2 post lift question
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
2 post lift question
Ok the 4 post lift is going to consume to much of my garage and not leave any room for much else. So I was thinking about a 2 poster. Takes a lot less room the only problem is the width. I have a small 2 car garage. Most of the 2 post lifts are in the 132 to 135 range in width. I have seen some that are adjustable also. My question is how hard or is it possible to take one that is 135 wide and just cut the upper bar and reweld it narrower. You would just be moving the columns in a few inches. Probably have to cut and rework a few hyd. lines but no big deal. Why does it have to be 135 wide. I can certaily cut it and have access to plenty of good welders. The Vettes are not that wide so I do not need a real wide lift. I just need to get it inside my side of the garage. Any thoughts?
Crap, meant to put this in the general section
Crap, meant to put this in the general section
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Ok, Is there a cable in the ones that don't have an overhead bar but a piece on the floor. I would prefer to have an open floor but a lot of them need 12+ feet for a ceiling. I have 11'6". I just need a bigger garage!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
Ok the 4 post lift is going to consume to much of my garage and not leave any room for much else. So I was thinking about a 2 poster. Takes a lot less room the only problem is the width. I have a small 2 car garage. Most of the 2 post lifts are in the 132 to 135 range in width. I have seen some that are adjustable also. My question is how hard or is it possible to take one that is 135 wide and just cut the upper bar and reweld it narrower. You would just be moving the columns in a few inches. Probably have to cut and rework a few hyd. lines but no big deal. Why does it have to be 135 wide. I can certaily cut it and have access to plenty of good welders. The Vettes are not that wide so I do not need a real wide lift. I just need to get it inside my side of the garage. Any thoughts?
Crap, meant to put this in the general section
Crap, meant to put this in the general section
Two post lift is not something I would modify, because as previously mentioned the cables either run above or below the lift.
Are you going to build out and up when you modify the garage?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I'm a little curious as to which four post you saw, as most are a lot narrower than the two post lift? Thinking 100-105 inch width.
Two post lift is not something I would modify, because as previously mentioned the cables either run above or below the lift.
Are you going to build out and up when you modify the garage?
Two post lift is not something I would modify, because as previously mentioned the cables either run above or below the lift.
Are you going to build out and up when you modify the garage?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: IL
Well get out your checkbook and step up to the plate for this one. Nussbaum Jumbo NT Scissor lift rated over 7000 lbs and lifts 70" with no problem. But you could probably just pay for it with the change off your dresser!!
Seriously, it's well worth the money. Had everything from the lawn tractor to the Avalanche and with my 11ft ceiling only have to watch out for the antenna poking the drywall.
During my search for the perfect lift I looked at several used 2 posts from buddies shops (etc) and considered just boxing the ceiling joist above the posts for the lines etc. Have seen it done and it doesn't look bad at all once it's all finished. One guy even had a florescent light inside. I just couldn't loose the open floor plan with that style, would have been a whole lot cheaper. But once I got over the sticker shock, I never looked back.
Seriously, it's well worth the money. Had everything from the lawn tractor to the Avalanche and with my 11ft ceiling only have to watch out for the antenna poking the drywall.
During my search for the perfect lift I looked at several used 2 posts from buddies shops (etc) and considered just boxing the ceiling joist above the posts for the lines etc. Have seen it done and it doesn't look bad at all once it's all finished. One guy even had a florescent light inside. I just couldn't loose the open floor plan with that style, would have been a whole lot cheaper. But once I got over the sticker shock, I never looked back.
Last edited by GasketDude; Dec 1, 2007 at 10:23 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: South of giving a damn
St. Jude Donor '11, '17
You can work with them to make it shorter. When I bought my 2-poster I just ordered it 1 foot shorter than normal (11' vs 12'). Since it is primarily for my Vette the extra foot doesn't matter. Width is a problem, the swing arms are made to fit a variety of wheel bases & my car usually has the long arm all the way in. I don't know if they would make the swing arms shorter, but it wouldn't hurt to ask as all these are built by hand.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Gordon, I know your tight for space, but remember you have to open your door to get out, that is why I ordered the widest Bendpak I could, and I still have to be very careful opeining my door.
Bee Jay
Bee Jay
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Gordo...I'm in same boat as you...don't want to lose the space to a four-post but tight on width space for a two-post. I looked at a couple of different low profile units one by Mohawk and forget the other but they seem to not require as much height or as much width. I'll search around for the other.
that scissors' looks intriguing can't imagine how they do that. Can you shot some closeups? How's working from underneath?
that scissors' looks intriguing can't imagine how they do that. Can you shot some closeups? How's working from underneath?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Sounds like with your garage situation you are a perfect canidate for an in ground 2 column lift.No clearance issues.
Another thought is I have a buddy with a body shop and he has a portable rollaround lift.He raises a car up puts 6 tall stands under the car and removes the lift. he uses 4-4000 lb on each end and 2-2000 in the center on each side.
The 2 column in ground would be cheaper.
Another thought is I have a buddy with a body shop and he has a portable rollaround lift.He raises a car up puts 6 tall stands under the car and removes the lift. he uses 4-4000 lb on each end and 2-2000 in the center on each side.
The 2 column in ground would be cheaper.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Interesting but at close to 6000 dollars it is a little steep for my budget.
I do have a 4 inch slab so it should be OK to mount a 2 poster. Mohawk does seem to have some narrower models that would fit OK. I'll measure the garage floor a little more today and see how much I can push the size. My wife is pretty tough on keeping her side free of my stuff. actually she has been a good sport about it. As long as her car can be in the garage at night so she has a warm dry car she is Ok with it.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
The Mohawk lifts seem to be the best right now for my application. Lower ceiling height and a little narrower than some of the others. It also uses asymetric arms so it pushes the columns a little further forward to allow the car doors to open a little easier. They don't list the price though. I'll keep researching.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
The Mohawk lifts seem to be the best right now for my application. Lower ceiling height and a little narrower than some of the others. It also uses asymetric arms so it pushes the columns a little further forward to allow the car doors to open a little easier. They don't list the price though. I'll keep researching.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
You mentioned digging,they said they only needed to cut a hole in the concrete 16" by 70" and then dig down 8".It looked like they would shove some channel iron back under the concrete after the hole was cut about a foot or so.Then they said they filled the hole with sand.In my situation they were going to fish the air line under the concrete to a hole they drilled and bring it up next to the wall.My floor floats on styrofoam 24" around the outside so punching through that would have been easy.Another thing about the inground you can remove the heads that hold the arms if you want a clear floor for some reason.They would be heavy as hell but doable.
EDIT- here is a link that is close to the one I was going to get.
http://www.autop.info/en/2.30+Sa+230+Sport_8_89.html
Last edited by ...Roger...; Dec 2, 2007 at 04:26 PM.
