2 post lifts

Isambard

Any knowledgeable people around?

I was looking at these, they aren't too expensive but I only have 1.2m headroom whereas they mostly have a lift of 1.6m. Would that be doable and could I modify it to prevent it going too far up and squashing my car into the roof.

The alternative would be to install it under my carport instead of my garage where there is probably more headroom but it would be standing on tarmac, would that not be stable enough?

CJhaughey

Isambard wrote: »

Any knowledgeable people around?

I was looking at these, they aren't too expensive but I only have 1.2m headroom whereas they mostly have a lift of 1.6m. Would that be doable and could I modify it to prevent it going too far up and squashing my car into the roof.

The alternative would be to install it under my carport instead of my garage where there is probably more headroom but it would be standing on tarmac, would that not be stable enough?

Could you cut out the tarmac in a couple of squares and pour some good concrete pads that you could anchor the legs to?
There is a height stop on most lifts that can be adjusted but 1.2m sounds like it would be too low to work on the underside of the car properly without crouching which defeats the purpose of the lift somewhat.

Isambard

CJhaughey wrote: »

Could you cut out the tarmac in a couple of squares and pour some good concrete pads that you could anchor the legs to?
There is a height stop on most lifts that can be adjusted but 1.2m sounds like it would be too low to work on the underside of the car properly without crouching which defeats the purpose of the lift somewhat.

better than trying to get my arthritic body under it a foot off the ground. Total height under the car port is 2.5 metres which sounds like it might be a better option than the garage itself. Like the idea of the concrete pads.

crosshair1

Not worth fitting if youre only going to have 1.2m lift,
Also iirc most lifts have requirement of 150mm concrete depth, its unlikely youll have this in a domestic garage

Cee-Jay-Cee

A friend of mine fitted a 2 Post list in his low ceiling garage. It’s only useful for wheel/suspension work as you have to be on your knees to get under it when it’s at full height. It has its uses but not being able to stand upright under your car when you have a lift is a bit pointless.

Isambard

much easier for me to be at knee height than lying down. Stool on wheels and I'd be well away

my3cents

Dig a 2 ft deep trench down the center of the garage then you have your height?

More seriously I was looking at the idea of getting some form of lift for my drive rather than a garage and one of the things I found was a Scissor Lift.

The downside is its not great for height I did see one picture of one used over a shallow pit hence my first comment, but it won't push the vehicle through the OPs garage roof and doesn't need bolting into concrete.

Isambard

one metre lift but much dearer

my3cents

Isambard wrote: »

one metre lift but much dearer

How much will the concrete and work necessary for a two post lift cost?

Edit> Any links to the ones you were looking at?

dar_cool

If you dont have the height just get a mid rise lift. Or raise the roof of the shed. I have a 2 post lift and its the best thing ive ever bought.

mullingar

I recommend a mid rise scissors lift if height and floor quality are an issue.

They lift to 1m and do not require any reinforced concrete floors. I have one, it was 2k Inc vat

Cee-Jay-Cee

What about single post portable lift? For light work they are ideal and as they are movable, you are not losing your garage floor as they can be wheeled into a corner when not in use?

http://redmount.ie/single-post-vehicle-lift

funkey_monkey

Most, if not all, lifts have a cut out switch on the electric hydraulic pump to prevent it rising above a set level. Move this down the post and it will cut out the hydraulic pump and prevent rising beyond your limit.

They recommend a certain depth of concrete for installing a lift, so you would need to create two pads (or one strip) of sufficiently deep concrete for it. Tarmac is no way near strong enough - probably would not even comply with the depth requirement, never mind the strength requirement.