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My MaxJax Lift
HI! Dne’ here! My most recent major tool purchase within the past couple years has been the marvelous MaxJax lift, it has to be my most valued lifting tool, then my Little Mule comes in 2nd! Let’s face it, we have to get under the classic cars now and then! I used a floor jack for a couple of years, but I was able to get under the cars only has high as jack stands would allow.
When shopping for a mid-rise lift, I came across a link to Jay Leno’s garage. As everyone knows, Jay Leno is a car enthusiast extreme! He had someone demonstrating the MaxJax on his site. I was sold! This lift is designed for garages with a low ceiling, like mine. The ceiling in my shop is 8?! Most people would probably say, “why bother?”, but floor jacks and jack stands I consider to be prehistoric! The MaxJax can be purchased at various places on the internet, but I chose Garage Equipment Supply (GESUSA) / MaxJax 2-Post Portable Lifts; they’re very nice and the service is excellent! If you call them, tell them I sent you! I just like good people!
My 67 Mustang Coupe on The MaxJax
I’m just mesmerized by this advertising picture~ I’d like to have one wall in my garage look like this, only with my Mustang on it! ; )
My mothers riding lawn mower on The MaxJax lift
A cool thing about the MaxJax, one column may be used for projects like in the next few photos ; ) My Mom’s (she’s 86) Craftsman 54? Lawn tractor here on one column. I needed to replace the drive belt, muffler, lube, etc. Yes, I could have done this on the floor, but “Why?” No stress or strain here! This is where a little imagination and creativity comes in, and an assortment of 4 x 6 wood blocks! ; )
My Honda 4000 psi pressure washer. The single column made working on this service easier as well, bringing the pressure washer to my waist level, saving my back! and my knees! and my patience! I injured my back years ago when lifting a patient in a hospital (I’m a physical therapist assistant), so I have to be a little careful these days! How’s your back?
Probably one would ask, “how safe is the MaxJax?” I would guess is an important question! It’s kind of easy answer~ It’s very safe, but only as safe as the person in charge of using it! No different from using a floor jack! How many times may you have heard of a small floor jack slipping? Just using common sense will take one a long way! Safety in the shop is always priority one!!
Here, a classic ’57 Chevy Bel-air 4 door on my MaxJax. The Bel-air is a pretty large vehicle!
I Like this photo as it shows the beauty of the Bel-air and of course the MaxJax in action!
Once again, the MaxJax is designed for people with a low garage ceiling, but of course may be installed wherever you like, as long as it’s mounted in concrete of 4? or more thickness. My shop ceiling is 8?. Now not all cars will make it to the top-notch of the MaxJax, but fortunately my ’67 Mustang does! Seems like I’m always having to do something to my Mustang!
I just thought this was a neat photo! My mustang is about 1? away from the ceiling! ; ) Let’s see you get your car up this high with jack stands!
A Third column
Now this is a unique situation! My 59 Chevy Apache is next over to my Mustang on 4 – 2 ton tripod stands from www.gregsmithequipment.com/jack-stands. Note: I feel no person using a lift should be without these type of jack stands~ added protection and adds stability to the project at hand) My truck will be there for a long time and I need my MaxJax in the other “stall”. Another great versatility of the MaxJax is the ability to unbolt it from the floor to: store it out of the way when not in use, or relocate it. However, I begged my husband to let me buy a single MaxJax column! I can unbolt the center column and face it in the direction of which ever I need without unbolting the one column against the walls, which in my shop is difficult to get to! No, you don’t have to do this! Is it cost-effective? OK, how about spending gobs of time and money on a classic car, only one day to sell if for half of what’s in it? Go figure! ; )
Now I have two stalls to use at any time! If I don’t want the MaxJax where it is, I unbolt it and roll it out of the way until I do need it! Pretty slick!! Look at all the room to work under my Mustang! Impressive!
And of course you can put whatever you want on the MaxJax, as long as it doesn’t exceed the 6,000 pound rating and the concrete meets the requirements necessary. I don’t think I have any vehicle that weighs that much anyway.
Here I was servicing my daughters Subaru Outback. A left front CV joint went out. Yeah, Mom can fix it! Now this is one situation that I can’t get a car to the top-notch on the MaxJax, but still higher than jack stands.
Getting my MaxJax home
I had my MaxJax delivered to a local trucking place. Conway. I just went to get it on my little utility trailer and of course they loaded it. I unloaded this by myself, in pieces of course! My husband was out of town. Brains over Brawn! Each column weighs 300lbs! I used floor jacks and a delicate approach to getting down to the ground!
Here I had just parked the two columns, now to figure where to put them!
Actually, positioning the MaxJax where it’s going to be, or not be, was quite easy! I just put my Mustang where it would clear the open garage door, put the columns where what seemed logical, marked the spots, and went to work making the holes for the anchors. Don’t skimp on the hammer drill you need to drill the holes! You can rent a good hammer drill!
Use of one column is wonderful! It’s versatility is impressive and functional! Notice my pump for the MaxJax is now mounted on the garage wall. This is permanent, and I can just use the hydraulic quick disconnects to where ever I need them.
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4-7-2019, Adding a new photo, I’ve been working on my 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 4×4, weighing in at 5100lbs! My MaxJax didn’t flinch in getting it up in the air, but I’m a firm believer in low/tall jackstands as added support for safety reasons, plus it would be up on the lift waiting on parts!;)
OK, that’s all I have to say now~ I plan to post more photos and videos in the near future. This blogging is new to me and I hope to make this more professionally done as I post what I do! ; )
Please bookmark my website, classiccarsandtools.com, if you would like to follow me on my Blog. My website is new and I will update it often.
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Sep, 01, 2012
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Thanks for the info. we been thinking about one, but we were not sure of how stable they are.
I love your MaxJax! You’re doing a great job on the truck and the mustang is very nice! =)
Oh, and can you set a stop so it doesn’t go into the ceiling?
Hi Mike!
Welcome to my site! Please use the forum section for your own topics if you would like.
Now as for the stability, is very good! There’s always a feeling of apprehension when underneath the lift or any lift! I think it’s an innate thing, a spider sense feeling. That’s why I really like the tripod stands, one in the front and in the rear to make the vehicle rock solid and give security while underneath the car/truck. A set of two of those from Gregsmithequipment.com are only 100 bucks, and they’re adjustable! Now if you should decide to buy an MJ, I’d like to talk to Ryan at GESUSA.com, he knows me very well! and tell him I want my friends to get a great deal than what is advertized! I have 3 Maxjax columns~ I Think I explained it in my website. I go overboard sometime, but works out well!
Hope to hear back, but if I don’t, I’ll contact you later of the extra info mentioned in my other reply to you! Have a great day!
dne’ ; )
Sean,
First off~ thank you for coming to my site!! I promise by the end of the day, to have photos of how the stops work! “By Grandpa’s Hammer” I’ll make this happen! lol In short, the MJ has two positions, one at 24? and the other at 45?, the actual locking mechanism is a rod(about 2? long, probably off a bit. It’s simple, there are holes at those levels in the column and when a vehicle is say, above the first holes in the column, you place the rod into the hole, then you lower the car onto those rods/bars. It’s very simple. You wouldn’t want to leave the car on the lift without locking them, then you’d just be relying on the hydraulic hoses to hold the car up! It’d be similar to getting under a car using a floor jack,you wouldn’t get under the car without a jack stand or a few 2 x 6?s!lol Though it’s against warranty of the lift, I plan to drill a set of middle holes as a stop. I’ll explain that later today in photos as well. You’re welcome to call me anytime today! Gary’s bugging me, what do you want to do today? Though I’d like to work on my truck, I feel guilty and need quality time with him.
Dne’; )
That’s a real pretty Mustang! Loving the blog!
Trevor! Thank you for the compliment!! I hope I’m doing justice for the MJ and gesusa! You guys are super helpful with my ideas, and the service department is awesome! ; )