-
Overview
For anyone who is mechanically inclined and owns a house with a garage, a car lift can be a welcome addition. The ability to lift the vehicle affords opportunities to save a great deal of money in auto repairs and is a dream for hobbyist. A few things have to be considered first to see if a lift can be used in the garage. The total area, the height and the placement must be considered.
Significance:
Determine the type and frequency of the automotive work to be done and what types of vehicles are most often worked on. Determine how much room you have for storage and if the garage is large enough to accommodate a lift. If so, what kind?
Function:
Vehicle lifts come in many categories. They will provide access to specific parts of the vehicle, depending on the configuration. It will allow access to the suspension for replacing or repairing brakes, struts, shocks and front suspension. Some lifts will allow an open center section, making engine and transmission repairs possible, as well as drive-line repairs.
Types:
For a home garage, there are three types available. The most popular is the side-arm hydraulic lift. This type of lift is heavy but portable, with casters, and lifts the vehicle with separate swing arms on both sides of the car. It operates on 110 volts and has a separate hydraulic pump for operation. The lift collapsed height is only 4 inches and extends to a height of 29 inches. This means that it can be left in place and driven over when parking in the garage. It also affords the best working conditions, since the bottom of the car is open to remove the transmission or drive line.
The second type is the speed rack configuration. It is just marginally cheaper but is a platform type of lift. The car is lifted by the use of steel plates generally 1½ feet wide and 3 to 4 feet long. These are also hydraulic but use a scissors method of lift. This is a nice lift for working on the suspension or the bottom of the engine compartment. The only disadvantages are not being able to access the bottom of the car, as well as being very heavy and difficult to move.
The last type is the singular side support lift. Hydraulic in nature, it uses arms to lift the front, back or one side of the vehicle. To lift the entire vehicle, two of these would be needed, one on either side of the vehicle. These work very well and have the advantage of being very portable.
Features:
Some lift manufacturers offer different options for mobility of the lift and function on different vehicles. Adapters are needed in many cases, as some cars have their sub frames inaccessible except in certain spots. European cars, such as Mercedes Benz, only have a small lift point in the forward and aft parts of the frame. Trucks require lift adapters to raise the height of the lift to reach the frame. Also inquire into the type of safety lock systems they employ.
Size:
Most home garages do not have the ceiling height to accommodate a full size lift, so the ones mentioned are much more compatible. A standard garage lift for commercial use requires at least 10-foot ceilings. The lifts mentioned can be purchased from a host of tool or lift companies and only require 7-foot ceilings. They lift 29 inches, which is sufficient for most repairs, although it is necessary to use a creeper under the vehicle. The garage will need about 22 feet in depth and at least a 7-foot ceiling.
