Mobile Scissor lift??

[J.F]

I have been looking at one of these lifts for serious DIY use.

My question does anyone own one of these or ever used one? Whats there thoughts on it? They cost approx £1000 brand new.




http://www.automotechservices.co.uk/products/as-7630-mobile-scissor-lift/

 

[Shox Dr]

Not used one, but that first few worries/obstacles I see are;

Balance- dont get it right and it could slide off.
Ground- must be level
Lack of access to the middle of the vehicle.
Underside of vehicle must be flat otherwise it will foul the ramp.

A good trolley jack and axle stands would be a fraction of the cost, safer, able to gain better/greater access, and you're not reliant on level ground. And a damn sight easier to store/move about

 

[J.F]

It would be dug in the ground like this.

As for balance that has to be considered on every car lift. I have used 2 post lifts in the past, and you have to be careful lifting a car. Lifting points only means it's stable when the vehicle has not had anything removed. As soon as you remove any component there is a risk of upsetting vehicle balance.

 

[ibrooks]

I've looked at this type a few times and Shox Dr pretty much sums it up. In the real world I think they would block access to most of what you need a car that high up in the air to work on. They also don't strike me as being very portable.

A mate used to work for Vauxhall and they received a warning not to work on VX220's on a two post ramp because it only took the removal of the radiator to make them unbalanced and a dealer had dropped one. Fortunately no-one hurt but a big bill.

 

[johnik]

I saw a similar one in use once,the car was flaping in the breeze everytime my mate touched it,probably ok for doing the brakes but for anything serious underneath, i would not conside it safe, with that in mind,a decent jack and stands would be a better and cheaper bet.

 

[knighty]

I've been looking for a big one for a long time... can't find one at a decent price

something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152524768813?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

but for £6600 it's cheaper to pay someone else to do the work


(I wan't it for the service/check of HGVs every 8 weeks - only 6.5ton iveco so would fit on a ramp like that no problem)

 

[normspanners]

I have a similar one to this but one piece and much older, the frame lozenges in action, like a mixture first and the second photo, so the car doesnt go straight up, but moves backward slightly, I have had 110 defenders on it and it is fine I just have removable boards on either side to help lift the car over it a little.

never had a problem I wouldnt be without it, excellent for service work / brakes /clutches fitting engines, cambelts etc a little restricted for the centre of the car but not many jobs need that on mostly modern frontwheel drive
many times better than jack and stands, and I use it all the time in preference to the jack coz it is MUCH higher for one, and much safer.
A better option if fitting it in the floor is one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-VAN-QUALITY-FULL-RISE-SURFACE-MOUNT-SCISSOR-LIFT-3T-SLIMLINE-1849-VAT-/112265510098?hash=item1a238bbcd2:g:G9IAAOSw7FRWbsBt
I have fitted a couple and they are actually surface mount ones they are fantastic and would be be my option if buying one, but fitted as I have done it, sinking them 100mm in the floor.
one is used for fitting gearboxes /clutches all day long, the one car that is limited for that work is the bmw mini. because of the subframe
but if fitting another I would fit them further apart than they stipulate to help with the mini situation and other under car jobs, when flat in the floor they are level with the floor no hole at all and cars can be driven over it just like the floor BUT it forms two benches if needed, will lift m/cycles also fantastic as a welding bench for large frames/ gates etc

 

[J.F]

Hi normspanners

I think you mean on of these http://www.automotechservices.co.uk/products/as-5500-2-5-tonne-scissor-lift/

Thanks for the reply like you say might not be a full height lift but still a lot better than a jack and axle stands.

Every lift has its uses and disadvantages, as for car wobbling or moving on a lift, well even on a 2 post lift you could pull a car off the lift just using a 2ft breaker bar in the wrong place!!

There are a lot of videos on Youtube of cars falling off 2 and even 4 post lifts although i can't find a single video of a car that has fell off the lift mentioned, although there are lots of review videos mainly from the USA. (not saying they haven't fell off this type of lift)

The quick jack is something i have been looking at for ages and now they are sold in the UK, its just the price they are to expensive for what they are on sale from the uk website for £1600!!!!!!!!!

https://www.quickjacklift.co.uk/

But they are portable, to be honest i have looked at making my own quick jack, the hydraulic power pack is about £200, and a flow divider valve to equalize the rams about another £180.

But the original lift i posted does look a heavy duty bit of kit for the price.

 

[normspanners]

I think you mean on of these http://www.automotechservices.co.uk/products/as-5500-2-5-tonne-scissor-lift/

Yep thats the one !! virtually spot on but mine is electro hyd ------I couldnt find an example, I use it most days and it is excellent and would not be without it, it lives outside 24 7 and just works.
cost me next to nout secondhand.