Car lift - 7,000lbs

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Finally got some progress with the lift.
It wasn't level so I had to jack it up on jack stands. Using the 2x4's that I had attached way back when for the very purpose of lifting the lift. I started lifting. And I bent the bolts... When I welded on the tabs for the bolts I didn't think about the fact the bolts would be above center, and voilà, twistedbthe wood beam. So I removed the bolts and beam and welded on more tabs that had bolt holes near the bottom. Works great, no more twist.

Today I had a friend over and while the lift was up on blocks, we leveled the gravel underneath. Several months ago I was cruising home depot weekly and buying PT deck boards for 75% off. Now I laid them under the wood beams and dropped everything down. Worked awesome. My theory is that this will help spread the load over a much wider area and therefore be much less likely to sink into the ground. The pad prep was minimal as I was never planning on the lift being there. But it will work.

So I'm plumb perfect side to side, and within the bubble fore and aft. Good enough!

Unfortunately I discovered a nest in my lift. I'm torn as I don't want to disturb nesting robin, but I also really need to get to work on my vehicles. I'll try relocating them but don't think that works well.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I started screwing old fencing 2x6 down to level the pad to the white crossmembers. This will also distribute vehicle weight better. Then I laid some 3/4" plywood on top. Now the swing arms are dragging when I move them in... FML! I was dreading unscrewing the 2x6's, as that was a few hours work and would be wasting lumber.

But....



I remembered...



Thus is a lift....



So I can use the lift mechanism to raise the arms to clear the plywood....



Crisis averted!


I never said I was the quickest on the draw...lol.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Got the other side of the platform finished and plywood on. Drove my escape on to test the lift. The fcking arms wouldn't extend! They were rusted in place. So I moved the cat, raised the arms to a good working height, and using a sledge took my frustrations out on the arms. Eventually the stopped arguing and I got them out clean them inside and out, greased and gear oiled, and put back together. I'll test the lift tomorrow.

You can see the rust that came out on the ground. I didn't get after pics.

 

[Rick W]

Got the other side of the platform finished and plywood on. Drove my escape on to test the lift. The fcking arms wouldn't extend! They were rusted in place. So I moved the cat, raised the arms to a good working height, and using a sledge took my frustrations out on the arms. Eventually the stopped arguing and I got them out clean them inside and out, greased and gear oiled, and put back together. I'll test the lift tomorrow.

View attachment 130756

View attachment 130757
You can see the rust that came out on the ground. I didn't get after pics.

still progress. Success from determination and effort. Sometimes frustrating, but always good.

 

[bobbywalter]

Okay I googled prefabricated metal garages and they're over $8,000.
The ones I saw were averaging around 10,000.

So I will admit that I was wrong and I would have lost the bet.

The prefabricated carports were averaging between $300 and $500.

I was wrong!

30 years ago it was correctish.

 

[bobbywalter]

can you get some i beam? or an old trailer frame?


the wood can work but if you make a leveraged base from beam it will be anon thought with changing seasons.


i was getting ready to buy a sidewinder but ended up going in a different direction. really need a lift to do the levels of work with the thing that identifies as a ranger and any newer ford....

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

can you get some i beam? or an old trailer frame?


the wood can work but if you make a leveraged base from beam it will be anon thought with changing seasons.


i was getting ready to buy a sidewinder but ended up going in a different direction. really need a lift to do the levels of work with the thing that identifies as a ranger and any newer ford....

I'm here until next year Xmas. So I did it the quickest safe way utilizing material I had on hand. I have an old RV frame I was thinking of using but it would have taken too long. I'm limited in mobility and energy so there is that too.