I wanted a 4 post lift but I have a big I beam thru the center of the garage and the garage door will hit the post. Anyone have a midrise lift? What are your thoughts?
I don't have a lift, but I personally don't see how the mid rise would be much of an advantage over jack stands, except for the convenience of no messing with the stands and floor jack. It seems to me that being able to stand up under the car is the main advantage of a lift.
I think a mid-rise is only good for tire and brake work . The price is about 60-75 % of a real lift so I see no Advantage in it .
And my knees have been replaced but I wouldn't want to kneel on them for an extended period of time .
I used to sell these. They have a few advantages over a 2 post lift. They are 110v vs 220. Plug it in anywhere. There is no installation or assembly. All you need is a flat cement pad. They are portable- roll it where you need it and also out of the way when not in use. They are also great for a garage with a low ceiling. Body guys like them since there are no posts to work around.. so there are a few advantages over a normal lift and way ahead of jackstands. Yep, the middle of the car is blocked from work but your certainly not limited to brake and wheel work.
I’ve got a Titan SL-6600 mid rise lift. I bought it because I still enjoy working on my cars even at 63+ years old with active cancer and transverse myelitis. I’ve found that most of my under car work can be done with a sitting creeper. The center is partially blocked by the frame of the lift, but that hasn’t been an issue so far. It has a 51 inch lift, although I’ve never put it that high. Joe above is right; body work, brake jobs, fluid changes and the like are easier for me than with jack stands, and it feels more secure with the lift anyway. My other cars have a height disadvantage; they’ll rub the top of the lift when driving over it, so I bought 4 Go-Jack wheel dollies to make things easier. I can’t fit a 2- or 4-post lift in my garage, and I’m not remodeling it just so I can get one, so this gave me what I needed in an easy to use package.
I'm more inclined to go with a portable 2 post (e.g. Max Jack - https://www.maxjax.com). Hopefully they've gotten the issues w/(IIRC) the leaking cylinders fixed. Not only could I use it inside to lift as high as my ceiling allows (& I'd rather sit on a rolling stool than lay on a creeper), but it could also be used to lift bodies off the frame & be set up outside and used to full height although still not as high as a permanent 2-post.
Mid rise jack if doing bodywork. Brings the work area up to you not you kneeling down to it. The engine is fully open on most of the systems out there. We have rack stands that are 36 to 48 inch paired front and back. Then just slide/roll the jack out if center work is required. I'll be looking in the fall for a 48 inch lift for our basement garage at our house.
I got one in the back yard you drive on it has been there over 60 years it is outside and you drive on it. I got a pic somewhere. Here is the compressor this will tell you how old it is.