Trike Lift

[Doc]

Anyone out there have their own Trike Lift? Been checking online, asked the Shop Owner and Mechanics building my Kit and everyone is all over the place.
Like a Trike Kit, it's a decent investment but one I believe may be worth the $$$. Feedback appreciated.

Ed

 

[redneckray]

I use a car lift to lift my trikes, as heavy as they are , hard to find a good lift for them, but then again i find a lift that goes in the ground and us flush with the floor and works well,
need to make it work for your trike, but works too,

 

[rmrc51]

At one point I was considering buying a 'Back Yard Buddy';

Car Lifts for the home garage. Backyard Buddy 4 Post Free Standing Automotive Lifts

Two friends of mine have them and they're really a quality item! The only reason I didn't go for it was because the roof height in my garage isn't high enough to have the Trike on top with a car underneath. I'd have to remove the windshield on the trike in order to have it stacked.

One of the options that you can get with the Back Yard Buddy is a filler plate that goes between the two ramps, end to end, making a perfectly flat surface for the trike. It's a bit pricey but as you know, if you want quality you usually have to pay for it.

And just to make it clear, I have "NO" affiliation with Back Yard Buddy!!!! as I mentioned two friends have them and in my opinion, it's a quality item.

 

[Doc]

Only have a small 2 car w/8' ceiling....and having limited finances I'll have to stay focused on the regular M/C-Trike Style Lift; so, that said
I'll keep fingers crossed that someone out there has one of those that can give me some info....thanks for the try guys.

Ed

 

[Nauga Mok]

One inexpensive way to get your trike up off the ground is use those stamped steel car ramps for the rear wheels. Run up on them then use a regular floor jack to pick up the front. You'll need to stop & block it while jacking the front to reposition the jack or it'll get pulled sideways. Use a hack stand once the front is up where you want it. Finding the balance point is necessary when using a regular Bike lift. On my trike, that's back under the body, so a bike jack won't work. The full length lifts work pretty well for most conversion trikes if you get the extension wings to make them wider. My Roadsmith has a longer wheel base, so I'd have to add an extension for length too. Need to watch the capacity of these lifts. Some are only 1,000 lbs. My trike weighs 1150. Right now, I'm using the ramps, floorjack & jack stand. I've thought about getting a 3rd ramp, but would probably need some way to keep all 3 positioned 1 didn't slide when running up on them. Sure helps when detailing if it's up off the ground a bit!

NM

 

[Doc]

I hear ya...I've used the Ramps and Floor Jack routine when I was doing the engine swap on the Fiero (never was thrilled about crawling around down there). Handy makes a 1500 Capacity Lift, they also make a Trike kit for it...since the Roadstar w/ a Motor Trike kit only weighs 915, I'd be pretty comfortable using that. Would still like to hear from any members that use a Lift made for Trikes and get their input. The guy building my Kit told me he hasn't found one he likes yet...which isn't exactly a vote of confidence! Thanks for the input.

Ed

 

[belmac]

handy went out of business. tried to order a front extension for mine and thast was the new i got........

 

[redneckray]

if you look around, usually on cl, you can find a scirorr lift, that they use to do brakes on a car , that goes up about 3 feet and great for a trike, just a thought,
ray

 

[Papa Zook]

handy went out of business. tried to order a front extension for mine and thast was the new i got........

Handy went out of business?? I hate that...they had been around a long time. Hey I just looked and their website is still up so maybe they didnt??



I have two Handys and four BlackJacks like these:

They are actually stronger and longer than the Handys and cost less.

 

[redneckray]

Looks great,

 

[Mr.Wizard]

Cut out the middle man... I have a Greg Smith in town and picked up this one. Has trike extensions and front wheel vice with drop down for back tire replacement. I added the Black Jack with the money I saved. It's an air powered hydraulic lift unit. Doesn't drag and mark up the floor with it's back legs and is movable by jacking down the 4 wheels. The chopper addition is great too... gives the trike more room to pull in.


Atlas HI-RISE 1500 - Greg Smith Equipment Sales, Inc

 

[redneckray]

Looks great, glad it works for a trike too,

 

[Gorilla]

I got one like Wizard has and like it a lot.

 

[Doc]

Outstanding...Thanks for the info. I'll give them a call.

Ed

 

[Mr.Wizard]

This unit takes an air compressor that can hold 90 to 100 lbs of pressure like most all lifts do. With a small compressor tank (about 3 gallons) you can hold enough pressure to get the lift up with a trike on her. It struggled though so I got a 20 gallon unit that has an oil lubricated pump. The non-oil pumps just don't last. Northern Tools has one for less than 300 bucks. Perfect for the home shop guy that wants to have a little extra Oomph. This is their house brand and it works great.

Wel-Bilt Electric Reciprocating Air Compressor — 2 HP, 20-Gallon Tank | 2 - 9 CFM | Northern Tool + Equipment

About the only thing I don't like about the lift is the front wheel vise. I'm going to change it to a Condor locking chock. Ride the two wheel bike up and lock it in place, get off and it stands up without the kick stand. But, there's always a But... with the trike extensions you can put the kickstand down and get off to strap the bike down. That's why I got the flat jack too. Slide it under the bike and as you lift it the bike stands up straight.

I picked up some 2" ratchet straps from Tractor Supply "on sale" for 10 bucks. They self retract. I bolted them to the front end of the trike extensions at an angle. Now they are ready at a moments notice with a soft tie strap to grab the front frame.

Highland 2 in. X 10 ft. Retractable Ratchet Strap with Hooks - 3011571 | Tractor Supply Company

You guys that are thinking about a lift, you will need the above no matter which unit you buy.

 

[PhilGilbert]

One inexpensive way to get your trike up off the ground is use those stamped steel car ramps for the rear wheels. Run up on them then use a regular floor jack to pick up the front. You'll need to stop & block it while jacking the front to reposition the jack or it'll get pulled sideways. Use a hack stand once the front is up where you want it. Finding the balance point is necessary when using a regular Bike lift. On my trike, that's back under the body, so a bike jack won't work. The full length lifts work pretty well for most conversion trikes if you get the extension wings to make them wider. My Roadsmith has a longer wheel base, so I'd have to add an extension for length too. Need to watch the capacity of these lifts. Some are only 1,000 lbs. My trike weighs 1150. Right now, I'm using the ramps, floorjack & jack stand. I've thought about getting a 3rd ramp, but would probably need some way to keep all 3 positioned 1 didn't slide when running up on them. Sure helps when detailing if it's up off the ground a bit!

NM

I have a grade beside my garage. I'm thinking of just putting some (3) wide channel iron ramps out from that grade to form an old fashioned outdoor above ground pit like I used to see all the time as a kid sooo long ago. A little up-grade to keep the trike from rolling off wouldn't hurt.

 

[ultraboy]

I also have the Greg Smith units. No problems bikes or trikes. Got the first one 7 years ago, and still going strong. Hate crawling around on the floor, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

 

[meredog]

i HAVE BEEN USING THREE OF THE STAMPED STEEL CAR CAMPS-----BOLTED THEM INTO PLACE TO A SHEET OF PLWOOD------ONLY ISSUE I HAVEN'T WORKED ON IS GETTING IT OFF THE RAMPS (PRESENTLY JUST HAVE WIFE PUSH MY BACK ENOUGH TO GET ER DOWN)

 

[Doc]

Now I'd love to see a pic of that with the Trike on it!!!

Ed

 

[msocko3]

Handy went out of business?? I hate that...they had been around a long time. Hey I just looked and their website is still up so maybe they didnt??

They didn't go out of business, my dad bought a BOB 1500 with trike kit back in May of this year. It's built like a brick sh@t house.