Has anyone ever heard of a home car lift falling over or other failure?

Yes, can't recall if it was on this site, or the FerrarList, but about three years ago, someone posted photos of a four post lift failing. The car dropped onto the car below. The company that manufactured the lift handled the repairs of the cars, and rebuilt his lift for free.....

I have a couple friends with lifts in their garages, no problems so far. I would assume it happens, but is very rare. If they broke or fell often, the company would not be in business for long.

Most all of these lifts must be bolted to the concrete floor with anchors. So it would not be a big deal to unbolt and move later.


Dave

 

there are two general ways of constructing four-post lifts. one involves solid posts and the other involves "c-channel" posts. the ones that i've heard stories about failures (all anecdotal) were c-channel posts - they are, in theory, just not as robust. that said, failures are very rare, apparently.

doody.

 

No. I have one acquaintance with a lift and it's never dropped a car.

Ken

 

I've been advised strongly against getting a scissors-type lift because it's dangerous, for obvious reasons. I've also been advised not to buy any home lift that's not actually Made in USA, even if the price premium is stiff for American made.

I'm considering a lift because the 40-yr. old Borranis are coming off this summer for a rebuild--another safety issue--and I don't really like the idea of the car just sitting up on jackstands while I take a good part of the interior and dashboard out as well as do many other miscellaneous repair and detailing jobs while the wheels are gone.

The lift could pay for itself in a couple of years because it would allow me the access to do the routine maintenance and minor repairs that the shop does now.

 

I have twice seen lifts fail in dealerships that I have worked at, and the cars drop down at a 45 degree angle.....nose first in both instances.

In one case it was a new car getting PDI'd for delivery later that afternoon.

FWIW.............

 

I want a lift in the worst way.

So every month or so, i do the search thing , then I look at all the web sites, and then I can't figure out where to get one delivered since they need a fork lift, and then I wonder if I can put it together myself and then I wonder how you put together hydraulic lines with out them leaking and then I wonder it my headroon is high enough at 100 inches and then I figure I'll just use ramps and wallow around on my back while my dog gives me the cold nose in the crotch.

Honestly, I wish I could figure out who makes a quality lift that can be put together by a reasonably handy and handsome fellow such as myself.

 

I have 2 Eagle lift (4 post) for many, many years. I use them on a daily base and never had ANY troubles at all. From F cars to tractor, they do the job for me.
They are based in Wisconsin.
Roland
F40LM

 

I bought my 2 post lift from a local company that sells both new and used. They take a lot of used lifts in from dealerships and auto repair places when they upgrade to bigger ones. Apparently, as new cars get heavier and heavier, many places that were getting by OK with 6,000 and 7,000 pound lifts are upgrading to 10,000 and more. My lift is a Mohawk, premium US made lift and was delivered and installed (used) for $2,500. It's a 6,000 pound lift. All I needed to do myself was wire it to 220. Why mess around installing it when you can get it installed for just a couple hundred bucks? These guys install them all the time and know how to do it. First be sure your floor is thick enough. Check your local yellow pages and search for garage equipment. Most places have a place that sells these things not to far away.

They can be moved. Just unbolt from the floor.

I have wondered many times as the Mondial is flying above the 308, if that thing is going to take a dive. So far, it hasn't. Just check the torque on the mounting bolts every few months. The thing is REALLY bolted down, and theoretically, the car is fairly close to balanced on there, so it shouldn't be pulling one way or the other TOO much.

Having a lift is by FAR the best money you will ever spend on any tool for working on cars. It's a GODSEND! The thing is GREAT! I could never ever go back to not having one.

Birdman

 

the 2 I have are the moving type. I even rolled one out with the TR on it to do a outside engine cleaning. I keep cars under trhe lift and never had a worry.
The roll away is the way to go !they are 110 volts and you can leave them wher you want
Roland
F40LM

 

I've wanted a lift for a long time. I am SO tired of crawling under the Lotus and getting gear oil in my hair! I didn't realize you could be set for under $3k! Since my car weighs only 1600 lbs I could go with a cheaper model too.

Ken

 

Did you assemble them yourself??

 

I have several friends with lifts--and they got them by different routes. One got a local lift (easy, cheap, and they installed out), one ordered it and the company arranged for a crew to assemble/install it, another did the whole DIY thing.

The issues include getting the thing off the truck--and even if that is done, you still have to move/position the pieces to assemble. I would guess it is a 2/5 difficulty from a pure mechanical/hydraulic point of view, but a 5/5 difficult in term of hernia potential.

And, while the lift companies are good about this, there are storied about damaged and/or missing parts (which hosed a friend who had cleared out his garage, lift delivered, but could not be installed that day).

I want a lift in the WORSE way. But my garage ceilings are low, and my garage is way to overstuffed anyway.

 

I have www.autolifters.com Model M6. Check the ratings closely!
Commercial grade.
Box tube posts.
Well designed drop-locks
Heavy gauge construction throughout.
Made in USA (Kansas).
Big 3.5" ram
EACH of the 4 cables are rated at 22,000 lbs
Mobile/freestanding unit. Bolt down not required.

STABLE THROUGH 6.5 EARTHQUAKES

Casters and jacking beams available

Take a look at the site and you will see a picture of a fork truck TRYING to push a post out with a car on the lift.

On sale today for 2295.00 for the basic unit. Self assembly required.

Disclaimer; Not affiliated with Autolifters but just another happy customer.

 

Sounds like a pattern with you. It's amazing that you own anything.

 

Bruce had a lift mishap....er....a....no he didn't I was just kidding. Sorry buddy, probably kind of a sore subject ha?

 

LMAO!!

He deserves the Consumer Reports award!

 

At school we have two Challanger 2 post lifts rated for 9K lbs. They are great lifts, never had any problems, same goes for the scissor hoist, except for one of the rolling jacks on it.
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I have an Eagle scissor lift because of ceiling height constraints (9ft ceiling in the garage) it is very stable. I can perform all the mechanical procedure except engine out which has to be pulled out from above so the lift wouldn't help anyway. The nice thing is that is that it can moved around and stored. Raises the car up to 52", max load of 6000lb, under $2k no special tool required. In a perfect world, had I had the height I would have gone with a two post...maybe next house...

 

I have heard of one instance where a guy who owns multiple Corvettes had his lift fail and the top car dropped onto the bottom car.

As I recall it was quite an experience for him getting the whole thing covered under insurance (his or the lift companies). If youre interested, do a search on Corvetteforum.com, the story was on there.

Lifts are not THAT expensive and the cost differential between a cheapo and a nice one may not be as big as you think. I have heard that the box uprights are the way to go over c-channel, and hooking up the hydraulics is no harder than hooking up brake lines.

 

Uro go for an Eagle 4 post type. The guys dropped it off of the truck. I assembled it myself with a floor jack and it took 4 hours. EASY , see it in my profile

 

I own d@mn little.

Except mutual funds that drop 1% per day. Every day.....

Does anyone have tha antidote for analysis paralysis? I think mine is near terminal.

 

We use Rotary brand lifts at work. All but one are in ground lifts with big air bags underground. Every once and a while they have to be dug up for leaks and have seals replaced. The two post has had no problems as far as I know.