A trailer includes a front section having a first floor with an upper surface at a fixed vertical level approximately between three and six feet above a street level, a middle section, and a rear section having a second floor with an upper surface at the fixed vertical level. A horizontally-oriented platform is disposed in the middle section. A lifting mechanism is coupled to the platform and selectively raises and lowers the platform between a lower position of one to two feet above street level, otherwise known as curb-level, and an upper position of approximately between three and seven feet above street level

A swing arm restraint system for an automotive lift includes a movable carriage including a swing arm mounting portion. A first swing arm restraint housing is non-rotatably connected to the swing arm mounting portion, the first swing arm restraint housing including a first internal space. A first swing arm is pivotally connected to the swing arm mounting portion and is rotatable relative to the first swing arm restraint housing. A first restraint device is located in the first internal space and connected to the the swing arm restraint housing. A second restraint device is operably connected to the first swing arm such that the second restraint device rotates with the first swing arm relative to the first swing arm restraint housing. The first and second restraint devices are configured to be selectively arranged in either one of: (i) a locked position where the first and second restraint devices are non-rotatably coupled such that said first swing arm and said second restraint device are non-rotatably coupled to said first swing arm restraint housing; (ii) an unlocked position where the first and second restraint devices are decoupled with respect to each other such that said first swing arm and said second restraint device are rotatable relative to said first swing arm restraint housing.

A swing arm restraint system for an automotive lift includes a movable carriage including a swing arm mounting portion. A first swing arm restraint housing is non-rotatably connected to the swing arm mounting portion, the first swing arm restraint housing including a first internal space. A first swing arm is pivotally connected to the swing arm mounting portion and is rotatable relative to the first swing arm restraint housing. A first restraint device is located in the first internal space and connected to the the swing arm restraint housing. A second restraint device is operably connected to the first swing arm such that the second restraint device rotates with the first swing arm relative to the first swing arm restraint housing. The first and second restraint devices are configured to be selectively arranged in either one of: (i) a locked position where the first and second restraint devices are non-rotatably coupled such that said first swing arm and said second restraint device are non-rotatably coupled to said first swing arm restraint housing; (ii) an unlocked position where the first and second restraint devices are decoupled with respect to each other such that said first swing arm and said second restraint device are rotatable relative to said first swing arm restraint housing.

A vehicle lift includes a base, a platform assembly, and an actuation member. The platform assembly includes a platform base, an adjustable bridge slidably coupled with the platform base, and a friction-reduction assembly that biases the adjustable bridge away from the platform base. The friction-reduction assembly may include a retractable flat surface, a ball, or other component made of a friction-reducing material, such as a plastic material, that recesses into the platform by way of compression springs, wave spring washers, Belleville washers, a rebounding material, or the like. A pair of lifts may be tied together by a brace at one end or both for additional structural support.

A vehicle lift includes a base, a platform assembly, and an actuation member. The platform assembly includes a platform base, an adjustable bridge slidably coupled with the platform base, and a friction-reduction assembly that biases the adjustable bridge away from the platform base. The friction-reduction assembly may include a retractable flat surface, a ball, or other component made of a friction-reducing material, such as a plastic material, that recesses into the platform by way of compression springs, wave spring washers, Belleville washers, a rebounding material, or the like. A pair of lifts may be tied together by a brace at one end or both for additional structural support.

A drop table can employ one or more shearing drive couplings to optimize lifting operations. The drop table can have a motor physically attached to a first lifting column via a first rotating input shaft and to a second lifting column via a second rotating input shaft. Each rotating input shaft is connected to the motor by a drive coupling having a shearing insert positioned between a drive shaft and a collar.

A drop table can employ one or more shearing drive couplings to optimize lifting operations. The drop table can have a motor physically attached to a first lifting column via a first rotating input shaft and to a second lifting column via a second rotating input shaft. Each rotating input shaft is connected to the motor by a drive coupling having a shearing insert positioned between a drive shaft and a collar.

Method and related system to set-up and control a system for lifting loads, preferably motor vehicles, includes causing the user to be positioned at each column to be registered as belonging to the system and to provide an activation command in the user interface of each column to register it as belonging to the lifting system, the user interface providing no information to the user about the position of that column in relation to the other columns and to the load. The user then moves each registered column to any of the operating positions for lifting the load; by acting on the user interface of one of the registered columns, assigns to that column the role of command column; and commands, by acting on the user interface of the command column, the simultaneous lifting/lowering of at least one or all the columns of the lifting system.

Method and related system to set-up and control a system for lifting loads, preferably motor vehicles, includes causing the user to be positioned at each column to be registered as belonging to the system and to provide an activation command in the user interface of each column to register it as belonging to the lifting system, the user interface providing no information to the user about the position of that column in relation to the other columns and to the load. The user then moves each registered column to any of the operating positions for lifting the load; by acting on the user interface of one of the registered columns, assigns to that column the role of command column; and commands, by acting on the user interface of the command column, the simultaneous lifting/lowering of at least one or all the columns of the lifting system.

A control system detects a loaded state for a lifting device. The control system receives a current load value from a load sensor corresponding to a load on the lifting device and compares the current load value from a previously received load value to determine a change in load. The control system receives a current displacement value from a displacement sensor corresponding to a displacement of the lifting device and compares the current displacement value with a previously received displacement value to determine a change in displacement. The control system compares the change in load with the change in displacement to determine a current load slope. The lifting device in identified in a loaded state based on a comparison of the current load slope with a load slope threshold. The control system may stop extending the lifting device after reaching the loaded state and start extending all of the lifting devices in unison to lift the load off of a base surface after all of the lifting devices reach the loaded state.