Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

hi all
looking for advice or experience on car lifts......
after many decades of crawling around under cars sometimes in mud and gravel, I think i am now getting too long in the tooth for such antics, soooooo.....have decided to treat myself to a car lift [fathers day present to myself]....
some thoughts....
single or two post give best access to underside...BUT my garage floor is only 2 -3 in thick concrete [I believe 6 in as a minimum for these] so would need some work/cost to achieve....
prices start at about ?1800 for a 4 post lift but are they rubbish?
any tales/warnings/recommendations very welcome....
thanks

fred

Fred

Have a look at lotus-talk-f50/storing-post-lift-t36924.html#p253601

I bought a Strongman Tools 4 post lift 2 - 3 years ago and I am very pleased with it. Like you I was worried about a thin concrete floor.

I would never lift my elans by the fiberglass, so for convenience and safety because of the narrow rear of the chassis, I use a 4 post lift (I have a central beam that can lift about 12 inches in addition, convenient for engines or chassis when working on the suspensions)

I have a 2 post MaxJax - could not be happier with it - pouring a couple of 6" post slabs tied to the existing slab is no biggy - it sure extended my time span.

Bill

I have one of these. seems really good so far (Model 1)
http://www.sjrgarageequipment.co.uk/par ... cle-lifts/

I've had a four post ram for around 10 yrs been very happy and no problems from the people as Graeme

I installed an Automech 2 post lift earlier this year and could not be happier.

It cost around ?1,250 delivered and I fitted it with my son over a weekend. Best thing I ever did and don't know why I waited so long.

Jon

Jon,

Could you kindly tell us which Automech 2 post lift you have?

Many thanks.

Peter

Hi Peter,

Please see attached. My Plus 2 is in the next garage but I've shown the timber that I made up to lift it - 100mm x 50m with a layer of camping mat foam glued to one side - one under each cill for full length of the cill and it lifts without any fuss or worry (the timber bends and you achieve a nicely spread load).

Obviously these lifts are chinese but, really, the quality is very good indeed and it's one of the best things I've done.

Relatively straight forward to fit but the legs are very heavy and really a 4 man lift each to place them. This is my garage extension so I put an 8" slab in from the outset in C35 concrete with a single layer of A142 mesh

You can have single of three phase for the same price.

Jon

I have an auto mech 4 post lift. Quite easy to assemble and use.
However , after just 12 months and a couple of weeks the ram has started leaking. Automech are happy to supply replacement seals but not pay for them to be fitted.

I guess being a couple of weeks over the warranty they are quite correct , but a little disappointing

Steve

This one was mentioned about a year ago, been toying with the idea since. Father's day sale made me think more seriously, plus being under a friend's Yaris to replace brakes on a very hot day.

I like the four-post tray lifts best, but they're both pricier, heavier, and more demanding of space.

http://ezcarlift.com/index.html

The original poster noted they specially treated the Elan.

denicholls2 wrote:This one was mentioned about a year ago, been toying with the idea since. Father's day sale made me think more seriously, plus being under a friend's Yaris to replace brakes on a very hot day.

I like the four-post tray lifts best, but they're both pricier, heavier, and more demanding of space.

http://ezcarlift.com/index.html

The original poster noted they specially treated the Elan.

I went for a Quick Jack (https://www.quickjack.com/) instead, ezlift looked good but got very expensive to get the different bits to make it work with the 3 different cars it needed to.

If the main aim is to avoid crawling around on your back I don't think these types of devices are interesting thou. You still need to crawl around on your back to get under the car but are much quicker and safer than jacks + axle stands.

Jon

Apologies for not responding sooner to thank you for your post answering my question. I have been so consumed fittling an electric fuel pump and all that it intails, has prevented me from doing so.

All that space and head height you have makes me be somewhat envious.

Thanks again.

Peter

a belated thank you to all who gave info on lifts....
I think I will be going for a 4 post with a beam jack.....
what fun!

fred

Hello all , been watching this post with interest .
Anyone using / own a single post lift?
If so are they happy with it or wish they had gone for a 2 or 4 post .
I'm considering a single post lift due to needing floor space ie I can remove the single post lift out of the garage quickly and easily whilst I do other things plus I can store one car on the lift and one underneath or thats my wish .
Thanks , Greg.