I have a garage with an 8' ceiling, was wondering about putting in some sort of a ramp that would lift the car just 2 or 3 feet off the floor. Has anyone bought or built one? Would love to see pics. Thanks, Charlie

My QuikLift:

I have used a kwiklift also for several years. They are a bit pricey, but very safe, really like the work height. The bridge kits are very handy. I would like a good four post lift, but the ceiling is to low. I have extended the ramps and put my pickup on it, no problem. Still working on this old car, so thanks for the excuse to post a picture.

what is that?

if you want to make them yourself,you could do something like these
http://www.restorationramps.co.uk/

Hmmm, interesting. A bit pricey but looks like could be homemade for a fraction.Light enough to tear down and stand in a corner when not in use.

The nice thing about the kwiklift is that it is an open span. You can lay under the vehicle from the side, improved accessibility. If you are not to tubby even on a creeper.

I installed this setup last spring with an 8'-2" ceiling and it has worked out great.

Who is the maker??

Here is the web site, I saved a lot on shipping by renting a u-Haul and picking it up in Delawar

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=TPPRO%2DPARK8S

that is one nice little lift

Its called a Gemini. I think it is a one off as there are no ID plates anywhere. Aluminum body, probably built in the early-mid 50's. I used it for autoX, it was starting to get pretty ratty so it is being overhauled.

very cool! any chance it is related to this?

http://bringatrailer.com/2008/06/24/bringatrailer-whatzit-22/#more-905

the guy is anxious to identify it

Don't think it's related. The suspension is very Cooper. I have posted info on the car earlier, don't mean to hijack this thread. I will probably do a topic on it later this winter. I would like to figure out if it can be qualified for vintage racing. I have some pictures posted here. Hopefully this link will work, I am not very good at this stuff.

Pictures

I wouldn't say there is any relationship !! Mark, that is sweet! I really like the "flattened" numbers ! Makes it look like the photos were distorted...stretched!!

Had to comment! Now back to the thread!!

I've had a Quiklift for nearly 6 years. Bought it without powder coat to save a little money and am not sorry. I've supplemented it with a 3.5 ton floor jack to get a little more lift and block the back "feet" up about 2". This brings the vehicle level for checking oil level and works better for me. I think the price reasonable for the good use I have gotten from it. My J-H stays parked on it with the front supports in place so in a pinch I can bump start it in reverse. I do oil changes on my wife's Camry without having to lengthen or widen the lift. I have considered getting the bridges and bottle jacks to facilitate wheel removal on the lift, but haven't done that yet. All in all I'm pleased with it, but wish it were lighter and more portable.

Here is something
http://www.maxjaxusa.com/maxjax-lift...jax-video.html

What I want is a 4-post lift that's an always 'up' storage lift - no hydraulics to raise/lower, just 'up'...I can move my 4-post around to it, raise a car & push it off onto the storage lift...anybody know where I can get one?

Tony, most people do this by building a loft. The 4-post lift is placed on casters and becomes a portable elevator. It isn't the easiest way to get cars in and out but for people who collect rather than drive it works pretty well. A collector near me has done this in his warehouse.

Um, Tony......why is the white MG wearing a toupee?? Won't it blow off at highway speeds??! LOL

hehehe...the hood is now in its correct location.


My problem is an 11'4" ceiling height...all the structural engineers I've talked with tell me they can't design one that clear spans the area I want to turn into a loft...at least not to handle the weight of cars & still allow me to walk under to open doors of cars stored there.

{Oh, Steve...how do you get cars out of your garage? Do you leave them in neutral & just pull them out by hand?}

Yes, that's exactly how I do it! There is no room to get out unless you can climb over the cars, and I never run the cars in the garage anyway because I hate the fumes. I've become quite good at lining them up. At first I had to make several "runs" at it (gotta build up speed to get over the lift feet). After a while I could pull the car up to the garage door, open it and push the car right in. I usually push it in half-way to make sure it's good, and then push for real. The slightest variance would put one fender into another quite easily.

Now on the bright side, I no longer keep a car in the center except for special occasions, such as unusually bad weather or when I leave for a trip. The truck typically gets the center spot now.

[/quote]
What I want is a 4-post lift that's an always 'up' storage lift - no hydraulics to raise/lower, just 'up'...I can move my 4-post around to it, raise a car & push it off onto the storage lift...anybody know where I can get one? [/quote]


You are probably going to have to modify what is called a pallet rack. They are used in warehouses for palletized storage of parts, groceries etc. They are readily available the problem is getting just a few of them. When obsolete racking is removed, there are miles of it. I am sure the dimensions will not be correct for your application.

Mark, I've thought about that but the guys at my local Lowe's don't think it would hold 2 cars....remember, I want to clear span 3 cars that would be underneath.

I've actually seen what Tony is looking for. I don't know if it was custom or not, but it was a long rack of cars, one per "shelf" with shared columns between each. They were either bolted or welded together into one long unit. A 4-post lift was rolled in front of whichever car they wanted down, then the car rolled onto the lift and lowered. It would be a serious pain in the butt to get cars in and out this way, especially if there were cars in front of the shelves, but for long-term storage or "collector-only" cars it would be a much cheaper way to go than buying a bunch of 4-post lifts.

I'm looking at something else...there's a company here in Huntsville that builds storage racks for places like Lowe's....they tell me they can build a set (2) of uprights that'll hold 3500 lbs.....I'm thinking 3 sets would be enough to go under a 'mezzanine' wide enough to hold 2 MGA's.....now, I've gotta visit with them to give them the total weight of the 2 cars & the flooring so they can see if they van design a beam system between those sets that'll span 20' & hold what I want to put up there.

I missed A Quiklift by 5 min's on the weekend painted for $700. Anybody see used ones for sale?

Cheers

Mark

almost a month old

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-...QQAdIdZ85551141

today

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-equipment-9-000-lb-2-POST-HOIST-W0QQAdIdZ88637147

about a month

http://london.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-t...QQAdIdZ87557617

BTW a friend recently sold a Rolls to a collector in Quebec. Apparantly he has 400+ cars. My friend counted 7 Lambos and 2 Deusenbergs. But was telling me about the Jag building - 3 high and 7 across like a wine rack - and he had more than one building

That is one swinging front end. Bad bad bad.

Sure glad someone is takeing care of it.

Tony,
Stinger makes a quality product but their website sucks. I have one of their 4 post lifts. Is this what you're looking for?

http://www.stingerlifts.com/balconycars1.htm

Marv J

YES!!! Thank you, Marv!!

Oh, you're correct - website sucks!

Tony
How about something like this
www.ezcarlift.com

Really want something to store cars up high - & the Stinger product is as expensive as a full-up 4-post lift!