News

Alright, let’s talk about these car scissor lifts, ya know, the kind you might find at Harbor Freight or somewhere like that.

What’s a Car Scissor Lift Anyway?

Well, it ain’t rocket science, I tell ya. It’s just a thingamajig that lifts your car up so you can get underneath it. Kinda like a big, strong jack, but it goes straight up instead of at an angle. Handy if you gotta fix somethin’ under your car and don’t wanna be squished like a bug.

Why Would You Need One?

Now, I ain’t sayin’ everyone needs one of these. But if you’re like me and your car’s always makin’ funny noises, or if you just like to tinker around with cars, then it might be worth lookin’ into. Changing oil, fixin’ the brakes, heck, even just checkin’ for rust, it’s a whole lot easier when you ain’t crawlin’ around on the ground like a snake.

Harbor Freight and Them Lifts

I hear tell Harbor Freight sells these car scissor lifts. Now, I ain’t been there myself, but my neighbor, Bob, he got one. He says it’s pretty good for the price. Course, you gotta be careful, you know? Make sure it can hold up your car. Don’t wanna end up with a car on your head, that’s for sure.

• Lifting Capacity: That’s how much weight it can hold. Gotta make sure it’s enough for your car, or maybe even your truck if you got one of them big fellers. Bob says his can lift a couple of tons, but you gotta check the fine print, he says. Don’t just take his word for it.
• How High it Goes: Some of them lifts go higher than others. Think about how much room you need under there. If you’re just changin’ the oil, you don’t need it to go up too high. But if you’re workin’ on somethin’ bigger, you might need more space.
• Safety Stuff: This is important, folks. You don’t wanna mess around with safety. Make sure it’s got them safety locks or somethin’. Bob’s got these metal bars that he puts in place so the lift don’t come crashin’ down. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Using the Lift Safely

Now, even if you got a good lift, you gotta use it right. Don’t be a fool and just jump under the car without checkin’ things first. Make sure the car’s centered on the lift, and make sure them safety locks are in place. And for goodness sake, don’t let the kids play around it. It ain’t a toy, it’s a serious piece of equipment.

Other Things to Consider

Some folks say you can use an engine hoist to help lift one end of the scissor lift, if you’re movin’ it around or somethin’. Sounds kinda tricky to me, but Bob says he’s done it. Just gotta be careful, I guess. And there’s different kinds of jacks, too. Bob says some of ’em work with these lifts and some don’t. Again, gotta read the fine print, he says.

The Bottom Line

So, a car scissor lift can be a real handy thing to have, especially if you’re always workin’ on your car. Harbor Freight might be a good place to get one, but you gotta do your homework. Make sure it’s the right size for your car, make sure it’s safe, and make sure you know how to use it right. And for Pete’s sake, don’t forget them safety locks! Nobody wants a car fallin’ on ’em, that’s for sure. Always remember, safety first! If you ain’t sure about somethin’, ask someone who knows. Better safe than sorry, I always say.

And that’s about all I know about them car scissor lifts. Hope it helps ya out some.

Tags: Car Scissor Lift, Harbor Freight, Vehicle Lift, Auto Repair, Safety, Lifting Capacity, DIY, Car Maintenance, Garage Tools, Hydraulic Lift