Yea - that’s how I do it currently. This is really more of a “nice” to have more than anything.. certainly not a “requirement”.
The Harbor Freight looks dangerous... like the car can easily tip over because the footprint is so narrow.
Agreed.. on that one. However there are a number of nice options out there. However the real challenge of a scissor lift outside of the ability to service under the car is the weight. Its one unit, so its heavy. The quick Jacks are nice because they are two units. You can pick up each side by itself.
Agreed... to me the battery one is a no brained (because I’ve seen it work). That way to can take it where you want. You can also move them with one person. Granted not super lite... but if they where I think I would be concerned.
The only problem I have with the Quick Jack and similar products (besides the price) is that they really seem to be geared more toward portability and ease of use, which while great for at the track, loses something for a home shop. While you have complete under car access, it just doesn't get much higher than what you can get with Jack stands. Personally I prefer the scissors type Mid-Lift (like the HF one). Most of them give you multiple locking height positions, some will go up to 42" high, so you can actually move around under the car without bumping your head & elbows, and allow you to be under the hood without still having to bend over. Plus at that height you can still get most cars to full height in most garages, and many will give you full under car access for 40-50% of one end of the vehicle and 25% on the other end, so you just have to decide which end your wanting to work on. (Let's be honest, except for replacing an entire exhaust system, how often do you really need full under car access) Plus you can find them on sale for between $900-1200 if you're willing to be patient.
Looking at the picture of that Ford van up in the air, that thing looks really unstable. Yeah, I like to save money, but I'm not sure I'd want to be under a car on that thing. I'm not sold on the OP's Quick Jack, either. I've been in a LOT of racing paddocks, and see a lot of cars on jack stands when people are under the cars. What works for a tire change and what works for spending time under a car are two very different things. CD
Harbor Freight tools =. You only need to use them once, because the break. I will never get under an HF jack or lift.
Lol - so was working on the garage "fire" repair today and found an old HF jack.. hadn't been used in a LONG time. Had it as a spare. So I tried it out and lifted a cement block. Gaskets were gone etc. Granted that could be because it has sat for years. Either way, trash bin. It solved a 1 time problem back then.. but like you said, limited use.
I bought a st of HF large wrenches to pull off my control arms. $40 for the set and they did the job. I have no idea what else to use them for, but if anyone needs a 3” wrench or nearby, I’ve got some.
We should start a "tool needed" thread/forum. I have lots of pretty much 1 time use or very limited use stuff for many different cars. I imagine many of those would work for MINI.. I'll think on that.
Well - we are going to find out how they work. Actually I already know. Been using them at my 9mils house doing the LS swap into the Esprit. Here is the GP2 up on them right before MOTD.. he let me borrow them for some work I was doing.. They are pretty darn easy... that said, will capture the assembly process etc.. as I use them to put on the exhaust and other bits that are planned.
Come on down.. I probably have all the tools needed to fix whatever the issue is. Offer also open to anyone else... they are also portable so if need to do in your garage we can do that also.
Lol - but when it does they are nice and easy compared to jacking up 1 corner, then another and another and another..
True, I would like a set for detailing so I could lift the car and machine polish cars from a bucket and not have to sit on the floor.
Agreed - I think they even discuss that on the site.. or I saw it somewhere else. I’ll do a full review, then if folks are interested I’ll call them and see if we can get a group buy or something.