Time to buy a lift! Which one/what type?

[MBDiagMan]

I have an assymetric two post. It is as simple as this; if you want it for storage get a four post, if you want to use it for working under the car a two post is the only way to go.

I rolled around on a creeper for 40 years. My lift is the greatest piece of car equipment I ever bought.

Have a great day,

 

[johnk]

Greetings, The standard Backyard Buddy is listed at $4200 (w/o accessories) on their site. Are better prices available?

thanks

 

[MBDiagMan]

Greetings, The standard Backyard Buddy is listed at $4200 (w/o accessories) on their site. Are better prices available?

thanks

Go to americasprideonline.com. If that does not work, google it because I may have the spelling slightly wrong.

These guys have VERY good American made units for half what you listed. Also they are very helpful with very good support for your installation or they can hook you up with someone that will install it for you.

I rarely am impressed enough with a vendor to recommend them, but I can reccommend these guys with no reservations whatever.

Good luck,

 

[johnk]

Thank you, I was pretty well set on the BB but will look at the lift above, appears the good one is ~$3k..

John

 

[89sleeper]

Heres where I bought mine I have model SS7000
http://www.americanautomotiveequipment.com/pages/535318/index.htm
I love it!

 

[johnk]

Thank you, I was pretty well set on the BB but will look at the lift above, appears the good one is ~$3k..

John

BB has a 'Christmas Special" that is apparently the same pricing as "show" pricing. I've decided on that 4-post lift. Thanks guys, for helping out someone from the "Dark Side" (Blue Oval).

John

 

[MBDiagMan]

So, does that mean that you will be using it more for storage purposes than service purposes? I hope so, because for doing work on the car, the four post will not work NEAR as well as a two post.

By the same token for storage the two post will not be near as good.

Good luck and enjoy,

 

[johnk]

Something not anticipated. When I order the BB lift before Christmas I 'assumed' delivery would be fairly quick.. Nope, looks like it's going to be 2 months.....

 

[Remo]

Nice Lift

Here's a great lift for any garage.
http://www.adpix.biz/curvswheels/jessicaCorvette.html

Remo:cool

 

[jims427400]

Picked up my Backyard Buddy last week, assembled this weekend and have to say that this is one well made,and safe lift.
I did pay a little more than any of the other lifts that I considered, but I felt confident that this company was going to be around for a long time.
I'd recommend to anyone. Only negative was that I had to wait 4 weeks for delivery..

 

[vet'svette]

I suggest a Backyard Buddy. Compare them to the
others and it will be your choice to purchase

 

[grumpyvette]

http://www.ben-pearson.com/9000si.shtml

heres the lift I bought after a good deal of research, keep in mind its
CERTIFIED and TESTED
and AMERICAN MADE INSTALLED
AND PARTS ARE AVAILABLE
I wanted a 4 post UNTILL I used one at a buddies shop, and quickly found the two post had far better access to the suspension,wheels,drive train ETC.


"If Quality is what you're looking for, you'll find it in Ben Pearson's 9000SI Two-Post.
The reasons are simple, we build each lift to exacting specifications. Plus, we don't build any lift to meet our needs, we build them to meet your needs.

ALI certified/validated by ETL
Single point safety release
Padded overhead shut-off bar
2-5/8" & 5" truck adapters included
Extra long carriage for smooth lifting
Convenient stack-pad storage rack on post
Automatic engage and release arm restraint
Extra large ultra-high molecular bearing blocks
Low profile arms for low ground clearance
Optional height extension kits for taller vehicles
Clear floor design for convenient use of floor jacks"

this should help
ID STRONGLY SUGGEST NOT BUYING A CHINESE BUILT LIFT AND BUYING FROM AN AMERICAN MANUFACTURER
/KEEP IN MIND THAT PARTS AVAILABILITY IN THE FUTURE AN SERVICE IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN SAVING A FEW BUCKS ON THE UP FRONT COST
Auto lifts

http://www.autolift.org/

http://www.autolift.org/purchase_considerations.pdf

http://kwiklift.com/commercial.htm

http://kwiklift.com/Options.htm

http://www.geminilift.com/

http://www.ben-pearson.com/automotive-lifts.shtml

http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/racks/index.htm

http://www.challengerlifts.com/products.shtml

www.directlift.com

www.backyardbuddy.com

www.autolifts.com

http://www.westernhoist.com/

www.stingerlifts.com

www.doublepark.net

www.mohawklifts.com

www.autolifters.com

http://www.bendpak.com/

http://www.bendpak.com/product_info.isg?products_id=881

http://www.rotarylift.com/

http://eagleequip.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=LI

ok having just gone thru this , Id point out that theres a HUGE differance in the REPLACEMENT PARTS availability and TECH SUPPORT availability and getting the lift installed correctly between the americam made and chinese built lifts, you probably DON,T WANT a 12,000 lb lift unless you excluesively work on larger trucks as the lift arms may not have the necessary clearance to use on low slung cars
a 9000 lb lift will handle almost all personal cars/trucks

 

[76okievette]

I have been looking for a lift for a while but my problem is my garage is not high enough for a full lift. What I want is a low rise or mid rise portable lift I can store under the car and it will be low enough to drive over when not is use. When I need it I can raise it up and have access to the underside of the car. Does anyone have one of these and which would you recommend. This is for a home garage. Thanks
PS what about a used lift any market for them, where would I look for one?

 

[BigBud]

Does anyone know a reputable installer in Central New Jersey?

 

[grumpyvette]

I have been looking for a lift for a while but my problem is my garage is not high enough for a full lift. What I want is a low rise or mid rise portable lift I can store under the car and it will be low enough to drive over when not is use. When I need it I can raise it up and have access to the underside of the car. Does anyone have one of these and which would you recommend. This is for a home garage. Thanks
PS what about a used lift any market for them, where would I look for one?

this will do almost everything you asked for in a low clearance garage

http://kwiklift.com/commercial.htm

http://kwiklift.com/Options.htm

down

up

Ive used them at a couple friends garages that only had the comon 8 ft ceiling height double garages, and they work really well, but I used the heavy duty version so I don,t know about the standard versions

 

[timemender]

Picked up my Backyard Buddy last week, assembled this weekend and have to say that this is one well made,and safe lift.
I did pay a little more than any of the other lifts that I considered, but I felt confident that this company was going to be around for a long time.
I'd recommend to anyone. Only negative was that I had to wait 4 weeks for delivery..

Quality is second to none. Portable, secure locks top to bottom, high quality welds, etc. My insurance man saw my BB lift and was sold. In his words the catalog doesn't do justice to convey the quality of the lift. He ordered one the next day. Worth the wait.

I bought my first one in 2001 and my second one in 2006. Wouldn't waste my money on any other - and I inspected various brands of lifts in person at shows around the country. Portable and secure (well made & safe) were my main concerns.

I would recommend the “extended height” lift if you have the ceiling height available or not. The extra cost is minimal over the standard lift and the extended height lift model gives you longer “runways” (one foot longer) and is otherwise the same.

 

[Whiplash]

I'm trying to decide between the following three lifts:

Backyard Buddy - I like the post design
Bendpak - I like the saftey locks in case a cable breaks
Rotary's "Revolution" lift

I'm interested in serious feedback on pros and cons. Also, I won't need to move the lift around. The Bendpadk and Rotary can be bolted to the floor. I'm assuming this is better than not bolted but was wondering if it really matters.

Please let me know your thoughts on these particular lifts. (Please, I'm not interested in other choices just feedback on these 3. Thanks) Also, BYB has pics of failed lifts but they don't say what brand those lifts were. If anyone knows for sure the brand names of those lifts please PM me.

Thanks,

Whiplash

 

[JohnZ]

All lifts have safety locks, and that's where they rest; the cables are only for raising and lowering the lift ramps.

I've never seen a 4-post "lift failure" that wasn't the result of operator error (failure to ensure that all four corners were above the lock engagement point before lowering the lift onto the locks).

 

[jims427400]

I have the BYB lift and highly recommend it. Costs a little bit more but trust it completely. Probobly be getting a 2nd lift here soon. You wont be dissapointed w/ this lift..

Jim

 

[Whiplash]

All lifts have safety locks, and that's where they rest; the cables are only for raising and lowering the lift ramps.

I've never seen a 4-post "lift failure" that wasn't the result of operator error (failure to ensure that all four corners were above the lock engagement point before lowering the lift onto the locks).

John,

Thanks for the reply. The safety lock I'm speaking of is the slack cable lock on the Bendpak. It's spring loaded and "snaps" into the channel if the cable becomes slack. Not sure about BYB, they may have the same thing but I didn't see it called out. Alos BYB has an 8 week wait while the others have a 1 week wait.

I was leaning toward BYB but the other two lifts look like they have additional safety features ( I may be missing them on the BYB, they could be there). I'm hoping someone has one of the other two lifts to give feedback. After shipping all three seem to be about the same price.

Also, it looks like the Bendpak hydraulic rolling jack would fit under the Vette but BYB told me theirs wouldn't fit under the Vette or extend far enough out to reach the jack points on the frame. I have a 71 and an 01 Z06 that I'll be working on.

I wish I had a chance to see these all in person.