Look what the UPS man dropped off (well, sort of the UPS man)......
03-26-2004, 05:21 AM
#1
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Look what the UPS man dropped off (well, sort of the UPS man)......
I wanted to post this information just in case anyone else is having a parking problem at their home or wishes to do work on their car.
I have a 2 car garage which simply does not work when you have 3 cars. Chicago winters are not the best when one of your cars is sitting in the driveway covered in snow.
So.....after much research....I pulled the trigger on this:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/36810/lift-delivery.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/36810/lift-delivery2.jpg">
and unwrapped:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/36810/lift-open.jpg">
It is a 4 post storage lift. I looked at lots of different companies and different lifts and ultimately decided to go with a company called ARESCO. I have to thank someone on this board (I forget who it was) who told me about this company - they were great!!!
Most of these lifts are made in the exact same way - the people at ARESCO were the nicest about answering all of my questions so i went with them. It is really a very simple operation. Four posts on the corners, two tracks to drive onto. Cables run to each corner and are connected by a pulley system to a hydrolic ram which goes in and out to raise/lower the lift. It works using a 1 hp motor (on 110V - there is also a 220V application but my garage did not have a 220V in it). The lift is very stable and has a 7000lb capacity. Obviously, a limiting factor in your ability to get one would be your garage height. Mine is ~10 1/2 ft (I can get exact numbers if anyone need them to figure out if it would work for you) - I needed to have my garage door converted to a "high lift" so when the garage door opens it "hugs" the ceiling. The company that did my garage door also off-set my opener so it sits off to the other side, opposite of the lift side. My garage is a standard 2 car and there is plenty of room for the other car next to the lift.
Anyway, install was a bit painful but not too bad. You'll need extra hands as the tracks are very, very heavy.
It takes about 2 minutes to raise the lift fully and about 1.5 minutes to lower it. The motor only runs to raise it and it is really quiet when it runs. It is as smooth as can be. There is 38" of clearance between the tracks which allows good access to the underside of the car. I ordered drip trays to protect the lower car, sliding jack trays for jack stands so you can work on brakes/suspension without having the wheels on the tracks, and the caster kit to allow the lift to be moved around. If you go the website you'll see a bunch of other options.
Anyway, I can give anyone more info if they want it. It has solved my parking problem and will make life a bit easier. No more brushing snow off the S4 in the morning.
Here it is installed:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/36810/cars-stacked.jpg">
A huge thanks goes out to WindyCityS4 for his help installing!!!!!!!
Oh, if you call ARESCO, talk to Tish and tell her Jason, the Chicago Audi guy sent you - I don't get anything out of it but it's nice to know where your business referrals are coming from.<ul><li><a href="http://aresco.org/new_page_1.htm">http://aresco.org/new_page_1.htm</a</li></ul>
I have a 2 car garage which simply does not work when you have 3 cars. Chicago winters are not the best when one of your cars is sitting in the driveway covered in snow.
So.....after much research....I pulled the trigger on this:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/36810/lift-delivery.jpg">
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/36810/lift-delivery2.jpg">
and unwrapped:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/36810/lift-open.jpg">
It is a 4 post storage lift. I looked at lots of different companies and different lifts and ultimately decided to go with a company called ARESCO. I have to thank someone on this board (I forget who it was) who told me about this company - they were great!!!
Most of these lifts are made in the exact same way - the people at ARESCO were the nicest about answering all of my questions so i went with them. It is really a very simple operation. Four posts on the corners, two tracks to drive onto. Cables run to each corner and are connected by a pulley system to a hydrolic ram which goes in and out to raise/lower the lift. It works using a 1 hp motor (on 110V - there is also a 220V application but my garage did not have a 220V in it). The lift is very stable and has a 7000lb capacity. Obviously, a limiting factor in your ability to get one would be your garage height. Mine is ~10 1/2 ft (I can get exact numbers if anyone need them to figure out if it would work for you) - I needed to have my garage door converted to a "high lift" so when the garage door opens it "hugs" the ceiling. The company that did my garage door also off-set my opener so it sits off to the other side, opposite of the lift side. My garage is a standard 2 car and there is plenty of room for the other car next to the lift.
Anyway, install was a bit painful but not too bad. You'll need extra hands as the tracks are very, very heavy.
It takes about 2 minutes to raise the lift fully and about 1.5 minutes to lower it. The motor only runs to raise it and it is really quiet when it runs. It is as smooth as can be. There is 38" of clearance between the tracks which allows good access to the underside of the car. I ordered drip trays to protect the lower car, sliding jack trays for jack stands so you can work on brakes/suspension without having the wheels on the tracks, and the caster kit to allow the lift to be moved around. If you go the website you'll see a bunch of other options.
Anyway, I can give anyone more info if they want it. It has solved my parking problem and will make life a bit easier. No more brushing snow off the S4 in the morning.
Here it is installed:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/36810/cars-stacked.jpg">
A huge thanks goes out to WindyCityS4 for his help installing!!!!!!!
Oh, if you call ARESCO, talk to Tish and tell her Jason, the Chicago Audi guy sent you - I don't get anything out of it but it's nice to know where your business referrals are coming from.<ul><li><a href="http://aresco.org/new_page_1.htm">http://aresco.org/new_page_1.htm</a</li></ul>
03-26-2004, 05:35 AM
#5
AudiWorld Super User
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nice! casters?
what exactly do the casters do?
and how does the jack tray work? (one reason why i'll go with a two post offset lift with standard lifting arms, when and IF i ever get one... :-)
anyway, you are pumped i'm sure.
and how does the jack tray work? (one reason why i'll go with a two post offset lift with standard lifting arms, when and IF i ever get one... :-)
anyway, you are pumped i'm sure.
03-26-2004, 05:43 AM
#6
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
The casters allow you to slide the lift around on wheels...
You raise the lift about 18", attach the caster thing to the cross member at each corner, then lower the lift. The lift itself presses the caster wheel down to the ground and the posts lift themselves - sort of a bad description but I can get you some pics if you want.
The jack trays sit between the tracks and allow you to place bottle jacks to lift the car, then an area for jack stands. That way, you can have your car on jack stands but raised to a nice working height. I'm pretty certain that getting the car onto jack stands while on the lift will be a bit more difficult than doing it on the ground, but in the end, I won't be kneeling on the floor to put brake pads on.
If you plan on only doing repair work, the 2 post would be easier, but you can't store a car with the suspension unloaded so I needed something with tracks.
The jack trays sit between the tracks and allow you to place bottle jacks to lift the car, then an area for jack stands. That way, you can have your car on jack stands but raised to a nice working height. I'm pretty certain that getting the car onto jack stands while on the lift will be a bit more difficult than doing it on the ground, but in the end, I won't be kneeling on the floor to put brake pads on.
If you plan on only doing repair work, the 2 post would be easier, but you can't store a car with the suspension unloaded so I needed something with tracks.
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03-26-2004, 05:53 AM
#8
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Well, I'm sure you know most of this but if you're not too far...
along, I'd make sure that bay #3 is extra wide. If the lift barely fits in there, you will NOT be able to get to the side of the car that is up against the wall. No fun if you put the car on jack stands, then need to take it off and back it back on to get to the other side.
Also, I assume you're putting in a very high ceiling for your set-up - Mine is standard height and the S4 with the Z4 barely fits - I'm not sure I could fit 2 S4s.
If you have not decided on a lift company, give ARESCO a call, they are very good.
Also, I assume you're putting in a very high ceiling for your set-up - Mine is standard height and the S4 with the Z4 barely fits - I'm not sure I could fit 2 S4s.
If you have not decided on a lift company, give ARESCO a call, they are very good.
03-26-2004, 06:17 AM
#10
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
No, there are holes in the base plates if you want to do that.....
The base plates are 12" x 12" steel plates with the posts attached - very stable set-up. I want the ability to move it around so did not bolt it down to the floor.
