The Jalopy Journal

eddie986 · 07-27-2005, 04:29 PM

Just found this forum and I'm glad I did.

I have more cars than space and was thinking of getting a 4 post lift to help with storage and occassional projects. I have the headroom and have moved the garage door to raise closer to the ceiling. I can also run electrical to anywhere I need.

My question is what brand do people reccomend? I've heard of Ben Pak as well as a few others but would appreciate comments on where to get the best price, ease of assembly etc.

Thanks.

Roadster · 07-27-2005, 08:22 PM

I bought a Stinger lift (made by Axe) after researching several alternative suppliers. Not the cheapest option, but has nice features that I wanted (e.g., key activation to prevent my kids from messing with the lift while I'm away, and fully enclosed bearings in the cable pulleys). Check it out...

www.stingerlifts.com

PS - If you have room, get the longest/tallest lift you can fit within your space (e.g., Stinger's ET model).

TOMWELDS · 07-27-2005, 08:58 PM

If its of help, my friends shop has lifts for storage. You can go 3 or 4 cars high. Setback is, its so tall he has to keep them outside. He has 15 of them.

Hartz · 07-27-2005, 10:26 PM

Just got a Rotary and have been very happy with it. Check out this handy reference:

http://www.nwtbirds.com/lifts compared.htm

Enjoy!
Hartz

MIKER · 07-27-2005, 11:44 PM

Last year I purchased my 4-post lift (model M8) from AutoLifters out of Kansas. It's a very well designed and well built lift. However, I recently learned that they have gone out of business. Basically, the companies which manufacture quality lifts in the USA are having trouble competing with the prices of cheap Chinese-manufactured auto lifts.

Autolifters suspends operations
http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/.../16/story3.html

No matter which brand you finally settle on, your gonna wonder how you ever got along without it!

ChucksCrib · 07-28-2005, 12:11 AM

I had narrowed my search down to the Autolifter or the Back yard Buddy. Now that autolifters is kaput............I'm leaning toward the Back Yard Buddy.

( I know....the name is super

)

MacTexas · 07-28-2005, 09:06 AM

I've had an Eagle lift for three years. No problem. Just be sure you have a 12 foot ceiling.

comquat1 · 07-31-2005, 10:19 PM

There's a guy on nsxprime.com that sells lifts. Do a search for lifts there and you will find him. I think he can hook you up with decent pricing.

SSAAHemiFan · 08-02-2005, 08:17 PM

I researched for over a year and looked at a bunch in person. Backyard Buddy is what I went with.

reddart · 08-03-2005, 10:43 AM

Is it possible to assemble a 4 post lift with 1-2 people and an engine hoist, or would you need more manpower?

camarojim · 08-03-2005, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comquat1

There's a guy on nsxprime.com that sells lifts. Do a search for lifts there and you will find him. I think he can hook you up with decent pricing.

I searched the nsxprime web for that guy who might sell it, but didn't find what I needed.. if you remember , or run across his name the next time you are on it.. would you get back to me please ?

thanks

Jim

MacTexas · 08-03-2005, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddart

Is it possible to assemble a 4 post lift with 1-2 people and an engine hoist, or would you need more manpower?

two people and a hoist is all it took to put mine up

Hartz · 08-03-2005, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacTexas

two people and a hoist is all it took to put mine up

The above, 5.5 hours, and $300 were what was required to install mine. Best $300 I ever spent. Like I told the installer - it would have taken more than $300 in beer and pizza to convince my friends to come over to help!

alfacanuck · 08-03-2005, 11:17 PM

I have not yet poured the garge floor for my shop and was wondering if you have to pour any extra concrete to support a lift, does anyone know the anwer to this or where I can find out?

Thanks, Andy

Hartz · 08-04-2005, 08:22 AM

Some of it depends on the size/capacity of the lift, but for most "residential hobbyist" style lifts (~7000 lb. capacity) the standard 4 inch thickness is sufficient.

edit: That's for a four poster. Two posters might be a whole different ballgame - I'm not sure?

DARK AGE 53 · 08-04-2005, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddart

Is it possible to assemble a 4 post lift with 1-2 people and an engine hoist, or would you need more manpower?

My wife and I assembled are Backyard Buddy with the help of a engine hoist, the only really heavy part was the left ramp.

Ken Greene · 08-04-2005, 01:31 PM

all the 2 post lifts i have been studieinf require 6" of 3000 psi concrete

DARK AGE 53 · 08-04-2005, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alfacanuck

I have not yet poured the garge floor for my shop and was wondering if you have to pour any extra concrete to support a lift, does anyone know the anwer to this or where I can find out?

As Hartz said, 4" will work fine with a four post lift.

alfacanuck · 08-06-2005, 01:15 AM

Thanks for the info, I thought 4 inches would be enough for the four post lift.

Cheers, Andy

07-27-2005, 04:29 PM	#1
eddie986 FNG Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Smith Mt. Lake, VA Posts: 1	Garage 4 post lift suggestions?? Just found this forum and I'm glad I did. I have more cars than space and was thinking of getting a 4 post lift to help with storage and occassional projects. I have the headroom and have moved the garage door to raise closer to the ceiling. I can also run electrical to anywhere I need. My question is what brand do people reccomend? I've heard of Ben Pak as well as a few others but would appreciate comments on where to get the best price, ease of assembly etc. Thanks.

07-27-2005, 08:58 PM	#3
TOMWELDS Garageaholic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Westchester cty., N.Y. Posts: 179	If its of help, my friends shop has lifts for storage. You can go 3 or 4 cars high. Setback is, its so tall he has to keep them outside. He has 15 of them. __________________ LICENSED ELECTRICIAN BAKERY MECHANIC

07-28-2005, 12:11 AM	#6
ChucksCrib Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Connectivette Posts: 545	I had narrowed my search down to the Autolifter or the Back yard Buddy. Now that autolifters is kaput............I'm leaning toward the Back Yard Buddy. ( I know....the name is super ) __________________ http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c4/chucks88/smokeysig.jpg

08-03-2005, 11:17 PM	#14
alfacanuck Certified Garage Junkie Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: CANADA Posts: 5	Garage Lifts I have not yet poured the garge floor for my shop and was wondering if you have to pour any extra concrete to support a lift, does anyone know the anwer to this or where I can find out? Thanks, Andy

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07-27-2005, 08:22 PM	#2
Roadster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 171	I bought a Stinger lift (made by Axe) after researching several alternative suppliers. Not the cheapest option, but has nice features that I wanted (e.g., key activation to prevent my kids from messing with the lift while I'm away, and fully enclosed bearings in the cable pulleys). Check it out... www.stingerlifts.com PS - If you have room, get the longest/tallest lift you can fit within your space (e.g., Stinger's ET model).

07-27-2005, 10:26 PM	#4
Hartz Garageaholic Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Plymouth, MI USA Posts: 46	Just got a Rotary and have been very happy with it. Check out this handy reference: http://www.nwtbirds.com/lifts compared.htm Enjoy! Hartz

07-27-2005, 11:44 PM	#5
MIKER Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tolar, Texas Posts: 1	Last year I purchased my 4-post lift (model M8) from AutoLifters out of Kansas. It's a very well designed and well built lift. However, I recently learned that they have gone out of business. Basically, the companies which manufacture quality lifts in the USA are having trouble competing with the prices of cheap Chinese-manufactured auto lifts. Autolifters suspends operations http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/.../16/story3.html No matter which brand you finally settle on, your gonna wonder how you ever got along without it!

07-31-2005, 10:19 PM	#8
comquat1 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 64	There's a guy on nsxprime.com that sells lifts. Do a search for lifts there and you will find him. I think he can hook you up with decent pricing.

08-02-2005, 08:17 PM	#9
SSAAHemiFan Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 51	I researched for over a year and looked at a bunch in person. Backyard Buddy is what I went with.

08-03-2005, 10:43 AM	#10
reddart FNG Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 3	Is it possible to assemble a 4 post lift with 1-2 people and an engine hoist, or would you need more manpower?

08-04-2005, 08:22 AM	#15
Hartz Garageaholic Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Plymouth, MI USA Posts: 46	Some of it depends on the size/capacity of the lift, but for most "residential hobbyist" style lifts (~7000 lb. capacity) the standard 4 inch thickness is sufficient. edit: That's for a four poster. Two posters might be a whole different ballgame - I'm not sure?

08-04-2005, 01:31 PM	#17
Ken Greene Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Halfmoon NY Posts: 74	all the 2 post lifts i have been studieinf require 6" of 3000 psi concrete

08-06-2005, 01:15 AM	#19
alfacanuck Certified Garage Junkie Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: CANADA Posts: 5	Thanks for the info, I thought 4 inches would be enough for the four post lift. Cheers, Andy

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