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Posted by: Red-Beard Jul 28 2004, 10:13 AM

Appearently she thinks I'm worth more alive than dead and she has told me she _WANTS_ me to get a car lift for the new house!

How can you not love a woman like that?

Sooooo. WHat to get?

I get mail from these guys: http://www.americasprideonline.com/

specifcally: http://www.americasprideonline.com/ViewProduct?AllProducts=no&AllManufacturers=yes&CategoryIDs=2&CategoryName=4-Post-Auto-Lifts&ManufacturerIDs=&Source=catalog&SearchType=&TextSearch=&CaseSensitive=no&txtString=&PageNum=8&CurrPage=2&Sort=Price&SortMan=no&ID=15036

Any other thougts/suggestions?

Posted by: ClayPerrine Jul 28 2004, 10:20 AM

Here's a link to the company I bought my lift from:

http://www.geminilift.com/

High quality lift. I got to see the shop. All CNC machines, and the shop was very clean and well designed.

They even shortened the crossbar on the top to fit under my 10' ceiling.

Here's a picture of my 914 on that lift.



It was 2500.00 delivered and installed. But they were local to me so it may be more in Houston.

Clay Perrine

74 914 1.8L (Betty's Daily Driver)
73 914 2.4L MFI Six (In process of reassembly)

"It is better to wear out than to rust out."

Posted by: sanman Jul 28 2004, 10:34 AM

Can you get the car high enough to stand under it?
if not I wouuld rather it be on jack stands. just my $.02

ps its easier to sleep lying on a creeper

Posted by: Porsche Rescue Jul 28 2004, 11:06 AM

I have an Autolifters M6 (6000 lb capacity, 3rd one I've owned). Recommend highly. I prefer 4 post to two post for home garage. Biggest issue is ceiling height. You need at least 9'5" ceiling, 10' even better for easy stand-up work. I had to raise my door opener to make mine work in 9'5". Cars other than 914 (911) usually need to be backed on so garage door will clear.


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Posted by: Porsche Rescue Jul 28 2004, 11:09 AM

One more with 11' ceiling where I used to live. Wish I had that much clearance now.
Last I checked the lift was $2795. Extra for casters, jack tray. Drip pans included. They are made in Kansas. Sometimes have sale offering free shipping. They have a web site and will send a free video showing lift and it's features.
Edit: I just went to website (autolifters.com) and my lift is now $2295! That's down $500 from price 4 years ago! Damn!


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Posted by: ClayPerrine Jul 28 2004, 11:10 AM

I can raise a car up and walk from front to back without hitting my head. Of course, I am 5'6" tall. Yoder kinda has to duck a little to walk under the pan in the middle of a 914, but when do you need to work under there. Plus I like to have the wheels off the ground. It makes suspension and brake work easier.

Posted by: cha914 Jul 28 2004, 12:05 PM

You can find (good) used 2post lifts all day long for 1500 or so...I bought a slightly used one for 2K that is an open top for fitting in a lower environment. I have a list of two or three places that do the used lifts out at the shop if you are interested I can get the names for you.

But we have had a hell of a time trying to find a used 4 post to buy...seems like people/shops who buy those just dont sell them....and the big 4post that we want is pricy...

Oh and if you know how to use a measuring tape and a hammer drill then you can install a lift...it does help to have a couple 3ton floor jackes and an engine hoist handy, oh and 4 of your best friends...

Tony

Posted by: Gint Jul 28 2004, 04:58 PM

And even if your ceiling is a little low (like mine) and you can't get the car high enough on the lift to stand on it, then get one of these. You can sit and roll around to get to whatever you eed. Beats standing anyway.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=45342

I have the Gemini 4 post BTW. One of the auto realted best investments I ever made.

Posted by: brant Jul 28 2004, 05:10 PM

I see it mentioned that people like the 4 post over the 2post...

I'd be interested in some of the pro's and con's of each..

anybody willing to point them out to me?

brant

Posted by: Porsche Rescue Jul 28 2004, 05:25 PM

For a pure working lift the two post is probably better, after all that's what the pros use. However the four post is better for storing an extra car if you have the ceiling height. I don't like storing with the suspension hanging. I like just driving on and lifting rather than positioning arms under the car. Sometimes I just park on the lift when I have no need to store a car below. Also, the 2 post has to be bolted down. The four does not, and with optional casters can be moved around, even outside if you have a flat pad available. It can be moved with a car on it as well.
As for working on brakes/suspension, I have a small Sears floor jack ($30 on sale). I can use it on the track and jack a 914 using the donuts.
Or I can use a jack plate, lift one side and place jackstands. I don't have the optional jack tray which spans the tracks and allows use of a bottle jack.
Mine is awkward for 914 engine removal because it's too narrow between the tracks for the front engine mount bar. I ended up removing/attaching the bar after lifting the engine/lowering the car such that the bar was above the tracks.

Posted by: seanery Jul 29 2004, 06:27 PM

James I've been looking at this company's lifts for a while. If my garage were big enough I'd have one by now.
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=o6kgv8n6.5p5b5wn6.zrksr9n6.jfx6xwn6.5153&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teamlift.com%2Fpages%2F654722%2Findex.htm
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=o6kgv8n6.5p5b5wn6.yrksr9n6.jfx6xwn6.5153&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.teamlift.com%2Fpages%2F654720%2Findex.htm

Posted by: DuckRyder Jul 29 2004, 07:06 PM

You might want to take a look at these.

http://www.revolutionlifts.com/default.asp

Rotary (who makes these) is a major player around here. Nearly all of the dealers have them.

Posted by: drew365 Jul 29 2004, 08:00 PM

I also bought a used 2 post for $1900 installed. Everytime I use it I wonder how I lived without it.

Posted by: Otmar Jul 29 2004, 11:53 PM

I'd very much like the names.
I'm hoping to find a Mowhawk A7 lift for my driveway since it's flat bottom and hydraulically balanced. Used would be sweet.
The factory never got back to me on my inquiry.
http://www.mohawklifts.com/consumer/a7.php

Posted by: banderson Jul 30 2004, 07:06 AM

I am in the same situation. We just closed on a new house yesterday and the wife approves of a lift. She wants the 2 post, because most service that we do is wheel related. I think a 4 post would be better for parking and use of a drip tray(which I would need despritly). The ceiling is only 8.5 feet, but it feels higher than that. I will remeasure.

1. How well does a asymmetrical 2 post work for double parking on a daily basis?
2. How well does a Jack Tray work on a 4 post?
3. Can you get the bottle jack under the donuts(I wouldn’t think so)?
4. How well does a 4 post work for engine drops?

Posted by: Porsche Rescue Jul 30 2004, 08:16 AM

I don't think you will be able to double park with only 8'6", especially with a 4 post lift which have locking points about 3" apart. You have to lift above the lock point and lower to rest.
Four post is great for 914 engine removal IF you have enough width between the ramps for the front mount bar. Mine is about 2" too narrow.
You can use a jack on the ramps under the donuts. Jack tray could be used for lifting entire front using a wood or metal cross brace. Jack tray could also support the engine while removing transaxle.

Posted by: brant Jul 30 2004, 08:21 AM

Drew and all,

do you ever store 2 cars on the 2 post lift...?

I'll have the opportunity to build a very tall ceiling...
does it sound Possible... that a 2 post could be used to store 2 cars...

I really like the idea of the 2 post for engine work, and service work.. but because I'll be building a fairly small (2car) garage I also like the idea of storing an extra car in there....

tia
brant

Posted by: Rocky Jul 30 2004, 09:32 AM

I just finished garage addition and am considering lift, possibly 4 post as I can take with me if I ever move. I specifically made the height 12 feet for the lift.

Now how do I get my wife to buy into it like yours???

Tim

Posted by: rhodyguy Jul 30 2004, 09:58 AM

rocky, next time you are working on the car call the wife out to be your spotter. make it seem as though you are mortal danger. jeanne wants me to get one now. i told her we have to wait for the new garage . if the garage is deep enough the lift will not get in the way of the door. on that note, if people have high ceilings, a high lift track for the doors will put the door, track, and opener up closer to the ceiling. i will be going with the 2 post when the time comes.

kevin

Posted by: ClayPerrine Jul 30 2004, 10:57 AM

Here's a picture of my 2 post lift with a car parked under the car on the lift.

http://www.perrinefamily.org/photogallery/fullgarage.jpg

It can be done easily. It just takes longer to get the lift pads set before lifting it up.

Clay

Posted by: cha914 Jul 30 2004, 01:22 PM

Otmar,

I dont think the companies near me would do you any good to save some money because they would have to ship that heavy lift to you, and negate any savings. I was mostly offering because James is moving to Texas.

Just call a few of the bigger automotive shops and see if they know anyone who sells used lifts, I think thats what we did and found several. Then we checked our their operations and found a place that was pretty professional and had great prices.

As far as the two vs four post debate goes, I think the only kind of four post I would get would be a BIG one...still need to bolt it down, but they usually come with a sliding jacking tray in the middle which has adjustable lifting pads which account for differnt width vehicles and are operated by air, so you can use the shop air to lift either the front or rear of the vehicle while on the lift.

These lifts are awsome and you can put up to 13K lbs on them with no problems...however they are expensive. For how much the smaller, roll around 4 posts cost I would rather get a 2 post and you would have enough left over to buy a rolling oil pan and some air tools. You could also make some limiting straps for the suspension if you are storing a car for a while on the lift...or just remove the wheels...etc...

HTH,

Tony

Posted by: Otmar Jul 30 2004, 01:33 PM

Thanks Tony,
That sounds like a great idea.
It makes sense that the sales people will be visiting the shops, so that's the place to go...