Max Jax Vs. Mid Rise Scissor Lift Vs. 4 Post

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sweet victory
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Max Jax Vs. Mid Rise Scissor Lift Vs. 4 Post

Post by sweet victory » Wed May 16, 2018 6:28 pm

So I told myself that I would be ordering myself a lift by the end of the month. I'm currently leaning towards a 2 post (the max jax) but wanted to get some other opinions. Some background knowledge - I have a 2 car garage in LA with no drywall ceiling. The distance from the ground to the ceiling joists is apx. 102". Per LA code, my joists must be positioned in the lower 1/3" height of my roof. Im current at the very bottom, so there is room to move them up if I need a little more height. (Don't think I will need to do that) I'll have enough room to lift the 996 and roll under it on a short tool. (Just don't want to be on my back)

Max Jax:
-Portable
-Adequate Lift
-Easy suspension/brake work; easy to drop motor trans
-Would have to remove one arm after every use

4 post:
-Future storage
-Not as much access to suspension/brakes
-Can park under it

Scissor Lift:
-Parking over it every day would be a bit of a PITA
-very limited working space under the vehicle


Any input is appreciated.

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Re: Max Jax Vs. Mid Rise Scissor Lift Vs. 4 Post

Post by Dr_Strangelove » Wed May 16, 2018 9:11 pm

I've been looking hard at one of these single-post jobs. Would this be too cumbersome for your garage? It would have a similar list to your Max Jax, being portable, 72" lift..

https://automotiveequipmentspecialists. ... 9vEALw_wcB

AL-MSC-6KLP-2T.jpg
AL-MSC-6KLP-2T.jpg (31.31 KiB) Viewed 3427 times

At first I was a little skeeved out by them, not understanding the physics, but the more I research the more people I find that have had them for 5+ years and swear by them and their safety.
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Re: Max Jax Vs. Mid Rise Scissor Lift Vs. 4 Post

Post by gnat » Wed May 16, 2018 9:59 pm

:o

I hope it really is a good lift for the owners sakes, but there is no way you could convince me to put an honest LeMons car up on that much less to be under a car on it.

I get how the physics are supposed to work, but it still looks like far too many ways to have a very bad day with that lift!

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Re: Max Jax Vs. Mid Rise Scissor Lift Vs. 4 Post

Post by Sneaky Pete » Thu May 17, 2018 5:36 am

I have a MaxJax and love it. I bought it for the portable-ness. Very seldom do I have the car at its max lifting height. I have dropped a motor, done countless oil changes, brake pad swaps and flushes and the list goes on and on. I do have a couple cracks in my concrete though from the anchors. The most important part is to make sure your slab is thick enough.
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Re: Max Jax Vs. Mid Rise Scissor Lift Vs. 4 Post

Post by TheDeckMan » Thu May 17, 2018 10:29 am

I have both a scissor and two post, both have advantages and disadvantages. The scissor I bought over five years ago and has been great. I did the suspension and most of the work on the 996 on there as well as a new motor in one of the Audi TT's. Some of the under work can be a little more work such as exhaust work if going the full length or if trying to pull the transmission and motor out of a 911. It can be done with a simple modification at the back of the lift to get some more space.

Image

Using a 1/8" steel plate under it protects the floors
Image


These work really well for doing any interior and suspension work, even when doing detail/wax work. As for storing a car on them, I did this for years with some ramps that I made out of some 3/4x10 pine sections so I can stack them up out of the way when working on the car.

The two post offers the most utility under the car but makes for doing any interior work a PITA, they are also a pain if you want to regularly store a car in the spot due to possibly banging the door off the posts. The Corrado currently has been living on the scissor lift, which is the easier of the two to get a car quickly up in the air for regular service stuff.

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Re: Max Jax Vs. Mid Rise Scissor Lift Vs. 4 Post

Post by sweet victory » Thu May 17, 2018 10:35 am

Right now I think I'm leaning towards the MaxJax the most. My primary goal is to make servicing the car easier; so when it comes to things like removing under body trays, a scissor lift is not going to leave much working room. I'm really fond of the idea of unbolting one of the pillars and getting my parking space back.


SneakyPete, do you mind sharing where you bought your lift? I know Costco previously sold Danmar products, but not sure anymore.

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Re: Max Jax Vs. Mid Rise Scissor Lift Vs. 4 Post

Post by FRUNKenstein » Fri May 18, 2018 5:52 am

Greg Smith Equipment is where I bought both of my 4-posters. They have an amazing selection of all types of lifts.
I love my 4-posters, but my primary concern is maxing out the storage space - I keep 5 cars in a standard 3-car garage. With the sliding jack tray, normally included, you can do quite a bit of service work. But if your primary reason for getting a lift is to do maintenance, then I think a 2-post is the way to go.
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Re: Max Jax Vs. Mid Rise Scissor Lift Vs. 4 Post

Post by Sneaky Pete » Fri May 18, 2018 6:29 am

sweet victory wrote: Thu May 17, 2018 10:35 am


SneakyPete, do you mind sharing where you bought your lift? I know Costco previously sold Danmar products, but not sure anymore.
Got mine from here https://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/2- ... n8QAvD_BwE

Free Shipping! I work at a place with a dock and overhead crane. I had it delivered there and loaded it into my pick up. I unloaded it piece by piece.
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Re: Max Jax Vs. Mid Rise Scissor Lift Vs. 4 Post

Post by sweet victory » Wed May 23, 2018 1:04 pm

Sneaky Pete wrote: Thu May 17, 2018 5:36 am I have a MaxJax and love it. I bought it for the portable-ness. Very seldom do I have the car at its max lifting height. I have dropped a motor, done countless oil changes, brake pad swaps and flushes and the list goes on and on. I do have a couple cracks in my concrete though from the anchors. The most important part is to make sure your slab is thick enough.
One more request. Do you have any pictures of your 911 on the lift? I would be extremely grateful for some reference pics! :D

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Re: Max Jax Vs. Mid Rise Scissor Lift Vs. 4 Post

Post by B3DAWG » Wed May 23, 2018 1:39 pm

sweet victory wrote: Wed May 23, 2018 1:04 pm
Sneaky Pete wrote: Thu May 17, 2018 5:36 am I have a MaxJax and love it. I bought it for the portable-ness. Very seldom do I have the car at its max lifting height. I have dropped a motor, done countless oil changes, brake pad swaps and flushes and the list goes on and on. I do have a couple cracks in my concrete though from the anchors. The most important part is to make sure your slab is thick enough.
One more request. Do you have any pictures of your 911 on the lift? I would be extremely grateful for some reference pics! :D
delta996.jpg

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