Container based shop: 2 post lift placement advice?

[Ricko1966]

I see the turbo snail grand national on the fender....so I hope ...hope insurance can fix that....or at least turn it into a nice parts car for another.

things I kick myself for not buying. a 1987 grand national off a lawn in March of 2002. a $7000 driver in fine unmolested shape,... (stopped to look at often,....I should have bought it and garage to put it in).

I think it will need a front clip.

 

[Turbo4whl]

That Buick has a full frame. Nothings idiot proof.

You are right, looks like maybe the swing arm isn't locked.

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We have two of these type lifts at work, a Mohawk and a Rotary. They both lock as soon as you raise the lift up. Apologize to the OP for derailing the thread, but I am the guy at work that makes sure the new guys know how to use all our lifts. Safety first!

 

[bucket]

I'm late to the party, but I would choose areas #1 and #2 for the lift as well. I once worked at a junkyard with a couple lifts outside and that's where they were in relation to the shop door. It was very convenient. To complete the package, you may want a work bench next to the lift (N side of 1 and 2) or up against the container, in front of the lift... if that would still leave plenty of room to get a cherry picker in front of whatever vehicle you may have on the lift.

As for the outdoor lifts, the ones at the junkyard held up and worked fine for decades. I believe one of them is still in use to this day. And that's in Ohio with rain and snow. All we ever did was put a 5 gal bucket over the lift pump when not in use.

 

[TotalyHucked]

I'm late to the party, but I would choose areas #1 and #2 for the lift as well. I once worked at a junkyard with a couple lifts outside and that's where they were in relation to the shop door. It was very convenient. To complete the package, you may want a work bench next to the lift (N side of 1 and 2) or up against the container, in front of the lift... if that would still leave plenty of room to get a cherry picker in front of whatever vehicle you may have on the lift.

As for the outdoor lifts, the ones at the junkyard held up and worked fine for decades. I believe one of them is still in use to this day. And that's in Ohio with rain and snow. All we ever did was put a 5 gal bucket over the lift pump when not in use.

The table is a good idea. Maybe even attach/hinge it to the container so when not in use it can be tucked out of the way and less likely to have stuff/dirt/crap pile up on it

 

[Craig Nedrow]

There is much to lifts, you will need about 6 inches where the posts are so there is enough depth for the bolts. my. Bendpak was not that much more then the offshore ones, I use it every week. Sometimes, like now with the Nova, it’s been on the life in the air for two weeks, while I have replaced the entire suspension, and clean paint, raptor line everything. If you pay attention where you place the lift arms, very steady. When I lift, I get the height I want, then lower it to the stops, and your good. You can paint under there, so restoring is much easier.

 

[Craig Nedrow]

I set mine up myself. Two plumb bobs and shim till it is parallel when bolted. Measure and repeat on the other side. I bought the trans jack as well from bend pak, ranger brand, I use that under there all the time. This is the fourth shop I have built, and that single piece of equipment is now irreplaceable. I’m taking it with me when I move. BTW it is the high lift 10000 lb model 13’ height

 

[Hunter79764]

Important to use that 2 post lift correctly. Don't let unsupervised friends use it. Your Suburban has a frame, you should be good!

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As a G-Body guy myself... Ouch. Ouch...
Yep, full frame but it is a floppy one, and the start of the wheel arch under the firewall was probably where they placed the arm (which is the proper jacking point). It is very easy to start slipping forward and have it do exactly like that, usually when only jacking that corner though. These cars are also awkwardly front heavy, that probably didn't help. But yeah, it looks salvagable overall, but a great reminder of following the right procedures.
Anyone watch Matt's Off Road Recovery? He had a similar incident with the Spud Truck build. And my grandfather who ran the service department of a Chevy dealership from the 50's through the 90's always warned us to check for major body damage/repair if a car was at a shop for a long time "waiting for parts". Cars falling/getting bumped off a lift was a common topic of conversation among his peers at other shops.

 

[gut_wrench_garage]

We have two of these type lifts at work, a Mohawk and a Rotary. They both lock as soon as you raise the lift up. Apologize to the OP for derailing the thread, but I am the guy at work that makes sure the new guys know how to use all our lifts. Safety first!

No apology needed. In fact, I plan on training myself to use it properly well before I actually put it to use. I have to know everything. I'm not putting my car, or anybody else's on a lift without such training. Safety first! I'll probably have safety straps on each arm full time. Or chains that I can quickly wrap around a frame. Belt and suspenders.

And my grandfather who ran the service department of a Chevy dealership from the 50's through the 90's always warned us to check for major body damage/repair if a car was at a shop for a long time "waiting for parts". Cars falling/getting bumped off a lift was a common topic of conversation among his peers at other shops.

I hope that such conversation will always be a preventative one at my shop!

 

[gut_wrench_garage]

I set mine up myself. Two plumb bobs and shim till it is parallel when bolted. Measure and repeat on the other side. I bought the trans jack as well from bend pak, ranger brand, I use that under there all the time. This is the fourth shop I have built, and that single piece of equipment is now irreplaceable. I’m taking it with me when I move. BTW it is the high lift 10000 lb model 13’ height

Thank you for that! I wish I could afford a Bendpak. I'll be going with a ~$2500 from wherever. That's another research project I haven't got to yet. I thought I had one picked out, but now I need to dive deeper.

 

[goldpack]

@bucket
not sure if you want to nip the grand national posts into a new thread.
something like post lift mishaps and safety.

and the last one I seen in a junk yard was actually a couple platform racks,...a 2 post and a 4 post.
the cars were flat on the ground, so if you wanted to buy something off the bottom, you needed to pay them to lift the car with the fork loader, for them to haul it over to the rack or them to cut / unbolt.

...nicer would be where everything is on old center posts made of old rims welded together....

@geocasher you need a fork loader,...with 22 foot forks, with a loader bucket and a backhoe,...think of the sh;t you could move, bury, and find.

 

[gut_wrench_garage]

@bucket
@geocasher you need a fork loader,...with 22 foot forks, with a loader bucket and a backhoe,...think of the sh;t you could move, bury, and find.

That's the last thing I need. I only have 2/3 Acre of room! I'd barely have enough space to turn it around

 

[edgephoto]

I have seen lift installed outdoors. Just cover the powerhead when not in use. When I owned my own car dealer I used Rotary lifts. I think they are one of the best but of course not cheap. If you call local lift dealers they usually have used ones for sale and they do decent prices on them.

My brother sold the dealership 18 months ago and moved to FL. He put a lift in his garage. It was about $2500 and he likes it. Said it is not a Rotary but for occasional use works great. I saw it when I was there and it looks good.

I am building a house and poured a 6" floor so I can put a lift in. I have a Rotary that work was getting rid of 16 or 18 years ago. It is sitting at my buddy's farm wrapped in a trap. I have not looked to see what shape it is in. If in good shape I will install it in my garage. The power head is stored inside. If not in good shape I will either buy a used one or something like my brother has. I only need it for my truck. I have two company cars so no need to do anything on my daily drivers.

 

[bucket]

@bucket
not sure if you want to nip the grand national posts into a new thread.
something like post lift mishaps and safety.

and the last one I seen in a junk yard was actually a couple platform racks,...a 2 post and a 4 post.
the cars were flat on the ground, so if you wanted to buy something off the bottom, you needed to pay them to lift the car with the fork loader, for them to haul it over to the rack or them to cut / unbolt.

...nicer would be where everything is on old center posts made of old rims welded together....

@geocasher you need a fork loader,...with 22 foot forks, with a loader bucket and a backhoe,...think of the sh;t you could move, bury, and find.

That's the other thing we had at the junkyard, an old Ford forklift with 14' or 16' forks on it. Damn that thing was handy, lol. Many cars were picked up by stabbing the forks through the front and back glass, then carrying it around by the roof.

 

[goldpack]

That's the last thing I need. I only have 2/3 Acre of room! I'd barely have enough space to turn it around

so you need more real estate and more vehicles that don't run (and may never run again)

 

[Steelbuddha]

so you need more real estate and more vehicles that don't run (and may never run again)

This is the way.