Auto Lift

We are just in the planning stages of building a new house on our present property and I made a great deal with the soon to be wife. Once the house is done I get to expand the garage to 36' wide with a car port next to it:D . I'm gonna build the extension with a 12' roof so I can put a lift in there as well.

I've been searching all over and seems everyone has opinions on what's best. So far I'm leaning towards Bendpak HD-9 as well as Backyard Buddy. I hear Rotary are great but expensive and I want to keep it reasonable for a hobby lift. I want a four post that I can park under also.

Does anyone here have any advise on a safe and sturdy four post and the best place to buy it???

Let's hear it.....

Sean

the bendpak and rotary are vary good lifts I have had both dont know about the backyard buddy I have seen there ads be sure to buy the roller jacks without them taking the wheels of is a real pain in the a$$ ....ted

I have a 10k Asymmetrical two post Eagle it’s more then I need but I would rather over kill then be under. I’ve had it since 2001 and I really like it. I can put a small car under it, and I only have a 10 ceiling. I had always planed on raising the ceiling for the lift to 12 feet but haven't gotten around to it. At the time free shipping was included with mine. My opinion is the 4 posts takes up too much room and it is not as versatile for working under the vehicle. That's my thoughts on lifts. I'm sure there are better and worst but for the price it worked for me.
Richard

Take it from someone who makes a living under a lift, 4 posts suck for any thing other than exhaust work,oil changes and parking under. Twin post asymetrical is the only way to go and you can park under them,we do it all the time when we lock up at night.

How thick does your floor have to be for a two-post, I figured that might get too pricey. I like the idea of being able to move the four post as well.

I'll start looking at the two post as well. Is that hard on your suspension letting it hang for parking all winter?

Sean

My floor is just a standard 4" I made sure I was the right distance from an expansion joint. I'm not sure off the top of my head but they tell you a safe distance. What ever you think is better for you is the way I would suggest. I haven't had any problems with a car sitting on the lift for a long period of time. I can't say for sure if it would hurt any other car or not though.

Richard

One thing to consider... What kind of cars are in your future? My coupe can not be picked up by a two post finger lift because the forward fingers would bend my front radius rods!:eek: It has to go on a four post drive-on lift or an old fashioned in-ground...:HMMM:

I've used them all,and think the two post asymetrical has the fewest disadvantages. When we built my friends garage,we planned for the lift,and increased the concrete depth to 6" for the areas where the lift bolts down. The lift is the model with the cables and hyd lines run through a channel on the floor giving unrestricted height. The ceiling is 13',and a 3/4 ton pu w/cap just clears the lights. Watch out for the unsupported plastic hyd reservoir,they break off at the mounting flange on cold October days for no obvious reason(happened last month). Could use some sort of support bracket. Get the highest rated lift you can afford. By the way,a lift makes you suddenly more popular too! Hank

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Originally Posted by J. Robinson

One thing to consider... What kind of cars are in your future? My coupe can not be picked up by a two post finger lift because the forward fingers would bend my front radius rods!:eek: It has to go on a four post drive-on lift or an old fashioned in-ground...:HMMM:

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I made some extentions for my vertical adjusters that allow me to clear radius rods, sidepipes, truck steps, and the body overhang from a 7" channel on the Willys. My brother has a 4 post backyard buddy. I have had my AutoLifter 2 post since 97. Over the years mine has proven much more versatile than his. and I park under it every night.

John

That looks pretty sturdy, what brand is it?

"Auto Lifters" out of Kansas. I think they were bought out but don't know by whom.

I had a 4 post in my big shop, mainly cuz it was there when I bought the place.... I added a crossbeam with a hydraulic jack on it and it became usable for more things. For what I used it for, the drive on was good.... I used it for scaling cars and adjusting suspension mostly. I have a set of roll off platforms for my scales, having the car up in the air was a whole lot quicker and easier then doing it on the floor.

If I was to get one for doing general service work, I would definitely go with the 2 post.

Thanks for the advice, I think I'll go with a two post. I read somewhere that you need 6" of concrete where it mounts. Does that sound like enough and how big around it, like 4 feet or so????
Now I gotta find where to buy one and what brand----starting search over again. Seems like everything I do takes two or three tries:D . It's taking all my strength not to order it yet.

Sean

general service work, a 2 post is best, but any time your working with suspension angles or allignment.. it'll have to be done on the floor

The base is pretty big for a two post, at least it is for mine, and they said 4" is find you just want to stay far enough away from the expansion joints. I've been using mine since 2001 and the nuts are still just as tight. I bought the 10,000 lb. didn't need that big but if you do you have it. My ceiling is 10' I wanted to raise it to 12' by the lift but haven't got around to it. Check for free shipping, and on mine I had to unload it myself, so be ready or ask first.

Richard

I have this lift, I have no complaints. Got it from northern tool, around 2800.00 deliver to my door. You are also going to need some way of moving it in place if you plan on recieving it at your home. Had a buddy come over with his bobcat to help me out:3dSMILE:

If you are going to have a professional install it like I did, they are also a good source for information, and they are also dealers of most lifts. Cost me about 400.00 for the install, I did the electrical myself.

BendPak Floorplate 2-Post Vehicle Lift — 9000-Lb. Capacity, Model# XP-9F

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...1892_200331892

I like that one and it's cheaper than I thought. Being in Canada I'll have to pay for shipping. How do they mount? Are the bolts on some sort of plate that gets cemented in???

Sean

They are bolted, with anchors in the concrete. The side lifts have a large floor plate on the bottom which is anchor to the ground.

I welded frame for a hoist on my 3/4 ton with a snowplow on the front. It was heavy to say the least, it came it two crates. When I got close to the garage I used my heavy-duty cherry picker to get it in the garage. Another hard part was trying to figure out the best location. Being asymmetric took more lines on the floor to get everything right. I set the lift up by myself I ran the electric also, it's great when something works like it's suppose to when you have never done it before. My wife always wants to help but I figure I've been hurt so many times. I don't want her to get hurt so I struggle until I get it.

Richard

You get a step-by-step instruction booklet, and they give you everything you need except a strong back!! Of course you have to wire it up.

Richard