Lift tables

[01xj]

Friend of mine is offering me an older, but free HF bike lift. I have a small garage and it would take up a good sized footprint, but I'm thinking it's worth it. Anyone have any feedback on these tables? I've admittedly been kinda lazy with bike maintenance these past few years because I'm sick of laying on my back to do everything. I am rapidly approaching a point where I'd do the work if I could wheel my ass around on a stool, and pile the tools on a table rather than a mess on the floor. I know they are hefty but is there any way I'd be able to stand it up against a wall when not in use? Seems like one of those things that's invaluable when you need it, but in the way a lot of the time.

[SteveM]

Friend of mine is offering me an older, but free HF bike lift. I have a small garage and it would take up a good sized footprint, but I'm thinking it's worth it. Anyone have any feedback on these tables? I've admittedly been kinda lazy with bike maintenance these past few years because I'm sick of laying on my back to do everything. I am rapidly approaching a point where I'd do the work if I could wheel my ass around on a stool, and pile the tools on a table rather than a mess on the floor. I know they are hefty but is there any way I'd be able to stand it up against a wall when not in use? Seems like one of those things that's invaluable when you need it, but in the way a lot of the time.

I had one of these. I was never able to get it on it's side in an out-of-the-way spot when not in use and it did take up a lot of room in the garage.

I sold it.

Now there are days when I'd like one.

If I had one, I'd probably decide it took up too much space and sell it.

...and so it goes...

[01xj]

Yes, in less words that's exactly my predicament.

[whynot]

I've had one for about 15 years, closer to 20 now that I think of it, in use all the time. My garage is pretty crowded, if I don't have a bike on it, I pump it up and use it for work bench space. In winter I store one of the bikes on it. Kinda heavy to stand it up, I wouldn't try myself. The only issue I had was leaking some hydraulic fluid, so I topped it up several years ago with "Jack Oil with Stop Leak" -- it works as advertised.

https://barsleaks.com/product/jack-o...top-leak-hj12/

I added some U-bolts for more tie-down points, and installed a Condor "trailer" wheel chock.

The price on these lifts has gone 'way up, so free is good.

[loudbeard]

Alternative, if the ceiling joists can support it, you could build and winch system to lift it up to the rafters when not in use. Pick up a cheap ATV winch to lift with a button.

[Stoneman]

I'd find the room and a storage solution if it's free. Plain & simple...

[01xj]

Alternative, if the ceiling joists can support it, you could build and winch system to lift it up to the rafters when not in use. Pick up a cheap ATV winch to lift with a button.

That's a dam good idea.

[nhbubba]

I have one. Overall I find it well worth the floor space. I'm in a bit of a spot of limbo at the moment as we recently moved and I don't have an established workspace yet. Right now it is half extended with a bunch of moving boxes on it. In the past I have had bikes on it for winter storage or used it as another work surface when working on other projects. It also works for off-season storage. I find the wheels roll acceptably well on a concrete surface even with a bike on it such that I can load the bike and then tuck it away for the winter in a corner.

I also have one of their "ATV" jacks. Nice alternative with a smaller foot print. I had an older steel version I got for free here on NESR ages ago. When we moved I opted to pass it on and buy myself the newer, upgrade aluminum version. Worth the extra $ in my opinion. Gets just about any bike up off the ground and vertical for storage or work. Vertical storage (ie off the side stand) is critical in my garage. Not everything can be humped up onto a dirtybike race stand or works with a paddock stand. Downside of this sort of "lift" is oil changes or anything that requires access to the bottom of the center of the machine. Obviously tables win there.

Also you can get an inexpensive scissor jack that is super helpful on a table lift. Goes under the center of the machine and gets it off at least one of its wheels. The ATV jack is a better choice if removing both wheels.

Yoootoobe has recently decided I need to see HF table mod videos. Most are excessively dumb or obvious or whatever. This one is only partly in that camp. Guy built a wood and steel tube stand for the stand that gets it up on its side and against a wall. These tables are heavy AF, so I don't know how great a move that is. But here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCtw0wyNmdY

My biggest beef with the HF table is the rough edges. The sides of the table are bent upwards forming a lip with a barely finished edge. It's sharp. Someday I'm going to split myself open on it. And the ends are pretty pointy. I keep telling myself I am going to take a grinder to the ends someday and maybe cap or finish the rolled edge. Haven't gotten to it though. Most more premium lift tables have the edges rolled down instead.

The "stock" wheel chock is junk, barely useful at all. Mine wound up in the scrap. I have a better roll in/out chock with some wood as a base that works both on my table and on my trailer.

[tls25rs]

Could you place it in the center of the garage between the wheel tracks of whatever vehicle gets parked in that location and just park over the lift when not in use for bikes? When needed park the vehicle outside and use the lift? Guess it depends on the ground clearance of the vehicle you drive and whether or not you actually use your garage to park in or for all sorts of other things.

No idea how tall the lift is when lowered

[boosten lebaron]

I lift my jeep top to my ceiling with a harbor freight ATV winch. You have to be aware of a few things like angles and dead lift load as opposed to pull load but it's doable. Don't forget the safety straps to make sure it doesn't fall on your mellon.

Conversely you could build a simple ramp table. I have one that's sturdy af made out of milk crates and plywood. When I don't need it I just stack it in the corner. Easily holds my Harley.

[loudbeard]

That's a dam good idea.

I haven’t done it for my lift, but I have quite a few other things I use ceiling storage for. Super handy as long as you have the headspace.

[nick5446]

I love mine. I've had it for 12 years and never had an issue (and it's got a bike in the air about 99% of the time). If you have multiple bikes, just park one on top of it. I've flipped mine on its side a few times and leaned it against a wall, but it's not super easy to move around in any position.

I'm always on the lookout for a cheap second one.

[Stoneman]

I also have one of their "ATV" jacks. Nice alternative with a smaller foot print. I had an older steel version I got for free here on NESR ages ago. When we moved I opted to pass it on and buy myself the newer, upgrade aluminum version.

Thanks again!

[01xj]

Could you place it in the center of the garage between the wheel tracks of whatever vehicle gets parked in that location and just park over the lift when not in use for bikes? When needed park the vehicle outside and use the lift? Guess it depends on the ground clearance of the vehicle you drive and whether or not you actually use your garage to park in or for all sorts of other things.

No idea how tall the lift is when lowered

I could probably park over it when I use the garage. I only stuff my truck in when there's a good snow storm coming. Most of the time though, we use the garage to enter and exit our house, plus all my kids toys are in one corner. So leaving it there is do-able to park over, but long term, someone would trip over it for sure.

I haven’t done it for my lift, but I have quite a few other things I use ceiling storage for. Super handy as long as you have the headspace.

I'm 5'4" so overhead storage is ample at our house. I think I could safely rig it up. Right now I just have a sheet of plywood up there and it's just your typical homeowner junk. Xmas lights and moto parts.

[MUZ720]

Had mine for 12 years good solid lift, tad clucky, no major issues, corners can b sharp and takes more than a few pumps to lift the table. For the price take it and enjoy.

[whynot]

These lifts are so [expletive deleted] heavy, no way I would walk underneath one that's been lifted to the rafters.

Re. the sharp corners, I filed them round.

[MUZ720]

One issue I've heard about is that the steel frame can bend where the locking cross bar sits/hits. Never seen it on any that I looked at. But something I would check for.

[RandyO]

I have the EazyRizer Red along with most of the mounts, solid platform. I got it thru a group buy from Rokon several years ago, Rokon uses the EazyRizer as a manufacturing platform. Doesn't take any more space than a bike

[Crconnor18]

I’ve moved mine about 4 times between residences and they aren’t light. I’d never leave it strapped above me but maybe because I’ve been trained to never walk under suspended loads.

Back it up (rear towards the wall, throw a strap under the table and hook to the low back bar and the other to a rafter or hoist ring and lift it up so it stands tall with the rear on the floor.