Just picked up a used Kwiklift and had a couple of questions. Has anyone driven up the ramp with the front casters already in place? Seems to me that the unit may slide as you're driving up onto it. If the unit does move, how do you put the casters under the front legs once the car is on it? Also what is the setup when layed flat for storage and still being able to park car onto it?

Thanks in advance.

 

I don't have the casters as my garage is on a steep hill and one false move and my C5 would end up somewhere around the Equator!

My "guess" would be to put the casters under the front supports only. As you drive up the rear of the ramps will be firmly planted on the floor to keep it from moving. Then when you jack up the rear torque tube after the car is chocked, just keep jacking it up until you can get the rear legs onto the rear casters? If it were me, I would probably just jack up each corner under the ramp itself individually after the car is up and slide the casters under one at a time. I have to jack up under the ramps on mine as I have "storage" casters that I added to mine for quick tear down (about 10 minutes by myself) - I don't leave the Kwik Lift set up when not in use - I store it off to the side.

 

I drove up mine with the casters under the front. Never moved. There were two things that ticked me off though. One my jack wouldn't jack high enough to get the casters under the folding legs. The other thing is the driveway has to be level cause the casters like to roll.

The owners manual shows you how to build wood ramps and bracing for parking on the lowered ramps flat on the ground. I think the manual can be downloaded from Kwiklifts website.

 

i have never installed casters on mine and i park on it every time i drive the car. originally it was the parking location of my C3, but that has been out of the garage for a long time being reworked, so it became the parking location of choice for my C5 convert. i have never had it down off the front legs since the original installation and have never had a problem. unfortunately my garage has limited space, so taking it "down" and storing it isn't an option. it stays up on an incline at all times. so far, so good. i guess it helps that the garage is just that, a basic concrete floor garage, not a show piece. i guess that changes the mindset.

 

Choreo,

Is that the smallest that it gets when you put it away? I was thinking about getting one locally, but I don't think that will fit in my pathfinder.

Also I think I'd have to leave it in place and park on it when not usig for maintenance.

 

No... you can break it down to about half that length if you want to remove all the bolts and nuts holding the ramps together. In MY case, I like to tear mine down and put it back together in about 10 minutes each way when I need it without ANY tools - hence I keep it all full length when stored.

After all when you get it shipped new the whole thing fits in the back of a pickup truck.

 

Where did you get your grip tape? I'm looking for some for my kwiklift.

Thanks!

 

Home Depot has Grip Tape in a couple of sizes. I think 2" and 4"

 

Gone

 

I can advise that kwiklift went out of business so they aren't making anything any more.

I have to buy that grip tape. I tried backing up the ramp and the car kept sliding down.

 

Here's your answers... I also purchased a Kwiklift used and was fortunate to have done so a few months before Kwiklift had gone out of business... so the first of your questions I had asked them:

1) How are you supposed to drive up on the ramp with the castors?

Answer: You're not. Kwiklift's instructions are that you put the castors on after the car as been driven up the ramp. Crazy sounding? Yes. Disappointing that this is how it is supposed to work? Another yes.

I had Kwiklift send me the instructions for the castors which I converted to PDF. Send me your email and I will send you the instructions.

2) Setup for layflat storage?

Answer: Kwiklift made "lay flat ramps". However, if you lowered your car down to the bottom of the stock bolts, you're SOL (surely out of luck) because our beloved C5's become too low and will bottom out on the ramp.... ask me how I know If not lowered, I don't know how they do. Kwiklift of course did not alert me about this. I figure I have the ramps which will make my kwiklift package more marketable when I eventually sell the whole thing (No time soon, not until I am too old to drive my beloved C5).


As a closing editorial comment, it is no wonder that Kwiklift ran out of business. My experience with them was awful. They never answered their phone and when I returned an item I purchased (rolling oil collector), I had to contact them back 3 weeks after they received the item back because they hadn't credited my credit card but did after my email.

 

Now ask me how I know!...just found out the hard way yesterday that mine is too low for the lay-flat method. Got a couple of "scars" on the underside of the driver's rocker/door sill...

Still a great ramp/lift for the home garage. I broke mine down all the way because of space constraints...took me about 30 minutes to do so, moving slow because of a recent ankle tweak.

 

I drive mine up and down the incline all the time with the front casters in place. It doesn't move. The weight of the car holds the ramps in place. It will move though when your jacking up the rear so that's something to be aware of. I cut some small pieces of 1/8" rubber mat that I chock several of the castor wheels with. My fear is the car rolling out of the garage and down the driveway once all four points have the castors in place.

I park on mine without laying it down. Gives me lots of storage space under the car.

 

I was quite disappointed at first when I realized that I couldn't keep the ramps flat. So, I decided to keep the ramp together and I drive up on to it every time. It was a pain at first but now I am used to it.

 

Old thread but what the heck.

I don't have the casters on mine, that was an option I believe just for being able to move the thing around easier. I could be wrong but I don't think they were meant to be left on all the time. I store mine flat and park my DD on it wo caster. The forum member I bought it from made the wood style ramps to drive up on it when it's flat. I also have tape on the floor to make sure it stays in place. If it gets off I just reset it, but it moves very little actually and I don't have any rubber mats under it.

He also had a 2x4 cut to size that bolts on the front to keep it from seperating and acts as a stop for my cars. I use a bumper style jack and put it under the 2x4 in the middle and jack it up to put the front supports on. It works like a charm and makes it a one man job.

My tip of the day.

 

If you have the kwik Lift manual it shows you how to build the wood ramps to drive on it. My recommendation though is to make them at least 6 inches longer than the plan calls for.

If you don't have the manual let me know and I will email you a copy. What you bought will probably work but damn those things are pricey for what they are.

 

I agree... it is a shame, they had a GREAT product (for what it is), but they were impossible to get in touch with. Surprised someone did not buy them out. Most people never heard of their solution - had it not been for this forum, I probably would have never found them.

 

I'm doing the same; I park on it. I picked up my KwikLift a few years ago from a forum member. He was local so I was able to haul it home in my truck. I will never sell my KwikLift- It's just too damn handy.

 

Gone

 

Same here... for as long as I own my C5Z, I will own the KwikLift.

Holy cow Pewt, you drive backwards onto it!!