As someone who takes his 911 apart all the time, everytime I see one of these I want it more. The 110V operability and the fact that you can unbolt it and stick it in a corner just about seals the deal for me.
Looks like a nice product. More than ever I wish my garage height was 9+ feet instead of the current 8. That $1999 price point sounds like a deal; current price at Home Depot in my area is $3,240! Thanks for the video.
From the sound of things in my limited research, MaxJax was purchased by BendPak and with that came a price premium. There's some creature comfort features that have been added in the current version, and it's now got the same certs as all the "real" big boy jacks, but at the cost of doubling in price :[
@MoparGuy1625 Which is unreal to me... at that price point I'd rather put it towards a real lift or a Triumph c7000. When I bought my maxjax 12 years ago I paid $1500.
I absolutely LOVED your video. I went back to my tools at age 66 because retirement got a little too quiet. Just seeing you at a desk chair underneath the vehicle made it look sooooo comfortable. This is in my bucket list now!
I've had my maxjax now for 8ish years. One thing that was SUPER awesome to do is drilling two more holes. I drilled one hole below the factory lowest point. This makes changing tires and doing brake work VERY easy. Then I drilled a set of holes between the two default maxjax holes. I find that I use this setting the most. I never lift the car all the way up the highest but me being 6'2" I found that the hole drilled between the two factory holes is best for me at working position. It really was a game changer in a way so now I have 4 lifting points instead of just two.
Good 5yr review, you helped clear up some reservations I had with this set up. I liked your demonstration with the office chair for moving around under the car. That was my biggest reservation was the height needed to at least get a semi-normal roller chair with back support versus one of those sit down to the ground creepers. If you are 6'1" and can squeeze under that car fine with an office chair, I know with my 5'10" height will have no problem. I also liked how you showed what your Tahoe looks like on there as I too have a Suburban I would eventually be putting on my lift. As an auto maintenance DIYer myself, I do everything short of engine pulling on my vehicles so I know this will come in extremely handy. Thanks again.
This was my exact reply, Jonas Grumby beat me to it! Also, when we wire (if optional) for 220V, the motor/load will perform at slightly lower heat levels/losses and this could "possibly" decrease the wear on a given motor/load. Lower "heat" = less heat loss = less cost to operate, but it is a microscopic savings on the actual electric bill to wire 220V.
Great review; I am am not mechanic but I have taken to do all the mechanic works possible in our 3 vehicles; first I restored a Toyota Corolla back to life from engine oil starvation by my wife; work on it was done outside the house on the driveway in a course of 3 and half years since I situated the car; my driveway is big so the car expended long time covered with a tarp and my wife wanted to just get rid of it, now she is glad I did not as the car still runs and with all the repairs and replacements I did to it it should go another 100K miles, provided she takes care of it, I own a Chrysler 2015 Town and Country and a 2000 Toyota Tacoma light truck, The Tacoma at 228K miles have been disabled for years about 7 years now, after 5 I restarted it and had a bad fuel pump; a street mechanic who is very handy worked on it and at the end I expended close to 1K to get the truck running again, only for me to blow its head gasket as I drove it without changing the fluids AND the mechanic conveniently stayed in silence when I told him I will take it for a spin to come back and change the oil; then when I blew it he offered to repair it, if I paid almost 1K for the fuel pump, $437 of those was the part alone, you can imagine how much I would have to pay him to get the truck running again, so i have no choice but to do it myself if I am to ride it again and since had decided I will rebuild the whole engine because its high mileage, then there is the Chrysler; my daughter drove it into water deep enough to hydro-lock the engine in a bad storm last summer; the insurance wanted to total the car because the dealer charge 12K to replace the engine!! the car has MOPAR life time warranty but it does not cover water damage so my solution is to save and buy a remanufactured engine from Fraser and do the swap myself; the labor from dealer for engine swap is 5K so something new for me to learn and get it done, here is where this Max Jax comes in, unfortunately since this video and now prices are very high, I know everything is including cars which is why we are fixing ours and not buying new ones! The Chrysler have some bolts that are a real pain to get to unless one is in a good position underneath. My idea of installing it would be outside the house in the driveway; my garage is only 8 Ft and is full as storage; there is no space and creating it involves either moving stuff to a rental storage or building a Shed either way it is more $$ and time I do not have so since the Max Jax is portable I do not mind setting it up for work on the cars outside and breaking down at end of the day or days whatever it takes; being portable is the biggest deal; there are other lifts out there for 2k but they are meant to be permanent installed and wont work for me so I am trying and seriously considering the Max Jax, but it really hurts the price they have it now @ almost 4K!! - There are couple companies they claim to have it on sale for 2.2K but I dont know if this is a scammer or what; the least I have seen it recently is $3.6K, they sell that cool dolly and it is a whooping $600 just for that!!!! for a mechanic by trade makes sense but for the the home mechanic it is a different story. Thank you for your review,
I appreciate your comments and it irritates me as well that the prices have come this far this fast. Maybe someone will step up with a quality product that is similar and create some real competition - which should help keep the price competitive?
Very good video. I am looking for something like this for tire rotations, oil changes, etc. I just hate jacking up the car, using the floor jack and setting it on stands. The fact that this is portable is a huge plus.
@@kfg7733 It did. Now they want about $2440. That's what Dannmar used to charge for the upgraded M6 package, which included some updates, auto-locks instead of a pin, extended warranty, and free residential delivery. I know Bendpak offers free shipping on it, but they charge extra for lift gate service. I'm not sure if the new Bendpak MaxJax is equivalent to the M6 or the base model like this guy has. At that price, you're getting around the price of a decent full size lift that will give you more versatility-just not portability.
I've had mine 4yrs and love it, couple things in Canada $3300 tax in, buy better disconnects mine leak, my garage is12x19 so working space is at a premium because of that i should have bot a scissor lift. Great review!
Thank you for the comments! My quick connectors were serping a little bit, but then I stopped leaving pressure in the system when a vehicle was on the lift. Now I always lower it down onto the pins to release the hydraulic pressure.That seems to have stopped any seepage.
I bought my Bendpack MD6-XP before these came out. And my Bendpak has served me well but were I to do it again I would buy these in an instant. Just the idea of being able to unbolt them from the floor and roll them against the wall is a major selling point. Awesome long term review! Beautiful C5 too! I miss mine! :)
Thank you for the video. Been looking for a while for a lift and just discovered the MaxJax in Road&Track magazine. Definitely getting one. I love your Fiero we had a 1988 GT sold it wish I hadn’t now looking for another one. Take care, be safe
At first operating on 110 it was kind of slow I changed hydraulic fluid I went to a a little better fluid and it got a little faster but it was still right around a minute
Just bought one 2nd hand today but looks brand new. Your video sold me on it. Ive been used to full height hoists at my old shop but this should do fine at home. Great tip with office chair
How are you liking the lift???? Very curious. I think I'm finally done with jacks and jackstands. I worked a lot of OT and finally feel it's time for some sort of lift. I only have an 8" tall garage but man do I want one still.
Your motor speed is dependent on the frequency you send it. Whether 110 or 220, it will still only be 60 Hz, hence speed stays the same. The advantage to higher voltage is lower current. Double the voltage of the angry pixies and you will halve the current or number of angry pixies required. Less current produces less heat, and heat is the enemy of electronical contrivances. Overheat, and let the magic smoke out, it stops because the angry pixies need smoke to work.
Nice review. I had the thought that being able to sit while I work might actually be better than trying to get standing height, and it sounds like that's true. I use quick jacks now, this seems like the right upgrade.
Thanks for the comment. You are exactly right, there are some bolts that I have to be creative and find a place for my leg to push against as I crank on something. But like you also mentioned air tools aren't really impacted.
I plan on raising the garage door rails so that a taller vehicle can be raised to the upper limit as well as I bought a hydraulic hose kit to put the hydraulic pump to one side instead of the front or rear. The hose will go up and over the top in the centerline of the two hydraulic rams. I use the bolt holes on the middle tower to mount my harbor freight tire machine when not using the hoist. You can also buy an adapter to use one tower to raise and work on your motorcycle Also you can mount aluminium ramps and mount them on your hoist arms to make a makeshift drive on rig used for something like a riding mower. I was interested in the "HUMAN HOIST" as seen on a video on RUclips but its a scam..If it did exist it would be a great compliment in conjunction to the MaxJax. As others had said if the towers had more safety holes instead of two it would be another good feature. Yeah....I guess I will eventually drill my own.
Excellent review! And excellent video work. Your thoroughness and the fact that you covered so many great points make me wonder what is your line of work, profession, etc...? The only question I have left is regarding the bolts in the concrete...what that looks like as far as requirements, possible problems and then repairing that when you move. Thank you for the review!
Good video. Was curious to how reliable these were according to the age test but im pretty confident in actually buying one now thanks to your information.
@@Toys4Life just curious, I have seen some reviews where people have issues with leaks and sometimes not being able to put their car down after lifting. Would you say it's from user error such as improper bleeding of the hydraulic or maybe product reliability? Im really anxious to pull the trigger for this product but sometimes I get worried about the horror stories. And my garage ceiling is 89 inches
I'm jealous, this guy has a corvette, Fiero and a Tahoe. His life is simple and wonderful! Parts are cheap and plentiful. I have an x19, Maserati Spyder and Cayenne Turbo. Why do I make my life so difficult?
The x19 is kinda like a fiero... Right.?? I thought about buying an older exotic but just like I think you said, finding parts can be tough & expensive.. It is an adventure. I like the fact that they made a TON of Tahoes though. Parts should be plentiful for years to come! fiero's and C5's - not so much...
I don't recall the specifics. I suggest going to their website to be 100% certain. This is important, so I really don't want go off my memory and perhaps give you bad information.
@@Toys4Life thank you, I will check out their website for more information. Thank you again for the review video and replying back to me. Happy New Year!
Good review/vid. I wish my garage could do it, but I love the Maxjax. Have heard great things about it. You could change the type of garage door you have to eliminate the tracks and get more headroom. :)
Great suggestion. Indeed but the only vehicle there is an issue with is the Tahoe when it is up, I cannot open the garage door. For all cars that I have had on the lift, there are no issues, not even close.
Rafters can be modified to give you a couple more feet of height so the roof extends above the original ceiling height. Just make sure to have an engineer design the mod (:-)
@@Toys4Life mind you, I also forgot to mention that speed is also controlled by the frequency of the voltage and then you can also play around with voltage to change the torque. Its all a big juggerling exercise done by the box of tricks, which is probably a frequency converter etc.
Great review and video. The moment I heard the vette Pullin I knew it had a centrifugal supercharger 😉 I have one on my Stang. Someday I would like to have a lift like this and I like their product but once again it's the same old made in China stuff. I guess that's the world we live in these days but I would like to find something that's made in America
Since the video was made, Bendpak bought the company that makes Maxjax. It is possible it is now made here - as Bendpak does have USA manufacturing I do believe. I do agree with your ABC's.... Anywhere But China (If possible).
Nice vid. Unfortunately, here in Dec of 2020, that $1,999 Home Depot cost has ballooned to $2,400 and change. Covid I guess, because why not. Pretty much everything else is blamed on it. :). In any case, a well done review.
good review...couple questions 1. 110v plug...any special wiring or breakers for that line? 2. how often and how much (cost) is a hydraulic oil change? 3. is there adjustable levels with the safety pins or just one height for them.....(also possible to drill holes to make lower heights?)
Mine's just plugged into a regular 20 amp wall 110 volt outlet. I think there's two levels you can put the pins medium and all the way up. I haven't changed the fluid yet. it's not like a car that's getting hot and cold with wearing clutches and things like that. I don't intend to change it for another 5 years.
@@Toys4Life thanks. saw another review...has a few holes and can drill up to two more levels worth i guess. im sold....just got to test my concrete depth....also figuered it would be at least 2-3 years on the fluid change (if that)
Wow from $1999 in January 2020 to $3770 in 2021. That's more than an 88% price jump in just a year! I just bought my house and the first thing ever I wanted was a lift.....but this thing now is priced more than a standard 2 post.
It is sad. I believe they improved the product but that price increase is not cool. I think it will drop whenever this "supply chain" situation is resolved...
This was extremely helpful. Thank you for sharing. I am planning out my garage and what lifting system would be right for me. At this moment none of my vehicles require any type of major work, just the small stuff, tire rotations, brake, oil changes, etc. I do in the future plan on getting a project but that about a year or two out and I would like to have something that will speed up my turn around on my current car maintenance. I think I will go with the QuickJack system for now and upgrade or add the Maxjax in a year or two. The QuickJack will help out with detailing as well. Nevertheless, thanks again for your review.
Lifts are scary man... I've seen all sorts of shenanigans with them causing varying levels of damage (never seen a death, but boy was he close one time...) Be careful with lifts. I've seen guys tip a car backwards pulling engines out the bottom, or have an axle jack cranked so much it shifts the car on the arms and falls. This is a neat unit, but def has things to watch, be careful removing and installing those anchors all the time, watch the hoses, and definitely don't over or unevenly load it!
I have used hydralic lifts back in the 90's, bendpacks in the 2000's and the Max Jax for the last 8+ years. I am methodical about putting them on the lift to make sure they are positioned properly and always double check the placement under the car. I give it extra thought if something HEAVY will be removed - like and engine or rear axle! Safety FIRST! Thanks!
Yes, it has been a while since I installed mine. For important info like that - I would check their website for installtion instructions to find out 4 sure what their engineers currently advise.
Love your vid. Quick ?...You raised it to max height and put the safety pin in place, are you able to lift it and put the safety pin in place at any height or only max height? Thanks
On my model, there is a 1/2 way point. I have thought about drilling more holes - but that is a big hole and thick steel (:-). Newer models I believe have auto-clicking locks which is a huge upgrade vs what I have.
Well I want one and I may need to do it for brakes and bleeding and tire rotation Over kill to have a Max Jax ok maybe so but it is harder for me to get up and down on the ground vs being in a chair moving around. :D
I just got a used MaxJax, and I look forward to getting it in my garage. I notice there is only one stop for the lift at that position. I'm slightly concerned, since I have a clg of 8' and change in my garage, plus the garage door rails. I don't want to risk a collision; I presume I can find a sweet spot between them to ensure I don't impact the car on them? Obviously, I won't be lifting any Tahoes there, but i don't have one so... no biggie. Would it be possible to drill new holes a few inches down for a new position?
I'm tempted to get one of these for my c3 Corvette. Sadly, though, they are listing now at nearly $4000, so nearly twice what they were in 2020, just 3 years ago. I'm not sure if it's going to be cost effective at such an enormous price.
@@Toys4Life Hopefully a less more than even 3K. It seems they're missing their market at the current level - people invested in large sums for such things, either likely have a separate shop, which can fit a larger, permanent lift, or at least a larger garage workshop with a higher roof. Seems like not a lot of people with small garages and 8' ceilings are going to spring for $4K for an auto lift. I know if it were still under $2K, I would have been in the market for one of these, short-term. Now, I'm either going to wait for the prices to fall, or pursue less expensive options, including the QuickJack.
"Dont do anything really stupid" * Uses hockey pucks with no studs as lifting pads * Just messing around. Definitely not a risk I'd run myself, but this video is a great review. Definitely a good option for having a serious lift at home.
Good review as it answered most of my questions however I have two more. Does it have to be bolted to the floor as I have a post tension slab and you can't drill into it? Can it be used for storage of a car? I have a C6 Corvette that I do not use that often and a odd garage that's 17'W and 33'L Would love get my wife's A5 back into the garage and I only need the hood of that car to fit under the C6 to get it in.
I do not know if you can drill a post tension slab if they Xray for the cables? Not supposed to store cars on 2 post lifts - not sure why. Does not sound like the right option for you.
@@Toys4Life (Just teasing you with the tires ;) ) I sure will enjoy it...now I just hope my concrete is thick enough!! fingers crossed. *I'll be drilling test hole tomorrow*
Thanks for the review was very knowledgeable. I have an 8 foot (96") ceiling in my garage, you think this system would work? Cars I would lift would be an Audi A4, Hyundai Elantra. Thanks
from all the loosening and tightening did the bolts stretch are they high quality bolts? also standing up is safer just in case you gotta run out from under there.
1. I am pretty sure the bots are not getting tightened to the point of stretching to hold - unlike cylinder head bolts that actually stretch to maintain being tight and provide a clamping load. 2. Standing is hard on the neck looking almost straight up. Sitting allows the use of a supportive chair on the neck. Just my opinions - worth what you paid for em (:-)
I’m a disabled Vet with neck and back issues, so I really like your idea of this Jack setup and the office chair! Wow! Perfect for me! What is the ceiling height of your shop tho? I’m just wondering if I could use this setup with my Vette in a standard home garage.
I would like to know if the lift fits well in my garage I have 134 "inches wide between my two walls and I would like? to know the anchoring plates on the ground have what measurement length is width thank you
Similar to another comment, I also have a post tensioned slab. If I understand correctly, I can have this lift if I have the concrete slab scanned and avoid hitting a cable when drilling?
I am not touching this question - sorry (:-). You would need to consult professionals if dealing with post tensioned slab for sure. Faulty installation could be very $$$$$ to repair I would think.
I'm curious as to how you fastened the pillars to the floor. Looks like anchors/inserts with bolts threaded into them. How thick is your floor? Have you had any "concerns" about the anchors pulling out? I'm looking at doing something like this, in the not-too-distant future. The largest vehicle I will be lifting is a full size Ram 1500 Crew. Thanks for your contribution to the community.
The kit comes with anchor bolts where you leave the insert in the floor. That allows you to unbolt The towers for storage. There is a minimum thickness requirement for your floor, my memory says it might be 4 in but you'd have to look in the manual to be certain. The manufacturer website does have directions if you want to look at what is all involved. Good luck to you!
Great video. I have a two garage townhouse with a cement floor. How do I know if the garage concrete floor meets the minimum required cement strength? Any light you could shed on this would be greatly.
I'm not sure. Yes, if I have a heavy vehicle that's not loaded equally from passenger side the driver side between the columns, sometimes it will go up a wee bit uneven. When that happens, I either adjust the load or set it on the pins at various heights to equalize the load. I've never seen it go down unevenly however.
2 QUESTIONS, WHAT IS THE CEILING HEIGHT OF YOUR GARAGE? IM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING BUYING BUT SHOP SPACE IS SMALL AND WOULD LIKE TO VERIFY; AND WITH YOUR TAHOE ON THE LIFT, HOW MUCH CLEARANCE DO YOU HAVE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SUBFRAME TO THE GROUND?
Is it all or nothing when it comes to lifting and inserting the safety pins? Meaning, if I just need to get the car 6" up to change tires is there a lower height setting (that is safe)?
I think the newer versions are going to have more levels to set it on. The older versions only had two levels. if I wanted it just six inches off the ground though sometimes I would just put jack stands underneath the yellow lift arms and call it a day.
As someone who takes his 911 apart all the time, everytime I see one of these I want it more. The 110V operability and the fact that you can unbolt it and stick it in a corner just about seals the deal for me.
Thanks for the comment! It is one of those purchases I have never regretted- not for even a second!!!
Looks like a nice product. More than ever I wish my garage height was 9+ feet instead of the current 8. That $1999 price point sounds like a deal; current price at Home Depot in my area is $3,240! Thanks for the video.
From the sound of things in my limited research, MaxJax was purchased by BendPak and with that came a price premium. There's some creature comfort features that have been added in the current version, and it's now got the same certs as all the "real" big boy jacks, but at the cost of doubling in price :[
@MoparGuy1625 Which is unreal to me... at that price point I'd rather put it towards a real lift or a Triumph c7000. When I bought my maxjax 12 years ago I paid $1500.
@MoparGuy1625 4k now. :(
@MoparGuy1625 greatest economy ever...
I absolutely LOVED your video. I went back to my tools at age 66 because retirement got a little too quiet. Just seeing you at a desk chair underneath the vehicle made it look sooooo comfortable. This is in my bucket list now!
Awesome! Thank you! There is work to be done - enjoy!
I've had my maxjax now for 8ish years. One thing that was SUPER awesome to do is drilling two more holes. I drilled one hole below the factory lowest point. This makes changing tires and doing brake work VERY easy. Then I drilled a set of holes between the two default maxjax holes. I find that I use this setting the most. I never lift the car all the way up the highest but me being 6'2" I found that the hole drilled between the two factory holes is best for me at working position. It really was a game changer in a way so now I have 4 lifting points instead of just two.
I should do that - maybe this winter? Thank you!
Could you share some photos of how you drilled the other holes? Thanks in advance.
haha I was just thinking if that could be done.nice to see it can be
Try and find a mag drill.@@brettdore2635
That office chair tip is great! Looking up at a the bottom of a car seems like it would cause neck issues otherwise.
I agree about the neck!
Just bought one for my garage...and my C5 Z06. Thank you thank you thank you for reinforcing my purchase.
Enjoy, you're going to love it and be mad that you didn't do it long ago!
Good 5yr review, you helped clear up some reservations I had with this set up. I liked your demonstration with the office chair for moving around under the car. That was my biggest reservation was the height needed to at least get a semi-normal roller chair with back support versus one of those sit down to the ground creepers. If you are 6'1" and can squeeze under that car fine with an office chair, I know with my 5'10" height will have no problem. I also liked how you showed what your Tahoe looks like on there as I too have a Suburban I would eventually be putting on my lift. As an auto maintenance DIYer myself, I do everything short of engine pulling on my vehicles so I know this will come in extremely handy. Thanks again.
Thanks for the comment, I'm glad it helped you make your decision!
I have the newer MaxJax M-6 for about 3 years now and it was the best purchase ever.
I agree 100% till the day I stop working on my own cars!!!
Being an electrician the 220V motor speed would be exactly the same as 110V although the amp draw would be exactly half
That is not what I wanted to hear. Thanks for responding and saving me the time of rewiring it...!!
This was my exact reply, Jonas Grumby beat me to it! Also, when we wire (if optional) for 220V, the motor/load will perform at slightly lower heat levels/losses and this could "possibly" decrease the wear on a given motor/load. Lower "heat" = less heat loss = less cost to operate, but it is a microscopic savings on the actual electric bill to wire 220V.
The chair idea is perfect
Thank you! They are cheap (free in many cases) and work really well! Cheers!
Great review; I am am not mechanic but I have taken to do all the mechanic works possible in our 3 vehicles; first I restored a Toyota Corolla back to life from engine oil starvation by my wife; work on it was done outside the house on the driveway in a course of 3 and half years since I situated the car; my driveway is big so the car expended long time covered with a tarp and my wife wanted to just get rid of it, now she is glad I did not as the car still runs and with all the repairs and replacements I did to it it should go another 100K miles, provided she takes care of it, I own a Chrysler 2015 Town and Country and a 2000 Toyota Tacoma light truck, The Tacoma at 228K miles have been disabled for years about 7 years now, after 5 I restarted it and had a bad fuel pump; a street mechanic who is very handy worked on it and at the end I expended close to 1K to get the truck running again, only for me to blow its head gasket as I drove it without changing the fluids AND the mechanic conveniently stayed in silence when I told him I will take it for a spin to come back and change the oil; then when I blew it he offered to repair it, if I paid almost 1K for the fuel pump, $437 of those was the part alone, you can imagine how much I would have to pay him to get the truck running again, so i have no choice but to do it myself if I am to ride it again and since had decided I will rebuild the whole engine because its high mileage, then there is the Chrysler; my daughter drove it into water deep enough to hydro-lock the engine in a bad storm last summer; the insurance wanted to total the car because the dealer charge 12K to replace the engine!! the car has MOPAR life time warranty but it does not cover water damage so my solution is to save and buy a remanufactured engine from Fraser and do the swap myself; the labor from dealer for engine swap is 5K so something new for me to learn and get it done, here is where this Max Jax comes in, unfortunately since this video and now prices are very high, I know everything is including cars which is why we are fixing ours and not buying new ones! The Chrysler have some bolts that are a real pain to get to unless one is in a good position underneath. My idea of installing it would be outside the house in the driveway; my garage is only 8 Ft and is full as storage; there is no space and creating it involves either moving stuff to a rental storage or building a Shed either way it is more $$ and time I do not have so since the Max Jax is portable I do not mind setting it up for work on the cars outside and breaking down at end of the day or days whatever it takes; being portable is the biggest deal; there are other lifts out there for 2k but they are meant to be permanent installed and wont work for me so I am trying and seriously considering the Max Jax, but it really hurts the price they have it now @ almost 4K!! - There are couple companies they claim to have it on sale for 2.2K but I dont know if this is a scammer or what; the least I have seen it recently is $3.6K, they sell that cool dolly and it is a whooping $600 just for that!!!! for a mechanic by trade makes sense but for the the home mechanic it is a different story. Thank you for your review,
I appreciate your comments and it irritates me as well that the prices have come this far this fast. Maybe someone will step up with a quality product that is similar and create some real competition - which should help keep the price competitive?
I’m considering buying a Max Jack because of my old bones!
That's probably the best reason!
Great review sir. I think I’ll be getting one of these when my wife and I buy our first house.
Thank you !
Same! I'm looking at this seriously now.
Very good video. I am looking for something like this for tire rotations, oil changes, etc. I just hate jacking up the car, using the floor jack and setting it on stands. The fact that this is portable is a huge plus.
Thank you!!
Awesome video and review I’m definitely interested in one of these lifts now , thanks
I wish I would have bought these back in the day when they were around 1695.
They just sold to bendpak so price will probably go up again
@@kfg7733 It did. Now they want about $2440. That's what Dannmar used to charge for the upgraded M6 package, which included some updates, auto-locks instead of a pin, extended warranty, and free residential delivery. I know Bendpak offers free shipping on it, but they charge extra for lift gate service. I'm not sure if the new Bendpak MaxJax is equivalent to the M6 or the base model like this guy has. At that price, you're getting around the price of a decent full size lift that will give you more versatility-just not portability.
@@channell11 for $2,500 it better come with strippers.
@channell11 and me 3 years later and still don't have them. Theyre up over 3 grand on sale now.
Great video. Now they are roughly $3500 so i will squeeze in a standard height lift and put the remaining $1500 into the Z06.
Yeah, if you could squeeze in a full size lift they are cheaper probably due to economies of scale.
I've had mine 4yrs and love it, couple things in Canada $3300 tax in, buy better disconnects mine leak, my garage is12x19 so working space is at a premium because of that i should have bot a scissor lift. Great review!
Thank you for the comments! My quick connectors were serping a little bit, but then I stopped leaving pressure in the system when a vehicle was on the lift. Now I always lower it down onto the pins to release the hydraulic pressure.That seems to have stopped any seepage.
Seriously great review thank you so much! I think I know what's on my Christmas list
Glad it was helpful!
I bought my Bendpack MD6-XP before these came out. And my Bendpak has served me well but were I to do it again I would buy these
in an instant. Just the idea of being able to unbolt them from the floor and roll them against the wall is a major selling point.
Awesome long term review! Beautiful C5 too! I miss mine! :)
Thank you for the comment. Maybe we can trade...? Cheers.
@@Toys4Life You're welcome! :)
They should send you accessories because your video was one of the videos that sold me on the purchase a few hours ago.
SOLD!! Thanks for this!
Any time!
Thank you for the video. Been looking for a while for a lift and just discovered the MaxJax in Road&Track magazine. Definitely getting one. I love your Fiero we had a 1988 GT sold it wish I hadn’t now looking for another one. Take care, be safe
Thanks man! Fiero's people either love em (like us) or hate em. Not too much middle ground...(:-)
One of the best purchases for my garage I ever made
Indeed!
At first operating on 110 it was kind of slow I changed hydraulic fluid I went to a a little better fluid and it got a little faster but it was still right around a minute
Yep, the up speed is "hobby grade" as opposed to professional grade that's for sure!
I had about given up on getting a lift because I don't have a 10' ceiling, thanks for the review!
Thanks for watching!
Just bought one 2nd hand today but looks brand new.
Your video sold me on it.
Ive been used to full height hoists at my old shop but this should do fine at home.
Great tip with office chair
Thank you! Good luck with your new 2,you home lift!!
How are you liking the lift???? Very curious. I think I'm finally done with jacks and jackstands. I worked a lot of OT and finally feel it's time for some sort of lift. I only have an 8" tall garage but man do I want one still.
I use hockey pucks on my floor jacks and they work great. But when they get old they can split if you're lifting a car at the pinch weld.
Ya, that pinch weld can cut with all that weight behind it!
Your motor speed is dependent on the frequency you send it. Whether 110 or 220, it will still only be 60 Hz, hence speed stays the same. The advantage to higher voltage is lower current. Double the voltage of the angry pixies and you will halve the current or number of angry pixies required. Less current produces less heat, and heat is the enemy of electronical contrivances. Overheat, and let the magic smoke out, it stops because the angry pixies need smoke to work.
Roger that - thank you!
@@Toys4Life YW
This uses a synchronous motor?
Nice review. I had the thought that being able to sit while I work might actually be better than trying to get standing height, and it sounds like that's true. I use quick jacks now, this seems like the right upgrade.
Thanks for the comment!! I still love it!!
@@Toys4Lifewhat is the maximum weight it will hold safely? I’m in to square body pickups. 2 wheel and 4 wheel drive is somewhat heavier 😊
Excellent review, I’m convinced, thank you!!
Sweet, if you're a car guy you absolutely will not regret it!
Wow, crazy that price has risen almost double since this video.
I know & that is really sad - not sure why.
Thanks
Great video! Only issue with the rolling office chair is unless using an impact gun, it's hard to have any leverage loosen bolts.
Thanks for the comment. You are exactly right, there are some bolts that I have to be creative and find a place for my leg to push against as I crank on something. But like you also mentioned air tools aren't really impacted.
I plan on raising the garage door rails so that a taller vehicle can be raised to the upper limit as well as I bought a hydraulic hose kit to put the hydraulic pump to one side instead of the front or rear. The hose will go up and over the top in the centerline of the two hydraulic rams. I use the bolt holes on the middle tower to mount my harbor freight tire machine when not using the hoist. You can also buy an adapter to use one tower to raise and work on your motorcycle Also you can mount aluminium ramps and mount them on your hoist arms to make a makeshift drive on rig used for something like a riding mower. I was interested in the "HUMAN HOIST" as seen on a video on RUclips but its a scam..If it did exist it would be a great compliment in conjunction to the MaxJax. As others had said if the towers had more safety holes instead of two it would be another good feature. Yeah....I guess I will eventually drill my own.
Excellent review! And excellent video work. Your thoroughness and the fact that you covered so many great points make me wonder what is your line of work, profession, etc...?
The only question I have left is regarding the bolts in the concrete...what that looks like as far as requirements, possible problems and then repairing that when you move.
Thank you for the review!
Glad it was helpful and thank you for the kind words!
Good video. Was curious to how reliable these were according to the age test but im pretty confident in actually buying one now thanks to your information.
Thank you! Love the product - expensive but worth it if you work on a fair amount of cars!!
@@Toys4Life just curious, I have seen some reviews where people have issues with leaks and sometimes not being able to put their car down after lifting. Would you say it's from user error such as improper bleeding of the hydraulic or maybe product reliability? Im really anxious to pull the trigger for this product but sometimes I get worried about the horror stories. And my garage ceiling is 89 inches
@@alexsayadeth6804 Sorry, but I am not sure. I have not had one single issue in five years so I have no idea what issue people are having.
Great review. Those measurements are super helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Informative. Really like the time lapse of the set up.
Glad you liked it!
Well done, thank you.
Thanks for the thanks!
I need one of these for sure.. Im so sick of jacking up my 03 z06 such a pain in the butt.
They have gotten quite a bit more expensive, but I cherish mine and use it often!
Very informative thanks for this
Thanks for the video !
Thanks for the review.
Thanks for commenting!
I'm jealous, this guy has a corvette, Fiero and a Tahoe. His life is simple and wonderful! Parts are cheap and plentiful. I have an x19, Maserati Spyder and Cayenne Turbo. Why do I make my life so difficult?
The x19 is kinda like a fiero... Right.?? I thought about buying an older exotic but just like I think you said, finding parts can be tough & expensive.. It is an adventure. I like the fact that they made a TON of Tahoes though. Parts should be plentiful for years to come! fiero's and C5's - not so much...
Nice Review. Thanks. Very Helpful.
Thanks for watching!
Great video, thank you for this review. You've made up my mind.
Glad I could help!!!
@@Toys4Life do you recall the thickness of concrete requirement for the max jack?
I don't recall the specifics. I suggest going to their website to be 100% certain. This is important, so I really don't want go off my memory and perhaps give you bad information.
@@Toys4Life thank you, I will check out their website for more information. Thank you again for the review video and replying back to me. Happy New Year!
@@My1969chevelle Happy New Year back at ya!!
Great video!
Great review. Thanks for the measurements 👍
Thanks for the feedback!!
Good review/vid. I wish my garage could do it, but I love the Maxjax. Have heard great things about it. You could change the type of garage door you have to eliminate the tracks and get more headroom. :)
Great suggestion. Indeed but the only vehicle there is an issue with is the Tahoe when it is up, I cannot open the garage door. For all cars that I have had on the lift, there are no issues, not even close.
Need higher ceilings in my garage!! I want this so bad...
Rafters can be modified to give you a couple more feet of height so the roof extends above the original ceiling height. Just make sure to have an engineer design the mod (:-)
@@Toys4Life yeah, unless the ceiling of your garage is the floor joists of the master bedroom, wife is not going for it :)
You tell her to shove it. Btw you need to rebuild your engine in the kitchen and she's gonna have to live with that too.
So you keep one tower bolted in place all the time.
In the last several years, one towers never been removed, the other one's been removed once or twice. I only move it if it's in my way.
Increased voltage will make sweet bugger all different in speed. The speed is set by the amount of poles in the motor not in the voltage.
10-4, I knew the viewers would come through!
@@Toys4Life mind you, I also forgot to mention that speed is also controlled by the frequency of the voltage and then you can also play around with voltage to change the torque.
Its all a big juggerling exercise done by the box of tricks, which is probably a frequency converter etc.
Great review! Thank you
Thanks for watching!
Great review and video. The moment I heard the vette Pullin I knew it had a centrifugal supercharger 😉 I have one on my Stang. Someday I would like to have a lift like this and I like their product but once again it's the same old made in China stuff. I guess that's the world we live in these days but I would like to find something that's made in America
Since the video was made, Bendpak bought the company that makes Maxjax. It is possible it is now made here - as Bendpak does have USA manufacturing I do believe. I do agree with your ABC's.... Anywhere But China (If possible).
@@Toys4Life good to hear. I'll have to do some research on them
Bro awesome video and thank you!! You made me a fan and a new buyer!!
Glad to hear it!
Nice vid. Unfortunately, here in Dec of 2020, that $1,999 Home Depot cost has ballooned to $2,400 and change. Covid I guess, because why not. Pretty much everything else is blamed on it. :). In any case, a well done review.
Thank you!!
Now the price is $3770. I'd consider for 2k, but double that is nuts.
This is a great review. Well done!
Thank you kindly!
Great video! Very informative.
Glad you enjoyed it!
good review...couple questions
1. 110v plug...any special wiring or breakers for that line?
2. how often and how much (cost) is a hydraulic oil change?
3. is there adjustable levels with the safety pins or just one height for them.....(also possible to drill holes to make lower heights?)
Mine's just plugged into a regular 20 amp wall 110 volt outlet. I think there's two levels you can put the pins medium and all the way up. I haven't changed the fluid yet. it's not like a car that's getting hot and cold with wearing clutches and things like that. I don't intend to change it for another 5 years.
@@Toys4Life thanks. saw another review...has a few holes and can drill up to two more levels worth i guess. im sold....just got to test my concrete depth....also figuered it would be at least 2-3 years on the fluid change (if that)
Wow from $1999 in January 2020 to $3770 in 2021. That's more than an 88% price jump in just a year! I just bought my house and the first thing ever I wanted was a lift.....but this thing now is priced more than a standard 2 post.
It is sad. I believe they improved the product but that price increase is not cool. I think it will drop whenever this "supply chain" situation is resolved...
Sold! Thank you!
For sure, BendPak has bought Max Jax and they will have a new and improved version out shortly. I talked to one of the reps two days ago.
This was extremely helpful. Thank you for sharing. I am planning out my garage and what lifting system would be right for me. At this moment none of my vehicles require any type of major work, just the small stuff, tire rotations, brake, oil changes, etc. I do in the future plan on getting a project but that about a year or two out and I would like to have something that will speed up my turn around on my current car maintenance. I think I will go with the QuickJack system for now and upgrade or add the Maxjax in a year or two. The QuickJack will help out with detailing as well.
Nevertheless, thanks again for your review.
Not a bad idea, I am sure you could sell the Quick Jack if you decided to down the road. Cheers!!
Thank you for your video.
Thanks for watching!
Lifts are scary man... I've seen all sorts of shenanigans with them causing varying levels of damage (never seen a death, but boy was he close one time...)
Be careful with lifts. I've seen guys tip a car backwards pulling engines out the bottom, or have an axle jack cranked so much it shifts the car on the arms and falls.
This is a neat unit, but def has things to watch, be careful removing and installing those anchors all the time, watch the hoses, and definitely don't over or unevenly load it!
I have used hydralic lifts back in the 90's, bendpacks in the 2000's and the Max Jax for the last 8+ years. I am methodical about putting them on the lift to make sure they are positioned properly and always double check the placement under the car. I give it extra thought if something HEAVY will be removed - like and engine or rear axle! Safety FIRST! Thanks!
You missed probably the biggest question. What is necessary for installation. Floor prep, concrete thickness, etc
www.maxjax.com/maxjax-downloads/
Thank you for the video
Thanks for watching!
Do the MaxJax require a certain depth of concrete pad? Normally symmetric large two post lifts require 8-12" of concrete beneath each footprint.
Yes, it has been a while since I installed mine. For important info like that - I would check their website for installtion instructions to find out 4 sure what their engineers currently advise.
Love your vid. Quick ?...You raised it to max height and put the safety pin in place, are you able to lift it and put the safety pin in place at any height or only max height? Thanks
On my model, there is a 1/2 way point. I have thought about drilling more holes - but that is a big hole and thick steel (:-). Newer models I believe have auto-clicking locks which is a huge upgrade vs what I have.
I would like to see how the removable side is mounted to the ground.
Great review, thank you!
Both sides are removable via 5 large bolts/screw in studs. I should have included a close-up.
Toys4Life C5 I figured it had to be something like that. Thanks for the reply!
Well I want one and I may need to do it for brakes and bleeding and tire rotation Over kill to have a Max Jax ok maybe so but it is harder for me to get up and down on the ground vs being in a chair moving around. :D
I agree. I love it and would buy it again today!!
I think I’m going to buy a Max JAX!!
Spendy - but after using it a couple of times you will wonder how you worked on anything without it! Good luck!
I just got a used MaxJax, and I look forward to getting it in my garage.
I notice there is only one stop for the lift at that position. I'm slightly concerned, since I have a clg of 8' and change in my garage, plus the garage door rails. I don't want to risk a collision; I presume I can find a sweet spot between them to ensure I don't impact the car on them? Obviously, I won't be lifting any Tahoes there, but i don't have one so... no biggie.
Would it be possible to drill new holes a few inches down for a new position?
I think so!
Awesome video, thanks for sharing it, been looking for a good lift for the tiny garage for a long time and I think I will go get the Maxjax now~
I would!!
Very nicely done video sir.
Thank you Sir!
How far back from the garage door track are you the one closest to the wall? door track to front edge of the Jack I would appreciate it. Thanks.
129 inches. Sorry for the delay response.
I'm tempted to get one of these for my c3 Corvette.
Sadly, though, they are listing now at nearly $4000, so nearly twice what they were in 2020, just 3 years ago. I'm not sure if it's going to be cost effective at such an enormous price.
I know, I'm not sure why it hasn't gone down yet, hopefully it will drop till like 3k..
@@Toys4Life Hopefully a less more than even 3K. It seems they're missing their market at the current level - people invested in large sums for such things, either likely have a separate shop, which can fit a larger, permanent lift, or at least a larger garage workshop with a higher roof. Seems like not a lot of people with small garages and 8' ceilings are going to spring for $4K for an auto lift.
I know if it were still under $2K, I would have been in the market for one of these, short-term. Now, I'm either going to wait for the prices to fall, or pursue less expensive options, including the QuickJack.
So cool
Thank you!
Gotta love inflation. I just started looking for one of these. You mentioned paying $1900. They start at $3770 now!
And I think a few might be stuck on those containers off of the coast of California...
thanks for the video. How tall is the ceiling in your garage? 8: 09 does not give the height of the ceiling.
9'- 6".
"Dont do anything really stupid"
* Uses hockey pucks with no studs as lifting pads *
Just messing around. Definitely not a risk I'd run myself, but this video is a great review. Definitely a good option for having a serious lift at home.
You're right, I shouldn't assume everybody is going to balance it as perfectly as I do 😊. Appreciate the kind words and the constructive criticism.
Good review as it answered most of my questions however I have two more. Does it have to be bolted to the floor as I have a post tension slab and you can't drill into it? Can it be used for storage of a car? I have a C6 Corvette that I do not use that often and a odd garage that's 17'W and 33'L Would love get my wife's A5 back into the garage and I only need the hood of that car to fit under the C6 to get it in.
I do not know if you can drill a post tension slab if they Xray for the cables? Not supposed to store cars on 2 post lifts - not sure why. Does not sound like the right option for you.
Hi, do you have to Bolt the MaxJax to the concrete floor... Pennsylvania
Affirmative.
great review. I have one on the way and I can't wait to get it.. PS; I think you need new tires on your Vet...it'll be a breeze with that MaxJax ;)
Indeed, just the front though. The backs are good to go. Good luck with your install, you're going to like it!!
@@Toys4Life (Just teasing you with the tires ;) ) I sure will enjoy it...now I just hope my concrete is thick enough!! fingers crossed. *I'll be drilling test hole tomorrow*
Thanks for the review was very knowledgeable. I have an 8 foot (96") ceiling in my garage, you think this system would work? Cars I would lift would be an Audi A4, Hyundai Elantra. Thanks
It will be close. I just measured a c5 on the lift and it came to about 88" or so to the top of the roof. Those other cars are taller I believe.
Great video, and thx for sharing. How wide, and deep are the baseplates? Thx
It is in a previous comment or two Q&A, I will have to get out there and measure again as I cannot recall.
from all the loosening and tightening did the bolts stretch are they high quality bolts? also standing up is safer just in case you gotta run out from under there.
1. I am pretty sure the bots are not getting tightened to the point of stretching to hold - unlike cylinder head bolts that actually stretch to maintain being tight and provide a clamping load. 2. Standing is hard on the neck looking almost straight up. Sitting allows the use of a supportive chair on the neck. Just my opinions - worth what you paid for em (:-)
I’m a disabled Vet with neck and back issues, so I really like your idea of this Jack setup and the office chair! Wow! Perfect for me! What is the ceiling height of your shop tho? I’m just wondering if I could use this setup with my Vette in a standard home garage.
How tall is your ceiling sir? We should probably be exact before you go make a purchase! And thank you for your service as well!!!
I would like to know if the lift fits well in my garage I have 134 "inches wide between my two walls and I would like? to know the anchoring plates on the ground have what measurement length is width thank you
I've got mine said in about 136 in outside edge to outside edge. I think you could go 134 and be able to lift just about every vehicle.
Similar to another comment, I also have a post tensioned slab. If I understand correctly, I can have this lift if I have the concrete slab scanned and avoid hitting a cable when drilling?
I am not touching this question - sorry (:-). You would need to consult professionals if dealing with post tensioned slab for sure. Faulty installation could be very $$$$$ to repair I would think.
Dude, you sound exactly like Tim cowlishaw.
Thank you, thank you very much 😊
Hey just saw your sweater says Rock Falls Raceway, it's my home town.
Do you go there a lot? They are really sprucing the place up. I'll be putting out a video from there tomorrow! I love going there!
What's that wobbly piece of hose taped to the passenger side door?
Temporary wideband oxygen sensor mounted for computer tuning.
I'm curious as to how you fastened the pillars to the floor. Looks like anchors/inserts with bolts threaded into them.
How thick is your floor? Have you had any "concerns" about the anchors pulling out? I'm looking at doing something like this, in the not-too-distant future. The largest vehicle I will be lifting is a full size Ram 1500 Crew. Thanks for your contribution to the community.
The kit comes with anchor bolts where you leave the insert in the floor. That allows you to unbolt The towers for storage. There is a minimum thickness requirement for your floor, my memory says it might be 4 in but you'd have to look in the manual to be certain. The manufacturer website does have directions if you want to look at what is all involved. Good luck to you!
@@Toys4Life Excellent! Thank you.
Great video. I have a two garage townhouse with a cement floor. How do I know if the garage concrete floor meets the minimum required cement strength? Any light you could shed on this would be greatly.
Check your local permits office - they might have plans and inspection reports.
Thank you for the quick response. It is greatly appreciated.
Great video! I have one question. How high is you ceiling? Thanks!!
Got it 10’, I just saw the other comments! Thanks again
Thanks for the comment!!
I didn't see any equalizing cables. How does it ensure both sides go up at the same rate? Have you ever notice it go up unevenly?
I'm not sure. Yes, if I have a heavy vehicle that's not loaded equally from passenger side the driver side between the columns, sometimes it will go up a wee bit uneven. When that happens, I either adjust the load or set it on the pins at various heights to equalize the load. I've never seen it go down unevenly however.
2 QUESTIONS, WHAT IS THE CEILING HEIGHT OF YOUR GARAGE? IM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING BUYING BUT SHOP SPACE IS SMALL AND WOULD LIKE TO VERIFY; AND WITH YOUR TAHOE ON THE LIFT, HOW MUCH CLEARANCE DO YOU HAVE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SUBFRAME TO THE GROUND?
If you still need the answer to this I can get it for you. Thanks!
April 2024 and this max jack is around $4500!
It is, I need to search for a viable competitive option and do a video on it!
Is it all or nothing when it comes to lifting and inserting the safety pins? Meaning, if I just need to get the car 6" up to change tires is there a lower height setting (that is safe)?
I think the newer versions are going to have more levels to set it on. The older versions only had two levels. if I wanted it just six inches off the ground though sometimes I would just put jack stands underneath the yellow lift arms and call it a day.
Love it
Thank you!