Anybody have a car lift? Looking for opinions
04-11-13, 06:58 AM
#26
I am looking to be able to fit 2 cars in one spot like AMPs setup. In fact the 2nd gen is what I'm looking to park at the top of the 4 post lift. I just need to find a nice one. My daily driver was a MS6 until I got hit/totaled by a "texter". AMP we have similar taste.
Richard, Thanks for the advice on the wheels. I can imagine the steel wheels getting hung up and not rolling smoothly.
I think we can all agree than a 2 post lift is best for a mechanics shop or a serious auto hobbyist whose goal is to work on the vehicle lift and not to store it.
A good amount of work can be done albeit a little more difficulty on a 4 post lift and you have the ability to store, park under. 2 post lifts are certainly not for storage and as NVMYRX-7 pointed out it would be a pain to park under.
Richard, Thanks for the advice on the wheels. I can imagine the steel wheels getting hung up and not rolling smoothly.
I think we can all agree than a 2 post lift is best for a mechanics shop or a serious auto hobbyist whose goal is to work on the vehicle lift and not to store it.
A good amount of work can be done albeit a little more difficulty on a 4 post lift and you have the ability to store, park under. 2 post lifts are certainly not for storage and as NVMYRX-7 pointed out it would be a pain to park under.
04-13-13, 06:12 AM
#28
I am looking to be able to fit 2 cars in one spot like AMPs setup. In fact the 2nd gen is what I'm looking to park at the top of the 4 post lift. I just need to find a nice one. My daily driver was a MS6 until I got hit/totaled by a "texter". AMP we have similar taste.
Richard, Thanks for the advice on the wheels. I can imagine the steel wheels getting hung up and not rolling smoothly.
I think we can all agree than a 2 post lift is best for a mechanics shop or a serious auto hobbyist whose goal is to work on the vehicle lift and not to store it.
A good amount of work can be done albeit a little more difficulty on a 4 post lift and you have the ability to store, park under. 2 post lifts are certainly not for storage and as NVMYRX-7 pointed out it would be a pain to park under.
Richard, Thanks for the advice on the wheels. I can imagine the steel wheels getting hung up and not rolling smoothly.
I think we can all agree than a 2 post lift is best for a mechanics shop or a serious auto hobbyist whose goal is to work on the vehicle lift and not to store it.
A good amount of work can be done albeit a little more difficulty on a 4 post lift and you have the ability to store, park under. 2 post lifts are certainly not for storage and as NVMYRX-7 pointed out it would be a pain to park under.
04-13-13, 07:26 AM
#29
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I think the best compromise between parking and service for a home user with only one bay is: http://www.challengerlifts.com/CL7P_spec.shtml . it has 4-5' drive over, frame engaging pads, let's the suspension hang and leaves most of the undercarriage open, and is a compact 2 post design. It's probably easier to park on than a 4 post. Be sure to have at least 4" of 3000psi (or 3500psi. Check manufacturer spec) concrete. Most lifts come with 5.5" anchors and only 4"or so make it into the slab due to nuts, washer, base plate, etc. 4" is the standard minimum most connectors pour a slab, but check. Stay away from cracks or other voids.
I steer clear lifts from Chinese manufacturers. Many are not ALI certified, and my life is worth more that the thousands bucks I'd save. Personally, I have an older Ben Pearson lift from the days when they were built in the US. Unfortunately, many of the US manufacturers have moved their full or second tier lines overseas, so you have to ask about the country of origin even with them.
I've installed hundreds of lifts and serviced thousands as that was my profession for many years. I've also seen what happens when a lift fails. Fortunately, in all the failures I've seen, nobody was under at the time.
I'd steer clear of Greg Smith, and Bend Pak would be the absolute lowest tier of lift I'd buy, and that would be under duress. Honestly, when you're talking about a thousand dollar price spread over the lifetime of a lift in home use, it's pennies a day. Get the good one. Your car and life is worth it.
I steer clear lifts from Chinese manufacturers. Many are not ALI certified, and my life is worth more that the thousands bucks I'd save. Personally, I have an older Ben Pearson lift from the days when they were built in the US. Unfortunately, many of the US manufacturers have moved their full or second tier lines overseas, so you have to ask about the country of origin even with them.
I've installed hundreds of lifts and serviced thousands as that was my profession for many years. I've also seen what happens when a lift fails. Fortunately, in all the failures I've seen, nobody was under at the time.
I'd steer clear of Greg Smith, and Bend Pak would be the absolute lowest tier of lift I'd buy, and that would be under duress. Honestly, when you're talking about a thousand dollar price spread over the lifetime of a lift in home use, it's pennies a day. Get the good one. Your car and life is worth it.
04-21-13, 10:45 PM
#30
The Man
An additional consideration with a 2 post lift, besides the concrete thickness is ceiling height. I prefer 2 post lifts for servicing, since you can remove the wheels and do all work on the lift. However. In my garage, my ceiling is limited so I opted for the 4 post lift. It makes oil changes, and all aspects of engine/trans servicing much better than lying on the floor. Plus I needed extra space for my third car to allow space for my girlfriends car in the winter.
04-21-13, 11:01 PM
#31
Just to follow up with everybody, after doing a lot of research I'm going to buy a 4 post Bend-Pak HD-9. It's more than I want to spend but seems to be the best in terms of quality and capacity. They have a good reputation and while I'm sure it's Asian made whereas it used to be USA made, I think the BendPak company has the ability to maintain quality control of their own lifts. Cessna is building airplanes in China now. As much as I hate it, it's possible to have a quality product as long as it's from a good company. Thanks to everybody for the input. I'm still a month or so out from having the money but I'll post some pictures when I get it in.
BendPak HD-9 Four Post Lift 9K lb Capacity | Bend Pak HD 9 4 Post Lift
BendPak HD-9 Four Post Lift 9K lb Capacity | Bend Pak HD 9 4 Post Lift
04-22-13, 08:30 PM
#32
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I'm glad you found a lift that works for you. That looks like a good choice for a 4 post lift. 4 post lifts of any brand don't seem to have as many problems as cheap 2 posts. If parking is a main concern a drive on 4 post is definitely the best choice. However just to add my 2 cents. After 15 years of shop experience and having worked on many different lifts, the only lift I would purchase for servicing a vehicle would be a Rotary 2 post. They are by far the most useable and low maintenance of any lift I have ever used. The next thing to consider is who installs the lift. Proper installation and adjustment of a lift is the largest factor I have seen affect reliability. I have seen a Rotary lift that was two weeks old collapse on a car and nearly total it. Apparently the bolts weren't properly set into the concrete. Hope this helps anyone who is shopping in the future.
04-24-13, 07:24 AM
#33
I would expect that some serious attention to detail is required in setting the anchor bolts for a two post, or single post car lift. I would not install one in my garage without knowing exactly how thick my slab is and the amount of steel reinforcing. It may be necessary to cut the slab and reinforce or drill a small pier or footing for each post. Not a weekend project.
04-24-13, 07:49 AM
#34
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I would expect that some serious attention to detail is required in setting the anchor bolts for a two post, or single post car lift. I would not install one in my garage without knowing exactly how thick my slab is and the amount of steel reinforcing. It may be necessary to cut the slab and reinforce or drill a small pier or footing for each post. Not a weekend project.
05-23-13, 01:21 PM
#35
I finally ordered the lift. The Bend-Pak HD-9 should arrive late next week. Once I get it all assembled, I will post some pictures. I think it's going to be a very capable lift for the money. It's a little more heavy duty than I need but in this case the piece of mind is worth it.
05-27-13, 10:26 PM
#42
I guess the ezlift is an exception but basically if you want to lift a car, you're going to have some vertical support which is usually a post or pressurized cylinder. The 4 post lift is the only cost effective way to lift a car and still be able to park under it. The 2 post lifts are less expensive but are service oriented and not really meant to park under. You don't want to store a car with the suspension un-loaded and a two post lift would have a post right where you would open the doors.
05-31-13, 12:26 PM
#43
Bend Pak HD-9 arrival !
The lift arrived a few days ago but I just had a chance to go pick it up last night. Hopefully I will have time this weekend to get it unloaded and pieced together. I'll most more pictures and information once it's assembled and running. The package is 14' long and weighs 1820 lbs.
06-03-13, 07:25 AM
#46
My garage is residential but the ceiling is 10' and then it pitches up from there. Bend Pak has 4 different models of the HD-9 lift. Here are the general measurements. Garage Lifts, 4-Post Car Lifts, Four Post Car Lifts, Auto Lifts - BendPak Products
The instructions call for 2.5"-3.5" of 2500 psi concrete at a minimum.
I'm in the process of assembling the lift. It is not something one can do without help.
06-03-13, 12:45 PM
#48
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 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
ps if you need more opinions The Garage Journal you aint seen a decked out garage until your browse that site
06-03-13, 05:22 PM
#49
The Bend-Pak lift is made in China and it WILL NOT kill you. I wish it were made in the USA but the reality is that most of this residential and semi-commercial equipment it manufactured in China where it's cheaper. A real bummer. That does not mean it's a bad product. Many of the Chinese lifts are garbage. Many of them are also not ALI and ETl certified. Of all the lifts for sale on this page, http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/...ifts-s/290.htm only three are Made in the USA and they are also substantially larger and more expensive. Bend-Pak is at least an American company that I believe is a subsidiary of Dover the elevator company. The one I bought is certified for commercial use so I figured that is good enough for me.
06-03-13, 05:27 PM
#50
thats awesome!!
ps if you need more opinions The Garage Journal you aint seen a decked out garage until your browse that site
ps if you need more opinions The Garage Journal you aint seen a decked out garage until your browse that site