Scissor lifts

[dannybgoode]

I'm fortunate to have a pretty big garage at home and have been toying with the idea of getting a scissor lift as it would make numerous jobs so much easier. 

 

Does anyone else have one and if so any recommendations on what to get and what to avoid? 

 

 

[slybunda]

I don't have one but would love to have the space to put one in, would make the work on car car easier.

There was a YouTube vid where someone in the UK had a specific type of lift which had extra safety locks on it. Can't remember but will hunt it down. Don't cheap out on a low quality one

[_Chris_]

I did see a place mentioned for a lift on here recently and when I googled it looked like good kit, not cheap though.

 

Not worth risking life to save a few quid. I should think being squashed isn't a nice way to go either.

 

[_Chris_]

Just found the post.

 

 

[Sherv]

https://cjautosheywood.co.uk/product/heavy-duty-scissor-hydraulic-car-ramps-1360kg-cr06xhd/

 

I stretched to a pair of these, (2 pairs would be ideal in a big garage though ) as in my thread Chris linked.Very heavy duty kit.And not cheap.Quick despatch though.Wasn't going to chance anything from Amazon or eBay,being squashed isn't on the menu .

They go pretty damn high and have 4 lockable positions via a big thick bar that slots across set positions.You can still utilise axle stands for extra safety though if you want.Once locked you can disconnect the quick release hydraulic hoses at the footpump end and move it clear.

CJ Autos do a whole range of stuff,I have a standard sized garage so I needed something I could move out onto the drive if I really needed to get round the car comfortably.Main point is to protect my dodgy back,moving the ramps themselves on your own is a challenge as they're heavy so I've got a wheeled dolly with a foldable handle I can get them on to move about.

 

[dannybgoode]

Yeah wasn't going to cheap out. Looking at the £1500-2k mark and wouldn't be buying Temu etc 😁

 

@Sherv- they look good. 2 pair is a must as I want to get underneath to do some proper rust prevention work over winter.

 

Only issue with those is doing work where you need the wheels off I guess 

Edited 17 August 2025 by dannybgoode

[Sherv]

Thats one of the reasons I got mine.I'll see how i get on,Its not much of an issue to get the underside done with just a pair,they go real high and can do the car in two half stages 

[slybunda]

Drive on ramps not an option? I used those for my car work although could do with being a bit wider

[dannybgoode]

8 minutes ago, Sherv said:

Thats one of the reasons I got mine.I'll see how i get on,Its not much of an issue to get the underside done with just a pair,they go real high and can do the car in two half stages 

Guess I could start with a pair and see how I get on and get the second pair if needed.

 

1 minute ago, slybunda said:

Drive on ramps not an option? I used those for my car work although could do with being a bit wider

Don't go very high and my car is very low so getting it on them may be a challenge. 

 

Having done the underglow on a proper ramp gave me a taste of how useful it is to be able to access the whole underside at once also.

[Sherv]

 

They're wide and very well built.The crap at the front of the garage there is being remedied this week,its the width of the space thats limiting for me.

Regarding wheel off,you can just drive the car up ,raise it to the desired position and use stands and drop the ramps away.You can even do one side only and keep the other side locked onto the ramp if for example you need to work on a single caliper or suspension on just the one side. The hydraulic footpump has two separate release valves for each side if you wish,so on the one side you're working on,you can position a stand,drop that one ramp away and pop the wheel off leaving the other side on the locked ramp.

A scissor lift will probably gain you more height I'd guess.But these do go pretty high.

[Sherv]

Point of note: low cars go easily up the ramps ,just have to watch the front splitter carefully as the safety bar at the front is relatively high.Mine clears it by a whisker. (the bar is removable,theres a hoop one that drops in after to stop the car going back for any reason).I do have heavy duty solid rubber chocks I can use ,but the splitter clears the bar so all good.

 

 

Also with just a pair,watch the ground clearance at opposite end of the car when it starts to get high.Shouldnt be an issue but easily remedied with a couple of bits of wood to drive rear wheels on,or just a pair of those really low drive on plastic ramps,just to give yourself a few inches of breathing space if your car is REALLY low.

2 pairs of those will take your 1500 quid,the full prices with shipping and VAT bump it up.A pair is 700 quid to Kent..

But yeah they are really good,just need to decide if you go for an actual lift or these.

Edited 17 August 2025 by Sherv

[dannybgoode]

45 minutes ago, Sherv said:

Regarding wheel off,you can just drive the car up ,raise it to the desired position and use stands and drop the ramps away.

Yeah though about this and that would work. 

 

Thanks you all the info. They are very conveniently sized and the flexibility with pairs is useful

 

Will have a think as there are some decent full scissor lifts at that price however accessing the middle areas of the car can be hindered so they all have pros and cons.

 

I'd love a full post lift but my garage just isn't high enough!

[Sherv]

2 hours ago, dannybgoode said:

Yeah though about this and that would work. 

 

Thanks you all the info. They are very conveniently sized and the flexibility with pairs is useful

 

Will have a think as there are some decent full scissor lifts at that price however accessing the middle areas of the car can be hindered so they all have pros and cons.

 

I'd love a full post lift but my garage just isn't high enough!

Yeah I noticed the lack of access to the centre of the car with the scissor lift.Its horses for courses,and making the most out of flexibility with the costs really.

[_Chris_]

I have an old 3 post ramp which lifts on the central area of the car and is great for work on engine, suspention or fuel tank but useless for bodywork on sills or undersealing the middle.

I ws toying with getting  proper 2 post ramp but even those are not great for sill access and need good solid floor concrete which I don't have.

I'm seriously thinking of getting a set of these as they're perfect for sill work (one of the most common rust points on ll cars) and ccess to the floorpan.

 

I see no reason why they can't be used as trolley jacks under subframes or sills for wheel off work

[Bumblebee]

 

Ive had this a fair few years now.

Tbh its heavy to move around , sprung loaded wheels one end and a removable bar with wheels at the other. It takes the car as high as it could go in the garage due to the roof timbers. I use a set of pull lifts to up end it  so it rests flat against the wall when not in use. Its been a god send tbh.

It comes with an air operated hydraulic pump, you do need a decent sized compressor to run it , but who doesn't need a decent compressor in their workshop ? 😉 

[dannybgoode]

4 hours ago, _Chris_ said:

I see no reason why they can't be used as trolley jacks under subframes or sills for wheel off work

Yeah I was thinking about this. Get the rubber blocks just to protect the metal s but and I think they'd be fine.

[dannybgoode]

@Sherv - how are you getting on with your lift? I'm about ready to get one now so starting to take a serious look at options.