Well, i’m moving to a different location. This means no more lift…
It’s an apartment, so i am not going to BUY a lift, as it needs to be installed into the floor. I don’t think my landlord would like that, so i’m thinking of building something that looks like a rotisserie, but lifts the car at the factory lifting points like a lift. It would have swivel casters (which may or may not be usable while the car is lifted).
We have tons of junk hydraulic stuff that’s in the scrap bin at work. and i could get 21" of lift very easily, and could conceivably get 42" if i wanted to get creative. It could be electrically powered or hand pumped. I have both options.
It would be easier, taller and faster than jack stands. The only downfall would be that there would be a bar running across the middle of the two posts, but i think i could work around it.
Essentially, picture this rotisserie mounted perpendicularly to the axis of the car, without the rotating function…
This rotisserie is the same one suzukiriderman has (or very similar) and it’s construction was very simple. It’s rated for 3000lb. Far more than the car will weigh.
My only concern would be safely stress testing it. When you buy a product like this you know the threat of litigation has forced the company to test it well beyond it’s rated capacity. You’re talking about heights above what most jackstands will go so what is your safety plan should this home built lift fail?
Why not just buy a lift (from your posts it sounds like a similar design is already marketed)? You can typically find a used one very inexpensively, and then you could resell it when you were done. Not much out of pocket? Sure its not as fun, but car crush my head has always been low on my list of to dos.
i am pretty sure they need to be in a foundation. a slab isnt going to cut it. so he would need to do a little digging, but i could be wrong. i hope i’m wrong
Will there be a support across the top like most lift’s?
Would one even be required?
I’m picturing someone pushing on the trunk or rear wheel and causing the very top
to twist a little? I really should have done more homework in college.
that bar across the middle is definitely gonna make it ackward to work on the car. Gotta do what ya gotta do though. How much time will need to be spent under the car to finish it?
