[steve392]

Does anyone have one of these? www.kwiklift.com

I've seen these at car shows, and I'm thinking of one of these as an alternative to a 4-post lift for a few reasons. It gets the tires off the floor by 20", and you still need a creeper.
Just want to hear from someone who has one and uses it. Worthwhile?

Thanks,

Steve

[Beenaway2long]

My buddy who has a corvette loves his. He only uses it to detail the bottom of the car though.

Another aquantance had one and promptly sold it. "Only good for changing U joints and taking up space" was his comments.

Personal opinion..... Not high enough to do anything like tranny work. Still have to jack the car to do wheel work, so whats the point?

[cboy]

I have one and it's been invaluable. Obviously a full size 4-poster would be better but then even 4-posters have their drawbacks including a) you need a tall enough ceiling - won't fit all garages b) they're quite bulky and not easy to store or get out of the way c) reinforced footings under the foot pads d) higher cost to purchase etc.

Yes, you DO need work from a creeper under the KwikLift but you can easily pull trannys (not sure why Beenaway feels you can't do tranny work - but I have), pull the bottom end of your engine, do muffler and shock work or just about any other task you would normally do on the bottom side with a full size lift.

Like I say, clearly not as nice and convenient as walking around under you car to do the work...but not all of us can afford that luxury. For the price, I'm very happy with mine.

BTW, customer service from KL is great. I called after my purchase with a couple questions and was turned right over to Danny, the owner, to get my answers. Very friendly and helpful both before and after the sale. Chances are, Danny is also the guy you will see in the KL booth at most of the larger shows.

Dewey

[timothale]

Alot of money for what you get. Until I got into my new 40 x 120 ft shop, a 10 k 2 post and 4 x 4 lift table I used to use my open center car trailer If you need a trailer a good open center with insert trays to haul other stuff worked pretty good. my house garage had one bay 32 feet long so the trailer fit inside with some working area.

[Dutchman]

I talked to Danny this last weekend at the York Pa show. He has a good concept. He'll even take the time to tell you when his coupe came off the jacks and almost took his life (thanks for wives that know how to use a floor jack).
I like the portability and movability of the unit in the garage. I think it maybe great with my garage that is only 8 feet high. Just thing no hydraulics or electric needed.

Dutch

[roger1]

IMHO, this thing takes up way too much room.

There's nothing you can do with that that you can't do with a jack and jackstands. And, I can take my wheels off when I'm up on jackstands. When does one want to raise a car and not remove the wheels? Not very often I would wager.

I'd rather put the money towards a fancy new jack and 4 high quality jackstands. They can be put in a cabinet when your not using them.

I believe that all lifts are overrated for their usefullness for the home mechanic. I think they are mostly just a status symbol. (Unless you need one because you are storing a car over another car.)

I've seen many pro shops that don't have 'em either.

[sbchevfreak]

IMHO, a professional repair shop without a lift is not professional. When you are charging labour out at a industry standard flat rate, you cannot be competative without a lift. Transmission R&R times, oil cahnges, trans service, ect, are calculated using a lift. If you are doing the work w/o a lift, more often than not you will spend more time than you charge out. That is equal to losing money.

[shoddy_f-body]

I would go with a mid rise lift.I had a Snap On that was great. This one from Eagle is the same thing basically and half the price.No good for tranny work though

http://eagleequip.com/page/EE/PROD/LI-LM/602-002]

[32roadster]

Got a kwiklift and love it.
Would not get under my cars without it.
get one. You will be glad you did.

[steve392]

Thanks to all who responded to my post...I can agree with Dewey and Dutch regarding dealing with the owner. I too was at York and Hershey and had a chance to talk firsthand with Danny...
Looks like the way to go for me.

Steve

[firstgear]

I got a BendPak, it was $1410 dleivered. Took 10 days...I wonder how I got along without it before, I used to work on the frame and by the end of the night I could hardly move, no more, got it up to where I can work on it and not pay the price. I can move it with the tow wheels..actually a great vlaue for the price.....




i also have two 4 post lifts from Eagle, those are also a good buy, but I don't let just anyone operate those, you have to be careful and if you are not you can dump a car and if you have a car under the top one, that is not a good thing! But I like the ability to store them, just makes it tough when you want to drive the top car...then it is musical chairs time....4 poster also makes it easy to lift the body off the frame, I have taken it off and back on for fitment more than 7 times and most times it is just me getting it on and off...





attach a chain hoist to the bridge and it will enable you to lift motors into place no problem....complete with tranny if so desired....



Sorry, but don't see the value in the kwiklift...great product I am sure, but I really don't want to lay on the ground any more than I already have.....good luck with what ever you do!

Herb

[32roadster]

nice garage firstgear !!!

If I had the ceiling height for a 4 post, that is what I would have.
BUT, with only an 8 ft ceiling, the kwiklift has been a great system for me.

When I first got the kwiklift, I was very surprised how much room I now have under the car. I did a transmission pull a while back, and it was a piece of cake using the lift.

Anyway, that is why there is chocolate ice cream and vanilla, people have varying opinions.

[firstgear]

Originally Posted by 32roadster

nice garage firstgear !!!

If I had the ceiling height for a 4 post, that is what I would have.
BUT, with only an 8 ft ceiling, the kwiklift has been a great system for me.

When I first got the kwiklift, I was very surprised how much room I now have under the car. I did a transmission pull a while back, and it was a piece of cake using the lift.

Anyway, that is why there is chocolate ice cream and vanilla, people have varying opinions.

thanks....my better half insisted that we add on to the house so that we had a place to put the cars, so we added a 32X40 garage onto the side of the existing 2-1/2 car garage. The old garage has become the "work on the car" area since I can close the original garage door off from the new garage and keep it heated to work through the winter. The new garage houses the two 4 post lifts.

Right now we have 7 cars in the new garage and the 60 vette project is in the old garage.

just so you know, I like chocolate ice cream, lots as you could tell by my photo above

[ctc1111]

I own a kwik Lift and the only reason being is that my garage isn't big or tall enough for a 4 or 2 post. But all said and done the price was just as much as a 4 post lift unless you want one of those snap on ones of course. And it gets pretty hairy sometimes jacking a lift up with a floor jack with a car on it. I'd steer you away from the kwik lift if you can fit a real one other wise go for it.

[32roadster]

ctc1111
just curious, what did you find "hairy" about the kwiklift ???
I have always felt absolutely safe and secure using the kwiklift.
Explain if you can.

Sorry, but I would have to disagree with you on your opinion of the kwiklift.
It has been just great.
But, as I stated earlier in the post, that is why there is chocolate and vanilla ice cream.,.....