Scissor lifts

[kcjaz]

I moved to a new house with a really great garage but only 9’ ceilings so I can’t put my 14’ tall two post lift in it. I still have a shop at our lake place with my lift in it but it’s 2 hours away.

I’m considering getting a portable scissor style lift so I can more easily/conveniently lift the 200. Something like this: VEVOR Portable Car Lift, 9000 lbs Capacity, Heavy Duty Steel Truck Lift with 28" Max Height, 120V Power Unit, Wheels, 4 Rubber Pads & 4 Lifting Columns for Cars, SUVs, Trucks, Home Garage or Shop Use https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GKFWZWCR?tag=ihco-20

Has anyone used this type of lift on their 200? I’m just not sure if this would be substantially better than the floor jack/jack stands I currently use, especially since I’m limited to a lift height of about 24” due to the ceiling.

 

[GrouchyTech]

Use a reputable brand. It’ll cost you, but there’s too much at stake, MEANING YOU, to trust anything else with holding 6,000lbs above your body. People are crushed every day under vehicles because of poorly made lift equipment, poorly maintained lift equipment, and lack of good judgement.

I do not like the reviews I’m reading for the “Amazon brand” one you linked. Spend the money on something good.

Dannmar and Atlas are probably your best bet for your use, they’re aimed more at a non-commercial/home user.

 

[kcjaz]

Use a reputable brand. It’ll cost you, but there’s too much at stake, MEANING YOU, to trust anything else with holding 6,000lbs above your body. People are crushed every day under vehicles because of poorly made lift equipment, poorly maintained lift equipment, and lack of good judgement.

I do not like the reviews I’m reading for the “Amazon brand” one you linked. Spend the money on something good.

Dannmar and Atlas are probably your best bet for your use, they’re aimed more at a non-commercial/home user.

Agree. The Vevor was just an example. After watching some videos, the truly portable ones look sketchy and generally have a 6000 lb or less rating. The 9000 lb versions seem to be in the more “theoretically” potable but practically not so much and you’re talking $5K. That’s a lot cheaper than new roof trusses but I’m not sure $5K is worth it for the convenience of a lift where I can only lift it 21” due to the ceiling vs. simply using my big floor jack and heavy duty jack stands. In the end, I’m still on the floor to do the work. The real problem is that I have a two post lift and know how much better that is when working on a car.

 

[KLF]

I have been using a 7000-lb rated Quickjack with my 200 for about 7 years now, no regrets and I'm very happy with it. I made some custom lifting blocks for it out of 1/4" plate and some 3" pipe. I can easily fit under it on a creeper. Works great for oil changes, tire rotations, lubing driveshafts, brakes, etc. Very stable.

The frames are heavy and can be awkward to move around, but for what it does, I'm happy with it. The wheels they put on one end are crap, but I found some better ones on Amazon that are much better. I have the pump mounted on an old printer stand with casters.

 

[TeCKis300]

The frames are heavy and can be awkward to move around, but for what it does, I'm happy with it. The wheels they put on one end are crap, but I found some better ones on Amazon that are much better. I have the pump mounted on an old printer stand with casters.

The setup and ease of deploying, including weight of the jack, is going to directly affect how often it's used. I find that a couple floor jacks and jack stands to be more agile. Plus it keeps access from the sides, whereas the scissor jacks block that access.

 

[KLF]

The setup and ease of deploying, including weight of the jack, is going to directly affect how often it's used. I find that a couple floor jacks and jack stands to be more agile. Plus it keeps access from the sides, whereas the scissor jacks block that access.

No argument there. The Quickjack does take longer to setup than a floor jack and stands. If I'm just doing 1 or 2 tires/wheels, then yeah I go that way. But for oil changes and 5-tire rotations, it's perfect. It was the only practical way to do an oil change on my Miata (not relevant in the OP case, I know).

 

[jahawk]

I manage Career and Technical Education programs. We bought this style lift a few years back to compliment our two posts for our Auto and Ag programs. We figured they'd be great for tire rotation, brakes, etc. I can tell you that after the initial "new" excitement wore off they don't get used. For almost any job that you're not using the two post for floor jacks and jack stands are preferred by instructors and students. At this point I've removed almost all of them..
I'm not saying they don't work, I am saying that from my experience they're not worth the space and hassle.

Jim

 

[PDoyle]

Safest bet, 2 floor jacks, 4 jack stands, and a creeper.

 

[clrussell]

I manage Career and Technical Education programs. We bought this style lift a few years back to compliment our two posts for our Auto and Ag Programs. We figured they'd be great for tire rotation, brakes, etc. I can tell you that after the initial "new" excitement wore off they don't get used. For almost any job that you're not using the two post for floor jacks and jack stands are preferred by instructors and students. At this point I've removed almost all of them..
I'm not saying they don't work, I am saying that from my experience they're not worth the space and hassle.

Jim

We had one for years at our shop.

It ultimately because a portable work bench then was sold off

 

[gasman4u]

OP, thanks for the thread. Others, thanks for the input. I was considering one of these types of setups as my garage is only 9-10’ tall. Not enough for a lift. To @GrouchyTech point, I’ve seen some weird $hit in my time on earth and I over paid for some us jack jack stands and the Daytona (snap on copy?) jack from horror freight as if I’m under my rig I want as little risk as possible. I don’t want my kids to walk out to me being a smear under my rig in the garage. Not the core memory I’m shooting to create.

 

[40Man]

I moved to a new house with a really great garage but only 9’ ceilings so I can’t put my 14’ tall two post lift in it. I still have a shop at our lake place with my lift in it but it’s 2 hours away.

I’m considering getting a portable scissor style lift so I can more easily/conveniently lift the 200. Something like this: VEVOR Portable Car Lift, 9000 lbs Capacity, Heavy Duty Steel Truck Lift with 28" Max Height, 120V Power Unit, Wheels, 4 Rubber Pads & 4 Lifting Columns for Cars, SUVs, Trucks, Home Garage or Shop Use https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GKFWZWCR?tag=ihco-20

Has anyone used this type of lift on their 200? I’m just not sure if this would be substantially better than the floor jack/jack stands I currently use, especially since I’m limited to a lift height of about 24” due to the ceiling.

If you have a flat driveway you can possibly use a good portable jack outside as well when you want it higher than your garage allows and use it inside in bad weather with the lower height. I personally prefer jack stands and ramps depending on the project.

Some cities have DIY garages with lifts. May be an option as well.

 

[GrouchyTech]

OP, thanks for the thread. Others, thanks for the input. I was considering one of these types of setups as my garage is only 9-10’ tall. Not enough for a lift. To @GrouchyTech point, I’ve seen some weird $hit in my time on earth and I over paid for some us jack jack stands and the Daytona (snap on copy?) jack from horror freight as if I’m under my rig I want as little risk as possible. I don’t want my kids to walk out to me being a smear under my rig in the garage. Not the core memory I’m shooting to create.

The difference in price between “no-name questionable” and “good” jack stands and a good jack (and I consider the Daytona stuff “good”) is like 2-3 DoorDash meals.

 

[linuxgod]

I briefly considered if this style would be useful. They block access from the side of the vehicle so for anything requiring access around the transmission or transfer case they’re useless.

Also I’m not crazy about lifting your 8400# truck with a lift rated at 9000#. My stands are 6000# per pair…

 

[GordJ]

Like linuxgod said, the lack of access is a no for me. I would, literally, buy 4 floor jacks first. And I am not buying floor jacks, fyi.

 

[bicycleagent003]

Most modern jack stands have the 2 factor safety of the pin which slides in to lock the ratchet mechanism in place. I won't get under a vehicle unless it's sitting on those jack stands, with pins installed, and after I push hard against the side of the vehicle with my hip to check for stability. I also leave my hydraulic jack in the pumped up and locked position sitting just under the jack stand height under the frame rail, because why not have another backup in place? I'm not trying to die in my driveway. That would destroy my family.
I also have looked at these scissor jacks and concluded they are not safe or convenient enough to replace my 2 Daytona jacks and 6 ton double safety jack stands. Stay safe, fellas. Above all else.

 

[Heckraiser]

I've thought about scissor lifts and I do have pretty high ceilings (very high if I re-arrange the garage door opener), but I decided the only way I would practically use them it is to leave it in place and park on top of it every day. With all the salt and water and crap dripping off my car, that would not bode well for the lift, so I decided I'll just make due with my floor jacks and jack stands until (if) I move to a garage with enough elbow room for a proper 2-post or 4-post.

 

[kcjaz]

Thanks for all of the input/perspectives. I did find that Bendpak makes a flush mounted 9000 lb lift that seems to be good quality and would be permanently installed in the floor. The thing is that now your talking $7 to $8k and you still have to cut you floor and do the concrete and install. The cost for the actual utility achieved just doesn’t seem worth it.

 

[clrussell]

Thanks for all of the input/perspectives. I did find that Bendpak makes a flush mounted 9000 lb lift that seems to be good quality and would be permanently installed in the floor. The thing is that now your talking $7 to $8k and you still have to cut you floor and do the concrete and install. The cost for the actual utility achieved just doesn’t seem worth it.

We have 3 of these and they are great. Not sure what brand though. I cannot remember at the moment