The 'E' Type Forum

What is the consensus of the best way of getting underneath the cars?

I don't have the height to fit a proper full size four post lift but I could get away with one of the Hamer:

www.hamercarlift.com

or the Levo-Artis:

http://www.levo-artis.com

Alternatively I could go with a pit:

www.mech-mate.com

(I think that is the same as yours David?

Anyone got any views?

Despite the 'elf & safety concerns I think my Mech-mate pit is fantastic. Allows access to all areas of the car, lights/power to hand and the sliding seat and tool tray make working on the car very relaxing. You do however have to remove a lot of soil!




It has the added advantage of being able to work on the car, reverse out and test it then drive straight back in without any hassle. You are welcome to drop by and try it out if you have doubts.

You need to source your own lights, sockets, switches and 4" wooden cover planks as they are not included in the kit. I bought, but never use, the optional floor mat (makes cleaning difficult) and the insect trap (more trouble than it is worth). Seat, tool tray and (maybe) jack support are worthwhile though.




The design has changed to allow fluorescent strip lights rather than the bulkhead fittings shown in the brochure. Price list is circa 2006. Mine is the 3.5 metre model SP352

David, if I had a garage as nice as yours I'd never come inside! I'd never heard of the Mech Mate, but it's the best solution I've seen yet.

I purchased a four poster from a dutch company who advertise in most motor mags costing 1620 pounds sterling delivered, assembly was straight forward. It was purchased before I sold a house and purchased a replacement expecting to have a garage with full height. However the good lady picked a house with a bedroom above the garage. restricting the headroom. However I installed the ramp and it is still excellent. I can get enough height to sit on a stool and work under the car perfectly and it has turned the garage into a three car. I get the C-type on the ramp the E-Type under neath and the MKII along side. A great product from Holland

Any pictures or web links John?

Hi Dave,

The company in Holland who manufactured my ramp is called Intern www.INTERNBV.NL. The price has not changed over the three years I have had mine, but unfortunately sterling has devalued against the Euro terribly. The ramps when delivered were packed for protection but is heavy. It took two of us to man handle the main pieces into the garage for assembly. However assembly was straight forward. These ramps are supplied with anchor bolts but are not necessary Intern obtained TUV approval as a free standing device as I have mine. A set of wheels are also included to move it around once assembled. The ramps are lowered to their minimum postion with the wheels engaged and the whole device clears the floor and can be wheeled around, very useful. Power is single phase, I mounted mine with an overload breaker. The only thing they don't supply is the hydraulic oil only the oil spec required

I also have the same ramp, ordered at the beginning of this year from a classic car show in Maastricht (I live in the Netherlands). The delivery cost me 95 euro here.

The ramp is designed here in the Netherlands but manufactured in China, with containers full coming over every week. They sell more than 20 a week, mainly to private DIY customers although the recent TUV approval means thay can also sell to businesses now.

I am pleased with the product although the electrical safety locks can be problematic - I would have preferred the manual version they had before the TUV upgrades.

As I understand it the price has stayed the same but it used to include delivery, now it doesn't.

Speaking as a person regularly working with safety considerations of fabricated products, the sharp edges on the metalwork were shocking! Don't touch it without gloves! I spent a few hours with a grinder and a power file making it more user friendly.

I agree it's very heavy. Five of us struggled to get the heaviest part, the platform with the hydraulic cylinder fastened underneath, into position. Find some young people to help with this!

Mine came complete with the oil. The instruction book seems to be loosely translated from the Chinese and the pictures are not very clear but you get there in the end.

These minor quibbles apart, I don't think you can find better deal than this for home use.