Here's an idea I've never tried, but might some day:
Step 1. Buy a set of four crank-style (or electric if you have mo'
money) camper jacks - they're usually bolted to the corners of a camper
so you can jack it up and drive the pickup out from under the camper.
Step 2. Build or have built a rectangular frame that the four jacks
would be bolted to (instead of to a camper) and gusset the corners so
it doesn't parallelogram on you.
Step 3. Hang chains from the frame to ground level.
Step 4. Connect the bottom ends of the chains to two strong
cross-beams.
Step 5. Slide the beams under the car (one right behind the front
wheels and one right in front of the rear wheels).
Step 6. Crank each corner a little in turn to lift the whole car, but
use jackstands to support it once it's at the height you want.
I bought a $1400 "low lift" hydraulic unit (lifts the car about
27")back when I was routinely dropping engines in/out of 914s, and it's
a great piece but heavy at 900 pounds. Another way to go is the
12'-16' long inclined ramps you drive up on and then jack up the back
end (lifts the car about 12" but it's still on its wheels). I've seen
the camper jacks on ebay for $100-300. The cheapest alternative I know
of is this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42820
You could reach the differential from the rear of the car with its
length.
M D "Doc" Nugent
--- Scott Tilton <stilton@protoprod.com> wrote:
> I got an early X-mas present of a Sears Craftsman ATV / Motorcycle
> jack.
>
> Unfortunately I had to take it back.
>
> The thing is over 5.5" high when completely lowered.
> That won't do I'm afraid.
>
> I didn't even assemble it .. just put it back in the box.
>
> I was also a little bit concerned when I looked at it because it
> didn't
> appear that the rear swivel casters would actually support the weight
> applied to them.
> It looked more like there were supposed to be external supports to
> take the
> heavy load instead of the casters.
>
> Which would mean that under load, the jack wouldn't be free to roll
> around.
>
> Not that I want to wheel it around with the jack . .but when lifting
> a car,
> I prefer to have the jack roll up under the car as it is raised
> rather than
> trying to pull the car over the jack.
>
> Lifting only the front or rear wouldn't be a problem, but if you
> wanted to
> lift the side, you'd be trying to drag the car sideways.
> Also .. if you backed up onto some ramps and then when to lift the
> front end
> . . .that would be bad. You'd pull the car forward and it might roll
> down
> the ramps.
>
>
> So ends my consumer report.
> I'm still on the lookout for a good / easy / cheap way to get a TR up
> high
> in the air.
>
>
> Scott Tilton
> 1970 TR6 Everyday
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