Garage lift

[M3Bimmer77]

I've wondering about installing a garage lift. Does any one knows about Eagle Equipment lifts like the MTP-9F Mechanix 2 Post Car Lift - Symmetric.

[1MOREMOD]

Pm ortho281 he just got one I believe.

[rocket_science]

I have the BendPak XPR-10A and love it. I highly recommend them.

For what it's worth, there is now a new Low Profile version of my asymmetric one. That would come in handy for lowered cars like ours. I have to drive on to some small plates I made so I can clear the arms. My car is pretty low though.

[Disturbed]

Originally Posted by rocket_science

I have the BendPak XPR-10A and love it. I highly recommend them.

I have a bendpak and it's been a great lift with no issues for the last 7 years.

[hlmiii]

I'm a big supporter of the Derek Weaver lifts. The version most suitable for most people -
http://www.derekweaver.com/rodders-g...post-car-lift/

Some considerations, based upon research/installation/living with four lifts and two garage doors, each with 12 - 13 ft. ceilings:

Most critical - don't try to save money. Any good lift will run around $3,600, installed. Cheaper ones can be found - even ones that are clones of the best. But they, and virtually all from overseas, are cheaply made, with inferior steel and low-tolerance bearings. They will fail. Watching one slowly collapse and seeing the car slide closer and closer to a corner and then crash is really grim. American-made is the only choice.

After your planning decide whether you want 2 or 4 post. The 2 post units take up less floor space, but are not as easy to use and require anchoring into the concrete. The 4 post units require a little more space, but do not have to be anchored (yes, I have moved mine a few times).

Twelve feet provides minimal clearance for two stacked cars. One of the cars must have a relatively short height - Z8/E30/etc. Even at that the car above or below that "short" car cannot have a height more than a 5 Series BMW. ANY SUV makes it impossible to use a lift with a 12 ft. ceiling.

A rear wing-type spoiler may limit the effective usable clearance for the car above or below the spoiler. Especially if the car is a Lamborghini - the spoiler is higher than roof, and at or beyond the very end of the car. (This realization instantaneously becomes a WTF? moment, trust me. )

If the garage doors have any components or parts, including the door, that are fixed - or will move - above the lift area when open, they will eat up at least 8" inches of vertical space, and possibly more. Ceiling light fixtures will cause the same problem.

Clearance in a 12 foot situation with two cars is pretty tight. You will not be able to walk through the garage without ducking. ALSO - opening hoods and trunks must be done carefully at all times. Trunk lids with spring/strut loading have to be held before they are opened. The first time that your spouse hits her/his head and/or dents the trunk lid will be a marital moment. The first time that you do it will be even worse.

Side clearance is another concern. A standard two-car garage width will lose some effective width due to the lifts and the practical usage aspects.

Entrance into the lift areas and onto the the lifts is a big issue. You must have a straight path onto the lifts. Entry on the diagonal or at the end of a curved path can be a big problem, to the point where it may not be possible with some cars and/or situations. This means that there should be at least twenty feet of clear space immediately in front of any lift. This can be shortened somewhat, but only at the cost of maneuvering the car in short forward/backward trips to "walk" it into position directly in front of the lift.

As you can probably tell I have been through this. There were many aspects/considerations/problems - and solutions - that were unanticipated and fairly surprising, even after a few weeks of obsessing over the design. I promise that this will be true in any first-time experience with lifts at home.

If you would like any more details or thoughts or suggestions (ugh), please post. (Those who have read this before on other forums ... sorry.)
Above all - take a lot of time, think, plan, think again, plan twice more.

Good luck.

[Longboarder]

Wow hlmiii great insights.

[pbonsalb]

I use an Atlas BP8000 from gregsmithequipment, which happens to have a location half an hour away from me. I paid $1300 or $1400 about 5 years ago. Borrowed a truck and trailer, brought it home and installed it myself. Had to run some 220V wiring, which added another $100. Great lift. gregsmithequipment sells parts to service lifts they sell.

Mine is a floor plate because my ceilings are not tall enough for a top plate. Mine are 10.5' and I would need more like 11.5' for a top plate. If you can do a top plate, do it.

Mine has symmetrical arms. If you can find a low profile (i.e., 3.5 inch minimum lift height) asymmetrical arm lift, buy it. Gives you more flexibility on the arm positioning. Most of these lifts are designed for higher and bigger cars rather than low cars with lift points near the outside of the car and located relatively near the center of the car. Some lifts are fully asymmetrical and even have the uprights positioned at an angle, which makes it easier to get in and out of the car when it is on the lift. And there are narrow and wide lifts, meaning the clearance between the posts. If you have the garage space, wide makes it easier to get in and out of the car. I needed narrow. Do some measuring.

A 2 post lift is better for working on the car. A 4 post storage lift is better for storage, but you can do a lot of servicing. You can also buy center jacks for about $500 each that will raise the car off the lift for more serviceability, but the tracks still get in your way for some purposes. Some 4 posts run off 110V, which is easier than 220V for wiring purposes, and some can be moved around when a car is not on it. I bought the lift to work on my car, so I have a 2 post.

Also consider where you put it in the garage, in terms of having space to work on the car and having space to park another car and having space to use whatever else you use the garage for.

[tdott]

For a 3 car garage, do you recommend putting it in the middle or an end bay?

[M3Bimmer77]

Wow I give up. Too many things on my way. I investing the money on strippers!!!! Lol

[s85e90]

Originally Posted by tdott

For a 3 car garage, do you recommend putting it in the middle or an end bay?

Wouldn't this be a personal preference?

[smyles]

Originally Posted by tdott

For a 3 car garage, do you recommend putting it in the middle or an end bay?

I imagine an end bay is more convenient if you use all 3 spaces frequently.

[tdott]

Originally Posted by s85e90

Wouldn't this be a personal preference?

I guess so, was looking for feedback pros/cons from someone who has done it. Asymmetrical vs symmetrical was good feedback. Just need to know where is a good place to put it.

I'm thinking the middle is good because it allows the most room on both sides, but then the two end bays may sacrifice some space. Perhaps an end bay but over enough to give room when working on that side of the car. Will have to do some measurements to see how much the middle bay would be compromised and if a car would still fit without too much issue.

[anselmw]

Originally Posted by tdott

I guess so, was looking for feedback pros/cons from someone who has done it. Asymmetrical vs symmetrical was good feedback. Just need to know where is a good place to put it.

I'm thinking the middle is good because it allows the most room on both sides, but then the two end bays may sacrifice some space. Perhaps an end bay but over enough to give room when working on that side of the car. Will have to do some measurements to see how much the middle bay would be compromised and if a car would still fit without too much issue.

I am looking into the same for our 3 car garage. A four post moveable one, most likely will put on one end. Since it is a four post I can move it if necessary. Just trying to decide between bendapak or similar.

Anyone have experience with a cayman and m coupe on a 4 post? I assume it should work with a low height garage like 11ft?

[Flea7]

I'm happy with this!
Get it out of the way when I'm done. I have a 3 car garage but no way I could fit in those high lifts.


http://www.maxjaxusa.com

[k3silk]

I have to look into this stuff.

[buddalun]

There is always this:

http://www.ezcarlift.com/

It actually works quite well.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by buddalun

There is always this:

http://www.ezcarlift.com/

It actually works quite well.

That's what I have.

[meko]

Eagle 4 post lift here. I just moved this year so it came down and will be going up in the new house next month. Easy, simple, secure design and very reasonable.

[M3Bimmer77]

Hope is the Eagle working for you? I'm wondering on the 2 post asymmetric low rise. What made you buy the 4 post?