I’ve got a tip for everybody with a scissor lift. You can buy 5000 psi rated hydraulic quick disconnect fittings that have a 1/4” NPTF female thread. With the appropriate adapter fittings you can unbolt you pump hose from the lift and insert your new QD fittings and Shazam !! No more hose in the way. You can roll the pump cart over to a corner so it’s completely out of the way. While you are buying the fittings also buy the plugs to cap off the disconnected fittings. The main issue you will have is identifying the factory fitting on the end of the hose. My Atlas lift used a BSPP iirc. Unreal that a Chinese lift would use British pattern , imperial thread fittings. The simple way to ID this particular fitting is the 19 TPI. No other fitting pattern ( SAE, DIN, ETC) uses 19 TPI in the 1/4” nptf size. There are a lot of vids out there about IDing hydraulic fittings so educate your self.
I've got quick disconnect fittings on mine. The problem is system is under pressure and you can't disconnect it without cracking the line to let off the pressure
I bought a 2 year old MD6XP for $1500 back in '08. It is the single best tool investment I have ever made. I mostly work on old VW's. so the blocking of the center of the car doesn't matter much. But it is very handy for any type of vehicle. I have 9'4" ceilings, and can lift my full size Chevy to almost 4' with no problem. These things are so nice for tire and brake work, oil changes, etc. And, it can be rolled out to the driveway for pressure washing under old junk cars that I pull out of the woods for rebuilding. I generally don't do much work directly under the center ofmy cars where the lift itself is in the way. Some exhaust work, but I don't even bother trying to drop a transmission. I also built a rolling stool to sit on while working under there, and some kneeling pads so my knees are not directly on the hard concrete. If I had a taller ceiling, I would likely have a two post, but I have what I have, so I work with it. For low cars I do the same as in the video. No big deal. My stock height 95 Subaru Legacy hits the catalytic converter right at the center locking mechanism, but I only need a plank on one side to make the car clear. One more great thing about these is they make a great adjustable height work table. I built a plywood top with a frame around the bottom that fits over the lift perfectly. It serves and lawnmower/snowblower service station, engine teardown/build table, and outfeed for my table saw. Even built a few cabinets on it over the years. I highly recommend these for those with height/space limitations. The advantages for outweigh the drawbacks.
This is great insight. With the work table it also works as an adjustable loading platform for a truck too. To lift heavy stuff in, or drag stuff out of the truck onto the platform to lower down to the ground. Think engines, heavy furniture or refrigerators or just about anything else you can get on there.
@@DrivingForwardBuilds Yep. I have loaded/unloaded everything from lawnmowers to snow machines. Even a 400 pound wood stove! They are very useful, especially being somewhat portable.
Keeping this lift as a supplemental lift for specific jobs (i.e. tires, brakes, suspension, some interior work, etc.) is the perfect decision. I would consider recessing it into the concrete floor to eliminate the need for ramps and to make the space usable for regular parking. Having both lifts is the ideal set-up...lucky you!
The ramps can be any size to make the area usable for parking without butchering a perfectly good floor and could be multi-piece for convenient handling. I'd cut oval handhold slots or drill for pull rope (like aircraft chocks) for easy handling and to hang them for storage if desired. I own one but don't need ramps since I drive trucks. They make very nice lift tables so I use mine for a welding table by draping a welding blanket over the hydraulics to block spatter. Some very short two post lifts exist and given the choice I'd prefer that for working on vehicles but I scored my lift for $500 from a shop that never used it and needed the space for a conventional lift that doesn't block access to the bottom of the vehicle. If you have room for any variety of decent post lift I'd go with one instead. There's nothing wrong with the pantograph lifts for tire and suspension work, swapping tire types for track day etc but after using my bros Quickjack I consider those more versatile. For example they're sweet for drivetrain work because they don't interfere with engine or transmission R&I.
I've had the Atlas version of this lift since 2008 and have also done all types of car mods & maintenance. Audi clutch jobs, engine - out work, exhaust systems, brakes, summer - winter tires..... I agree with all pros & cons. At the end of the day, if you don't have ceiling height and you've had it with working on jack stands, these type of lifts will serve you well. Biggest vehicle I've had on mine is a 95 Chevy 2500HD.
Bendpak owner here for all the same reasons, my garage layout encouraged me to detach the power unit and attach it to the garage wall near the lift. Combined with quick connects it helps with clutter.
That was a fantastic video. I love the pros and cons and learned a lot! I really appreciate the effort and helping a fellow car enthusiast learn and be safe. Thank you!
I have the Harbour freight scissor lift and I love it, bought it second hand off of a lady whose husband passed away and got a great deal vs a new one. It wasn't hurt any, it was fully assembled, I brought it home and started using it immediately.
For more than a year now I’ve been ruminating about which lift to get for my garage. I’m lucky, I have a really big garage, but I only have 9 foot ceilings. Have been focused on the MaxJax but I’m pretty sure you’ve just convinced me to go with this (or another) scissor lift instead. Thanks for the great video, and you really hit all the meaningful pros and cons.
I think this style lift lends itself really well to using the 'Diy wooden wheel cribs' that go under the wheels, would make any trans/exhaust work with the car up on cribs and lift lowered off a breeze. As an ex body guy I really appreciate the access to the sides and sills (rockers). Thanks for the walkaround, you've helped me make my mind up 🙂👍
I have the same lift and did the exact same things: wooden ramps to increase clearance, marked the lock locations, and put down steel runners. I love this lift. Two tips: one, get a small mechanics stool with wheels. Perfect height. Second, if you need to do a big job with the centre of the vehicle, like install a transfer case on a big K5 Chevy Blazer, use the lift to lift the vehicle up, put jackstands under each corner of the vehicle, lower the scissor lift down all the way and put a piece of plywood, say 4 x 6 feet on top of the lowered scissor platform and work on top of that.
That’s kind of what’s I did. I have a similar HF lift and it’s perfect for most jobs except for the very first one I had to undertake which was to drop the transmission of a BMW M3. It sits kind of in the middle of the vehicle and the exhaust and prop shaft had to come out first. I built a wooden deck with 2x4 and 3/4” plywood and put it on top of the lift while the vehicle was on extra tall jack stands. Worked like a charm.
Can you clarify, for the slow folks among us (me)? You put the vehicle up on this lift, place jackstands on the floor, lower the vehicle onto the jackstands, and then use the adapters for trucks or whatever to raise the lift back up, to get the vehicle a bit higher in the air and a bit higher above the lift structure?
@David C-l I had a K5 Chevy Blazer that I was restoring. I had to take out the transfer case and the scissor lift has a centre section that would not give me the clearance required. So after some thought, I decided to raise the Chevy up with the scissor lift and then lower it down onto Jack stands on, the trucks axles. With the scissor lift now down, I put a piece of plywood onto the lowered scissor lift for me to lay on and put a floor jack on, and easily removed and re-installed the transfer case. So the downside of a scissor lifts centre section, can be managed when required.
So that would simply collapse under the weight of my Hummer or my farm tractor…but I took a butt-load of screenshots and drew up some basic designs and realized I can make a heavy duty version of it in my machine shop for about $1,200 over a long weekend. Thanks for the video and the idea! I had been saving for a two post but worrying that it wouldn’t be stable enough and would take a ton of space. I think putting it on cast iron castors to move it around the shop when necessary would be essential…trust me…sometimes you just have to stop what you’re doing and do something else around the farm to get a piece of equipment back in operation and you just need to move your project out of the way to do that project for an hour…
This was a great video presentation! Well spoken, easy to follow, and very informative. I’m finishing my 4 car garage interior design and I’m considering something like this.
I have previously had the pleasure of having a setup like your current shop with a seperate bay and 2 post arrangement. I have since moved to a home with a smaller garage and am forced to consider the space advantages of the scissor lift. I have tons of suspension work to do on a track car and I think your video alone changed my mind from a current 7K BendPak MaxJax to the MD-6XP. Thanks for the excellent video! You're a godsend. After taking measurements, my Ram and my Mustang would fit in my garage, even with it up in the air. It's a huge find and I will certainly sacrifice some of the engine/trans convenience. Huge thanks again!!!
Not going to lie, I clicked because of the e39 in the thumbnail. Great vid - very informative. Now I need to search for your e39 track build content…. :)
@@rcs3289 That's awesome. I'd like to pickup a clean one to build for street use. This one may be for sale at the end of this racing season. I think filming a complete build would be fun, but can't have both...
I went with EZ Car Lift. The cross member unbolts to provide full chassis access. Great for exhaust work, removing the driveshaft, pulling the transmission, etc....
I had one and had the same love/hate relationship with it. I ran the same wooden ramps and being in a small 2 car garage it did make it hard to store things underneath and still have room to open the garage in the winter. It was great and did not regret it. I've since moved and now have a 3 car with 12ft ceilings so a HD-7W is what I have my eye on and hoping prices will come back to earth soon. I do only light work - no more engine out type projects. having the ability to park underneath it will be awesome. Great video BTW!
Fantastic.....over here in the UK scaffold yard will sell you use scaffold planks that may have damaged ends......they can be very long and still useful.
I fabricated an A frame lift on the back of my garden tractor. Makes it pretty easy to move the lift but you do need a lot of room for maneuvering the combination. On the broomed finished driveway it’s impossible for me to move the lift with the hydraulic pump cart. This is also a good reason for installing hydraulic quick disconnects.
I love this lift. I actually have two TW200 motorcycles that I roll onto the lift, side by each, for storage or when I am working on them. The lift and the bikes tuck in the corner of my shop perfectly. When I working on a car and I need access to the center of the car, I picked up some 5k truck jack stands that I set the car onto so I can roll the lift away and have full access under the car. It's not high enough to sit under, but it's plenty tall enough to roll around underneath on a creeper and work straight armed. It's really a great investment for folks who work on their cars a lot.
@DrivingForwardBuilds My son has a G35 that he is setting up for track day use. We do so much undercarriage work on all his friends cars that we probably pull the lift out and leave it on stands 50% of the time. This lift isn't perfect, but damned good.
@@matthewpeterson3329 Love it. Share the tool and bring the kids into it! I have a 15-year-old who just got his permit and wants to get on the track too. Looking forward to more garage time.
Great video! I was thinking of getting a 2 or 4 poster. I have a thick reinforced slab just so it could handle a 2 poster and 12' ceiling, but hate the thought of tying up space in the shop. The portable aspect is really nice. I never knew there is such a thing. Thanks! Cheers from Canada.
It really depends on the type of work you enjoy or need to do. I currently have a two post as well and it’s fantastic, but can be in the way sometimes.
I have owned this same lift for 7 years now. I use it regularly for my track car, 86 CRX, and it is so much better than the years of jacks and jack stands. I have also used for brake and tire work my Tacoma quad cab and an Audi S4. It had no trouble lifting them and being stable. I would say I didn’t lift beyond second lock for that work with the heavier vehicles. Final that is Bendpak is dropping the ball on parts support. One of my cylinders spits out oil above the second lock and the gasket at the bottom of the tank is leaking. They do not sell seal kits for the cylinders, and have changed them a few times. Replacing them is over $400 each. They also do not sell the tank seal without buying the entire power unit. Buyer beware. I do still love mine and use it very regularly.
I have the exact same lift for the exact same reasons, 7.5' ceiling height as my garage is in my 'basement'. I am in a 2 car garage, so when I work on a car I put it in the middle and bring out my wooden ramps (same setup as you). Once done I installed a winch on the wall and store it up against the wall off the floor as it becomes a pain to use the garage for any other type of DIY with this thing in the middle of the floor. Your summary was spot on. Can you do a video on your car setup, I have a 2003 M5 Individual, started tracking it this year, subbing to follow your progress.
I wish you were my neighbour. Lol. That beard, I bloody love it. Oh, the lift, yeah I like it. So many great uses you mentioned. Pros and cons to everything. Great set up you have. Awesome!!!
I bought the Harbor Freight version of this lift. it you are using to lift 911's, reverse the position of the lift. This allows all assess to the motor and transmission.
Good job mate. I had one of these in Canberra Australia for my V8 Ford Fairlane. Only downside for me was when the car is on the lift with the weight at the front. The nose tends to point down slightly just a few inches it’s no big deal….. So now, when you drain the sump oil the drain bolt is on the back in my case Therefore with a slight angle downwards at the front after you’ve drained it out theres still a litre or more of old oil trapped in the front of the sump To get to that you have to lower the car to the floor and let it drain properly according to its own stance on the suspension So you just need to keep an eye on that geometry if you’re doing oil changes but otherwise they are really good
This video sold me. I was wonder if it have enough to lift my bmw and low behold moment at intro it was confirmed. Thank you sir I am definitely going to buy this.
One key thing to remember with these lifts, you need to go “up” to go down. With an SUV, It can be really close to not being able to do that (like roof rack pressing into the sheetrock).
@@DrivingForwardBuilds I drive a convertible, as does my wife. In the garage we have if the roof and door windows are down it does give me whole lot more space to lift. The one I bought has 5 stages of "locks".
instead of securing the ramps to the floor permanently, you can drill a whole in the concrete and put a matching hole in the ramps at the end and drop a pin/bolt through it to keep them in place when you pull up onto the ramps. When the car is off, pull out the pin and then you can store the ramps elsewhere if you so desire. Just an option. My garage has an unusual curb/carwalk thing that wraps the end and side so i just made my ramps longenough to but up against that so they done move while I'm pulling onto them and then i stash them off to the side when no in use. Granted I don't have a nice scissor lift, my car is too low even for a low profile floor jack lmao. Nice beamer and CST-V too, both are in my top 10 favorite cars. And I spy an EGA on the beamer. Semper Fi hermano, I was in '09-'13.
On a side note thank you for your service sir. I come from a military family but was denied for medical reasons and couldn't serve. That's an SCCA sticker on the car and from a distance looks similar.
I did the Pros & Cons of lifts while thinking which one to buy over a whole year, both of the two post and the scissors lift. The biggest Pro of a scissors lift, no holes to drill into concrete and the biggest Con is the underside of the vehicle is not clear for work to be done and that was a big one for me. So I bought a MaxJax which I have now owned for 10 years. Of course I did my own installation to a far level higher than what MaxJax recommended (I didn't trust the concrete floor thickness in private homes) and although not hard, it was time consuming and slightly more expensive.
The Max Jax was in my early round-up as well. But at the time I wasn't willing to drill/cut my concrete, leaving me with a 4 post (which wouldn't fit) or the scissor. Glad the MaxJax has worked out for you!
That’s a great idea. I use a shop stool but always seem to get stuck on stuff and wind up kneeling instead out of frustration. A nice reclining creeper/stool would probably solve that problem.
Thanks for the review, I'd love to have a lift one day! the main issue we have at our current house is the "split" 2 car garage with the doors separated by a column. There's just no way NOT to be tight against a wall. I've been looking at these "mobile" lifts to use in the driveway instead (once we solve the slope issue).
I hear you there… I just spent about $12k installed two massive LVL beams in my garage to delete 4 preexisting lally columns. I can’t believe anyone would build a garage with those damn things in there.
Totally agree. When working under the car I use a set of 30 ton house support stands. They have 1” pins to adjust the height and a screw top for fine adjustment.
I bought mine from a very busy shop who never used it because their two-post lifts were far more versatile and time is money. For 500 bucks used I'm happy but If I buy new it will be a two-post lift (which are not difficult for any decent mechanic to install because I've done it).
I've been using the one I bought from harbor freight for 6 years. This style of lift sure has helped with a lot of tasks, but I'm planning on upgrading to the low profile Max lift. There are just too many places I can't reach and the constant wear of the steel wheels on the floor have worn grooves in it.
Have a quickjack in my 775 sq feet garage. I Chose this type of lift because I didn't like the restrictions a fixed 2 post lift would create. The only thing that I miss. I would really have loved it to lift 10 more inches. Besides..when I don't just the lift I keep 4 cars in my garage.
@@DrivingForwardBuilds Back here in good old Sweden there were no truck adapters included. Ibhade to make do...so I use an office chair to get a better height when it comes to brake jobs.
Really enjoyed your video. Its a shame how channels like yours have to work so hard to get the views and the subs. This space is just so full that its an uphill battle. Ive been wanting a lift like this for at least 10 years, and think I am finally in a position where I can justify the expense. Appreciate the full breakdown to help someone like me buy one. Maybe Ill feature it on my channel one day....
Hello. Thanks for the video. Well done. You mentioned you were considering the MaxJax two post lift. Why didn’t you go that route? I am considering it but would need to upgrade my garage floor in order to ensure I have the proper concrete specifications.
At the time of purchase my floor would have needed to be upgraded and I was dealing with less than 8' of overhead clearance. The additional cost of the concrete work and lack of lift height space made the scissor lift much more compelling.
I enjoyed your video so I will post this here. I tried to buy the Bendpak but it was out of stock for months (Ontario Canada) so I settled for a brand called PEAK. All of these lifts seem to be the same. The build quality for the PEAK is excellent. the motor/stand/hydraulics etc are all excellent. my main issue with bendpak is that there are only 3 lock points. it seems all the rest have 6 or 7, including mine. It was assembled entirely aside from the hydraulic and lock pull cord, and 4 bolts to fasten the pump to the cart. So if you are faced with a price difference or delivery delay. don't be afraid of the PEAK brand. In canada, the price, delivered in my garage at home, with liftgate service was 3300 plus tax. shipping is included if you can get it off the truck. it was 100$ more for liftgate service. The BENDPAK would have been another 500$.
I forgot to mention, a company called BABCO is the Canadian distributor for BENDPAK, and they also sell PEAK. From Order to delivery in my garage was 3 business days.
I was looking at Quick Jacks as they would allow removal of a transmission in a rear wheel drive car. This lift blocks any work on the mid under section of the car.
I haven't read any comments about the ease of moving this lift yet. It is possible, but it ain't easy. But it can be. I made to rollers which fit into the ends of the frame in front of the rollers. Then I made a "tow" pin which fits into my trolley jack and the "tow-eye" of the lift This is so much easier than trying to use the pump dolly for lifting AND towing. The trolley jack carries the weight all you have to do is pull.
Good video. Having seen it, I’ll stick with my 7000# Quick Jack. My car is just as low as yours but I need no ramps. While I can’t get it up quite as high as you (insert she said joke) the space that scissor mechanism takes up is awful. Thanks for the review. I had considered one of these and am now happy I didn’t get it.
*That's super neat. How many different cars have you used on it so far? I remember harbor freight used to have something similar that they discontinued* DexterousX
That's a bummer. I did have a cylinder issue but it was my fault for not properly servicing them. I was however able to tear them down, clean them up and have been problem free since. Thanks for watching and hope whatever you're currently using is working great.
@DrivingForwardBuilds Hi mate we recently bought a very similar one to yours but ours didn't explain to wiring from the motor, the kit came with a section of wire brown,blue and yellow/green and the motor has 2 red wires coming out of it that aren't labelled, would you be able to see where your power cable goes into what port.
@@adrianmcintosh3523 Hey sorry for the late reply. I've been traveling and just got home to open my unit up and look. I'm running 110v and have a white, black and green wire coming in. The white and black go to the contactor on terminal 3/5. The door that you remove that the push button is installed in has a schematic on the back side. Is yours missing?
I bought the MaxJax about four years ago and it gives 48 inches of lift but, as you pointed out, it's not so great for anytime you need to get in or out of the car or work on anything inside the door. So obviously the ideal solution is to have one of each.
What is the height on the very first locking position for people with low garage ceilings? I feel like if I bought this that would be the determining factor. This looks way more robust than a quickjack, and like you said has a purpose even after I acquire a two post.
That's a good comment. Using the smallest lift pad the height is 24.5" in order to clear the 1st lock. You then lower down about 1" to fully engage the lock and release the tension from the rams. Position 2 is at 35" and 3 is at 44" respectively.
@@DrivingForwardBuilds Yea so the roof of my car to the garage door opener is 22" so it wouldn't work. I'd have to lift the opener in the bracket a little.
Nice lift. I have the same mid rise scissor lift. Had it for about 3 years. I agree with you about having a 2 poster which is better for underneath the vehicle but a scissor lift is better if you are working on the sides of the vehicle. Again, it's all a compromise. Like the E46 track day car too! I had a E36v track day car which I loved!
Everything you said absolutely makes sense. I have a full rise single column Canadian built PORT A HOIST I got for $600 delivered 90 minutes away that I use frequently and also picked up on the Zuckerberg Matrix marketplace a 24" rise SNAP ON scissor lift for $300 which I hope to use soon. So nice it is to get up off the floor like a damn dirty ape.
Dang, that was an excellent review and the best I have found. I am almost sold, but really want to avoid using ramps and wondering if you think a Ford Explorer ST would require them for this lift? Or what you feel like the min ground clearance necessary would be to use this lift? Thanks
Great video. Thanks for sharing. The garage space where you have the post lift: Is that custom or did it the house come like that? Meaning, was it in the original plans?
Cool video. I have a 2 car garage with a 96.5" ceiling. So that's 8ft 1/2 inches. One of these might be good for me, but i have 2 cars, 1 motorcycle and shelves on each wall. The shelves ate up enough space to turn my garage into a small 2 car garage which leaves no room to work. My other car doesn't currently run and my driveway declines, so pushing it out isn't an option. I'll see what i can do tho
That's tough. When I first bought this lift I was in a 540 sq ft 3 car garage. It really only fit 2 cars barely. It took some figuring but where there's a will....
Man i am subbing just because i like your personality. regarding the lift, my biggest fear is what if there is an earthquake. they come without warning and can upset the vehicle. i would want for u to make a L shape piece out of thick steel in a way so that it fits at scissor axis and wont let it close no matter what. then it would be mechanically impossible for the lift to come down unless u remove that block.
Being under that car and within that lift's structure looks to be reasonable safe. And with the addition of 4 tall load bearing stands around the perimeter, I would personally feel comfortable. With one exception, if your area is earthquake prone, how fast can you scramble out from under all this gravity subjective steel¿
I can’t scramble at a speed that would beat an earthquake. But I do use additional stands if I’m under the car that make it feel safer. Even without the stands you can shake the car pretty hard and it barely moves at all.
Hello! Thanks for the info in the video. I'd like to make something similiar, however i'd need some measurements! Scissor hands lenght, piston diameter and lenght. The more measurements you can take the better! Thanks for your help!!
@@DrivingForwardBuilds Are both the arms on each side the same lenght? I've got some measurements from a lift like this, and it seems the pushing arm is 10 inches longer
@@DSperformance96 hmmm, I may be misunderstanding you. The arms I thought you were referring to are the swing arms that the lift pads go on. Those are all the same.
@@DrivingForwardBuilds A nose heavy car like a v6 Honda Accord hybrid it will tip forward. The crank shaft sits forward of the front axle is a good way to determine if it will tip. Quick jack is for someone who needs to hide it out of sight with limited floor space. Don't forget the 9 ton jack stands as a backup.
Hey thanks man! I have been on the cliff to buy one of these for 3 years now. After seeing you car(s) in action and to scale, i am ordering one monday. Any advice from what dealer or BendPac direct?
It’s a great lift. I had ordered mine from Northern Tool, around this time of year. I was watching price and shipping. If you don’t have access to a forklift you’ll need lift gate delivery. Around Black Friday they had gone on sale with free lift gate delivery, that was my signal to buy. This was years ago now though.
I’ve got a tip for everybody with a scissor lift. You can buy 5000 psi rated hydraulic quick disconnect fittings that have a 1/4” NPTF female thread. With the appropriate adapter fittings you can unbolt you pump hose from the lift and insert your new QD fittings and Shazam !! No more hose in the way. You can roll the pump cart over to a corner so it’s completely out of the way. While you are buying the fittings also buy the plugs to cap off the disconnected fittings. The main issue you will have is identifying the factory fitting on the end of the hose. My Atlas lift used a BSPP iirc. Unreal that a Chinese lift would use British pattern , imperial thread fittings. The simple way to ID this particular fitting is the 19 TPI. No other fitting pattern ( SAE, DIN, ETC) uses 19 TPI in the 1/4” nptf size. There are a lot of vids out there about IDing hydraulic fittings so educate your self.
Great Tip! I've always wondered about this.
One more leak point tho. They don’t last I use them daily
This is pointless unless u doing wheels and suspension
Haha! What a genius.
I've got quick disconnect fittings on mine. The problem is system is under pressure and you can't disconnect it without cracking the line to let off the pressure
I bought a 2 year old MD6XP for $1500 back in '08. It is the single best tool investment I have ever made. I mostly work on old VW's. so the blocking of the center of the car doesn't matter much. But it is very handy for any type of vehicle.
I have 9'4" ceilings, and can lift my full size Chevy to almost 4' with no problem. These things are so nice for tire and brake work, oil changes, etc. And, it can be rolled out to the driveway for pressure washing under old junk cars that I pull out of the woods for rebuilding. I generally don't do much work directly under the center ofmy cars where the lift itself is in the way. Some exhaust work, but I don't even bother trying to drop a transmission. I also built a rolling stool to sit on while working under there, and some kneeling pads so my knees are not directly on the hard concrete.
If I had a taller ceiling, I would likely have a two post, but I have what I have, so I work with it. For low cars I do the same as in the video. No big deal. My stock height 95 Subaru Legacy hits the catalytic converter right at the center locking mechanism, but I only need a plank on one side to make the car clear.
One more great thing about these is they make a great adjustable height work table. I built a plywood top with a frame around the bottom that fits over the lift perfectly. It serves and lawnmower/snowblower service station, engine teardown/build table, and outfeed for my table saw. Even built a few cabinets on it over the years.
I highly recommend these for those with height/space limitations. The advantages for outweigh the drawbacks.
This is great insight. With the work table it also works as an adjustable loading platform for a truck too. To lift heavy stuff in, or drag stuff out of the truck onto the platform to lower down to the ground. Think engines, heavy furniture or refrigerators or just about anything else you can get on there.
@@DrivingForwardBuilds Yep. I have loaded/unloaded everything from lawnmowers to snow machines. Even a 400 pound wood stove! They are very useful, especially being somewhat portable.
This is the portable lift of all portable lifts without compromising your back I been looking for…great review thanx a million
Hope you love it!
Keeping this lift as a supplemental lift for specific jobs (i.e. tires, brakes, suspension, some interior work, etc.) is the perfect decision. I would consider recessing it into the concrete floor to eliminate the need for ramps and to make the space usable for regular parking. Having both lifts is the ideal set-up...lucky you!
I would drop it into the concrete but with post tension floors that turns into a disaster real fast.
The ramps can be any size to make the area usable for parking without butchering a perfectly good floor and could be multi-piece for convenient handling.
I'd cut oval handhold slots or drill for pull rope (like aircraft chocks) for easy handling and to hang them for storage if desired. I own one but don't need ramps since I drive trucks. They make very nice lift tables so I use mine for a welding table by draping a welding blanket over the hydraulics to block spatter.
Some very short two post lifts exist and given the choice I'd prefer that for working on vehicles but I scored my lift for $500 from a shop that never used it and needed the space for a conventional lift that doesn't block access to the bottom of the vehicle. If you have room for any variety of decent post lift I'd go with one instead.
There's nothing wrong with the pantograph lifts for tire and suspension work, swapping tire types for track day etc but after using my bros Quickjack I consider those more versatile. For example they're sweet for drivetrain work because they don't interfere with engine or transmission R&I.
I've had the Atlas version of this lift since 2008 and have also done all types of car mods & maintenance. Audi clutch jobs, engine - out work, exhaust systems, brakes, summer - winter tires..... I agree with all pros & cons. At the end of the day, if you don't have ceiling height and you've had it with working on jack stands, these type of lifts will serve you well. Biggest vehicle I've had on mine is a 95 Chevy 2500HD.
Thanks for sharing
I was surprised that you only have 61 subscribers, your video makes it look like your channel is a lot bigger!
You have 62 now :)
Wow, thank you!
I’m just seeing Final Destination in my mind the whole time I’m watching this & now I gotta rewatch it again to listen to what he’s saying now.
@@BigJim_909 lol. Thankfully I’ve survived all my lift antics. Thanks for watching! 🤣
Thanks!
Daaaangg. Thank you! 😊
I've watched so many reviews of these scissor lifts and this one by far was the best. Thank you again
Wow thanks!
Bendpak owner here for all the same reasons, my garage layout encouraged me to detach the power unit and attach it to the garage wall near the lift. Combined with quick connects it helps with clutter.
That is awesome!
That was a fantastic video. I love the pros and cons and learned a lot! I really appreciate the effort and helping a fellow car enthusiast learn and be safe. Thank you!
😀Thanks!
I have the Harbour freight scissor lift and I love it, bought it second hand off of a lady whose husband passed away and got a great deal vs a new one. It wasn't hurt any, it was fully assembled, I brought it home and started using it immediately.
That’s awesome.
For more than a year now I’ve been ruminating about which lift to get for my garage. I’m lucky, I have a really big garage, but I only have 9 foot ceilings. Have been focused on the MaxJax but I’m pretty sure you’ve just convinced me to go with this (or another) scissor lift instead. Thanks for the great video, and you really hit all the meaningful pros and cons.
Good luck with choosing. Either way in the end a lift changes everything.
I think this style lift lends itself really well to using the 'Diy wooden wheel cribs' that go under the wheels, would make any trans/exhaust work with the car up on cribs and lift lowered off a breeze. As an ex body guy I really appreciate the access to the sides and sills (rockers).
Thanks for the walkaround, you've helped me make my mind up 🙂👍
Right on. Thanks for the comment.
I have the same lift and did the exact same things: wooden ramps to increase clearance, marked the lock locations, and put down steel runners. I love this lift. Two tips: one, get a small mechanics stool with wheels. Perfect height. Second, if you need to do a big job with the centre of the vehicle, like install a transfer case on a big K5 Chevy Blazer, use the lift to lift the vehicle up, put jackstands under each corner of the vehicle, lower the scissor lift down all the way and put a piece of plywood, say 4 x 6 feet on top of the lowered scissor platform and work on top of that.
Fantastic reply. I tired to say something like this but you make it way clearer.
That’s kind of what’s I did. I have a similar HF lift and it’s perfect for most jobs except for the very first one I had to undertake which was to drop the transmission of a BMW M3. It sits kind of in the middle of the vehicle and the exhaust and prop shaft had to come out first. I built a wooden deck with 2x4 and 3/4” plywood and put it on top of the lift while the vehicle was on extra tall jack stands. Worked like a charm.
That's a great idea. Wheel cribs would work really well for that method.
Can you clarify, for the slow folks among us (me)? You put the vehicle up on this lift, place jackstands on the floor, lower the vehicle onto the jackstands, and then use the adapters for trucks or whatever to raise the lift back up, to get the vehicle a bit higher in the air and a bit higher above the lift structure?
@David C-l I had a K5 Chevy Blazer that I was restoring. I had to take out the transfer case and the scissor lift has a centre section that would not give me the clearance required. So after some thought, I decided to raise the Chevy up with the scissor lift and then lower it down onto Jack stands on, the trucks axles. With the scissor lift now down, I put a piece of plywood onto the lowered scissor lift for me to lay on and put a floor jack on, and easily removed and re-installed the transfer case. So the downside of a scissor lifts centre section, can be managed when required.
So that would simply collapse under the weight of my Hummer or my farm tractor…but I took a butt-load of screenshots and drew up some basic designs and realized I can make a heavy duty version of it in my machine shop for about $1,200 over a long weekend. Thanks for the video and the idea! I had been saving for a two post but worrying that it wouldn’t be stable enough and would take a ton of space. I think putting it on cast iron castors to move it around the shop when necessary would be essential…trust me…sometimes you just have to stop what you’re doing and do something else around the farm to get a piece of equipment back in operation and you just need to move your project out of the way to do that project for an hour…
Sounds like a fun project to build.
Make a video about it 🙂
A 2 post is way better than this no post, movable lift.
Think about it.
This was a great video presentation! Well spoken, easy to follow, and very informative. I’m finishing my 4 car garage interior design and I’m considering something like this.
Awesome. Thanks.
Ditto! Great explanation!
Thanks for this wonderful insight man. I love your way of presenting!
Thanks. I really appreciate that.
Ditto that. Great job. Must’ve excelled in class at presentations! Nooice
I have previously had the pleasure of having a setup like your current shop with a seperate bay and 2 post arrangement. I have since moved to a home with a smaller garage and am forced to consider the space advantages of the scissor lift. I have tons of suspension work to do on a track car and I think your video alone changed my mind from a current 7K BendPak MaxJax to the MD-6XP. Thanks for the excellent video! You're a godsend. After taking measurements, my Ram and my Mustang would fit in my garage, even with it up in the air. It's a huge find and I will certainly sacrifice some of the engine/trans convenience. Huge thanks again!!!
I’m glad I could help. Sounds like exciting times ahead.
Not going to lie, I clicked because of the e39 in the thumbnail. Great vid - very informative. Now I need to search for your e39 track build content…. :)
Hey thanks! A lot of folks don’t like the e39 but it’s been a fun and creative journey.
@@DrivingForwardBuilds I've owned two e39 M5s and I'm always looking to buy another. Great cars!
@@rcs3289 That's awesome. I'd like to pickup a clean one to build for street use. This one may be for sale at the end of this racing season. I think filming a complete build would be fun, but can't have both...
I went with EZ Car Lift. The cross member unbolts to provide full chassis access. Great for exhaust work, removing the driveshaft, pulling the transmission, etc....
That’s pretty cool. I hadn’t seen that lift.
I had one and had the same love/hate relationship with it. I ran the same wooden ramps and being in a small 2 car garage it did make it hard to store things underneath and still have room to open the garage in the winter. It was great and did not regret it. I've since moved and now have a 3 car with 12ft ceilings so a HD-7W is what I have my eye on and hoping prices will come back to earth soon. I do only light work - no more engine out type projects. having the ability to park underneath it will be awesome. Great video BTW!
Thanks for the comment!
I wouldn’t hold your breath on prices coming down
The ramps were a no go for me. I hammered out part of my floor, dug down and repoured so that’s it flush with the floor.
Some really useful info on the pros and cons i hadn't thought of thanks best review ive seen on this type of lift.
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome!! I like the way you explain "everything". Nicely done.
Very much appreciated.
Fantastic.....over here in the UK scaffold yard will sell you use scaffold planks that may have damaged ends......they can be very long and still useful.
That's cool, and sounds like it would save some $$.
really nice honest review of this scissor lift. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Great video I’ve had the scissor lift since 2017 my back is very happy
That's awesome.
Great video. Thanks for sharing. Really clear, very articulate, and very balanced.
Thank you. I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
One thing I really like is I'm not locked into using it in one bay of the garage. I have three bays and I can put it in any one of them!
While tough to move when you do it pays off in dividends.
I fabricated an A frame lift on the back of my garden tractor. Makes it pretty easy to move the lift but you do need a lot of room for maneuvering the combination. On the broomed finished driveway it’s impossible for me to move the lift with the hydraulic pump cart. This is also a good reason for installing hydraulic quick disconnects.
@@truthboomertruthbomber5125 that’s a slick idea. I don’t have access to a tractor anymore but that would have made it much easier to move.
Excellent video review. Obviously from a car enthusiast who knows the pros and cons. Thank you.
Much appreciated!
I love this lift. I actually have two TW200 motorcycles that I roll onto the lift, side by each, for storage or when I am working on them. The lift and the bikes tuck in the corner of my shop perfectly. When I working on a car and I need access to the center of the car, I picked up some 5k truck jack stands that I set the car onto so I can roll the lift away and have full access under the car. It's not high enough to sit under, but it's plenty tall enough to roll around underneath on a creeper and work straight armed. It's really a great investment for folks who work on their cars a lot.
Love the creativity with the jack stands!
@DrivingForwardBuilds My son has a G35 that he is setting up for track day use. We do so much undercarriage work on all his friends cars that we probably pull the lift out and leave it on stands 50% of the time. This lift isn't perfect, but damned good.
@@matthewpeterson3329 Love it. Share the tool and bring the kids into it! I have a 15-year-old who just got his permit and wants to get on the track too. Looking forward to more garage time.
Have mine for 5 years and now issues
Reliable and great quality
That’s great!
At first, I thought about the negatives too, but after your description I think this may be a great option for me!
Awesome. Glad to be able to help.
Great video! I was thinking of getting a 2 or 4 poster. I have a thick reinforced slab just so it could handle a 2 poster and 12' ceiling, but hate the thought of tying up space in the shop. The portable aspect is really nice. I never knew there is such a thing. Thanks! Cheers from Canada.
It really depends on the type of work you enjoy or need to do. I currently have a two post as well and it’s fantastic, but can be in the way sometimes.
This video single handedly got me to buy one of these. Now i need to go to Home Depot and build a set of these ramps cause i have a car thats too low
Wow, that's a heck of a compliment. Hope you love it!
I have owned this same lift for 7 years now. I use it regularly for my track car, 86 CRX, and it is so much better than the years of jacks and jack stands. I have also used for brake and tire work my Tacoma quad cab and an Audi S4. It had no trouble lifting them and being stable. I would say I didn’t lift beyond second lock for that work with the heavier vehicles. Final that is Bendpak is dropping the ball on parts support. One of my cylinders spits out oil above the second lock and the gasket at the bottom of the tank is leaking. They do not sell seal kits for the cylinders, and have changed them a few times. Replacing them is over $400 each. They also do not sell the tank seal without buying the entire power unit. Buyer beware. I do still love mine and use it very regularly.
Good feedback.
I have the exact same lift for the exact same reasons, 7.5' ceiling height as my garage is in my 'basement'. I am in a 2 car garage, so when I work on a car I put it in the middle and bring out my wooden ramps (same setup as you). Once done I installed a winch on the wall and store it up against the wall off the floor as it becomes a pain to use the garage for any other type of DIY with this thing in the middle of the floor. Your summary was spot on.
Can you do a video on your car setup, I have a 2003 M5 Individual, started tracking it this year, subbing to follow your progress.
I’m planning to do a walk through on the build soon. It’s still a work in progress. Wish I had filmed the early stages but oh well.
I wish you were my neighbour. Lol.
That beard, I bloody love it.
Oh, the lift, yeah I like it. So many great uses you mentioned.
Pros and cons to everything.
Great set up you have.
Awesome!!!
Thanks 👍
I bought the Harbor Freight version of this lift. it you are using to lift 911's, reverse the position of the lift. This allows all assess to the motor and transmission.
Smart! I haven't had the need but always wondered if loading the opposite direction worked well.
Exactly what I needed to see, Subscribed
Awesome!
Good job mate. I had one of these in Canberra Australia for my V8 Ford Fairlane.
Only downside for me was when the car is on the lift with the weight at the front.
The nose tends to point down slightly just a few inches it’s no big deal…..
So now, when you drain the sump oil the drain bolt is on the back in my case
Therefore with a slight angle downwards at the front
after you’ve drained it out theres still a litre or more of old oil trapped in the front of the sump
To get to that you have to lower the car to the floor and let it drain properly according to its own stance on the suspension
So you just need to keep an eye on that geometry if you’re doing oil changes but otherwise they are really good
That's an interesting observation. Smart to lower it so you could get the rest of the oil out.
This video sold me. I was wonder if it have enough to lift my bmw and low behold moment at intro it was confirmed. Thank you sir I am definitely going to buy this.
Awesome! Have fun with the new found experience. This lift was a game-changer for me.
Guess I responded from my other channel.... whoops.
Great review
Thanks!
One key thing to remember with these lifts, you need to go “up” to go down. With an SUV, It can be really close to not being able to do that (like roof rack pressing into the sheetrock).
That would for sure put you in a "bind". So glad I've come close but not yet been stuck. You need about 1-1/2" to clear the locks.
@@DrivingForwardBuilds I drive a convertible, as does my wife. In the garage we have if the roof and door windows are down it does give me whole lot more space to lift. The one I bought has 5 stages of "locks".
instead of securing the ramps to the floor permanently, you can drill a whole in the concrete and put a matching hole in the ramps at the end and drop a pin/bolt through it to keep them in place when you pull up onto the ramps. When the car is off, pull out the pin and then you can store the ramps elsewhere if you so desire. Just an option. My garage has an unusual curb/carwalk thing that wraps the end and side so i just made my ramps longenough to but up against that so they done move while I'm pulling onto them and then i stash them off to the side when no in use. Granted I don't have a nice scissor lift, my car is too low even for a low profile floor jack lmao. Nice beamer and CST-V too, both are in my top 10 favorite cars. And I spy an EGA on the beamer. Semper Fi hermano, I was in '09-'13.
Smart thought on keeping the ramps in place. Mine aren’t bolted down so I can adjust the width and I use the small end ramps with my trailer to.
On a side note thank you for your service sir. I come from a military family but was denied for medical reasons and couldn't serve. That's an SCCA sticker on the car and from a distance looks similar.
I did the Pros & Cons of lifts while thinking which one to buy over a whole year, both of the two post and the scissors lift. The biggest Pro of a scissors lift, no holes to drill into concrete and the biggest Con is the underside of the vehicle is not clear for work to be done and that was a big one for me. So I bought a MaxJax which I have now owned for 10 years. Of course I did my own installation to a far level higher than what MaxJax recommended (I didn't trust the concrete floor thickness in private homes) and although not hard, it was time consuming and slightly more expensive.
The Max Jax was in my early round-up as well. But at the time I wasn't willing to drill/cut my concrete, leaving me with a 4 post (which wouldn't fit) or the scissor. Glad the MaxJax has worked out for you!
They make a kind of sitting recliner creeper for those shorter lifts I’ve never used one but they look like they would work really well.
That’s a great idea. I use a shop stool but always seem to get stuck on stuff and wind up kneeling instead out of frustration. A nice reclining creeper/stool would probably solve that problem.
Thanks for the review, I'd love to have a lift one day! the main issue we have at our current house is the "split" 2 car garage with the doors separated by a column. There's just no way NOT to be tight against a wall. I've been looking at these "mobile" lifts to use in the driveway instead (once we solve the slope issue).
Those garage posts are tough to work around.
I hear you there… I just spent about $12k installed two massive LVL beams in my garage to delete 4 preexisting lally columns. I can’t believe anyone would build a garage with those damn things in there.
Great review, sweet car. Happy Holidays and Thank you
Happy holidays! Thanks!
Thank you for your work making this vid, pretty much just sold one for my E92 335i.
Nice!
Very informative,I'll be looking into getting one for me & my brother-in-law.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks! Have fun with it!!
Great info dissecting the ins and outs/Pros and Cons of this product. Just shared it.. Thank You. Happy Early New Year's day to you.
Thanks! Happy New Year :-)
Perfect guy to review a lift…one who owns a pile bmw and will need to work on it all the time 😂
@@caseyeldridge5557 well, can’t say you’re wrong. This lift has gotten its fair amount of use!
I worked in a shop for years, we would never get under a car supported only by the lift. We used tall jack stands instead
Totally agree. When working under the car I use a set of 30 ton house support stands. They have 1” pins to adjust the height and a screw top for fine adjustment.
I've been wondering about these. Thanks for the video you've answered a lot of my questions.
I’m glad it helped. I really struggled to find info on them way back when I bought mine.
That looks like a great man trap.
Accurate.
I bought mine from a very busy shop who never used it because their two-post lifts were far more versatile and time is money. For 500 bucks used I'm happy but If I buy new it will be a two-post lift (which are not difficult for any decent mechanic to install because I've done it).
Sounds like a great deal! Nice find.
I've been using the one I bought from harbor freight for 6 years. This style of lift sure has helped with a lot of tasks, but I'm planning on upgrading to the low profile Max lift. There are just too many places I can't reach and the constant wear of the steel wheels on the floor have worn grooves in it.
Yeah. The steel plates have saved my floors.
Have a quickjack in my 775 sq feet garage. I Chose this type of lift because I didn't like the restrictions a fixed 2 post lift would create.
The only thing that I miss. I would really have loved it to lift 10 more inches. Besides..when I don't just the lift I keep 4 cars in my garage.
Sounds like a cool garage. Have you tried stacking the truck adapters to get more height?
@@DrivingForwardBuilds Back here in good old Sweden there were no truck adapters included. Ibhade to make do...so I use an office chair to get a better height when it comes to brake jobs.
@@stefanburemo9661 dang. Good idea with the office chair to improve ergonomics.
Really enjoyed your video. Its a shame how channels like yours have to work so hard to get the views and the subs. This space is just so full that its an uphill battle.
Ive been wanting a lift like this for at least 10 years, and think I am finally in a position where I can justify the expense.
Appreciate the full breakdown to help someone like me buy one. Maybe Ill feature it on my channel one day....
Thanks for the comment and support. I’m certainly gonna keep trying and grow my knowledge to put out better content. Good luck with the lift purchase.
Hello. Thanks for the video. Well done. You mentioned you were considering the MaxJax two post lift. Why didn’t you go that route? I am considering it but would need to upgrade my garage floor in order to ensure I have the proper concrete specifications.
At the time of purchase my floor would have needed to be upgraded and I was dealing with less than 8' of overhead clearance. The additional cost of the concrete work and lack of lift height space made the scissor lift much more compelling.
Thanks for taking the time to respond. This has been very informative and has guided me to a decision. I am also addicted to collecting tools
@@solano79happy to respond. Hope you really enjoy your decision.
I enjoyed your video so I will post this here. I tried to buy the Bendpak but it was out of stock for months (Ontario Canada) so I settled for a brand called PEAK. All of these lifts seem to be the same. The build quality for the PEAK is excellent. the motor/stand/hydraulics etc are all excellent. my main issue with bendpak is that there are only 3 lock points. it seems all the rest have 6 or 7, including mine. It was assembled entirely aside from the hydraulic and lock pull cord, and 4 bolts to fasten the pump to the cart. So if you are faced with a price difference or delivery delay. don't be afraid of the PEAK brand. In canada, the price, delivered in my garage at home, with liftgate service was 3300 plus tax. shipping is included if you can get it off the truck. it was 100$ more for liftgate service. The BENDPAK would have been another 500$.
This is great information! Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm sure this will help someone out there looking for a lift.
I forgot to mention, a company called BABCO is the Canadian distributor for BENDPAK, and they also sell PEAK. From Order to delivery in my garage was 3 business days.
Glad you showed an a UTV on this lift... could be a good alternative to a table lift! What the lowest lock height ?
The first lock height is at 23”. The second is at right around 34”.
Thank you for your insight.
You're welcome!
Great video, great info. I like the video length, long video but doesn't feel drug out. Just said everything that needed to be said.
Thanks a lot. I really do appreciate that you took the time to watch and even more so to comment!
I was looking at Quick Jacks as they would allow removal of a transmission in a rear wheel drive car. This lift blocks any work on the mid under section of the car.
It makes it tough. I had to weigh how many transmissions I’d be pulling vs all the other work I would be doing.
Excellent informative review,,,,not a lot of wasted words. Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
I haven't read any comments about the ease of moving this lift yet. It is possible, but it ain't easy. But it can be. I made to rollers which fit into the ends of the frame in front of the rollers. Then I made a "tow" pin which fits into my trolley jack and the "tow-eye" of the lift This is so much easier than trying to use the pump dolly for lifting AND towing. The trolley jack carries the weight all you have to do is pull.
That’s a really good idea. The trolley Jack is a lot of work to move it.
Thanks for the video, this was very thorough. Would you happen to know how high the first locking point is?
The 1st lock is at 23", 2nd at 33.75", 3rd at 42.5", and the 4th at 47". The lift height can be varied based on the adapter stack used as well.
Good video. Having seen it, I’ll stick with my 7000# Quick Jack. My car is just as low as yours but I need no ramps. While I can’t get it up quite as high as you (insert she said joke) the space that scissor mechanism takes up is awful. Thanks for the review. I had considered one of these and am now happy I didn’t get it.
Glad I was able to help!
Hello @fail ranch - Can you engine swap with 7000#quickjack? I dont think you can get the car high enough.
I would make some wheel cribs and lower the car onto those to get into the middle if needed .
That's a great idea. I plan to make some for my 2 post lift for doing alignments. I'll have to give it a shot on the scissor as well.
Can't get under many parts of the car with this, which is why I went with a Quick Jack, even if that means working on my back on a creeper.
It is tougher, but I've made it work for many years and though dozens of projects.
@@DrivingForwardBuilds Cool.
Nice , Give us a quick run vid about your air compressor system specially the dryer and the filters. Thank you.
The Air compressor is pretty simple. It's just a 30 gallon Husky compressor. No drier at this time. Plumbed with a quick disconnect for my air hose.
*That's super neat. How many different cars have you used on it so far? I remember harbor freight used to have something similar that they discontinued* DexterousX
At this point I’ve had 10 of my cars on it. The smallest being a Focus ST and the largest an F-350(though I wouldn’t recommend that).
@DrivingForwardBuilds oh really, that thing does work.
I've had nothing but cylinder problems, very poor company support. Worked in the lift industry for 40, years. I would check with other companies
That's a bummer. I did have a cylinder issue but it was my fault for not properly servicing them. I was however able to tear them down, clean them up and have been problem free since. Thanks for watching and hope whatever you're currently using is working great.
@DrivingForwardBuilds Hi mate we recently bought a very similar one to yours but ours didn't explain to wiring from the motor, the kit came with a section of wire brown,blue and yellow/green and the motor has 2 red wires coming out of it that aren't labelled, would you be able to see where your power cable goes into what port.
@@adrianmcintosh3523 Hey sorry for the late reply. I've been traveling and just got home to open my unit up and look. I'm running 110v and have a white, black and green wire coming in. The white and black go to the contactor on terminal 3/5. The door that you remove that the push button is installed in has a schematic on the back side. Is yours missing?
I bought the MaxJax about four years ago and it gives 48 inches of lift but, as you pointed out, it's not so great for anytime you need to get in or out of the car or work on anything inside the door. So obviously the ideal solution is to have one of each.
Ideal, but pricey. I saved up for awhile to have both.
Super helpful. Been considering a lift at home and learned a ton about the considerations.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.
Looking at this lift for mostly my e46 what a nice surprise!
It should work out great. As mentioned in some other comments the lift points are right at the edge with BMW but still work well.
Great vid! Sick E39 too. Man you’ve done a ton to it.
Thanks a ton!
What is the height on the very first locking position for people with low garage ceilings? I feel like if I bought this that would be the determining factor. This looks way more robust than a quickjack, and like you said has a purpose even after I acquire a two post.
That's a good comment. Using the smallest lift pad the height is 24.5" in order to clear the 1st lock. You then lower down about 1" to fully engage the lock and release the tension from the rams. Position 2 is at 35" and 3 is at 44" respectively.
@@DrivingForwardBuilds Yea so the roof of my car to the garage door opener is 22" so it wouldn't work. I'd have to lift the opener in the bracket a little.
The no blood flowing in my knee and feet..yeah..I’m so tired of working with jack all bent on my knee..i need this
Boy I feel this comment. lol. 😆
Nice lift. I have the same mid rise scissor lift. Had it for about 3 years. I agree with you about having a 2 poster which is better for underneath the vehicle but a scissor lift is better if you are working on the sides of the vehicle. Again, it's all a compromise. Like the E46 track day car too! I had a E36v track day car which I loved!
Right on!
Congrats on the video taking off my dude. Keep making content and get monetized!
That's the plan! Keep learning and keep trying.
Everything you said absolutely makes sense. I have a full rise single column Canadian built PORT A HOIST I got for $600 delivered 90 minutes away that I use frequently and also picked up on the Zuckerberg Matrix marketplace a 24" rise SNAP ON scissor lift for $300 which I hope to use soon. So nice it is to get up off the floor like a damn dirty ape.
Those sound like cool finds.
Dang, that was an excellent review and the best I have found. I am almost sold, but really want to avoid using ramps and wondering if you think a Ford Explorer ST would require them for this lift? Or what you feel like the min ground clearance necessary would be to use this lift? Thanks
You should be totally fine. It has right around 4” of ground clearance. Only need ramps for really low cars/suvs.
@@DrivingForwardBuilds Excellent. Thanks
Great vid! I have mine ordered and hopefully it should be here within a couple weeks. I have an air cooled 911 so this will be perfect for me.
It's gonna be a lot of fun to have. Congrats!
Excellent video! I've been looking around for a way to lift my 2005 Ford GT.
Glad I could help!
Great video. Thanks for sharing. The garage space where you have the post lift: Is that custom or did it the house come like that? Meaning, was it in the original plans?
This is a spec house. It’s a pretty common layout in this area of Phoenix.
Cool video. I have a 2 car garage with a 96.5" ceiling. So that's 8ft 1/2 inches. One of these might be good for me, but i have 2 cars, 1 motorcycle and shelves on each wall. The shelves ate up enough space to turn my garage into a small 2 car garage which leaves no room to work. My other car doesn't currently run and my driveway declines, so pushing it out isn't an option. I'll see what i can do tho
That's tough. When I first bought this lift I was in a 540 sq ft 3 car garage. It really only fit 2 cars barely. It took some figuring but where there's a will....
@@DrivingForwardBuilds i hear ya, my garage is 18' x 20'
Man i am subbing just because i like your personality. regarding the lift, my biggest fear is what if there is an earthquake. they come without warning and can upset the vehicle. i would want for u to make a L shape piece out of thick steel in a way so that it fits at scissor axis and wont let it close no matter what. then it would be mechanically impossible for the lift to come down unless u remove that block.
Thanks for the sub. I use some heavy stands as a back up. I like that idea though.
i love how all of these lifts have doubled or more in price since 3 years ago.
They really have. Inflation is a killer right now.
It's in the way of all my favorite parts specially the transmission in rwd cars
For sure. That center area is tough to get to.
Being under that car and within that lift's structure looks to be reasonable safe.
And with the addition of 4 tall load bearing stands around the perimeter, I would personally feel comfortable.
With one exception, if your area is earthquake prone, how fast can you scramble out from under all this gravity subjective steel¿
I can’t scramble at a speed that would beat an earthquake. But I do use additional stands if I’m under the car that make it feel safer. Even without the stands you can shake the car pretty hard and it barely moves at all.
Great review... and love the E39 track car.
Thanks. It's a unique track car for sure! Draws a bit of attention in the paddock.
Hello! Thanks for the info in the video.
I'd like to make something similiar, however i'd need some measurements!
Scissor hands lenght, piston diameter and lenght.
The more measurements you can take the better!
Thanks for your help!!
The arms are 24”. Cylinders are 3” and 20.5” long.
@@DrivingForwardBuilds
Are both the arms on each side the same lenght? I've got some measurements from a lift like this, and it seems the pushing arm is 10 inches longer
@@DSperformance96 hmmm, I may be misunderstanding you. The arms I thought you were referring to are the swing arms that the lift pads go on. Those are all the same.
@@DrivingForwardBuilds the scissor arms on the side, yeah. Okay maybe the other guy got it wrong. Thanks anyways!
I should do a video on my quick jack now
For sure. I don't have any personal experience with those.
@@DrivingForwardBuilds A nose heavy car like a v6 Honda Accord hybrid it will tip forward. The crank shaft sits forward of the front axle is a good way to determine if it will tip. Quick jack is for someone who needs to hide it out of sight with limited floor space. Don't forget the 9 ton jack stands as a backup.
Nice video. Enjoyed the details and perspective. Subscribed.
Thanks for the sub!
Excellent video, beautiful E39
Thanks a lot!
Lot of good info ,good video thanks I'm getting ready build a small shop.for my mustangs in research mode
Thanks. Take a look at my 2 post video if it might help. Good luck with the research.
Hey thanks man! I have been on the cliff to buy one of these for 3 years now. After seeing you car(s) in action and to scale, i am ordering one monday. Any advice from what dealer or BendPac direct?
It’s a great lift. I had ordered mine from Northern Tool, around this time of year. I was watching price and shipping. If you don’t have access to a forklift you’ll need lift gate delivery. Around Black Friday they had gone on sale with free lift gate delivery, that was my signal to buy. This was years ago now though.