Made a lift table for my garage

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sky56

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Well since I can't afford a lift at this current time I figured I would see what else is out there. I came across some plans on the internet building a wooden table from cafematty.com. I altered his plans a little with the help of my brother who's a contractor. I made my table 84"x24" and based on the materials I used this would cost you about $85 before tax at Home Depot and harbor freight. It's 2x4's and 1/"2 sheets of osb along with 4 locking casters. I'll post more pics as it's not done yet but it's coming along and I'm excited so far. If you'd like any further details on it just let me know I'm happy to share. Thanks
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I wouldn't put wheels on the bottom of that if I were you, especially swiveling casters. Too tall and too narrow. And you might want to finish that OSB sheeting with something to keep fluids from soaking thru and disolving it. Trowel on some adhesive and use some sheet vinyl or if you know a scrapper, get a piece of galvanized cold air return from a demo site. Or just an epoxy based paint.
 
Not bad. I agree I wouldn't put casters on that. If you do, make sure they can withstand the weight, many cheap casters from places like HD can only withstand 25lb, 50lb, etc.

What's the purpose of the plywood on the bottom? To stabilize the legs? May want to reomve that and stabilize the legs with some 2x's or even 1x's should work. Being on the concrete like that it's going to soak up a ton of moisture(assuming no casters, anyway). If you use casters it'll be fine.

How are the 2x's anchored to the legs?
 
Hey guys thanks for the kind words and suggestions. It's far from finished. I have 4 200lb casters that all swivel and lock. I have a wheel chock and tie down points to still install. As for the plywood on the bottom it's for a shelf and stability. This is all out together with 3" screws. I still have so bracing to do on the underside when I attach the casters. I'll make sure to post plenty of pics when I'm done.
 
I like it. I might follow your lead, sick of an aching back from working on the bike sitting on an upside down bucket!
 
Yeah I love the $299 HF coupon when it pops up but that's still $330plus out the door here in Chicago not to mention getting it home (it's heavy and I don't have a truck/car big enough). And my brothers have a wood shop so most of or was laying around and free. Can't beat some tunes and a beer and some garage time lol haha
 
I agree if it can be made for $75 why pay $300. I know it's not identical but basically the same thing.

I'm wondering if I can make it "scissor" and use a hydraulic pump to make it adjustable height(more for storage than anything).
 
  I know it's not identical but basically the same thing
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Haha its not even close. i doubt one person could even load a buell up onto that table safely. Id give this a try on a dirtbike or something but the $$$$ it would cost you if your buell tipped off that sucker. You will be wishing you paid the $330 and bought your buddy a case of beer to pick it up for ya. No way would I ever put my Buell on that stand.
 
Well I wish I had the money laying around for a lift but I don't. The lift for those who are curios is only 24" off the ground. I don't plan on using any bike until I know it's 100% ready to go. And when it is I plan on using an old beat up honda gl500 I have in case it goes south. I'll post pics of bikes and all that up on it when that time comes.
 
I'm all for anything that diverts scrap from hitting out landfills, especially if it also means we can also purchase a little less crap made in China.

Having said that, I'm sure you're acutely aware of some of the inherent hazards of your design, but you'll want to pay special attention to the angle at the top of the ramp to ensure that the low XB exhaust will clear it. Some ballast on the lower plywood level may help stability, and you might also incorporate some eye-screws so you can secure the bike with tie-down straps. Oh, and please avoid the temptation to push your bike unassisted, or ride up the ramp!
 
Yes I'm most certainly aware of the hazards in the design. This table will never be meant for baggers or any other very heavy bike or stretched bike of any sort. And I won't ever load and unload a bike on my own. I'd rather play it safe. The ramp is just there to show people the overall idea of everything. Thanks for the kind words and the video link. Def made me think and laugh. And I too am all for saving money and not filling up the landfills.
 
I don't' get the not loading by yourself comments. It's basically identical to loading in to a pickup truck. I've loaded my buell and other bikes into trucks the same way by power walking them up. Never an issue. The only time I've ever almost dropped it was when a neighbor saw me half way up and thought he was helping by running over and pulling the bike away from me. I lean it slightly towards me when walking it up. Him pulling it away from me almost made me lose my balance and let go of the bike(clutch and all). You can very easily and safely walk a bike up that by yourself, just need to use common sense. I've loaded my trucks by myself going up a ramp(and my truck is much taller than that stand) dozens of times.

How would the bike tip off this table? No more chance than any other stand as long as the legs are anchored to the top securely.

Just because something is of different material and home made doesn't make it "completely" different. Function is basically identical. Other than the height adjustment. And some stuff from HF is ok but their stuff is basically bottom of the barrel crap. I'd trust something I made to hold up over theirs. I've had some pretty sorry fails from HF tools (transmission jack supposedly rated for 600lb weld breaks with a probably ~200lb gearbox on it). That cost me a lot of money. Their stuff really sucks. Like I said though, I sometimes buy some of their tools due to budget but would never use them for anything heavy duty, and often have to either modify or repair them right out of the box.

I've done this with tables in the past it works great, but never thought to make a dedicated stand for the bike.
 
I have put a piece of plywood inbetween a foldable ATV trailer and never had a problem loading and unloading by myself.
 
I don't' get the not loading by yourself comments.It's basically identical to loading in to a pickup truck.
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I thought the video spoke for itself! :D

How would the bike tip off this table? No more chance than any other stand as long as the legs are anchored to the top securely.
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Certainly there's not any more chance that the bike will tip, regardless of whether its on the floor, or 2' above the floor, but it's the consequence of a tip-over, both to the bike and to whoever's working on it, that is potentially much worse. I've never had it happen to me, but I have seen tip-overs happen to less fortunate folks while they're exuberantly trying to remove seized or high-torque fasteners like axles & C/S nuts with cheater-bars. :(

And some stuff from HF is ok but their stuff is basically bottom of the barrel crap.
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[up]
 
I've seen people build wooden tables like that to work on. I would find a piece of formica for the top, it keeps liquids from soaking in and is easy clean up. And, if you use white or other light color you can use it as a dry erase board.

You could make it lift up for not much more, but you'd need to make the legs swivel and then build a second frame for it to all sit on, kinda like a jet ski lift
 
If I remember correctly, D-Adams built his own a few years back and posted the how to on here. Turned out sweet.
 

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