Workshop plans

[85_Ranger4x4]

I feel like four post lifts just get in the way of everything I would want to work on. Probably be ok for doing PM stuff, but If i want to pull the trans or rear axle I gotta get it up on jacks anyway.

I get so sick of rolling around on the floor holding a flashlight in my teeth eating dirt and rust while fighting with fuel tanks, brake lines, exhaust etc.

I think I am done swapping axles so the jack thing would be nice to get it up at a nice height to play with wheel bearings and brakes. Even axle shafts or whatever for the rear.

My wife's car blew a power steering cooler line in Omaha last summer on a Saturday, we sneaked it into the dealer her dad works at and he threw it up on his lift (two post) and it was like cheating. I could see everything and it was all just right there.

 

[Uncle Gump]

As much as I wouldn't turn away a 4 post hoist... I would rather have a two post. Much more freedom... and you can use it to lift bodies and stuff.

 

[rumblecloud]

... and you can use it to lift bodies and stuff.

I don't understand how this would work? S'plain please...

 

[Uncle Gump]

put vehicle on hoist with lift arms on the body. Unbolt body... lift with hoist... roll chassis from under.

Edit... you can use the hoist to lift under frame to unbolt the body first... then lower to ground and then do as above.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't understand how this would work? S'plain please...

You put the lift arms under a car body instead of under the frame (on a body on frame vehicle)

 

[Uncle Gump]

Hell you can even use a two post to lift an engine out of the back of your truck.

If I was going to buy a hoist... two post all day long.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Hell you can even use a two post to lift an engine out of the back of your truck.

I use a tractor for that...



And if I won the lottery and built a new shop with a lift I would be getting a bigger tractor with a cab too.

 

[Uncle Gump]

You and all your "fancy stuff".

 

[Roert42]

I don't have any good photos of the whole setup, but my engine hoist is a 1T chain fall strapped to a 4x4 laying across the rafters. Plus some 2x4s to help support the rafters in the center of the garage, since they do not go all the way across the garage.

I find it easier to push an empty car out from under my hoist, just open the door when your ready and slide it out, then to try and maneuver a cherry picker in a small garage without having the car hanging half way out the garage the whole time you are working on it. I would eventualy like to install an I beam so I can slide the hoist left to right like a small gantry crane.

 

[97RangerXLT]

and you can use it to lift bodies and stuff.

my mind was envisioning a helping device for one person to load a lifeless form into the bed of their ranger which sits next to a trashcan with 2 weeks of vegan food in it...



AJ

 

[G8orFord]

Our shop has the I-beam with a rolling chain hoist and a 2-post lift. The lift is only rated for 8k though. I wish it was a 10 or 12. We did have a bit of a scary moment with it trying to lift my '04 CC F-250 diesel. The concrete was still a little green and one post started to lean. It was a little stupid of us to try it before the concrete had cured enough, but we were also kinda testing its limits and were watching it closely. We figured if it could lift the 8k truck, it wouldn't have any problems with the normal stuff. We had to cut out the floor around the one post and repair it, but it's been great ever since.

Here's a pic of it lifting a lifeless form from its frame. We've since enclosed it so it's more comfortable to use in the Florida sun and rain. If you look on the right side of the pic, you can see the tall stands we use to stabilize the vehicle once it's lifted.

 

[franklin2]

I have a old alignment lift I use with ramps, so it's similar to the 4 post units. I used it for years in a garage that had only a 10 ft ceiling. I had OSB in the ceiling area and did have to cut a couple holes for this particular lift the way it was designed. But it worked fine, I just could not stand under the car or truck when it was lifted as high as it would go. I made myself a rolling stool with some padding on it for my rump, and used this to work under there with. Sitting down works for most jobs under a vehicle. I also made myself a custom transmission jack to pull them out under it. When I moved I put the lift in the new garage and it only had 9ft ceilings. I got it in there, but that was too low. That's the garage I cut the ceiling out of, installed 2x8 rafters in it, and cut out the bottom of the trusses,, making a cathedral ceiling. I can use the lift all the way now and stand under it, which I admit is nice.

I like the ramp type lift I have. I do a lot of carpentry work also,, and it makes a great saw horse, especially for 4x8 sheets of material. I do have the jacks that roll down the center to lift the vehicle up to take the tires off. I don't lift bodies off vehicles on a regular basis (if ever) so I don't need that capability.

 

[Roert42]

Chain fall engine hoist.

 

[rumblecloud]

Ha! That's exactly the set-up I used to lift the hood off the ranger and put it back on. It's a 1,000 pounder from HF.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Ha! That's exactly the set-up I used to lift the hood off the ranger and put it back on. It's a 1,000 pounder from HF.

Probably cutting it pretty close with the weight rating there...