Anybody have a Kwiklift? Thinking about getting one limited on height in garage. Pros and Cons.

SAVE THE :seeya
Jim


[Modified by JimSR, 9:47 AM 1/10/2003]

 

Jim,

I have one and more than happy with it..


[Modified by IMA Z06, 11:08 AM 1/10/2003]

 

More expensive (about $3k) but a higher lifting option that still fits in our low ceiling garage is the scissor lift shown on the web page in my signature. Very happy with it, and it allows easy wheel removal etc.

-Greg

 

I've got one, it's great! It's nice to be able to roll around under the car on a creeper instead of lying on the cold cement. Kwik Lift does sell bridges that allow you to jack up and support the car off the ramps so you can work on the suspension, etc. I don't have them yet, but I'm seriously considering. The scissors lift will let you get to the suspension, but makes access to the transmission,etc., very difficult. I managed to pick up my Kwik Lift used for less than half the new price.

 

Jim

I've had mine for about a month. My wife and I put it together and she helps me when I want to put the front legs back on. Only had the car up once so far but didn't have any problems with that other than having to remove the saddle from the floor jack to get it under the lifting bar at the rear. Raise it up a bit, put blocks under lift, lower jack and put saddle back on for final lift. You need at least 19' of lift if I'm not mistaken. With my Craftsman 3 1/2 ton the rear drop-down legs clear the floor by 1/2'. I'm working on a modified piece to fit the saddle hole so I don't have to go through the initial lift step. Pros, cost is moderate, footprint in garage is not bad (mine is set at minimum length), very stable with car on it, lots or "running (make that creeper)" room and wide open access to center/bottom of the car. Cons, haven't figured all of them out. One is that you're still on your back. I'm 6 ft tall and when I'm on a low profile creeper the bottom of the car is comfortably at arms length.

Mine has been in the "layflat position" most of the time since it's been good driving weather here.

I can send you pics of the car up and in layflat if you'd like. They're on the home PC so just drop me an e-mail or tell me here.

By the way, call the folks at Kwiklift, they're very friedly and helpful. I called them about some mods I wanted to make to the lift and they were very helpful.

DZ

PS: Greg I like that scissors lift you've got. I finally opted for less $ and something that I thought might be a little more portable and storable. Be real nice to get the car to those heights. Maybe in my next life or garage.


[Modified by DZVette, 1:29 PM 1/10/2003]

 

Jim-Here is a previous Kwiklift related thread that may be of interest - also do a search in recent and archived for kwiklift for more opinions and experience. FYI - I am very happy with my kwiklift unit.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=410286

 

Jim,
I have a kwiklift and I do like it. As stated by others, I don't have the ceiling clearance as well. The scissor lift is great but like others have said transmission work is nearly impossible to do. I end up leaving mine together all of the time and just driving up the ramps when I park and it is pretty easy to do. the center bridge is o.k. but the bottle nose jack does not go high enough to get additional supports under it, so I don't know that I would bother with it.
I would get one if you are like me and don't have the garage height, it has made working on the vette alot easier and with a good creeper it is really comfortable. I can't imagine doing the work that I have done like taking out the transmission and redoing the front suspension without having some sort of lift and I have never felt unsafe with the car on the kwiklift.

Hope this is of some help.
Kurt :cheers: