Advice on Personal Garage

[slaughtr]

Originally Posted by NMRJock

No problem getting any of the cars I've put on the lift over the jack (Jetta, Miata, e30, Mk1 Rabbit, A4). I've not had the Lotus on the lift yet, just under it. I'm a bit worried about clearance at the ramps. I think it should be fine (I have LSS), but I'm going to have a spotter the first time I try to put the car on there.

I can't believe how easily the lift went together. Three of us did it in a few hours.

Two things:

a) You put the cross-bars on the uprights (This is why it helps to have a few people, because it's handy if somebody can keep those from getting knocked over while you're doing this). What they don't tell you is that you have to put the lock ladder in at some point. We put it in first, then used a piece of rope to pull the safety pulley in each crossbar so that it could be lowered. It would be easier to put the crossbars in, then put in the lock ladder but you either have to tip the assembly over or have really tall ceilings. But don't put the cross bar in all the way at the bottom. You have to get under there to bolt things up and to route the cables. They're very unclear about this in the instructions. We assembled it with the bars at the bottom, then used a hoist and floor jack to raise the lift up enough to get under and hook stuff up. I wasn't super impressed with the instructions, but luckily there's not much to the thing...

b) They powdercoated the studs that you hook the heim joints onto that hold on the unlock rods (You'll see when you're putting it together). You'll need to clean those up or you'll never get the nuts on there.

Thanks a ton Paul, sometimes it's amazing how much easier it is to do these things with a little instruction from someone who's already done it. Luckily, I do have help on Sat.