General Discussion Discuss your Oldsmobile or other car-related topics.

Storing a car under a Two post lift

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old December 10th, 2017, 07:04 AM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
w30442's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: New Brunswick Canada
Posts: 75
Storing a car under a Two post lift

Since I accumulated more junk over the summer, I was thinking of storing a car underneath my two post lift. I have never done this but have left it up lots with a car on it. Anyone ever do this for winter storage ?
w30442 is offline  
Old December 10th, 2017, 07:14 AM
  #2  
Registered User
 
marxjunk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: KANSAS CITY, KS
Posts: 2,030
ive done it many times..make sure the safety is working and dont worry about it..
marxjunk is offline  
Old December 10th, 2017, 07:28 AM
  #3  
Registered User
 
Sugar Bear's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,054
I have not done it, so I'm not an expert but would try it. I'd put the weight down to the safety vs. the hydraulics and consider strapping the lift arms to the frame to prevent unexpected movement (probably not necessary but easy to do). Protect what you put underneath from fluid leaks if it matters.

Could the items be put on the lift with a platform and that raised instead of the car? It would keep car accessible.

Good luck!!!
Sugar Bear is offline  
Old December 10th, 2017, 10:00 AM
  #4  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
w30442's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: New Brunswick Canada
Posts: 75
I will check the safety latches, its an older hoist that the safety dogs click as you go up and you have to pull the 2 dogs before you lower the hoist or it catches on the dogs.

Since the wife has her Mustang to store now I would like to have some space.
Not a bad idea to strap the arms as well. I don't need it way up in the air. Maybe I'll put a tarp on the bottom car in case the Olds leaks.
w30442 is offline  
Old December 12th, 2017, 06:23 AM
  #5  
Registered User
 
Cincinnati Rick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 1,456
My body shop guy will only put a car on a lift for short amounts of time. He claims the frame can sag and move body panels around. If it's a nice car you may want to store the other items on the lift as Sugar Bear suggests.
Cincinnati Rick is offline  
Old December 12th, 2017, 07:56 AM
  #6  
Registered User
 
Funkwagon455's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Aledo, Texas
Posts: 2,404
Originally Posted by Cincinnati Rick
My body shop guy will only put a car on a lift for short amounts of time. He claims the frame can sag and move body panels around. If it's a nice car you may want to store the other items on the lift as Sugar Bear suggests.

The fella that painted my wagon said this as well.
Funkwagon455 is online now  
Old December 12th, 2017, 01:44 PM
  #7  
Registered User
 
D. Yaros's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 1,915
Have been doing it annually for a decade or more.

Once you get the car to the height you want after the safety dogs click, lower it to rest on the safety dogs. Do not want to leave it held up by hydraulics!

I also attach a tarp (diaper) to the underside of the car on the hoist to catch any drips.
D. Yaros is offline  
Old December 12th, 2017, 04:34 PM
  #8  
Registered User
 
1970greensupreme's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: North Haven CT
Posts: 240
I"m stacked 3 high at times, I have the frame of my 70 Olds hanging from the rafters above my lift, a car on my lift and one on the floor below, funny thing, my family think's it's normal after all these years living with me
1970greensupreme is offline  
Old December 12th, 2017, 05:28 PM
  #9  
Registered User
 
jensenracing77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Brazil Indiana
Posts: 11,508
I have a car under another on a 2 post lift nearly year round.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
IMGP2034.JPG (2.19 MB, 31 views)
jensenracing77 is offline  
Old December 12th, 2017, 05:56 PM
  #10  
Registered User
 
classicmuscle442's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Water Wonderland MI.
Posts: 1,414
Just a thought, if frame sags after sitting on lift you have bigger problems. Have lifted convertibles and never was a problem. If body moves on a lift look for frame problems.
classicmuscle442 is offline  
Old December 12th, 2017, 06:57 PM
  #11  
72 Olds CS
 
RetroRanger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 6,657
Eric how high is the ceiling your shop ?
RetroRanger is offline  
Old December 13th, 2017, 06:27 AM
  #12  
Registered User
 
jensenracing77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Brazil Indiana
Posts: 11,508
Originally Posted by RetroRanger
Eric how high is the ceiling your shop ?
10 foot 3.5 inches total. It is JUST enough to get the car all the way up with no adapters on the lift pads. If a car has an antenna I have to remove it.
jensenracing77 is offline  
Old December 13th, 2017, 03:15 PM
  #13  
72 Olds CS
 
RetroRanger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 6,657
thanks...my garage has 10' ceilings as well so looks doable.
RetroRanger is offline  
Old December 13th, 2017, 04:35 PM
  #14  
Registered User
 
jensenracing77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Brazil Indiana
Posts: 11,508
Originally Posted by RetroRanger
thanks...my garage has 10' ceilings as well so looks doable.
You can still do it with 10 foot but you will not be able to go the last 2 inches. You will have to be very careful to not top out. At 10 foot you could still get another car under the other but will still need to be careful. Would also matter on what brand of lift
jensenracing77 is offline  
Old December 13th, 2017, 05:54 PM
  #15  
72 Olds CS
 
RetroRanger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 6,657
ill measure exactly but IIRC 10' was the number...thanks for the heads up
RetroRanger is offline  
Old December 14th, 2017, 05:19 PM
  #16  
Registered User
 
dennis_30281's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Stockbridge, Georgia
Posts: 408
I parked my nice '95 5.0 Mustangs convertible under a '66 Mustang and brake fluid dripped on the '95. Watch out for drips!
dennis_30281 is offline  
Old December 15th, 2017, 08:31 AM
  #17  
Registered User
 
Kennybill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Braceville, Ohio
Posts: 1,972
I've use bed sheets, then lay a lightweight tarp over the top of the car.
Kennybill is offline  
Old December 17th, 2017, 07:40 AM
  #18  
Registered User
 
zeeke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Nassau County, NY
Posts: 1,019
Originally Posted by jensenracing77
I have a car under another on a 2 post lift nearly year round.
Is that white vert a 71'? Didn't you sell that car last year? It's jogging my memory because I have the same car only mine looks like a puzzle dropped on the floor, pieces everywhere.
zeeke is offline  
Old December 17th, 2017, 08:00 AM
  #19  
Administrator
 
oldcutlass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Poteau, Ok
Posts: 40,620
People do it all the time. As mentioned above there needs to be a barrier from fluids dripping on the car below.
oldcutlass is online now  
Old December 17th, 2017, 12:54 PM
  #20  
Registered User
 
jensenracing77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Brazil Indiana
Posts: 11,508
Originally Posted by zeeke
Is that white vert a 71'? Didn't you sell that car last year? It's jogging my memory because I have the same car only mine looks like a puzzle dropped on the floor, pieces everywhere.
Yes, sold that, the W-30 on the lift and the 70 Pace Car. Only have three Jetfires now and one of them is going to be for sale this Spring
jensenracing77 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
76 Regency
General Discussion
39
December 13th, 2017 10:13 AM
atkinsom
General Discussion
35
November 17th, 2011 12:58 AM
HARDCORE POSER
General Discussion
17
August 15th, 2009 09:27 AM
jensenracing77
General Discussion
7
May 4th, 2009 09:02 AM
jensenracing77
General Discussion
16
May 1st, 2009 02:35 PM



Quick Reply: Storing a car under a Two post lift



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:27 PM.