Car Lift for Conversion

Post Reply
modellfan
Posts: 137
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2022 11:20 am
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 45 times

Car Lift for Conversion

Post by modellfan »

I want to reflect with you on options to lift my car to get my battery box in and out. I need to lift my car approximitly 70cm to get the battery out. My workflow to unmount the battery is to lift the car, remove the connections and remove except 4 bolts. Place the car with the battery on a roll cart. Loosen the remaining bolts and then lift the car. Currently I am working outside and I can't place anything permanent there, because it is rented. What do you do? What are your ideas?

Car Jack and Jack Stands
Is my current solution. But to lift it up and down is like three hours. It is quite unsafe. Last time my car jumped from the car jack. Fortunatly with minor damage.
a0f7bb1943317bae708b822806eb36eb.jpg
Car Table
469c5a7186031c2acc60a13fcdea167f.jpg
Axle Table
mqdefault.jpg
mqdefault.jpg (10.68 KiB) Viewed 337 times
Quick Jack
Not enough height
5000TL.jpg
Tire Lift
730730327.jpg
Poor Mans Tire Lift
homemade-tire-lift.jpeg
homemade-tire-lift.jpeg (44.43 KiB) Viewed 337 times
User avatar
muehlpower
Posts: 750
Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2019 10:51 am
Location: Germany Fürstenfeldbruck
Has thanked: 17 times
Been thanked: 168 times

Re: Car Lift for Conversion

Post by muehlpower »

I have something similar in a Chinese version. It's heavy, but can still be rolled away. The advantage is that the middle of the car is free underneath. It lifts about 1 m and costs just under €2,000.
rp-8510pe.jpg
modellfan
Posts: 137
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2022 11:20 am
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 45 times

Re: Car Lift for Conversion

Post by modellfan »

The gap is too narrow for my battery box and probably for most battery boxes.
User avatar
GregFordyce
Posts: 28
Joined: Sun May 23, 2021 5:58 pm
Has thanked: 25 times
Been thanked: 21 times

Re: Car Lift for Conversion

Post by GregFordyce »

Do you actually need 70cm, how tall is your battery? I was able to support my van on 4 large axle stands, place the battery on a trolley made from an old door and casters. The casters are tall enough that I can get a floor jack underneath each end of the battery box and the door is thin enough that the battery box will roll under the van. Then I carefully lifted each end of the box while sliding blocks of wood and a pallet between the trolley and the door until the battery was in position.
PXL_20251026_153546580.jpg
Peugeot Expert LWB 2009
Zombieverter - Full 80kW Leaf stack
24kWh & 30kWh Leaf batteries in custom battery box under van
nkiernan
Posts: 571
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2020 8:59 pm
Location: Ireland
Has thanked: 442 times
Been thanked: 87 times

Re: Car Lift for Conversion

Post by nkiernan »

In a similar line to your current setup, these additions can be handy. Diy ramp and removable centre section so can can be driven onto the four wheel stands...then remove the ramp and mid section.
DiyRamp1.jpg
DiyRamp2.jpg
DiyRamp2.jpg (10.6 KiB) Viewed 279 times
DiyRamp3.jpg
DiyRamp3.jpg (10.31 KiB) Viewed 279 times
DiyRamp4.jpg
DiyRamp4.jpg (7.78 KiB) Viewed 279 times
User avatar
muehlpower
Posts: 750
Joined: Fri Oct 11, 2019 10:51 am
Location: Germany Fürstenfeldbruck
Has thanked: 17 times
Been thanked: 168 times

Re: Car Lift for Conversion

Post by muehlpower »

I use a lifting platform, as shown. First, I lift the car and place jack stands underneath it. Then I lower the platform and slide the battery under the car. Next, I lift the battery with the platform and bolt it to the car.
The platform is installed flush with the floor in my case.
Attachments
rp-8504ay.jpg
WillK
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Aug 18, 2020 8:11 pm
Has thanked: 53 times
Been thanked: 8 times

Re: Car Lift for Conversion

Post by WillK »

I've just picked up a pair of these from cj autos. Easy to move about and store, and maintains access to the underside.

Will probably end up getting a second set if they work out well.
products-CR012-2.jpg
products-CR012-2.jpg (13.91 KiB) Viewed 208 times
MattsAwesomeStuff
Posts: 1040
Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2019 5:40 pm
Has thanked: 427 times
Been thanked: 267 times

Re: Car Lift for Conversion

Post by MattsAwesomeStuff »

I think some 2x8s to build some ramp risers is probably the cheapest way to go.

Commercially, Quick Jacks would be the way to go. A cousin of mine ran his mechanic side hustle with those until he could afford a taller garage and to install a lift. Bonus, if you don't need them, you can probably buy them used, and then sell them for probably the same amount you paid for them.

You can probably buy quick jacks cheaper than you could buy steel stock and make a contraption yourself.

If you don't like your 2x4 crib stack, I'd just make a bigger base and some triangulation to support it better. And split the stack so you're not doing the whole lift at once.
Post Reply