Happiness is a Lift

[Roncallo]

I just got this Bend Pak model HD-9. Life is never going to be the same. Right now I can get a 107 without a top, up just enough to rub my head on the chassie. I will be installing a false panel on my garage door and removing more of the ceiling joists. That will give be another 15" and the ability to store both cars with hard tops on.

John Roncallo

[Dubyagee]

OK, I'm jealous. Very nice.

[Bondavi]

I too have a oversize 3 car garage that looks like yours.... Around $3k for that lift installed, right? Buy online or from a professional shop specializing in these lifts? Or did you install yourself? Did you have to drill anchor studs in your concrete floor?

Planning ahead....In the event I find a black 560SEC for daily driving, my euro 500SL will go up on the lift above my '69 Alfa Romeo, so I can have the added space in the garage bay for restoring my other toy, a '70 Dodge Challenger 440+6!

Thanks for the post, it inspired me.....when I didn't think I could fit in my garage height-wise...looks like there's light at the end of the tunnel at least until I get some acreage and a real barn

[t walgamuth]

i hope you are not cutting truss elements willy nilly.

in the roof structure of the garage.

tom w

[Colorado220]

I wish I had a lift!!!

[Pete Geither]

We have a lift in at work, a 2 poster and would like to have one at home, but just not enough head room. I can still get the 3 cars in the 30 X 30 garage though.

[engatwork]

The lift is one of the best tools I have ever purchased. It makes just about everything alot easier.

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by Bondavi

I too have a oversize 3 car garage that looks like yours.... Around $3k for that lift installed, right? Buy online or from a professional shop specializing in these lifts? Or did you install yourself? Did you have to drill anchor studs in your concrete floor?

Planning ahead....In the event I find a black 560SEC for daily driving, my euro 500SL will go up on the lift above my '69 Alfa Romeo, so I can have the added space in the garage bay for restoring my other toy, a '70 Dodge Challenger 440+6!

Thanks for the post, it inspired me.....when I didn't think I could fit in my garage height-wise...looks like there's light at the end of the tunnel at least until I get some acreage and a real barn

The list was $4K with all attachments, including a rolling air/hydraulic jack, sliding jack tray, 3 drip pans and wheel kit. It was purchased from Metro Lifts & Equipment in Mobile AL.

You dont need to have it professionally installed. Any moron can do it. The lift is not bolted down and has a wheel kit to roll it arround so I can bring it outside and clean the undercarige of my cars. I did find that bolting it down would be a good idea. If I step on the brakes too hard going up the ramps, the lift will slide forward on the floor and scratch my epoxy paint.

I bought the 4 post for 3 reasons, 1 my cieling will not take a 2 post without putting in a dormer. 2 I liked the idea of being able to move the lift on wheels. 3 I dont know how you could quickly install drip trays on a 2 post.

I think the two post is the best way to go if you can do it and it is actually cheaper because you dont need any attachments. The air/hydraulic rolling jack is an absolute necessity for the 4 posters, and it cost almost $1200.00 for the bend pack unit. I cant picture myself using extreamly low profile bottle jacks with only 2" stroke on the sliding jack tray.

John Roncallo

[cth350]

I've had a 12,000 capacity lift from bend-pac for a few years now. A great thing for a 600. The garage was built with a hole in the ceiling specifically for the lift. Which, I was able to install all by myself with a great deal of "enginuity".

For one thing, the ramps are heavier than a single guy can reasonably lift. Ditto the cross-pieces that hold them to the posts. A few hardware store visits secured a passel of pulleys that became two block & tackles to hold the cross-pieces. Several carjacks, jack stands, and 4x4 blocks of wood got the ramps in place.

The very first hurdle was clearing out the garage and driveway so the truck could arrive (a year elapsed between the garage's construction and getting the lift). My neighbors were not exactly happy with me about this.



The second problem was when the truck arrived and the guy asked where my forklift was. I paid the idgits at Garage-equiment-supply their 65$ "home delivery fee". But the larger lifts can't be delivered w/o a loading doc. Make sure you double check with the supplier. After a few days of yelling at the vendor, I figured out how to get the lift into the backyard. I went to the loading doc of the shipping firm armed with a flat bed truck. Their forklift loaded the flatbed. The lift was delivered into the middle of the driveway easily by just sort of tipping it off and listening to it scrape the driveway. Next time, I'll have a few sheets of plywood on hand to land on.

I have pictures of the affair. I had a webpage all assembled for the old mbz.org site which went kaboom in time to not get them published. One of these days.

Yes, a lift is a great thing.

-CTH

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

i hope you are not cutting truss elements willy nilly.

in the roof structure of the garage.

tom w

willy nilly! no I used a chain saw.

I moved the ceiling joist 1/3 rd up the roof line as allowed by code in this area. Then I used the cahin saw.

John Roncallo

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by Pete Geither

We have a lift in at work, a 2 poster and would like to have one at home, but just not enough head room. I can still get the 3 cars in the 30 X 30 garage though.

30 X 30 I'm jelouse

John Roncallo

[lynns]

That is so cool and practicle for DIY auto work.

I asked my wife if I could have one and she reminded me that our garage size would not allow for it. I said I want one and can we move into a house that will allow for it.

[Mike Miller]

That is exactly what we are doing, Lynn. I left an oversize 3 car garage (3 doors, 4 cars) in Connecticut. I am living in a townhouse in So. Cal. right now. Nice weather, but no work area. I am going crazy. I figure the upgrades for a new kitchen in the new house will set me up for a quid pro quo lift!!!

[riethoven]

Originally Posted by Roncallo

I just got this Bend Pak model HD-9. Life is never going to be the same. Right now I can get a 107 without a top, up just enough to rub my head on the chassie. I will be installing a false panel on my garage door and removing more of the ceiling joists. That will give be another 15" and the ability to store both cars with hard tops on.

John Roncallo

How tall is your ceiling? Moving the ceiling joist up 1/3 of the span is typical. They are now called collar ties.

I am very envious. Lifts are great.

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by Bondavi

I too have a oversize 3 car garage that looks like yours.... Around $3k for that lift installed, right? Buy online or from a professional shop specializing in these lifts? Or did you install yourself? Did you have to drill anchor studs in your concrete floor?

Actually the lift really cost 9K

4K for the lift and accesories
5K for the baby grand piano for my wife

John Roncallo