scissor lifts, how useful are they really? Options

[mgphoto]

I decided on the EZcarlift (see photo below), I have limited space in my garage and only work on my own cars. I need the portability. I considered the BendPak but moving it around would be difficult and delivery would be a nightmare, (requires a forklift).





Plenty of room between the lift supports.




Only difficulty I see is the 4 cyl motor mount bar needs to be removed before dropping the engine, (see image below).

I have the same lift for my 914. I use it turned 90* and roll it in from the side. That's how Boytchu Manov (not quite how to spell his name) reccomended it. No problem with engine removal this way. Check ezcarlift.com to find the product.

Hi,
I tried it turned the 90* but ran into problems with the lifting points.
The front lift points are set into the floor pan about 2 inches, lifting there bends the pan.
I place wooden blocks on the lower part of the inner fender, much stronger place to lift the car from.

[PRS914-6]

RE: scissor lift.....Don't be fooled by an advertised "lift" from any manufacturer. They run the lift to the top, add all the rubber blocks that are provided and measure from the floor to the top and call it "lift"....WRONG!!!!! They don't subtract how high it is sitting on the floor collapsed. Ask what the actual "hydraulic lift" is, not the advertised lift.

I did not want posts in my garage. I think it's just a matter of taste and amount of room available as well as ceiling height. You will NEVER regret getting the tallest lift that will work for your ceiling. I got a lift that will go 6 feet up and sunk it in the floor and I can stand underneath it. I lost no space in my shop, no risk of door dings and my shop is totally usable...I can drop engines, remove wheels etc.

Pic for you....Before and after sinking. The ramps are no longer needed of course

[Mark Henry]

On the other side, the scissors are much more stable than 2 poles, especially the "portable 2 poles" like they sell at Costco for $2000. Just imagine how the center of gravity moves forward when you remove the engine. I'm a bit afraid that this miss-ballance may cause the poles and car to tilt forward and maybe fall off.

A regular two post (poles) like my US made AMMCO will never "tilt" unless it takes the whole floor with it. I've had a full size chevy P/U on mine so I think it can handle a 914. I agree a portable two post or "made in china" lift will not be as good as a commercial lift.
I used to R&D and build much larger scissor lifts and I'd say the HF scissor lift is less stable than a two post, only because it's not anchored to a base frame that is bolted to the floor.

[D1A3]

RE: scissor lift.....Don't be fooled by an advertised "lift" from any manufacturer. They run the lift to the top, add all the rubber blocks that are provided and measure from the floor to the top and call it "lift"....WRONG!!!!! They don't subtract how high it is sitting on the floor collapsed. Ask what the actual "hydraulic lift" is, not the advertised lift.

I did not want posts in my garage. I think it's just a matter of taste and amount of room available as well as ceiling height. You will NEVER regret getting the tallest lift that will work for your ceiling. I got a lift that will go 6 feet up and sunk it in the floor and I can stand underneath it. I lost no space in my shop, no risk of door dings and my shop is totally usable...I can drop engines, remove wheels etc.

Pic for you....Before and after sinking. The ramps are no longer needed of course

Nice! Who makes this?

[6freak]

flat scissor lift ...pretty much flat bottom cars only.but they can be sunk into the floor and are no longer in the way.takes less shop space...I like

4 post ....very big, tires and wheels are not off the ground so to speak ...but very safe car cant fall off.....under side parking as well

2 post still big but you can lift any car .. pending load limit of course ,wheels off the ground ,no worries about drive lines, brake lines, exhaust pipes,etc etc...and under side parking

2 post for me please ...All JMO
MikeC (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[PRS914-6]

flat scissor lift ...pretty much flat bottom cars only

Not really.... they provide you with rubber blocks to put under a frame. For instance I lift my 2500HD GMC truck with no problem (6900 lbs). I set the blocks under the frame. You could lift any car. The worst scenario is you have to add some blocks to catch the frame without hitting something else. My Prius and Subaru can be lifted without anything. The 914 takes a small rubber block under the donuts

The lift is a Bend Pak SP-7

Any lift is a personal choice based on needs. For me I wanted height, no floor space usage, wheels free when lifted and drop an engine out the bottom. The Bend Pak was the best I found for those needs.

[6freak]

flat scissor lift ...pretty much flat bottom cars only

Not really.... they provide you with rubber blocks to put under a frame. For instance I lift my 2500HD GMC truck with no problem (6900 lbs). I set the blocks under the frame. You could lift any car. The worst scenario is you have to add some blocks to catch the frame without hitting something else. My Prius and Subaru can be lifted without anything. The 914 takes a small rubber block under the donuts

The lift is a Bend Pak SP-7

Any lift is a personal choice based on needs. For me I wanted height, no floor space usage, wheels free when lifted and drop an engine out the bottom. The Bend Pak was the best I found for those needs.

your pickup ..wow thats pretty impressive for that lift ...never would have expected that ...9k capacity? ...I really like the flush mount ...know ya got me think n ...co$t?...mite have a two post for sale LOL....
MikeC (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)