[BlackTalon]

Originally Posted by Dr K

How do you know I didn't just go to NJ, drill a small hole, and put a boroscope in there, Mr.-so-sure-of-himself?

Because this is related to a garage door, not a back door!

[JmuRiz]

Originally Posted by Vicegrip

I would contact the lift makers. I saw a picture of clunky looking device that looked like it dropped on the arms that acts as a drive on ramp. It is larger than what I made and works differently and might have been intended for snow cats. IIRC it was from Bend-pac.
...Two weeks at a time? go 2 post you will get quick at putting the arms in the right places. Drive on and off every day? 4 post. 6 months and don't do any DIY. 4 post.

Dr. K no issues at all with the tires. Hoos flat spot even on the ground but clear up in a couple of min of driving every time.

If it weren't for getting sued after some dumb ass parks a dump truck filled with scrap iron on one I would make and sell the 2 to 4 racks.

ZOMBIE THREAD:

OK, I know I'm digging up a VERY old posting, but I wanted to check with Kurt on if something like this would work for drive-on attachment to store my 356 (~85" wheelbase)?
It's for a lawn or ATV, but says it can lift up to 5000lbs...

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/At.../atlas-lma.htm

Does seem like a lot of money on-top of a 2-post BendPak like yours though.
Thing is, I plan on having a car parked up there most of the year, but I'd like the option of doing an engine drop...unless there's some kind of 4-post lift with room to do an engine drop on a 914 or 356.

Thanks for the advice lift guru.

[smdubovsky]

4 post has no prob w/ an engine/tranny drop (center is open). Its wheel/susp work that it not as good at.

I would think something like that would work well to park a light car on. The 356 & 914 are close to 2000# so tons of safety margin.

I just bought two extra 'short' arms for my lift. W/ the typ 1 long/1 short asymmetric combination I have difficulty getting the car position properly. The boxster is just too wide and short wheelbase. I couldn't get the 996 on it at all.

[JmuRiz]

Cool, if I got a 4-post I'd get a trolley jack for the middle so can raise the car off the lift for work.

What type of lift do you have? Do you use it for storage or just work?

[smdubovsky]

Atlas 9 from greg smith - for work (would be a pain to put a car on/off alot for storage but the two short arms might ease that.) Kurt, Bill Miller, myself, and a couple others have 2 post lifts check them out if interested.

[Trak Ratt]

you should PM them and ask the capacity at 90"

[Vicegrip]

Originally Posted by smdubovsky

4 post has no prob w/ an engine/tranny drop (center is open). Its wheel/susp work that it not as good at.

.

I dono but that is just the opposite of what you see in the auto industry. Pulling a 911 motor out can be a pain in the ass with a 4 post. the decks are where you need to be and unless the gap is wide enough interfere with the motor.

i like the Greg smith rig. simple and easy to setup.

[Trak Ratt]

did some reading looks like full extended reduce total lift by 3000lbs, so my 9K Rotory becomes a 6K lift with these.

Also interesting; "The ATLAS LMA adapts easily to most two post above ground lifts that are equipped with a symmetric arm design."

[JmuRiz]

Yeah, it looks like 6000 lbs is just under the weight of the 1900lb 356
I also see that the BendPak XPR-9F like Kurt has has arms that are 46"Front and 55"Rear, so maybe I could get my 914 on there too....hmmm. (FYI if I did a 2-post I'd get the BendPak as it is ALI certified).

Kurt/guys, do you think that ATLAS LMA looks beefy enough to support the cars? I'm not up on the strength of 1/4" steel plate and some bolts.

Looks like I have more to think about and research...perhaps some field trips to different lifts in the area before I make my choice....I could delay my choice till spring if only someone wanted to buy an old Mercedes, but I've had no luck thus far. Time to get all the rust-prone cars into the garage before winter.

[smdubovsky]

Originally Posted by Vicegrip

that is just the opposite of what you see in the auto industry.

I didn't mean it was better just possible. The 2 post has zero restrictions on access. Just a PITA to get a car on/off repetitively. The auto industry has maint only needs.

Checked the greg smith site. The clear dist between ramps is 32-35". When I went to DE to check them out they looked plenty wide but that does sound narrow on paper. How wide is a 4? or a 6? Im thinking the latter isn't going make it even w/ the tins removed. Theres still a lot of engine/tranny 'work' that can still be done on a 4 post even if it can't do a drop. Compromises.

Though, If you can buy (or build one like Kurt) a setup to convert a 2-post to easy drive on storage I think thats the best of both worlds. Less stuff in the way (both for access and getting in the way of the garage floor.) Only downside is lugging each 300# ramp on/off to convert it (weight is listed 600#/pr). Buy a pair of furniture dollys and lower them onto it so you never have to lift?