I decided to buy a scissor lift to make working on the GD427 Cobra a bit easier. I considered a single post lift, 2/4 post lifts and a few types of scissor lifts. In the end I decided on a scissor lift from Automotech, the AS-7530D for three main reasons: I don't want a post in the middle of the double garage, I don't have six inches of concrete to affix it to either, and nor do I have the height in the garage to lift a car more than a meter. The cheaper scissor lifts on the market don't have clearance in the middle and frankly they don't inspire much confidence to look at either. So in this case the AS-7530D seemed the best option.
The chaps over at Automotech are nice to deal with, although the same can't be said of the courier company they used. I got a call from the couriers on the morning of the chosen delivery date and asked how I plan on getting the lift off the truck and that apparently it shouldn't have been sent via them if I didn't have the means to take it off myself. After a few phone calls back and forward to Automotech they got the real reason out of the courier: the tail lift was broken on the truck they had loaded the lift onto that morning, and the other truck with a tail lift wasn't available until the next day. I hate lying courier company's but c'est la vie. Anyway, the following morning the lift arrived. The total weight of the package is about 600Kg.
The control unit, extension ramps and rubber blocks come in a seperate box
Getting the lift off the 3 stacked pallets was the hardest part. I used an engine crane and stood on the back of it to counter balance until the lift slid slowly off the top pallet.
After removing the bubble wrap you have to unscrew the last of the wooden mounting blocks and lift it with the straps under the centre bars so that the straps can come out when it's on the floor.
After some nervous moments using a standard car jack and some blocks of wood, I managed to get the engine crane out of the way and get the lift finally on the ground, albeit facing the wrong way. To move the lift around you need to attach wheels while the lift is at near full height, then when it's lowered the rear of the lift is raised on the wheels. The control unit can then be used to lift the font and with considerable effort it's possible to move the lift round. Calling it 'mobile' is a stretch of the imagination, but yes it can be unlike 2 or 4 post lifts.
Also you need a compressor attached the control unit which is used to disengage the safety locks to bring the lift down.
The lift in it's final resting place.
The lift comes down real slow if it doesn't have any weight on it but after a few goes of raising and lowering I then tried it with the most expendable car (the wife's). I had to modify the up and over garage door supporting frame to enable the car to be lifted to full height.
And this is the sort of clearance that can be expected underneath and through the middle when lifted at full height.
The chaps over at Automotech are nice to deal with, although the same can't be said of the courier company they used. I got a call from the couriers on the morning of the chosen delivery date and asked how I plan on getting the lift off the truck and that apparently it shouldn't have been sent via them if I didn't have the means to take it off myself. After a few phone calls back and forward to Automotech they got the real reason out of the courier: the tail lift was broken on the truck they had loaded the lift onto that morning, and the other truck with a tail lift wasn't available until the next day. I hate lying courier company's but c'est la vie. Anyway, the following morning the lift arrived. The total weight of the package is about 600Kg.
Also you need a compressor attached the control unit which is used to disengage the safety locks to bring the lift down.
