Workshop Inspection Pits

aardvaak

Many years ago (about the 1970's) I remember in the Exchange & Mart and other publication there used to be advertised fibreglass Workshop Inspection Pits that you had dig the pit out and secure then place the fibreglass pit into which came complete with lights and a drain.

I have not seen these around recently

Can you still get them and where?

maninthestreet

http://www.mech-mate.co.uk/Motor-Pits.html

facade

Google is your friend

The first hit on inspection pit is mech-mate ( mech-mate dot co dot uk)

They are not much use for a modern car tbh, they were more for greasing and changing the oils in Proper Cars in The Olden Days.

Most jobs like exhaust changing can't be done over a pit as the floor is in the way.

EDIT: double post, must type faster.

SailorSam

When we were building the garage i did think aboutputting a pit in, but make do with a decent trolley jack and axle stands or ramps. You don't seem to have to do jobs the way you use to.

colino

As trolley jacks, and even 2 and 4 posters are so relatively cheap now. pits with their sealing problems, you get your feet wet when they leach in water, or you have a handy container for leaked oil and grease and even better, petrol fumes, when they are well sealed, are pretty much redundant now.

jimjames

Looking at a 2 post lift for my garage. You can get them for around £1k on Ebay, local workshop selling theirs off shortly too.

Having used one a few weeks back it's definitely a preferable option.

Strider590

I thought these were banned at one point? EU law or something?

lincroft1710

Strider590 wrote: »

I thought these were banned at one point? EU law or something?

MOT test stations still have inspection pits.

harveybobbles

2 poster ramps are better if you plan on doing lots of gearbox work.

mttylad

Banned, what a silly idea.

Pits are extremely useful for maintaining the underside of a car, we can't all have a car hoist and an exhaust can be changed using one, you just need a long enough pit.

I have changed my exhaust, wishbones and made various other repairs using a friends pit in his garage - unfortunately for me he moved away so I no longer have access to it.

A hole dug, lined and with breeze block walls, a small sump pit & grid with pump for any leaks & big joists over the top to cover it and it was brill.

If I had a garage of my own I'd be wanting a pit in it as it would cost me about £100 all in rather than the cost of a full hoist.