The lift decision for your workshop will be based on your budget, ceiling height and service requirements. The lifts featured below are the best in the business. They are manufactured in Germany to strict CE and TUV standards.

These are lifts that have been installed on various Ultimate Garage projects. Categories (at this time) include.......

• Mid Rise Scissors Lift

• Twin Post Full Rise Lift

• Full Rise Scissors Lift

Mid-rise Scissors Lift

The mid-rise lift has become very popular in the past decade, allowing home mechanics to lift their vehicles 35-45" off the ground for easy access to brake, suspension and engine components. They are reasonably portable (moving something 600-1000 lbs can still be a bit of a chore) on concrete surfaces and need not be anchored to the ground. As a full rise service lift requires 11+ feet of ceiling height, the mid-rise lift is often the only option.

Nussbaum Sprinter mid-rise lift

Having owned and used a variety of US made low-rise and mid-rise lifts over the years, I quickly discovered their limitations which are not a problem with the Nussbaum Sprinter pictured above.

1. Easy setup - simply drive the vehicle over a pair of gently sloping, comfortably wide (approx 18" each) ramps which will rise to make contact with the framework of the car to lift it off the ground. The lift's height is only 3.85" (98mm) for easy drive-on without rubbing spoilers.....no need for those ugly plywood or 2x12 ramps required for clearance with competitive lifts. Non-marring polymer blocks are positioned on the ramps under the 4 jacking points to protect the underside of the vehicle.

2. Full undercar access - with this lift's twin piston design, there are no crossover obstructions between the two ramps. Drivetrain and exhaust repairs can be performed which are nearly impossible on the popular mid-rise lifts.

The Sprinter's specifications and options are as follows:

• Capacity - 5,500 lbs
• Operation - Electric/hydraulic (220v)
• Lifting Height - 39"
• Lifting Time - 9 seconds
• Overall length - 75" (platforms extend from 55-75")
• Overall width - 72"
• Width Between Platforms - 34 1/2" (no obstructions)
• Shipping weight - approx 1,500 lbs
• Price excluding Freight - $3,695.00
• Optional mobility kit - No charge
• Custom Colors - special order (blue is standard)

With mobility kit. "Diamond-plate" decking is standard

This may not be the cheapest mid-rise lift on the market but its the finest and most versatile one that I've seen to date. Add 42" (39" plus a 3" safety buffer) to the height of your tallest vehicle to determine your minimum ceiling height requirement.

Twin Post Full Rise Lifts

There are hundreds of two post service lifts on the market. They are the cheapest and easiest to install. Choosing the right one is very important, especially for use in a home workshop. Asymmetric style is recommended for open door access but this will affect placement of the lift in the shop.

My personal vote for the "ultimate service lift" goes to Nussbaum's electromechanical QL-8000. This lift requires 3 phase power and as such, is recommended for the more serious workshops. The technology to produce quiet, efficient, balanced 3 phase power in single phase residential workshops is also available through Ultimate Garage.

Nussbaum QL-8000 - With power feeds in the floor, ie, no crossover channel. Standard arms shown. (Note- crossover can be run in conduit above...there are no hydraulic lines or equalization cables to deal with)

Another installation with "in-floor" power feeds. Long wheelbase vehicles...

.....and short ones too!

With overhead power feeds & crossover channel. Posts are approx 125" high, lower than the usual 144" posts on most full rise hydraulic lifts.

This lift uses a 2hp motor (3 phase, 208/230v) in each post with electronic synchronization between sides. There is no need for synchronization cables or hydraulic lines from post to post. The only connections are power and control wires which can be hidden in the floor or up at the ceiling for a nice clean look.

No hydraulics here! This is why they call it a "screw" lift

"Nylatron" spindle nut outperforms all others on the market

Customers have been very impressed at how quiet this lift runs during operations. Nussbaum claims it to be the "quietest lift in the world". I had a customer place his phone on the lift post while raising his car and I could not hear the lift running. And as a mechanical "screw" lift, the spindle and nut in each post function as the safeties wherever the lift stops.

For work on low clearance vehicles (ie, under 4" of ground clearance), the "Porsche" arm option is highly recommended.

QL-8000 Lift Features

• Capacity - 8,000 lbs
• Lifting Time - 35 seconds
• Operation - 208/230v (3-phase)
• Lifting Height - 78"
• Low Clearance with Mini-max Arms - 3.34" (85mm)
• Low Clearance with Stock Arms - 4" (100mm)
• Overall Column/Post Height - 117" (under 10')
• Overall Width - 120" to 132"
• Inside Column Width - 97" to 109"
• Colors - Standard is Blue, optional colors an additional $300.00
• Price for standard QL-8000 (excluding Freight) - $3,995.00
• Price with Porsche Arms (excluding Freight) - $4,795.00

Full-rise Scissors Lift

For those folks who are tight on space but still need a full rise service lift, Nussbaum makes what I believe to be the best full rise scissors lift on the market today. And with its diamond plate decking, it's surely the most attractive.

In a large workshop, one can fit five scissors lifts in the same space as four traditional twin-post units. Similar to the mid-rise lifts at the top of this page, the Nussbaum Jumbo NT uses a double scissors design for an impressive lift height of 78". Drive-over frame contact platforms are comfortably wide at 24" and low enough (98mm - 3.85") to prevent spoiler contact with most lowered vehicles. Surface versions are lagged to the floor and flush mounted versions are available via special order for a cleaner look (minimal excavation required).

 

Surface mount scissors lift

 

Close up view of the above surface mount scissors lift

 

Flush mount version of the scissors lift....

 

....full rise, in-ground lift with approx 12" of excavation required

 

The Jumbo NT's specifications & features include:

• Capacity - 7,000 lbs
• Lifting Time - 36 seconds
• Operation - 208/230v (single phase)
• Lifting Height - 78"
• Low Drive-on Clearance - 4" (98mm)
• Width between Platforms - 29" to 31.5"
• Overall Width - 77" to 79.5"
• Overall Length - 81"
• Diamond plate platform surface for durability & looks
• Nussbaum "TSX" technology provides redundant aviation style hydraulic safety
• Includes 2 sizes of non-marring polymer crush blocks for vehicle frame protection
• Lubrication fittings on all movable lift joints for longevity
• Colors - Standard is Blue
• Price for standard Jumbo NT (excluding Freight) - $6,995.00