Hoists

[dodge man]

Can anybody give me some insight on hoists? I'm talking the kind that would hoist a car up to work on it. It seems like they are usually a two post or 4 post style. I see ads for them, and they seem pretty reasonable on price, less than 2k. I have a serious ceiling limit in my shop, its maybe 8 1/2 tall inside. I've never really looked at them since I have the limited overhead, but maybe one would still be handy.

 

[Western]

Is a coverable "grease pit" an option? with the ceiling height.

 

[dodge man]

I never thought of that. I have a slab on grade, but that doesn't mean some kind of pit couldn't be built.

 

[danktx]

Do a search for MaxJax Portable Lift System for a 2 post lift. It fits under a 8 ft ceiling. They say its portable but you still have to bolt it to the floor. Depending on the type of work you wish to do you might consider a scissor lift.

Good hunting
DanK

 

[dodge man]

The Maxjack is almost exactly what I had in mind. It looks like a pretty decent setup for around $2000. The capacity could be a little bit of a limiting factor at 6000 lbs, but thats enough for anything I own now.

I just put exhaust on my Challenger, and changed the oil in the wifes car, and I'm getting tired of having to use floor jacks. Newer cars just aren't easy to get in the air with a floor jack. On the Challenger, it felt like the bottom of the car was in my face the entire time.

 

[George2615]

I have a Challenger 2 post lift. It is rated at 9000 lb. I built my garage years ago with intent on putting in a lift so rafters are 14' high. Top of my lift is 12' and will lift 6'. I only have to duck a little to clear the lift arms. Challenger is made here in Kentucky and is ALI certified. Best investment I ever made.
A friend of mine bought his 2 post lift from Northern Tool. Its not made here in the USA and in my opinion the quality shows it. He has a limited height pole barn (about 9-10') so he can't lift his cars all the way but it works for him for oil changes, tire rotation, brake and front end jobs etc..
Check the quality of whatever lift you get. We had to smooth off the sharp edges on my friends lift since we both ended up slicing our fingers open installing it. Cut right through our gloves. Also, his lift came without instructions. He notified Northern but still hasn't rec'd them. Since I installed mine it wasn't too hard to figure out how to install.
If you get a 2 post always make sure you are lifting the vehicle from a safe support point because most cars today are unibody and don't have a frame. A drive on 4 post won't have that problem. Best of luck and keep us posted when you get yours.
My recent lift uses were installing cat back systems on my 08 Chevy truck and 07 Dodge Hemi Charger.

 

[dodge man]

Thanks George2615. What kind of exhaust did you put on the Charger? I put Corsa Extreme on my Challenger.

 

[George2615]

Flowmaster on the Charger (Also the K&N cold air intake). Dynomax on the truck.

 

[dodge man]

I went with the K&N also. I also put in a 180 thermostat. Take a look at a product called Diablo Predator. It is a very powerfull power programer. Sorry to get off subject.

 

[joe48]

you might want to look at harbor freight, they have several lifts and at least 2 platform scissor lifts that lift only 3 or 4 ft enough to do some under carriage work and oil changes and tire brake work with limited ceiling height.