Whenever I see people working on their lawn mowers these days they all seem to have a lift table. I’ve watched a whole bunch of guides and read a ton of articles and found what I believe to be the simplest method of getting my lawn mower up at a perfect height. So, gone are the days of kneeling on the garage floor and laying in the dirt. Let me share with you what I believe to be the simplest and most cost-effective method for building a homemade lawn mower lift table.
Why a Lawn Mower Lift Table is Handy to Have
Other than not having to lay in the dirt, lift tables can give you better access to your lawn mower. Essentially a lawn mower lift table is a workbench specifically designed for your mower. If made correctly you can eliminate the dangers of lifting a mower unaided and you will be able to lift without help from others. Overall, having a lawn mower lift table really makes mower repairs easier and quicker as you have everything at your fingertips.
What You’ll Need to Build Your DIY Lawn Mower Lift Table
So to keep the costs down, I kept my design and the construction elements as minimal and basic as possible. It consists of one table being used as a workbench and one table being used as a ramp. My lawn mower lift table only takes 30 minutes to erect.
Tools & Materials Required for Homemade Lawn Mower Lift Table
- 2x Adjustable Height Fold-in-Half Table 200lb Weight Capacity
- 2x Bungee Cords
- 4×2 Timber
- Velcro Strips
- Wood Saw
- Scissors
How to Make a Homemade Lawn Mower Lift Table (6 Steps)
Now that I’ve covered the tools and materials you’ll need to make your DIY lawn mower lift, let me walk you through the steps to put it together.
Table One
The first table is going to be used as the main workbench. Simply erect the table and move it into position.
Table Two
Next, erect the second table but this time only use one set of legs at one end of the table. The other set of legs at the other end of the table should be left in their storage position. This is the mower ramp.
Position Both Tables
With both tables erected, position them end to end ensuring that you have enough room to push your lawn mower up the new ramp.
Secure the Tables
Using your two bungee cords, secure the legs together. Wrap the cords around the two legs so that they are unable move apart.
Wooden Stops
Use your woodsaw to cut your 4×2 in two, measuring the length to match the tabletop’s width. These will prevent the mower from rolling off the table once installed.
Install the Velcro Strips
Attach the two cut lengths of timber using Velcro strips to the table.
Mowers This Lawn Mower Lift is Suitable for
This homemade lawn mower lift is used for my 80 lb walk-behind lawn mower. When I selected the tables to use I ensured that the weight capacity was sufficient and had a little extra capacity. I doubled the requirement and used a 200 lb table to be extra cautious. I would never use this table for anything other than my walk-behind lawn mower.
Should You Make a Homemade Lawn Mower Lift Table
Before you grab any tools you need to consider safety, cost, and whether it is necessary to have your own homemade lawn mower lift table.
When you start to go up the ranks with lawn mowers you start to increase the weight. As an example, zero-turn lawn mowers can come in at over 600 lbs and professional versions can weigh over 1000 lbs. So, unless you are a craftsman with knowledge of materials and loading capacities, I would be very cautious if attempting to build a homemade lift table for a zero-turn.
The second consideration is cost. My design ran me less than $100. Now, I’ve seen designs with mechanical jacks, steel construction, and even wheels and I know these weren’t cheap. They may have even been more expensive than a premade version.
Finally, is it really necessary to have a homemade lawn mower lift table? For your small mowers I would say yes, but for the big mowers maybe not.
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