Vehicle Lifts

[Morning Wood]

It’s all crossed my mind. Layout is key. Don’t want to bolt anything down in the wrong spot

 

[kenmac]

When I build myself a barn, I hope to have a lift. I usually put my slabs on top of rigid foam, so I will probably put a footing directly underneath where the lift would be. And if I’m lucky radiant heat tubing too.

The garage was a continuous pour. Just where the lift post bolt down is a 6'x6'x6'' deep area for bolting the post down.
Anything can fail, but there are thousands of these lifts in use in shops around here, and I haven't heard of any failing, and injuring /killing someone.
Heck, For years, I have worked on things jacked in the air with a floor jack and I survived !

 

[blackrams]

I find I use my lift for all kinds of odd things. I built a sort of table that pins to the lift arms and it works great for my motorcycle and small eqpt. The manufacture says it safe for up to 1500lbs on one post so that is plenty for smaller engines and small attachments. Makes it nice to have things at the perfect height when working.

Got any pictures of that motorcycle lift table? Been wanting to do something like that for a while.

Rams

 

[Code54]

The table is a piece of ¼ steel with 4 round posts welded to the bottom that locks into the lift arms (VERY simple but also heavy to move and such)

The motor cycle lift attachment is home built and I don't have a photo but will get one for you this weekend.

I also use this type motorcycle stand for my bike a lot. It is only rated to something like 300lbs but for mine that is fine. Handy in that it has wheels, goes up something like 30 inch and has mounts that I use a hook and lock the motorcycle to it so it can't move.

 

[blackrams]

The table is a piece of ¼ steel with 4 round posts welded to the bottom that locks into the lift arms (VERY simple but also heavy to move and such)

The motor cycle lift attachment is home built and I don't have a photo but will get one for you this weekend.

I also use this type motorcycle stand for my bike a lot. It is only rated to something like 300lbs but for mine that is fine. Handy in that it has wheels, goes up something like 30 inch and has mounts that I use a hook and lock the motorcycle to it so it can't move.

View attachment 535227

Thanks for the reply. I have a two post lift sitting on 6K PSI concrete 6 to 8 inches in depth area surrounding both posts all the way across the pad and 4 feet out with rebar from the post in all directions. Used highest grade concrete expansion bolts I could get for this application corresponding to the depth of the concrete. I'm not concerned about my two post lift going anywhere.

I also have a 1.0 K lb. portable bike lift similar to what you are have. I ride a Valkyrie Power Cruiser and it's a bit heavier than the bike you're showing. I had a motorcycle lift table (air over hydraulic) and it was a wonderful tool except for one thing. If not in use for the bike, it was simply taking up valuable floor space. When I finally realized it had become a storage table, I sold it. I don't have room for things that aren't multi-functional or, easily stored.

I recently got one of those old air powered bumper lift/jacks. Rated to lift 5K. Used it to lift the back end of one of my gooseneck trailers and it works like a charm but, it's the kind of lift they used to use back when our vehicles had metal bumpers. Not sure what I'm going to do with it. It's quickly becoming one of those tools taking up space with very limited use. Those tools don't stay in my shop long. Looking forward to seeing the pics of your bike lift table.

Rams

 

[kenmac]

lift installed today.. This is going to be nice !

 

[Code54]

Congrats - looks good!

 

[hawkeye08]

On my wish list...

 

[truckdiagnostics]

It’s all crossed my mind. Layout is key. Don’t want to bolt anything down in the wrong spot

IR camera. wait till the floor is real cold in the fall. Have the fire department come down with there IR camera, when you first turn the in floor on. It will show you right where they are. measurements are good. I am always concerned they are going to kick or move something when they pour the floor.

 

[Code54]

Got any pictures of that motorcycle lift table? Been wanting to do something like that for a while.

Rams

Sorry it took a bit - forgot to post the photos yesterday....


Very simple but works well. Shot it with bed liner so the bike does not slid around on it and is easily to clean up.

 

[kenmac]

I must admit. It sure is scary standing under an 8 K vehicle supported only buy 4 small arms. I guess I'll get use to it

 

[Code54]

I use a set of stands that are made for lifts to make sure nothing goes anywhere while i'm under the car. Sure I don't need it but it does make me feel better...

 

[kenmac]

I use a set of stands that are made for lifts to make sure nothing goes anywhere while i'm under the car. Sure I don't need it but it does make me feel better...

Guess I haven seen any. I'll have to see if I can locate them somewhere

 

[Code54]

Here is an example to give you an idea...
Astro Pnuematics 1102N 2-Ton Tripod Underhoist Stand

 

[truckdiagnostics]

I must admit. It sure is scary standing under an 8 K vehicle supported only buy 4 small arms. I guess I'll get use to it

Near as I can figure the safest place is underneath. Every lift I have seen has safety dogs that have a manual release independent of the lifts hydraulics. So, it won't go down. Now it could pull out of the floor in which case I think the whole lift vehicle and all would pivot forward. Sideways don't see it happening but suppose it is possible.
The scariest I have had is I lifted a rusty car. One of the lift locations gave way the whole car tipped in that direction. I am real careful where i lift them now. I have had maybe one car I refused to put on the lift because it was just to rusty.

 

[kenmac]

yes, this one has those safety latches that must be released before lowering.
I'm probably just over thinking this.

When I was a teen and worked in a long passed service station. We had one of the lifts that come out of the ground. Best I remember it didn't have a safety to prevent it from falling. I was under that old thing changing oil all the time and never gave it any thought.
Every time I raised a vehicle up on that old lift, I always went to the back bumper and shook to make sure it was stable

 

[kenmac]

Here is an example to give you an idea...
Astro Pnuematics 1102N 2-Ton Tripod Underhoist Stand

thanks . I may look around and order a couple. I'm always on the look out for something else . I'm on the hunt for a mini ex as well

 

[Code54]

thanks . I may look around and order a couple. I'm always on the look out for something else . I'm on the hunt for a mini ex as well

Your welcome - I will add that my MiniEx is my favorite machine!!

 

[kenmac]

Your welcome - I will add that my MiniEx is my favorite machine!!

I'm looking at some used ones. Not making a living with it ,so used should serve me well.
What brand and size engine is your mini ex ? I have been looking at between 30-40 hp models

 

[Code54]

I only have 28hp, but on minis the HP is always pretty small. Mine is a Kubota KX91 (2015), bought it with 232 hrs on the clock. It is around 7500lbs so I can haul it easily.
Overall i am really happy with it, surprises me all the time on what all I can do with it. Used it to take down a few big trees at the house (24" oaks - round not tall - LOL) that would have cost me a fortune to have removed. (One was within 15' of the house), used it to build some stone walls, unload implements, dug out 30+ stumps, made 5-6' wide trails thought the woods, dug several water/ elec lines, and tons of other things. Really glad we got it and surprised how often we use it. A lot of time I pull it out and only run it 15-20minutes but do a task that would otherwise have taken me hours. Plus the neighbors love that I have it....... (dug a greenhouse foundation, taken out tress, loaded trailers with 12' logs, etc)
I would advise getting a quick attach (QA) bucket system for whatever you decide on and a thumb is invaluable. We use the thumb pretty much every time I use the machine. It makes the machine 5x more useful. The QA makes changing the bucket a 2 minute process and allows me to alway have the correct size bucket on the machine instead of trying to use one that is less than ideal.