I bought one from a lady who's husband passed away. Everyone says Harbour Freight stuff is cheap and made in China, so is bend pack and some others, they probably come the same factory. I am very satisfied with my lift, I have used it a lot, its a good investment.
I watched a video of a guy that has the same lift as yours that is run on 120 volts. He has had no problem at all. He also put some heavy flat metal on his rear wheels on the lift. He used a 25 percent coupon and saved 400 bucks off. As you He has had no real problems and likes the lift. Thanks for the review. I would not be scared to buy one of these lifts. They will do what they are meant to do.
I’ve had one for 2 1/2 years. Total delivered after coupon was $1,399.06. Had a dozen vehicles on it up to a Suburban in weight. Works great. I put a heavy duty jack stand in middle underneath one of the pivot (scissor) points for extra safety.
Bought one about 6 years back and have used the hell out of it, my stepdaughters significant other can't even break it either. Sorry that boy given two steel balls and locked in a padded rubber cell in 30 minutes he will lose one and break the other, so you can say they are bullet-proof, he somehow got his Ram 1500 super cab, His Chevy Avalanche and didn't topple it over or break anything. Have used it to service and fab work, I even pulled the transmission and transfer case out of my 99 Jeep Wrangler with it, supprised the heck out of me, the rails worked fine with a small jack to hold things in place. Made a plywood deck to service snowmobiles, lawnowers etc..
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs Tried to use that approach, but he also uses the gas torches and welding equipment, lets just say that idea went up in smoke. They say you just can't fix stupid, well you can for $0.74, but you get the rest of your life free room and board at the cross bar hotel.
With a solid top attacked, it would make a fantastic welding table. Being able to raise and lower your work as you're fabricating something is a huge boon! And it makes getting larger parts off the table a whole lot easier.
I 've got an old scissor lift but got it out of a a friend dads shop lot you can find them from old tire shops or service stations mine was 100 bucks looked bad at first but with a little paint and grease worked fine I've left a 56 olds 4 door up on it for at lease 10 years to store stuff under it so anyway if you look around you my find one and save a little I've found 6or 7 more since I got mine so there out there
i have the same lift, but from Eagle lift company - - bought it Aug, 1 , 2002 - - 31 yrs ago - for $1500 - - - - many, many side jobs later, made that $$ back several times over - -
I did all the research when looking for a lift. Called a concrete company because I ran into the same issue of not knowing what i was working with and what he told me was that he hasn't came across any residential pad that doesn't meet PSI requirements. Softer concrete is for decorative purposes and never used on driveways or foundations. Any concrete that meets residential requirements will hold a 2 post....BUUUUT, residential slabs are usually 2 1/2 to 3 inches thick in the center. The edges are usually thicker. Minimum requirement for a lift is 4 inches. I ended up pouring a 3 inch slab and setting down a movable 4 post lift. Now i'm looking for something more mobile to use in the driveway. This review definitely peaked my interest in one of these lifts! Thank you!
It lifts my cat eye silverado crew cab up with No problem at all for tire rotation, oil changes, changed the o ring on the oil pickup tube with this. Works awesome. Only problem is the arms are not wide enough for certain cars that dont have closer lifting points. Ive lifted a 95 honda civic, 2006 crewcab chevy silverado 4x4, 2004 mercury monterey minivan, 2012 chevy equinox, 2006 chevy trail blazer, 99 isuzu trooper and use it as a bench with a sheet of plywood for other random stuff. 5 years strong with no problems at all. Best $1000 I ever spent.
I watched your earlier videos when researching my hoist. I decided to go for a similar mid rise scissor lift (in Australia). This has been such a handy addition to my workshop. I am planning to eventually cut the concrete floor and flush mount the lift and place a removable table top so the hoist will disappear when not in use (and just to make lower slung cars drive over easy). I would highly recommend these hoists, thank you for posting :)
@@bleedingear1952Hi I am in WA as well looking for a hoist. Was AAQ a good company to deal with? Also what is the max weight you have lifted, I have a Prado that I want to lift. Rob
I found a used Rotary inground lift..I restored..to new..oil tank is now above ground..no EPA issues.. per city .since it's tank is above ground..I've got a 10 ft ceiling..I can do most things on my hot rods ..as u can in your shop..
Nice follow up rewiew. This lift looks good for doing body work, brake jobs, wheel bearings. It looked a little scarry to me when you were underneath welding on a exhaust. The comment about the pump getting knocked over was good. Your pump was tucked in the corner so it would be unlikely get knocked over.
Oh man I love that lift! Bought mine about 4 years ago and it's been such a joy for an old man compared to laying on my back. With a low rolling shop seat you can back a vehicle up on it and you have full access to the engine. I use a tall jack stand under the front bumper for stabilization. Thanks for the review.
could be a good idea if you share a video of your lifter with all the great words you said....i want ot see it in ACTION!!! because i plan to buy one of this lifters
I agree, I'm sure they're all made in the same factory. I have the Danmar mid rise scissor lift and it's exactly the same as yours. I love mine also. My only regret is that I didn't get it sooner. I'm 52 and my knees aren't enjoying getting up and down anymore. Excellent review
Nice in depth review. When I worked at the dealership, they installed this type of scissor lift over 3 years ago. It was used every day as a full time service bay lift. No problems in over 3 years.
I have the Bend Pak 6000# lift from which this one was designed. Mine was made in '05, in the USA. I bought it used in 08 for $1200. It is the single best tool investment I have ever made. Mine is 110 volt. It only has three safety stops, more would be nicer. Mine is portable with the use of the pump/dolly combo. It's nice to roll out into the driveway for pressure washing under a car, etc. My shop has 9'4" ceilings, so a 2 or 4 post lift was out of the question. Most of my work up until fairly recently was vintage VW's, so there was never much need to access the middle of the car. Would be nice at times to be able to drop a trans in my toyota or chevy truck, but there are other ways to get that done. BTW, my 5000 pound Chevy has been on my hoist a few times with zero issues. Works perfectly. For everyday shop work, I built a plywood table that fits over the hoist. It is an instant work table, outfeed table for the saw, and a place to work on the lawn mowers, snowblowers, etc. No more kneeling on the ground to change the oil or a drive belt. Also works great for loading and unloading heavy things from my truck. Just back the truck up to the hoist, and lift the heavy thing to the same level and roll it in/out. For tires, brakes, suspension, oil/fluid changes and old VW repairs, there is nothing that will serve a guy better than a scissor lift.
Great review Eric. 👍. I went to harbor freight last week looking to order one. I was told maybe this spring. I realized the shipping/parts issue. I'll wait. Yours looks in great condition with the work you've done so far. I just maintain my vehicles. Thank you 👍👍
I have had mine for 3yrs and all I can say it was probably one of my best tool investments. I have had full size pickups on it, Chargers, Jeeps and Numerous Vintage cars. It does its job very well. Extremely well made. Every vehicle is different and you have to make your lift arm adjustments. I make the lift to remember a specific vehicle. I built ramps so I can drive over it when it's not being used. I have kept a record of the money in labor I have saved by doing it myself with this lift and it has paid for itself 3 times over.
Ps, I am a seasoned mechanic and use a lot of Harbor Freight tools. Every bit as good as the stuff you pay many times more than the name brand stuff. I realized I can fill my tool box with that same high quality tools using Harbor Freight stuff that are just as good as higher priced stuff I used to buy off the tool truck. Just my opinion.
your opinion is a good one, most people don't need a fancy name on a tool to get the job done. You can get 10 tools at HF for the cost of just one snap-on
I bought this type of lift about 20 years ago. It looks the same as yours. I use the lift for years and I was getting hydraulic oil leaking past the internal seal on the top of cylinder and it would lock the cylinder from going up the other one would keep going up and the cylinder would come out of its seat. I would open the bleeder and it it would be ok. It never had the lifting power for heavier cars. So after 15 years of this I pulled the cylinder and took it apart and was going to get a new seal kit. What I found out was they installed the seal upside down on that cylinder. Seals were in good shape so I just turned it over and it was like two different lifts. Also i drilled 2 small holes in the upper pipe plugs. One was to let the air out better and also will let you know if your seals start leaking because oil will come out. I have worked on a lot of cars with this lift and it has been great. Wish I would have found that problem to begin with. I also mounted my pump to the wall and put a longer hydraulic hose with a quick disconnect at the pump.
That's crazy! We had something like that happen here at our house a few years back when I went to replace a toilet. Pulled it up and found that 20 plus years back someone had installed the seat flange 90 out. They then covered it up by using huge wood lag screws to hold the toilet down instead of a seat bolt. It turned a 30 minute job into a 90 minute one!
I was wondering if the lift arms pivot inwards? I do repairs and restorations on British cars mostly Triumph and the frames on the Triumph Spitfires run down the center of the car so lifting would be a challenge. These cars are very light considering to most other cars. They weigh in at 1800 lbs full of fuel. I work out of a 1 - 1/2 bay garage with a limited height so I have been researching mid rise scissor lifts since post lifts are out of the question because of room and concrete thickness. Thanks for your time and you got a new subscriber!!
I think this would be perfect for it. The arms slide in abut 1/3 of the way and the pads also slide nearly all the way in. This lift is a back saver for sure!
The only thing that sucks about lifts like this is, it makes it nearly impossible to work on anything directly under the vehicle like exhaust, trans, floor, etc. Cool for outside of car work though, but pretty expensive for working on brakes or changing wheels/tires. Think I'll stick with my standard car jacks and jack stands. :)
Hi, what a fantastic Video. Finally someone who really explains the advantages and disadvantages of this Scissor Lift. May I ask how tall you are. I am 1.92 m tall and have a back length of 1 m. I ask this because I see you sitting under the Car and think, could I also sit there under the Car. Or should I get down on my knees. I don't want this because I have 2 bad knees. Greetings from the Netherlands Akko
This is a great video. Thanks for sharing. I just bought one very similar from TMG Industries and the issue I am having is the arms reaching the pinch welds on my newer vehicles. I am coming up just a few inches short. I can’t seem to find longer arms anywhere but Titan, and they are on a 60 day back order!! Any suggestions on where I might obtain these?
Not sure. I have seen a few cars come through here that were right at the end of the arms reach, but none that totally didn't fit. I too looked that the longer arms and some risers, but haven't pulled the trigger on a set yet.
I use my similar commercial lift as a welding table which works a treat when you have a bad back. It does block underbody access but mine was only 500 barely used so I don't mind. I bought mine from a shop that never used it and replaced it with a two post which I will add to my shop (but keep the scissor lift). I would NOT pay over a grand new for one. Two-post lifts are not that hard to install.
I looked at a 2 post first, but I did not have the height to install one and did not want to pour new concrete for it to be safe. I like the idea of using it for a welding table.
Great! But Snap-on hasn't made a lift like this since the 90's Craftsman tools were made in the USA back then too. Now? Bend-pac, atlas, and HF along with all the eBay knock offs are all made in the same plant in China.
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs ultimately the factory that put these out still makes them but now they have a higher price point sold by bend pack, quick lifts, snappy (titan and tuxedo now I think) etc. be nice to see a Daytona one on the shelves. But at the price these are now it’s probably a better bet to get a 2 post lift. You can find them in good shape used for $500-700 on marketplace. I don’t have the space for that though.
When I saw you had posted this Video, I was about to say ".. Erick, why do you keep teasing me with this, they are not available.." Then I read your the Video description with the link... So I apologize, for my initial snap judgment...
Great video Eric. I've had my lift for 2 years now and honestly cannot fault it. As you say many f these lifts were shipped from China, as mine was. I paid the same in £££ in 2020 and I'm happy with that.
what about the thickness of the cement where is install it ? I think my drive way have 4inch thick also I see could be more safe if you can install about 2feet of pipe out ... on the side of the lifter to get more more stability of the lifter, overall I like it good review.
That amount of concrete is going to be just fine. As for the extensions, skip them. I know this lift looks like it would be iffy to operate, but 4 years on, I am telling you it's as sturdy and safe as any other lift I've used.
Question: on the Volvo XC70 (At 2:18), were you servicing the rear differential? Because I think that I need to do the angle bevel gear on mine. I'm getting a low noise grumble at 40mph. For all I know, it could be the tires.
Question: sorry if you said 1. how high? 2. do they lock for safety reason if you under the lift.....3. could an engine be removed from the underside? thanks
1. 55 inches at full lift. 2, Yes there are 6 safety lock settings for various hights. 3, Yes. As shown in this video you can drop engines and transmissions from FWD and AWD cars.
A great modification for these style lifts is to add 5000 psi quick disconnects to the hydraulic hose from the pump. I bought adapter fittings that screw into the junction block on the lift and the existing fitting on the end of the hose. The QD fittings then thread on to these adapter fittings
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs I guess for a permanent installation the hose never causes any issues with being in the way or having things dropped on it or rolled over it.
I worked in a high end body shop and all they used was scissor lifts. After seeing all the different cars and trucks put on the lifts and all the tugging and on the vehicles to remove and install parts I can say that these are as safe as you can get having a vehicle in the air. If you are concerned about the strength of the design, look at a tractor trailer car carrier. The design and structure is the same. Though a car carrier looks to be dainty, it is capable of surviving millions of miles carrying maybe 15 to 20 tons of cars on our terrible potholed, bumpy off camber roads in all types of weather without failure. So a scissor lift stationary on a good concrete floor is living a rather stress free life in comparison. Trust the engineering cause it's big brother is a tractor trailer car carrier that brought you the car or truck you are currently driving. Enjoy.
Great review.... I always thought they were all 110volts. Never looked into them that much on that side. Love to get one at some point. Jack stands and ramps are not becoming as fun anymore....lol
I've had mine about 6 years. Best thing I've purchased in a long time. Only issue I've had was the pump filler neck came loose. Just cleaned it up and welded it so it wouldn't happen again.
I have been looking at getting a similar lift , titan 6600 . I have also been looking at the stratus open center scissor lift . NOw that you have had this Lift for a while would you stay with that style or buy the open center lift . When im not using the lift it will be under my car and that’s the down fall for stratus . Hate having to drive over it when i wanna get my car out .
For the price, this one has been a great addition to the shop. If money was no object, It would be nice to have the open center, but honestly I can count on one hand how many times this has been an issue. You should also look on eBay as I see there are some off branded lifts that are identical to this one and cost about the same including shipping.
What's the heaviest vehicle you've had on the lift? I have a Suburban with a curb weight of 5800 lbs. and I just feel like the sheer size and girth of the Suburban would dwarf this lift.
It comes back every year for a few months, but sells out nearly instantly. I think they just can't keep up with demand. Last time I spoke with them, they said they intended to keep selling them. They are also sold under a lot of other brands. Bend-pak, atlas, and some no name eBay units. All are made in the same factory with the same parts.
I like to wonder around harborfreight, everything went up price, and a lot of things are out of stock. These are going to $2k - thinking of financing it now - don’t want to fork of any cash right… thanks for the follow up videos.
Great video, I just purchased a Triumph Scissor 6000lb lift. Built the ramps to drive up on for lower cars. I have lifted my Honda Pilot which is about 4300lbs. Do you use any of the the under lift stands to support the front and back of the vehicle while on the lift?
Do you see any issues servicing differentials, transmission, oil, suspension, brakes, etc on a 2021 Sequoia 4WD, a 2019 Avalon Hybrid Limited, a 2011 Honda Odyssey, or a 2008 Toyota Solara?
28 days for concrete to get to full strength. Years of school and every dang test report I’ve ever read while building skyscrapers all were based on 28 day compressive strength
Hard to understand. You say you watched other reviews on it prior to the purchase and how people said they are dangerous etc. Then why did you buy it ? And how much credit should interested buyers give to this review over the other reviews?
The "reviews" that claimed these were unsafe are from people that are not mechanics, and don't work in shops. Guess what? Standing under a car is scary. Everyday something can go wrong resulting in a loss of life. Sadly I've lived long enough to see both 2 and 4 post name brand lifts fail and one of those resulted in some major injuries. After 32 years turning wrenches under a variety of lifts, I can say that this style of lift is as safe as any other I've worked on including normal 2 and 4 post lifts. If you are afraid to work under this, I totally 10000% get it and I support your fears. Having 3000lbs over you is not all that fun, and if there was some sort of catastrophic failure you would get hurt. Look at Fukashimi. They built what they thought was a failsafe site, but nature has a way of screwing with all our best laid plans. I can say after spending 1000's of hours working under this lift and placing a lot of different cars on it that it's as safe as every other lift out there. I really hope this helps!
I just bought one of these, looks very similar, but the hydraulic pump, the electrical wires were just 3 bare ones, no 3 prong end. Not sure how i can power the pump.
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs i actually just went to Lowes, and bought a power cable, with 3 prongs, and just joined the wires. The lift works, with a car on it.
Nice review. Could i ask you a favour if you still have that? Could you take a measurement of the scissor arms? Planning on building something similiar
I have a Lift just like that one from Harbor freight I put the car on backwards and I got a lot more room under the car I can even service the transmission of a pick up truck keep that in mind my lift works great yeah yeah I got it for real cheap motor was wired backwards no pressure then I converted to 12 V battery and a cart and I can use that lift on my flatbed car hauler when we go to the race track or in the driveway or at my neighbors house put it right on my truck and take it across the street
While I don't know where to get the seals, I do know that you can order a replacement ram from Harbor Freight. There is also a thread on rebuilding the rams out there somewhere as I stumbled across it some time ago.
Good morning, yes Harbor freight still sells the complete cylinder assemblies for $165.00 each. Decent price. Just make sure when you ask for them you get both a left and right side, they are different. Its not listed as available but they are.@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs
Great review, Eric or Erik. I watched this video twice to capture data that I may have missed during my first viewing. I also viewed your 1 year review which after watching each video, I think I could now give the data and specs myself about lift. Hope you faired well during hurricane Ian. I'm down in Richlands, NC and we got quite a bit of rain and wind gusts but no severe damage nor did we lose power. Thank God for His grace. Alright my friend, I just wanted to give a shout and say hey and thank you for the reviews of the lift. You're right, you can't find the lift in the HF stores or in their on-line inventory but I'm sure if I asked them, they'd tell me how to acquire the lift. I'm also a NEW SUBSCRIBER to show support,👍🏽🤠 10/01/22
These have been in use professionally for literally decades. The design is as safe as any other setup. I've spent 1000's of hours (No exaggeration) working under this unit. 6 years later, no failures, no cracks, no leaks and no issues. It just works.
My floor wasn't level so I added some metal for the rear wheels to ride on. I always planned on fixing the floor, but 5 years later, I figure it's still working fine so I'll stick with it.
At $2000 might as well get a proper lift. The strength of the slab has nothing to do with what kind of lift you get, just drill a hole and measure. If it’s not thick enough fix it. Under 4 grand puts you in a 4 post lift with the locks to keep it from falling on you. All about your risk tolerance.
It comes and goes from their website. You can also get it under one of at least a dozen other name brands by googling "Mid rise scissor lift" I think eBay has them shipped for less than 2K.
Missed the boat on this lift. I've been checking and have not come back at Harbor Freight.
Keep checking. they come and they go. You can also get them on eBay under other names. Search for "Mid-rise scissor lift".
I bought one from a lady who's husband passed away. Everyone says Harbour Freight stuff is cheap and made in China, so is bend pack and some others, they probably come the same factory. I am very satisfied with my lift, I have used it a lot, its a good investment.
I really think these are made by another company- I have been very happy with the one I have
These don't even seem to be available any more. I should've bought one when I had the chance.
just as long as it wasn’t the lift that killed the guy, you should be ok
I watched a video of a guy that has the same lift as yours that is run on 120 volts. He has had no problem at all. He also put some heavy flat metal on his rear wheels on the lift. He used a 25 percent coupon and saved 400 bucks off. As you He has had no real problems and likes the lift. Thanks for the review. I would not be scared to buy one of these lifts. They will do what they are meant to do.
Thank you for sharing- I wish that I had gotten this years before I did- my back might be better off if I did.
These reviews are very thorough, Erik. If I were a mechanic looking to purchase, I would have a great pro/con list. Stay safe and well.
I appreciate that! If I were a one man mechanic show I would get one. This is fantastic.
I’ve had one for 2 1/2 years. Total delivered after coupon was $1,399.06. Had a dozen vehicles on it up to a Suburban in weight. Works great. I put a heavy duty jack stand in middle underneath one of the pivot (scissor) points for extra safety.
Thanks for sharing, I have a new jack stand for the center if I need the extra support
Bought one about 6 years back and have used the hell out of it, my stepdaughters significant other can't even break it either. Sorry that boy given two steel balls and locked in a padded rubber cell in 30 minutes he will lose one and break the other, so you can say they are bullet-proof, he somehow got his Ram 1500 super cab, His Chevy Avalanche and didn't topple it over or break anything. Have used it to service and fab work, I even pulled the transmission and transfer case out of my 99 Jeep Wrangler with it, supprised the heck out of me, the rails worked fine with a small jack to hold things in place. Made a plywood deck to service snowmobiles, lawnowers etc..
had- I know the type to break stuff- I have thought about using the plywood for things like that to help save my back
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs Tried to use that approach, but he also uses the gas torches and welding equipment, lets just say that idea went up in smoke. They say you just can't fix stupid, well you can for $0.74, but you get the rest of your life free room and board at the cross bar hotel.
With a solid top attacked, it would make a fantastic welding table. Being able to raise and lower your work as you're fabricating something is a huge boon! And it makes getting larger parts off the table a whole lot easier.
Great idea, anything that keeps me from having to bend over the better
I 've got an old scissor lift but got it out of a a friend dads shop lot you can find them from old tire shops or service stations mine was 100 bucks looked bad at first but with a little paint and grease worked fine I've left a 56 olds 4 door up on it for at lease 10 years to store stuff under it so anyway if you look around you my find one and save a little I've found 6or 7 more since I got mine so there out there
i have the same lift, but from Eagle lift company - - bought it Aug, 1 , 2002 - - 31 yrs ago - for $1500 - - - - many, many side jobs later, made that $$ back several times over - -
They are really robust. It's now well into year 6 and this thing is holding up very well.
I did all the research when looking for a lift. Called a concrete company because I ran into the same issue of not knowing what i was working with and what he told me was that he hasn't came across any residential pad that doesn't meet PSI requirements. Softer concrete is for decorative purposes and never used on driveways or foundations. Any concrete that meets residential requirements will hold a 2 post....BUUUUT, residential slabs are usually 2 1/2 to 3 inches thick in the center. The edges are usually thicker. Minimum requirement for a lift is 4 inches. I ended up pouring a 3 inch slab and setting down a movable 4 post lift. Now i'm looking for something more mobile to use in the driveway. This review definitely peaked my interest in one of these lifts! Thank you!
Glad I could help. This pad was poured by the previous homeowners and is questionable at best. I didn't want to risk my life on that question!
It lifts my cat eye silverado crew cab up with No problem at all for tire rotation, oil changes, changed the o ring on the oil pickup tube with this. Works awesome. Only problem is the arms are not wide enough for certain cars that dont have closer lifting points. Ive lifted a 95 honda civic, 2006 crewcab chevy silverado 4x4, 2004 mercury monterey minivan, 2012 chevy equinox, 2006 chevy trail blazer, 99 isuzu trooper and use it as a bench with a sheet of plywood for other random stuff. 5 years strong with no problems at all. Best $1000 I ever spent.
Thanks for your update! I too slap a piece of plywood on it for a make shift work bench at times.
I watched your earlier videos when researching my hoist. I decided to go for a similar mid rise scissor lift (in Australia). This has been such a handy addition to my workshop. I am planning to eventually cut the concrete floor and flush mount the lift and place a removable table top so the hoist will disappear when not in use (and just to make lower slung cars drive over easy). I would highly recommend these hoists, thank you for posting :)
Great idea! I'd love to do something like that here as well!
Where did you get it from with deliv to aus
@@cpzmelbs I got it through a company in W.A called AAQ
@@bleedingear1952Hi I am in WA as well looking for a hoist. Was AAQ a good company to deal with?
Also what is the max weight you have lifted, I have a Prado that I want to lift. Rob
I found a used Rotary inground lift..I restored..to new..oil tank is now above ground..no EPA issues.. per city .since it's tank is above ground..I've got a 10 ft ceiling..I can do most things on my hot rods ..as u can in your shop..
Thanks for sharing-
Nice follow up rewiew. This lift looks good for doing body work, brake jobs, wheel bearings. It looked a little scarry to me when you were underneath welding on a exhaust. The comment about the pump getting knocked over was good. Your pump was tucked in the corner so it would be unlikely get knocked over.
Right now I have my 72 VW Westy on it with no issues. It is still going strong- I think this is its 6th year owning it.
Oh man I love that lift! Bought mine about 4 years ago and it's been such a joy for an old man compared to laying on my back. With a low rolling shop seat you can back a vehicle up on it and you have full access to the engine. I use a tall jack stand under the front bumper for stabilization. Thanks for the review.
Right on! I have learned to love working on my cars while sitting.
could be a good idea if you share a video of your lifter with all the great words you said....i want ot see it in ACTION!!! because i plan to buy one of this lifters
I agree, I'm sure they're all made in the same factory. I have the Danmar mid rise scissor lift and it's exactly the same as yours. I love mine also. My only regret is that I didn't get it sooner. I'm 52 and my knees aren't enjoying getting up and down anymore.
Excellent review
I hear you on the knees! Mine are shot as well.
My Snap On scissor lift was made in CANADA
had mine 7 yrs. now, no problems at all.
That is about as long as I have had mine- Never had any issues,
thanks for the video and your review. I almost bought it, but now its $2000 at harbor freight
Ah yes, Hyper inflation. Come back in a year and we can talk about the good old days when this was only 2K.
Nice in depth review.
When I worked at the dealership, they installed this type of scissor lift over 3 years ago.
It was used every day as a full time service bay lift. No problems in over 3 years.
Thanks for the info! Hope you are doing well
I have the Bend Pak 6000# lift from which this one was designed. Mine was made in '05, in the USA. I bought it used in 08 for $1200. It is the single best tool investment I have ever made.
Mine is 110 volt. It only has three safety stops, more would be nicer. Mine is portable with the use of the pump/dolly combo. It's nice to roll out into the driveway for pressure washing under a car, etc. My shop has 9'4" ceilings, so a 2 or 4 post lift was out of the question. Most of my work up until fairly recently was vintage VW's, so there was never much need to access the middle of the car. Would be nice at times to be able to drop a trans in my toyota or chevy truck, but there are other ways to get that done. BTW, my 5000 pound Chevy has been on my hoist a few times with zero issues. Works perfectly.
For everyday shop work, I built a plywood table that fits over the hoist. It is an instant work table, outfeed table for the saw, and a place to work on the lawn mowers, snowblowers, etc. No more kneeling on the ground to change the oil or a drive belt. Also works great for loading and unloading heavy things from my truck. Just back the truck up to the hoist, and lift the heavy thing to the same level and roll it in/out.
For tires, brakes, suspension, oil/fluid changes and old VW repairs, there is nothing that will serve a guy better than a scissor lift.
Agreed. This thing is so handy and such a back saver, I wished I had bought it earlier. Love it!
Great review Eric. 👍. I went to harbor freight last week looking to order one. I was told maybe this spring. I realized the shipping/parts issue. I'll wait. Yours looks in great condition with the work you've done so far. I just maintain my vehicles. Thank you 👍👍
I have had mine for 3yrs and all I can say it was probably one of my best tool investments. I have had full size pickups on it, Chargers, Jeeps and Numerous Vintage cars. It does its job very well. Extremely well made. Every vehicle is different and you have to make your lift arm adjustments. I make the lift to remember a specific vehicle. I built ramps so I can drive over it when it's not being used. I have kept a record of the money in labor I have saved by doing it myself with this lift and it has paid for itself 3 times over.
I agree with all that you have said, I kick myself for waiting to get mine. It is a game changer
Plus all the aches and pain you’re saving your knees and back !! That’s worth the money right there !
Maybe I would not have so many pains if I had bought this years ago.
Ps, I am a seasoned mechanic and use a lot of Harbor Freight tools. Every bit as good as the stuff you pay many times more than the name brand stuff. I realized I can fill my tool box with that same high quality tools using Harbor Freight stuff that are just as good as higher priced stuff I used to buy off the tool truck. Just my opinion.
your opinion is a good one, most people don't need a fancy name on a tool to get the job done. You can get 10 tools at HF for the cost of just one snap-on
I bought this type of lift about 20 years ago. It looks the same as yours. I use the lift for years and I was getting hydraulic oil leaking past the internal seal on the top of cylinder and it would lock the cylinder from going up the other one would keep going up and the cylinder would come out of its seat. I would open the bleeder and it it would be ok. It never had the lifting power for heavier cars. So after 15 years of this I pulled the cylinder and took it apart and was going to get a new seal kit. What I found out was they installed the seal upside down on that cylinder. Seals were in good shape so I just turned it over and it was like two different lifts. Also i drilled 2 small holes in the upper pipe plugs. One was to let the air out better and also will let you know if your seals start leaking because oil will come out. I have worked on a lot of cars with this lift and it has been great. Wish I would have found that problem to begin with. I also mounted my pump to the wall and put a longer hydraulic hose with a quick disconnect at the pump.
That's crazy! We had something like that happen here at our house a few years back when I went to replace a toilet. Pulled it up and found that 20 plus years back someone had installed the seat flange 90 out. They then covered it up by using huge wood lag screws to hold the toilet down instead of a seat bolt. It turned a 30 minute job into a 90 minute one!
When u are welding u should cover the exposed shafts !
Good point!
I was wondering if the lift arms pivot inwards? I do repairs and restorations on British cars mostly Triumph and the frames on the Triumph Spitfires run down the center of the car so lifting would be a challenge. These cars are very light considering to most other cars. They weigh in at 1800 lbs full of fuel. I work out of a 1 - 1/2 bay garage with a limited height so I have been researching mid rise scissor lifts since post lifts are out of the question because of room and concrete thickness. Thanks for your time and you got a new subscriber!!
I think this would be perfect for it. The arms slide in abut 1/3 of the way and the pads also slide nearly all the way in. This lift is a back saver for sure!
Ok thanks. Looking around for one.
That sounds good. I work on a lot of Volkswagen... the real old bugs in buses...
I am working on a 72 Westy - converting to a Subaru engine
The only thing that sucks about lifts like this is, it makes it nearly impossible to work on anything directly under the vehicle like exhaust, trans, floor, etc. Cool for outside of car work though, but pretty expensive for working on brakes or changing wheels/tires. Think I'll stick with my standard car jacks and jack stands. :)
Give it a few more years and you'll want this! My back and my knees no longer allow even a little floor jack work.
Hi, what a fantastic Video. Finally someone who really explains the advantages and disadvantages of this Scissor Lift. May I ask how tall you are. I am 1.92 m tall and have a back length of 1 m. I ask this because I see you sitting under the Car and think, could I also sit there under the Car. Or should I get down on my knees. I don't want this because I have 2 bad knees. Greetings from the Netherlands Akko
I am 6 foot 2 inches. No issues at all sitting under it.
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs Thank you for your quick response, that gives me confidence that I can also buy one. 👍
Thanks for the excellent report on your scissor lift!
Thank you very much.
Everyone loves to bash HF but it’s great for regular people. Also remember some of those bad reviews could be bogus.
I love HF, I am thankful that there is not one near me as I would go broke
This is a great video. Thanks for sharing. I just bought one very similar from TMG Industries and the issue I am having is the arms reaching the pinch welds on my newer vehicles. I am coming up just a few inches short. I can’t seem to find longer arms anywhere but Titan, and they are on a 60 day back order!! Any suggestions on where I might obtain these?
Not sure. I have seen a few cars come through here that were right at the end of the arms reach, but none that totally didn't fit. I too looked that the longer arms and some risers, but haven't pulled the trigger on a set yet.
I use my similar commercial lift as a welding table which works a treat when you have a bad back. It does block underbody access but mine was only 500 barely used so I don't mind.
I bought mine from a shop that never used it and replaced it with a two post which I will add to my shop (but keep the scissor lift). I would NOT pay over a grand new for one.
Two-post lifts are not that hard to install.
I looked at a 2 post first, but I did not have the height to install one and did not want to pour new concrete for it to be safe. I like the idea of using it for a welding table.
I can't find this lift in HF even with the provided link. I wonder if it pulled off of the shelves.
Keep the link and check back once a week. They only list it when they have units available to ship.
My Snap On scissor lift was made in CANADA
Great! But Snap-on hasn't made a lift like this since the 90's Craftsman tools were made in the USA back then too.
Now? Bend-pac, atlas, and HF along with all the eBay knock offs are all made in the same plant in China.
I wish they still sold this!
I keep looking for it to come back,I hope so too
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs ultimately the factory that put these out still makes them but now they have a higher price point sold by bend pack, quick lifts, snappy (titan and tuxedo now I think) etc. be nice to see a Daytona one on the shelves. But at the price these are now it’s probably a better bet to get a 2 post lift. You can find them in good shape used for $500-700 on marketplace. I don’t have the space for that though.
Pls I want to this teach me some techniques in building lift ❤
When I saw you had posted this Video, I was about to say ".. Erick, why do you keep teasing me with this, they are not available.."
Then I read your the Video description with the link... So I apologize, for my initial snap judgment...
They are back, and they are right where I thought they would be. 2K. Still not a bad deal in these days of hyper inflation.
Definitely want to see the hydraulic schematic on one of these. I wouldn't trust a lift without counter balance valves.
Haven't looked at any lifts. I'd hope they all have counter balance valves
I have no idea what they are like on the inside, but these lifts have been on the market since 2000. No one is dead yet!
Nice review. Thank you for sharing this.
You're welcome
Great video Eric. I've had my lift for 2 years now and honestly cannot fault it. As you say many f these lifts were shipped from China, as mine was. I paid the same in £££ in 2020 and I'm happy with that.
Totally agree!
what about the thickness of the cement where is install it ? I think my drive way have 4inch thick also I see could be more safe if you can install about 2feet of pipe out ... on the side of the lifter to get more more stability of the lifter, overall I like it good review.
That amount of concrete is going to be just fine. As for the extensions, skip them. I know this lift looks like it would be iffy to operate, but 4 years on, I am telling you it's as sturdy and safe as any other lift I've used.
Nice scissor lift at a reasonable price. Thanks for the review/video.
Thanks for watching!
Any Idea where can I but the sleeves that ate on the top , the one you slide for mounting points?
I am not sure, sorry
Question: on the Volvo XC70 (At 2:18), were you servicing the rear differential? Because I think that I need to do the angle bevel gear on mine. I'm getting a low noise grumble at 40mph. For all I know, it could be the tires.
I don't think that you could get to the angle bevel gear, but you could get to the rear diff. Hope that helps
Safety warning number 7 says do not work underneath unsupported?
By supported, they are talking about the lift lock. You never want to use the unit without lowering it onto one of the 7 lock positions.
It actually says NEVER work under without additional safety devices (ie jack stands).
Question: sorry if you said 1. how high? 2. do they lock for safety reason if you under the lift.....3. could an engine be removed from the underside? thanks
1. 55 inches at full lift. 2, Yes there are 6 safety lock settings for various hights. 3, Yes. As shown in this video you can drop engines and transmissions from FWD and AWD cars.
A great modification for these style lifts is to add 5000 psi quick disconnects to the hydraulic hose from the pump. I bought adapter fittings that screw into the junction block on the lift and the existing fitting on the end of the hose. The QD fittings then thread on to these adapter fittings
What is the advantage of that? Mine is a permanent install so What would that give me? Or is it just for people that move these units around a lot?
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs I guess for a permanent installation the hose never causes any issues with being in the way or having things dropped on it or rolled over it.
Great review!
Thanks! I tired to make it as comprehensive as possible.
I worked in a high end body shop and all they used was scissor lifts. After seeing all the different cars and trucks put on the lifts and all the tugging and on the vehicles to remove and install parts I can say that these are as safe as you can get having a vehicle in the air. If you are concerned about the strength of the design, look at a tractor trailer car carrier. The design and structure is the same. Though a car carrier looks to be dainty, it is capable of surviving millions of miles carrying maybe 15 to 20 tons of cars on our terrible potholed, bumpy off camber roads in all types of weather without failure. So a scissor lift stationary on a good concrete floor is living a rather stress free life in comparison. Trust the engineering cause it's big brother is a tractor trailer car carrier that brought you the car or truck you are currently driving. Enjoy.
Okay looking lift. What is the markings on the floor and, steel plates under the rollers? Thanks
My floor wasn't totally level.
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs understood. Thanks for the reply
Are these available presently? 2024
They come back from time to time on the HF website. I have not seen it in a few months
As of November29, 2023 there is no listing for it on HF
They are however available under a variety of names on eBay. Search for "Mid-rise scissor lift".
Great review.... I always thought they were all 110volts. Never looked into them that much on that side. Love to get one at some point. Jack stands and ramps are not becoming as fun anymore....lol
Glad I could help, I have found that I am slower to get up off the ground the older I get. This has been a life saver
$1400 was a great deal! Now they are $2000. Have to wait on the 20% coupon.
inflation is crazy- who knows they might be $3k this time next year
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs They'll still be sitting in their warehouse if that happens if I'm concerned.
Coupon no good for lifts
They barely do those coupons these days. I miss them
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairsdoesn’t look like they even sell them now. Your link is dead and I can’t find one on their site by searching.
I've had mine about 6 years. Best thing I've purchased in a long time. Only issue I've had was the pump filler neck came loose. Just cleaned it up and welded it so it wouldn't happen again.
Thanks for sharing, I am glad to hear that yours is going strong after 6 years.
I have been looking at getting a similar lift , titan 6600 . I have also been looking at the stratus open center scissor lift . NOw that you have had this Lift for a while would you stay with that style or buy the open center lift . When im not using the lift it will be under my car and that’s the down fall for stratus . Hate having to drive over it when i wanna get my car out .
For the price, this one has been a great addition to the shop. If money was no object, It would be nice to have the open center, but honestly I can count on one hand how many times this has been an issue. You should also look on eBay as I see there are some off branded lifts that are identical to this one and cost about the same including shipping.
Not even listed on the HF website anymore.
they were having supply chain issues not too long ago, I would just check back eery so often
What's the heaviest vehicle you've had on the lift? I have a Suburban with a curb weight of 5800 lbs. and I just feel like the sheer size and girth of the Suburban would dwarf this lift.
I would be wary of that- The curb weight is too close to the limits--- I have had full sized trucks on this and it lifted them just fine
Thank you brother!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are most welcome.
I think it's a good lift also and it's all how you use it
I wish that I had gotten this lift years ago, it would have saved my back some pain
I havent seen this lift for hf in years.
It comes back every year for a few months, but sells out nearly instantly. I think they just can't keep up with demand. Last time I spoke with them, they said they intended to keep selling them. They are also sold under a lot of other brands. Bend-pak, atlas, and some no name eBay units. All are made in the same factory with the same parts.
Checked Harbor Freight’s website and still no scissor lifts 8/25/23
They are also available on eBay. Search for "mid-rise Scissor lift" and you'll see them for about the same price with shipping.
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs ok thanks
Love the review,I'm going to look into getting one👍
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hope you enjoy it!
I like to wonder around harborfreight, everything went up price, and a lot of things are out of stock. These are going to $2k - thinking of financing it now - don’t want to fork of any cash right… thanks for the follow up videos.
Good point, the price of everything is crazy now.
Great video, I just purchased a Triumph Scissor 6000lb lift. Built the ramps to drive up on for lower cars. I have lifted my Honda Pilot which is about 4300lbs. Do you use any of the the under lift stands to support the front and back of the vehicle while on the lift?
I have one , but the only time I use it is if I am pulling an engine.
Neat rig never seen one of those before
They have been around for a while now, I just wish I bought it years ago
Looked for this lift at harbor freight.Doesnt look like it is available?
It comes and goes- They just added it back to the site but shows unavailable- Before it was not on there at all
Do you see any issues servicing differentials, transmission, oil, suspension, brakes, etc on a 2021 Sequoia 4WD, a 2019 Avalon Hybrid Limited, a 2011 Honda Odyssey, or a 2008 Toyota Solara?
None at all. You can work around the scissors to access drain a fill points.
Hey Eric, are you able to put a car on the lift backwards ? to give you more room away from those lift hydraulic cylinders..
Yes, in fact some folks install them that way in the shop.
Hello, I was at harbor freight website and could not find the scissor lift. How did you purchase yours?
It comes and goes from their website as it is available. They are having issues building them fast enough to compare with demand.
Great content. Thank you!
Glad You liked!
28 days for concrete to get to full strength. Years of school and every dang test report I’ve ever read while building skyscrapers all were based on 28 day compressive strength
That is good to know- Thanks for sharing that
Ever heard anybody using two of these each under front and rear wheels?
Has anyone made extensions for the pads to make then higher for trucks?
Yes. I have a set from Atlas. Bend-pac also makes them, All three lifts are the same.
Hard to understand. You say you watched other reviews on it prior to the purchase and how people said they are dangerous etc. Then why did you buy it ? And how much credit should interested buyers give to this review over the other reviews?
The "reviews" that claimed these were unsafe are from people that are not mechanics, and don't work in shops. Guess what? Standing under a car is scary. Everyday something can go wrong resulting in a loss of life. Sadly I've lived long enough to see both 2 and 4 post name brand lifts fail and one of those resulted in some major injuries.
After 32 years turning wrenches under a variety of lifts, I can say that this style of lift is as safe as any other I've worked on including normal 2 and 4 post lifts. If you are afraid to work under this, I totally 10000% get it and I support your fears.
Having 3000lbs over you is not all that fun, and if there was some sort of catastrophic failure you would get hurt. Look at Fukashimi. They built what they thought was a failsafe site, but nature has a way of screwing with all our best laid plans. I can say after spending 1000's of hours working under this lift and placing a lot of different cars on it that it's as safe as every other lift out there.
I really hope this helps!
Has anyone ever lifted a catfish camaro with the factory lip kit?
Not this guy! Sorry I can't help.
How would this work with the 1990s sw20 toyota mr2. Was thinking this would be great for my engine swap plans. Thanks
It should fit perfectly== good luck with your project
I just bought one of these, looks very similar, but the hydraulic pump, the electrical wires were just 3 bare ones, no 3 prong end. Not sure how i can power the pump.
That sounds like a direct wire (hard wire)unit not one for an outlet
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs i actually just went to Lowes, and bought a power cable, with 3 prongs, and just joined the wires. The lift works, with a car on it.
great review
Thank you
Does your lift wobble when it proceeds to the top most stop position?
It does a bit, that is normal. Even the 2 and 4 post lifts will do that
I continue to search Harbor Freight for these and still nothing. So aggravating
they were sold out for a long time, then they were online only. I would keep checking every so ofter
@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs I will check again. Thanks!
Great Review 👍😎🍻
My local HF has is at $1,999.99.
They were out for the longest time, ,I am glad to see that they are back in stock.
Nice review. Could i ask you a favour if you still have that?
Could you take a measurement of the scissor arms? Planning on building something similiar
I'll see what I can do!
Love it !
They sell knock offs on eBay now. You will love them as much.
I imagine dropping large fuel tanks is one of those things you might not be able to do with these?
Agreed- there is too much stuff in the way to do that
I have a Lift just like that one from Harbor freight I put the car on backwards and I got a lot more room under the car I can even service the transmission of a pick up truck keep that in mind my lift works great yeah yeah I got it for real cheap motor was wired backwards no pressure then I converted to 12 V battery and a cart and I can use that lift on my flatbed car hauler when we go to the race track or in the driveway or at my neighbors house put it right on my truck and take it across the street
Hey Bob, so you had no issues putting the car on backwards ? have you done it multiple times ? thinking of doing the same
Great review, appreciate it.
Thank you, I try to make some honest reviews that are helpful.
I just got a used one of these, one of the piston seals is blown and spits fluid out. Any idea where I can get a piston seal rebuild kit?
While I don't know where to get the seals, I do know that you can order a replacement ram from Harbor Freight. There is also a thread on rebuilding the rams out there somewhere as I stumbled across it some time ago.
Good morning, yes Harbor freight still sells the complete cylinder assemblies for $165.00 each. Decent price. Just make sure when you ask for them you get both a left and right side, they are different. Its not listed as available but they are.@@FarpointRestorationsAndRepairs
McMaster-Carr has all of the components individually
Does it have a safety lock?
It does have multiple locks.
Great review, Eric or Erik. I watched this video twice to capture data that I may have missed during my first viewing. I also viewed your 1 year review which after watching each video, I think I could now give the data and specs myself about lift. Hope you faired well during hurricane Ian. I'm down in Richlands, NC and we got quite a bit of rain and wind gusts but no severe damage nor did we lose power. Thank God for His grace. Alright my friend, I just wanted to give a shout and say hey and thank you for the reviews of the lift. You're right, you can't find the lift in the HF stores or in their on-line inventory but I'm sure if I asked them, they'd tell me how to acquire the lift. I'm also a NEW SUBSCRIBER to show support,👍🏽🤠 10/01/22
THANK YOU SIR!
Love your Elvira poster
Thanks!
The hydraulic to frame of these just turns me off. I can't imagine lifting 6k with the angle the hydraulics pushes on that frame.
These have been in use professionally for literally decades. The design is as safe as any other setup. I've spent 1000's of hours (No exaggeration) working under this unit. 6 years later, no failures, no cracks, no leaks and no issues. It just works.
What is under the rear rollers?
My floor wasn't level so I added some metal for the rear wheels to ride on. I always planned on fixing the floor, but 5 years later, I figure it's still working fine so I'll stick with it.
Another good presentation. Do you run across any old fords for sale? lol
Define old Ford?
Will they lift a corvette
I am not sure- they are pretty wide and fiberglass
At $2000 might as well get a proper lift. The strength of the slab has nothing to do with what kind of lift you get, just drill a hole and measure. If it’s not thick enough fix it. Under 4 grand puts you in a 4 post lift with the locks to keep it from falling on you. All about your risk tolerance.
I disagree. "Just Fix it" adds a lot of time and $$ to a job like this. These mid rise lifts are still well under 2K in 2024 and work flawlessly.
Is this available now?
It comes and goes from their website. You can also get it under one of at least a dozen other name brands by googling "Mid rise scissor lift" I think eBay has them shipped for less than 2K.