads would definitely be in the way. The scissor-lift would probably work just fine for driveshaft replacement, though.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Urambo Tauro
12/22/2016 at 21:04

Scissor lifts are a pain when working on SN95 exhust stuff. There usually just isn’t enough width to easily separate the h-pipe from the tail sections, and if the car’s rusty, the scissor lift has a possibility of really screwing up the pinch welds.

shop-teacher > theloudmouth
12/22/2016 at 22:38

Yeah, two-posts do eat a lot of space. I’m just not sure this would be useful enough to be worth the cost and trouble. It would be really helpful to see one in action in person.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > theloudmouth
12/23/2016 at 03:02

They’re fine. But I’m not a fan because of how much working room they take up. Consider using a transmission jack, or the legs of an engine hoist, or moving around a bunch yourself to take a big swing at some suspension stuff. I hit myself on them all the time.

What about two post in ground?

theloudmouth > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
12/23/2016 at 07:11

I fully agree and that’s why I hadn’t thought of them, it’s purely a pragmatic decision for the amount I’ll be dropping my trans or engine (I won’t be doing major services every day, in other words). I definitely see myself hitting them and not being the happiest about it, I know I also won’t have the biggest workspace and an above ground 2-post would be in the way all the time vs. the scissor just when it’s in use. The asymmetric 2-post annoyingly only comes in the 145" height version and I’m due to have 11' ceilings.

I would love a 2-post in-ground like the Rotary SL210. It’s $8K for the lift plus the extremely high install cost and difficult servicing being unable to be easily access the lift unlike the scissor when it’s in use. I’m going to ask for a quote from our builder for both options, but even with all we’re spending on the project if it ends up being 15K all in for the SL210 vs 5K for the atlas that’ll be hard for me to justify.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > theloudmouth
12/23/2016 at 09:54

Good points. Glad you have a complete understanding of your options here