Anybody make a vehicle lift?

[zmoz]

I have a neck injury which makes it very painful to work underneath a vehicle for very long. I'd love to have a nice hydraulic lift, but I'm much too cheap to spend $2000+ on one and have to put in a concrete pad for it.

Anybody try building their own? I'm thinking more of a ramp that could be driven onto, rather than a hydraulic lift. Maybe made from cinder blocks filled with concrete, or really heavy wood beams. Obviously safety would be one of the main concerns here. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[RoyJackson]

Rather then build up, as you're describing, it would likely to be cheaper and safer to dig a trench to work under the vehicle. These are commonly called Pits.
Obviously, you'd want steps and a concrete pad to park on.
This would also be much smaller then a drive on ramp. I would want some kind a grating over the pit when not in use.

Take a stroll over to some of the fast lube places. You'll probably see a few have pits rather then lifts.

I don't do much work under vehicles (except changing oil) anymore, but I have an easier time lying on my back then I do standing with my hands overhead.

 

[GeneD14]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Anybody try building their own? I'm thinking more of a ramp that could be driven onto, rather than a hydraulic lift. Maybe made from cinder blocks filled with concrete, or really heavy wood beams. Obviously safety would be one of the main concerns here. )</font>

About a year ago one of our maintenance men was changing his oil at home on some ramps that he believed to be safe. They collapsed on him and crushed his chest. His kids were the only ones home and tried in vain to get the truck off him, and by the time the EMT's got there he was dead. I can't imagine the emotional scars they will carry for the reast of their lives. I would think twice before using ramps of any kind.
Pits in the floor are considered "confined spaces". The danger is: fumes like carbon monoxide which you can't see or smell can fill the pit and suffocate you. Gasoline fumes are some of the most dangerous because they are heavier than air and will fill the pit quickly. The quick oil change places have special high volume ventilation forced in at all times to insure the operator below has adequate air to breath at all times.

 

[HGM]

I'd have to agree with Roy. I spent the past 15yrs working on cars. Lifts are great. They are expensive though. If you plan on going up with a structure, it will likely be a little precarius, not to mention somewhat an eyesore. A pit would probably be the better choice. Keep in mind you will be limmited as to what you can do with a drive on or pit design though. The wheels wont be off the ground, so you would only be able to do fluid changes and verry little else. Even a transmission exchange would be difficult on most modles, so think about why you would need to be under the vehicle. You also mentioned you have neck problems, I notice that my neck hurts more when I spend alot of time looking up from under a lift than I do on my back. My shop at home, has 2 floor jacks and 4 jack stands. I use a creaper and have done everything from transmissios to oil changes. If you do go with a pit though, make sure you have a sump pump. It may double as a lap pool though. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Good luck.

 

[have_blue]

zmoz,

I too have a bad neck. I have found the most comfortable position is on my back with a nice cushion under my head, so I use a creeper.

I would never be able to stand looking up from down in a pit or under ramps. Of course, I guess every game neck is a little different.

Maybe a shallow pit or low ramps and a nice rolling stool would be a good compromise.

Good luck,,,

 

[Farwell]

When I was in the Army we had permanent ramps made from wood. The ramps were about 100 feet long so quite a few jeeps could be serviced at a time. The ramps were constructed similar to a small bridge that was open in the center, had wooden tracks for the tires to sit in so the vehicle wouldn't drive off the side. It was supported with 4x4 piers approximately four feet apart set in concrete. They were very safe and strong. You never had to worry about fresh air because they were out doors. Rain would be the bigger problem.

 

[RichNJKubota]

You can buy used 2 post hydraulic lifts for $500-$1000. If you have a gravel area you can put footings in with a few bags of sakrete.

Rich

 

[SnowRidge]

Are you are talking about built up ramps that you can drive the vehicle up on to, and then walk under it upright for servicing? If so, I would think something like that, properly engineered and constructed, would exceed your $2,000 figure.

 

[zmoz]

I thought about a pit, but I think it would be alot more work. The area I want to put this is gravel, so I'd have to put in a pretty big concrete pad for it. Then I'd have to rent a tractor, and find a place to get rid of all the dirt. And then I'd have to reinforce the walls...wouldn't those need to be concrete too?

As for being an eyesore, that isn't really a problem, it will be going into my own little junkyard. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I was thinking I'd make it only about 3-4 feet tall, so that I could sit comfortably underneath. Mainly it would just be for fluid changes, which I do alot of. I'm also restoring a chevy pickup and I'm sure it would come in handy. I was looking at some plans last night for hot tub decks - they have to hold up ~4000lbs of hot tub and ~800 pounds of people, and they don't even seem to use that much wood. I think I could probably find some used and treated lumber for the main supports. (railroad ties or something)

Another thing to think about, train trestles are almost always made of wood...how many tons does a train weigh? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Maybe I'll go look at one for some design ideas...

 

[Nasty135]

zmoz, Like Rich said ,You can find used electro-hydraulic lifts for good prices now and then and they can be installed outside where you will have plenty of light. You would just need 6" slab for it to sit on (whatever that cost of approximately 3 yds of reinforced concrete maybe $80 a yd) /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif