2 Post Car Lift - recommendation

[Redrum]

Hi All,

I'm looking to buy a symmetrical 2 post car lift with an over head connector about 14' tall. My $ limit is $10k (I think I should be about to get something in that price range).

Any suggestions?

 

[Parminio]

Since the building will use pavers for the floor I'm thinking of using steel as a base (maybe U channel welded in an X) instead of the recommended concrete.

That will in all likelihood end in disaster. A typical lift like that all by itself is going to weigh in at around 1,500 pounds. Then you put something like a 5,200 pound Volvo on it and you're going to go right on over on any sort of plate.

You really need to have some good concrete footings put in place for something like that so you can drill into it and mount the lift properly.

You can get a good lift with a 9,000 pound rating for around $4,000 to $5,000 dollars. But it's not something you're just going to sit on some steel plates on the ground and actually have work. You'll get yourself killed doing that.

Spend the $1,000 and have two good, solid concrete footers put in to secure the lift to.

 

[Redrum]

That will in all likelihood end in disaster. A typical lift like that all by itself is going to weigh in at around 1,500 pounds. Then you put something like a 5,200 pound Volvo on it and you're going to go right on over on any sort of plate.

You really need to have some good concrete footings put in place for something like that so you can drill into it and mount the lift properly.

You can get a good lift with a 9,000 pound rating for around $4,000 to $5,000 dollars. But it's not something you're just going to sit on some steel plates on the ground and actually have work. You'll get yourself killed doing that.

Spend the $1,000 and have two good, solid concrete footers put in to secure the lift to.

Naaa, but thanks anyway.

Guess you have no lift recommendations

 

[one2dmax]

I think he's saying there are no lift recommendations that would suffice from an engineering perspective that would meet your requirements unless you were using a sheet of steel and bracing as to not be practical. If you must mount it on "pavers" you MIGHT get away with a 4 post lift where the weight and leverage aren't as big a factor.

 

[Redrum]

When I posted I was wondering if I should mention my non-convetional mounting. Please disregard that part.

Just looking for recommendations on 2 post lifts. Thanks

 

[Parminio]

I'm not in the habit of recommending anything that's going to get someone killed. What you're talking about doing WILL fail. The only question is who is going to be underneath it when it does.

If you must mount it on "pavers" you MIGHT get away with a 4 post lift where the weight and leverage aren't as big a factor.

And that is it exactly.

Two post lifts MUST be secured to concrete footings. Cars and trucks and even most motorcycles are not built balanced at all. Try putting a pair of jack stands fully extended under the middle of each side of any car or truck and try to work on it. You'll find that a very precarious situation at best.

Now imagine doing that on jack stands that are 9 feet tall. The stresses you're going to be exerting on the base are simply astronomical. What you're talking about doing will fail almost instantly before you get a few feet off the ground.

What cracks me up no end is you talk about spending 10,000 dollars on a lift when it's completely unnecessary. You can spend half that and get a good, all-around lift that's rated at 9,000 pounds or so and will lift 72 inches.

But you're dead set against spending 1,000 bucks to have someone come in and put a couple footings in so you can do it properly so nobody has to die to change a transmission.

Edit to add: Here's a link for the basic floor requirements for lifts just so you can see I'm not lying:

https://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/concrete-floor-requirements/

 

[Coastal Grey]

You won’t have an issue for finding a good 2 post for under 10000 what I will say though we are in the process of building a new shop at work and the 2 post we want our min thickness on the pour for the hoist is 8 inch rebared concrete so says or in house rocket scientist(engineer) don’t waste your money unless you plan to pour concrete could be a Darwin event in the making with anything less
you need the cohesion spread out quite a distance a two poster has a lot of torque on the posts spend 5 on pouring a floor and 5 on the lift

my Pennie’s worth
Peter

 

[Redrum]

Hi, yes trying to find a lift for under $10k. Any recommendations?

 

[Coastal Grey]

Try the lift superstore they have branches in North America used them for projects in plants and I bought a motorcycle lift from them fair prices and great service

 

[Redrum]

Try the lift superstore they have branches in North America used them for projects in plants and I bought a motorcycle lift from them fair prices and great service

Thanks!

 

[Parminio]

If you're going to do it your way anyway you will need to make sure that delivery doesn't require a forklift.

Many lift deliveries actually require YOU to provide the fork lift to get the lift off the delivery truck.

Also, for most every lift out there that's rated at 5,000 pounds or higher (and some even lower than that) you're going to need a dedicated 220 line to power it.

Just some things to check when you order.

 

[Pighuntingpuppy]

For the lift recommendations....ANY 2 post lift will work. Just pick your flavor. You can get cheap Chinese ones for a couple thousand to some name brand Rotary lifts for 5-6K. However.....ALL two post lifts require proper and secure footing. Metal plate even if its an inch thick will flex while under operation and load. Concrete is the preferred method and even then, an improper pour will result in the same failure.

In short...if you got 10K....Use half to pour a slab 8" thick. Use the other half to fund the lift. I dont even know why you want to try things half assed. In the end...do what makes you happy and good luck. Dont die.

 

[Redrum]

Looking for a brand/model recommendation. Thanks

 

[Redrum]

If you're going to do it your way anyway you will need to make sure that delivery doesn't require a forklift.

Many lift deliveries actually require YOU to provide the fork lift to get the lift off the delivery truck.

Also, for most every lift out there that's rated at 5,000 pounds or higher (and some even lower than that) you're going to need a dedicated 220 line to power it.

Just some things to check when you order.

Thanks, I have a skid steer and multiple tractors.

To rest your concerns I plan to use bridge quality steel. In the ground, and a lot of it.

Or concrete,

Just trying to find the best lift now.

Whatever I do it will be better than concrete screws in 4" of concrete.

 

[DreamV4]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/252522256999?epid=1063195844&hash=item3acb7fda67:g:m08AAOSwv~1aRsyi

 

[Parminio]

Whatever I do it will be better than concrete screws in 4" of concrete.

You never took applied physics in college, did you?

 

[Fire-medic]

I am not an engineer.

An engineered solution is what's called-for here. You need to have a soil test, and then an engineer to do the calculations as to what will be weight-bearing sufficient to handle any possible load you introduce from your installation, and with a decent safety-factor.

The use of a structural engineer, and having the required data on which to base the calculations is paramount. As others have pointed out, you need a stable base on-which to mount this. Pavers and 'bridge steel' isn't gonna cut it.

 

[Redrum]

You never took applied physics in college, did you?

Let me say this in a nice way and not come off as you do. Why must you phrase everything in a condescending and rude manor? You can disagree with someone without implying they are stupid and you know it all. Please just move on. You have contributed zero to this conversation.

 

[Redrum]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/252522256999?epid=1063195844&hash=item3acb7fda67:g:m08AAOSwv~1aRsyi

Thanks, yea I've seen those inexpensive ones. Do you have any experience with them?

 

[Coastal Grey]

Lift superstore will walk you through the whole shot you can download installation expectations and we’ll to be honest once it’s in your driveway you do with it whatever the hell you want I guess
But they do have interesting options for lifting
Peter