People die by getting this wrong - be warned.

By far the best combination of ease of use, safety and cost is the Quickjack type of lift. It's a hydraulic lift that has an standard lift point section for jack pads and an enormous contact area if something fails. Couple these with some extra jack stands and you can really pull on that breaker bar while underneath the vehicle with confidence.

There are other options of course, center lifts, and two post lifts are popular given the right amount of space and budget as well.

At the bottom end of the safety spectrum are the drive-up ramps and . This is one of those self-regulating situations. Unless you are completely fearless or extremely resource constrained, getting under a teetering mass of metal that you know and feel will crush you into a horrible mess will make you want to invest.

Quickjack configuration tips

  • Don't over specify.
    The author made the mistake of confusing GVWR with the actual curb weight of the vehicle. I over bought by 2000lbs of weight capacity. This makes the individual lifts much more difficult to move.
  • Take your time and practice.
    Watch some videos on how to use it from the manufacturer. Read the instructions. (gasp!) Watch some youtube videos on what not to do. This is by far the most dangerous thing you will be doing. Practice moving the vehicle small distances at a time.
  • Make a longer cord to increase safety.
    You'll tend to accept less than ideal alignment for expediency because it's a hassle to move the quickjack controller around where you can see everything because it has a short cord. Get a cord reel from amazon and rewrite the quickjack so it has a nice long 50ft cord. This makes a world of difference when aligning all 4 points. This also makes it possible to permanently mount the pump in the center of the workspace, and then roll and unroll the hydraulic hoses when necessary.
  • Store the lifts vertically when done
    These things are trip hazards when not in use and can be a real pain to clean around. Use the optional Wall hangars, which are well worth the money.

Step 7: Delivery

Where Are You In The Process?

What is your combination of cost, availability, and repair requirements?
Can you handle flood damage? Missing panels? Non-starting vehicles?
Decide on acceptable panel gaps, paint imperfections, and fit misalignments
Consider fees, delivery, bid amount, parts, taxes, and registration
Set your max bid early and don't monitor the auction
Post sale negotiation, and actually pay for the vehicle.

You Are Here:

Step 7: Delivery

Can be as soon as next day after auction
Title Transfer, Registration and Inspection.
Complete any legal requirements to get your car on the road
10 Days to make the first keep or sell decision.
Re-market, sell for parts, or scrap.

Find where you are in the car buying journey and click any step above to learn more. Each step includes specific examples and lessons learned from real purchases. See all articles for more information.

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