Anybody have a car lift? Looking for opinions
 

I know this isn't 3d gen specific but I figured this is a good place to ask. I've been looking at getting a 4 post car lift for quite some time. I want to know if any of you guys have one and what brand you have. I'd like to get something that is good but I don't necessarily need the best. The Bend-pak lifts seem very nice, probably better than what I need. As much as I try to steer clear of chinese stuff they seem to have some pretty good deals. I want something safe that will last a long time. I've seen "Auto-lift" "Direct-lift" "Dannmar". My understanding is that the Direct Lift is the best of the Asian lifts because it's parent company is Dover/Rotary. Is there any advice you guys have to share?

I have a 7k two-post Rotary that I found used, and it's been bullet-proof. When I was looking, I spoke to a couple shop owners I know and one dealership service manager that I knew personally. None would recommend Bend-Pak.

I extended my garage and installed this lift here. It's more expensive than a 4 post but it is removable. In the summer you can use it outside the garage and in the winter use it inside.

I leave one post mounted and remove the other post to store the rx7s in the winter.

MaxJax Portable Lift System - More Video - Jay Leno's Garage

Let me know if you have any questions.

Anthony

I have used the expensive Rotary lifts and the cheaper ones you can get off ebay. Never had issues with either of them. Probably would have just done the cheaper ones as they get the job done.

I know of a lift being sold down here for like 1.7k I think it was

I'm looking for a 4-post parking/service lift. I think the Direct Lift Pro Park 8s is the best value for an asian made lift that is still considered to be of good quality.

ONE post lifts are the latest and greatest thing on the market. They have a small footprint and will fit just about anywhere. The cost is around 5K and everyone is now making them.

American Custom Lifts Single Post Car Lift, 6500 lb. Lifting Capacity | Single Post Lift

My neighbor has one of these he uses to store and service cars with. I will probably purchase one next year as well.

http://indyautolift.com/FP9K.html

Here's my 2 cents worth of opinion.

If you want to service a car, NOTHING is better than a 2 post lift. Period.

Why you may ask. First, a 2 post lift allow you to get under the car and work on the exhaust/transmission/engine/suspension whatever you can see you name it. No obstacles. So WHY get a single 1 post lift which block MOST of the undercarriage? Why?

As far as to purchase a lift, go find a snap-on/matco/mac-tool dealer or truck guy. Ask him about purchasing a used lift or even a new one. I bet you can find one under 2k used in GREAT condition.

I personally use nothing but Rotary lifts so I cant give you any opinion on other brands.

-AzEKnightz

^Agreed. The drive-on style is definitely convenient. But if the intention is to get them for service, a two-post can't be beat. If you're just looking to expand storage, either is fine. But I think most would be surprised on how much the rails and bracing of the drive-on styles are in the way. And that includes the one-post linked above.

Holy crap! I wouldn't trust a Chinese version of that!

IMO two post is the way to go if you plan on working on your car. I work at a garage and we have a drive on 4 post for alignment. Sometimes we get busy and have to do oil changes and rotations in that bay and its a pita. We all hate that lift, unless we have to do an alignment. I have nothing but good things to say about two post lifts because nothin gets in the way. Drive ons are a pita when you need to do something around the outside of the vehicle, including tires. When I buy a lift, it will be a two post. I think that outside of tools, lifts are worth their weight in gold, especially with our cars

For my situation parking comes before service. Most of the 4 post lifts have jack setups available.

I have this same style lift, with all of the accessories except for the hydraulic scissor jack, in my shop. I purchased it via a local person I know who is a racer and sells these as a kind of distributor. FYI for the OP, mine was shipped from Dallas, TX. Total cost, including shipping, was less than what is shown on this website because I waited until they went on sale. Usually about once/year.

If the OP is interested, contact me via PM, and I can see what current prices and delivery times are. Mine was such a good deal I considered trying a GB to help out my fellow forum friends.

As others have stated, it's great for storing cars, but not so great for maintenance other than oil changes, spark plugs, the basics.

Richard

respectfully disagree.. ive done pretty much everything on my four post..
just need the lfit jack accessory to complete the four post..

http://imageshack.us/a/img250/6813/ampdd1qf1.jpg

Done it does not mean it is meant for that.

If you have a 2 post compared to a 4 post doing the same job. It'll take 2x amount the effort to get it done on a 4 post than a 2.

I have both in my shop, and I bust out cars left and right easily with both.

But the 4 post just requires so much more. Why? Because the rack actually is an "obstacle" which requires you to position your body in such a way when performing tasks below/beside the car differently.

My point is, YES it works. But if I were to choose between the two, it is a no brainer.

Thanks for listening to my opinion. No harsh feelings :nod:

-Eric

The OP is looking for a 4-post lift not a 2-post lift. I agree on the working issue w/the 4-post BUT if you are using it for storage the 2-post is at a lost since it doesn't allow you to load the suspension. Another difference is with the 4-post; you drive on it, get out of the car and you are done. The 2-post will require you to get dirty adjusting arms before you can lift anything and on a Saturday night this is a no-go:fruit:

twice the effort is an exaggeration imho..
most of what you need to do aside from the four corners is between the tracks..
pic of the daily after installing exhaust..

http://imageshack.us/a/img183/609/cscb1ampbe3.jpg

Amp,

Can you provide more detials about your FOUR post lift?
Oh, I LOVE the CYM wheels on your FOUR post :score:

Wait till you work on suspension work + subframe work.

Then you'll probably say "FML, shouldve bought a 2 post" =).

Again, this is ONLY my opinion. You dont have to listen to what I say. But I do this for a living and over 150 cars a month. Tell my opinion is probably worthless from the OP anyways.

So, how do you replace your brake pads on those 4 lifts without a jack? How about adding a jack option? Will you still have that much room under the lift? :blush:

-Eric

Loading suspensions on a 2 post lift can be done in couple ways.

1) by using an exhaust jack
2) by lower the rack until the suspesion touches the ground, and roll under to torque bolts

I personally uses method #1 and has always worked like a charm.

-Eric

two post is ideal for bulk work.. as in shop.. pretty sure the topic is of personal use here..
as stated earlier.. to work on corners.. all you need is a lift jack.... an accessory to the four post
having only a standard two car garage.. four post is ideal in that if i wanted to.. can roll it to the other bay..
you have to meet certain requirements to install a two post.. not so with the four..

^While I'm still sold on the increased utility of a two-post, the fact that you need to anchor it is a short-coming for a residential user. IIRC you need something like 6 inches minimum of concrete. Probably more than the average house garage floor. Not a big deal if you're building and can spec it out, but retro-fitting would make the 4 post a "no-brainer".

Greg Smith makes a nice product and reasonably priced.

Greg Smith Equipment Sales Inc. - The car lift professionals with quality automotive equipment at discount prices.

Amp is correct that a 4 post can be made more useful if you purchase the lift jack accessory. While it does get the car up in the air and giving you the ability to work on suspension, brakes, etc. it is still not as easy to use a rolling seat or creeper as a 2-post. Again, which you buy is a function of the intended purpose.

I opted not to get the lift jack accessory because it cost more than 1/3 of what I paid for my entire lift. My lift did come with a "jacking tray" where you are supposed to be able to place a small hydraulic jack and lift the car off the runners, but even the smallest bottle jack I picked up from Harbor Freight wouldn't fit under the FD so I could lift it.

I also looked at a MaxJak. I like the fact it could be stored away when not needed, but still provide 2-post lift capability/benefits for service work. Only issue was that it did not lift high enough for what I wanted to store underneath, and the civil engineering evaluation of my shop floor for thickness indicated I was border line.

When the OP does make a final selection, and you select a lift with the (4) rollers that allow you to move the lift around with a car on it, I recommend that you look to get the rollers that are urethane and not steel. Mine has steel wheels and it does not roll well.

Richard