Alright, let’s talk about this mid-rise scissor lift thing I got myself into. For years, I was messing around with floor jacks and jack stands. You know the drill – pump, pump, pump, slide the stand, lower it carefully, repeat on the other side. It’s a pain, especially when you’re just trying to do a quick oil change or swap tires.
My back started complaining, and honestly, I was just getting tired of crawling around on the cold concrete floor. I started looking around. Full-rise lifts? Nah, my garage ceiling is too low, plus the cost was way up there. Then I stumbled upon these mid-rise scissor lifts. Looked like a decent compromise.
Getting the Beast Home
So, I pulled the trigger and ordered one. Let me tell you, when that delivery truck showed up, the crate looked massive. Heavy? You bet. Getting it off the truck and into the garage was a mission in itself. Definitely needed a hand, maybe two. It came mostly assembled, thankfully, but still needed some fiddling.
- Unpacking was a job. Lots of straps and packing material.
- Finding the perfect spot took some measuring and shuffling things around. These things aren’t small when they’re down.
- Hooking up the power unit wasn’t rocket science, just followed the instructions. Checked the hydraulic fluid level, plugged it in.
First Time Lifting
Okay, moment of truth. I drove my car carefully over it, lined it up on the pads. Felt a bit weird the first time. Hit the ‘up’ button on the controller. The thing whirred to life, and slowly, steadily, the car started going up. Gotta admit, I was watching it like a hawk, listening for any strange noises. But it went up smoothly.
Wow. Having the car up at a comfortable working height, maybe waist-high, was a game-changer. No more lying on my back! First job was an oil change. Piece of cake. Access to the drain plug and filter was so much easier. Then I did the brakes, and rotating tires became almost enjoyable.
What I Think Now
So, after using it for a while, here’s the lowdown:
The good stuff:
- Makes working under the car way more comfortable. Saves my back and knees.
- Much faster than messing with jacks and stands. Drive on, lift up, get to work.
- Feels pretty stable when the car is up there. Way better than balancing on four separate stands.
- Great for brakes, suspension work, exhaust stuff, oil changes, tire rotations. Basically anything that doesn’t require dropping the whole transmission or engine usually.
The not-so-good stuff:
- It takes up floor space, even when lowered. You gotta plan your garage layout around it.
- It’s a mid-rise, right? So, it doesn’t go super high. For some really involved jobs underneath, you might still wish for more clearance. But for most DIY stuff, it’s enough.
- The initial cost isn’t pocket change. It’s an investment.
- Still need to be careful positioning the lift pads under the car’s correct lift points.
Overall? Yeah, I’m glad I got it. It totally changed how I feel about working on my own cars. It turned jobs I used to dread into something manageable, almost pleasant. If you do a fair bit of your own maintenance and have the space and cash, it’s definitely worth looking into. Just be prepared for the delivery day shuffle!
