car Lift, advice / experience

I am considering a car lift!
Any one got any good advice or experience.
I dont have 3 phase, but do have double garage, and roof is 2.8m high.

2 post, 4 post, with ramps or legs?

Or scissor action, again, ramps or legs, 1 unit or 2 seperate units.

Been browsing on Strongman, KEE, CJAutos. It looks like they mostly come from China.

http://zonda.en.alibaba.com/productshow ... 3#inSearch

Any opinions?

I keep meaning to test this out .
Kitcar Mark has one and so do the MOT guys .Single phase ,says portable but I wouldn't like to try and move it once it's in ......
It looks just the job but I need to actually put a GTA on and see how it behaves/postioning for engine out type work .
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-LIFT-MID- ... 4d030b96fb

Some of the scissor lifts, like that one, looks like they could wear into the garage floor.
Where as some of the others run on rails/tracks, so that the load is spread and the floor does not grind out the concrete, like this strongman.
http://www.strongmantools.co.uk/images/ ... ifts/7.jpg
some of the you tube vids show the car being "wobbled" side to side and they do look to be rather stable.
JigLift, Evereteran/en and BendPak also look like candidates.

and http://www.equipment4garages.com/ too

Let us know what you think after you have put one on a unit at your MOT guys place?

I have been considering buying one for quite a while now. I found a company who advertise on e-bay they deliver and install (except for electrics) for about £2000 all in. He did mention that some ramps coming out of China are to be avoided at all costs. I will dig out the info I have on record and forward the company name.

If you look around at garage equipment you will find very good second hand ones especially with all the businesses going bust. My advise dont get hydraulic units, 3 phase electric and its very little cost to run a cable from your fuse box. If you run it to a seperate fuse box in your garage as I have you could run seperate 3 phase points for mig welders etcor hot tubs. In respect of sissors/4 post or 2 post it depends on what you want to use it for but I would suggest in a garage at home a flat sissor lift set flat into the floor, Yes you have to dig the concrete but long term well worth it

come on hand in pocket time, which one do you want as they are both in my way and may be for sale

I keep meaning to test this out .
Kitcar Mark has one and so do the MOT guys .Single phase ,says portable but I wouldn't like to try and move it once it's in ......
It looks just the job but I need to actually put a GTA on and see how it behaves/postioning for engine out type work .
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-LIFT-MID- ... 4d030b96fb

Ive got one of these and bought it from that seller. It's good value and I think best of its type. I used it quite a lot when taking the engine out and renewing the suspension on my early Esprit. It's one of the only scissor lifts on the market that allows good access to the engine of a mid engine car so should suit the GTA well but I haven't had my Alpine in it as yet. One of the lowest on the market when collapsed however I still need two scaffold board runners each side for better clearance for easier positioning of the legs.

Trevor.

Trevor, do the lift wheels grind into your floor at all, or do you put a steel plate down for the lifting wheels to run on?
And what is the side to side stability like?

http://www.equipment4garages.com/
This one is 10 mins from my office. I think I will go see them..... and maybe take a rear engined car for a demo too.

Perfectly stable. The wheels have marked the floor but nothing more than that. I did consider some steel runners.

Trevor

Lee,
This is an interesting link.
http://www.astudyinliftdesign.com/mid-r ... rison.html

Trevor,
Could I pop round some time to see your lift?

Simon,

Of course, come and have a look.

Trevor.

Some pics from working on the GT40.

Trevor.

some plumeting prices, if you are ok with chineese stock..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SPECIAL-OFFER ... 2480wt_957

If anyone wants a "strongman" mid rise lift, I know where there is a used one for grabs, £800-ish. I have passed it by because you need compressed air to activate the lowering locking mechanism. Also, not 100% sure, but it could be the narrow version.
http://www.strongmantools.co.uk/images/PDF/Tamar.pdf

PM for contact details.