Would I regret a 4 post lift?
- Thread starter kmacht
- Start date
dave*99
Well-known member
The owner of that gas station was too drunk to deal with it.
Junkman
Well-known member
I can strongly recommend buying a lift from BendPak. I have had nothing but positive help from them whenever I had an issue, whether it was setting up the lift or not understanding something. When I bought a lift that was too small for my car, they made it right, even though it was my mistake. Stop trying to save a few bucks by dealing with middlemen who are just looking to make a quick buck. Buy directly from a manufacturer, and you will never have to second-guess if you made a mistake. I have recommended Bend Pak to many people in my circle, and none of them has ever been disappointed with their lift purchase.
racecougar
Well-known member
Direct Lift / Forward is another great option. Their lifts are very well engineered, and upfront sales support was excellent. I’ve had mine for six years, and have not had any reason to call customer support, but I would expect that they would be helpful based on how I was treated during the sale.
c39er
Well-known member
sailor_lou
Active member
I don't know if they still have the same quality, but I've had a Bend Pak BP1 (14k, extra wide and long) for 25 years with zero issues. I think I paid around $2500 delivered in 2001 so I consider that money well spent, especially now that I'm old.
Byrdnyrd
Well-known member
C39r,
What is that Gold car? Rolls?
BN
What is that Gold car? Rolls?
BN
I can recommend the Wildfire 4 post. I've been pleased with it. It's a carbon copy of the Advantage Lift. Regarding the rolling bridge jacks, I bought one from Wildfire and like it. They are reasonably priced compared to some others, but KaTool makes one that I just bought to have two. I am very impressed with it. It is very, very similar to the Wildfire, and in fact, the bones are beefier. It was way cheaper, too. It does , however, stick up a little higher than the Wildfire, which may be an issue for low vehicles. Nothing a 2x10 won't solve if needed. Best Buy Automotive Equipment was great to work with and is not a fly-by-night drop shipper.
I also went through something very similar after buying a tire changer/balancer combo early last November. The seller told me it would take 15 business days to ship the order. I waited almost 5 weeks and still nothing. I tried to call several times, but only got voicemail. I advised him that if I didn't hear back by the close of business, I would cancel the order and dispute it with the credit card company. He wasn't happy and claimed he had been in airports all day, but bless his heart, he's the only chap on the planet who doesn't get emails or phone calls while in an airport. He claimed it had shipped, too, but it had not. He provided nothing to support that to the credit card company.
I also went through something very similar after buying a tire changer/balancer combo early last November. The seller told me it would take 15 business days to ship the order. I waited almost 5 weeks and still nothing. I tried to call several times, but only got voicemail. I advised him that if I didn't hear back by the close of business, I would cancel the order and dispute it with the credit card company. He wasn't happy and claimed he had been in airports all day, but bless his heart, he's the only chap on the planet who doesn't get emails or phone calls while in an airport. He claimed it had shipped, too, but it had not. He provided nothing to support that to the credit card company.
OX1
Well-known member
WIldfire and Advanatge sure do look similar. Huge difference in price though. I have an advantage 9K, the taller, longer one.
Very impressive.
Just got a smoking deal on an open box KaTool 11K 4 post I could not turn down. I do not like the lock actuation mechanism or the rods
that go to those mechanisms. I have Rotary (2 post), Atlas, Advantage, Direct lift (all 4 posts) and now this KaTool 4 post.
IF I was going to use the KaTool all the time (other than storage), I would pass for any of the other brands, due solely to the locking mechanisms. That said, for about the same money, KaTool 11k is much beefier overall, than your typical Chinese 8K 4 post, like the Atlas/direct lift 8K's I have (it also goes up much higher able to store 1/2 ton pickups under it).
finn
Well-known member
I’m curious as to what the price difference is between Advantage and Wildfire. I bought several years ago, and at that time the prices were about the same. I went with Advantage because they were amenable to me picking them up at the warehouse in St Paul, plus Ithey offered an 11k in addition to the 8k.
It's about a thousand dollars difference for the 9K with Wildfire being cheaper. Not sure about deals or shipping.
OX1
Well-known member
Maybe I'm missing something (shipping??), but looks like a lot more than a grand to me.
Advantage DX-9000-XLT | 9,000 LBS. 4-Post Lift - Heavy Duty Car Lift
Discover the Advantage DX-9000-XLT, our top-rated 9,000 lbs. 4-Post Lift with a 5-year warranty. Perfect for trucks, with included premium accessories. Call now!
realgaragelife.com
Wildfire 9000 XLT | Heavy Duty 4 Post Car Lift for Garage
Shop the Wildfire 9000 XLT – a heavy duty 4 post car lift for garage owners who need strength, safety, and space-saving design for everyday use
wildfirelifts.com
I was looking at the HD model. You're right.Maybe I'm missing something (shipping??), but looks like a lot more than a grand to me.
Advantage DX-9000-XLT | 9,000 LBS. 4-Post Lift - Heavy Duty Car Lift
Discover the Advantage DX-9000-XLT, our top-rated 9,000 lbs. 4-Post Lift with a 5-year warranty. Perfect for trucks, with included premium accessories. Call now!Wildfire 9000 XLT | Heavy Duty 4 Post Car Lift for Garage
Shop the Wildfire 9000 XLT – a heavy duty 4 post car lift for garage owners who need strength, safety, and space-saving design for everyday use
finn
Well-known member
Glad I bought the 9k and 11k when I did. I recall both together were in the $7500 range, give or take.Maybe I'm missing something (shipping??), but looks like a lot more than a grand to me.
Advantage DX-9000-XLT | 9,000 LBS. 4-Post Lift - Heavy Duty Car Lift
Discover the Advantage DX-9000-XLT, our top-rated 9,000 lbs. 4-Post Lift with a 5-year warranty. Perfect for trucks, with included premium accessories. Call now!Wildfire 9000 XLT | Heavy Duty 4 Post Car Lift for Garage
Shop the Wildfire 9000 XLT – a heavy duty 4 post car lift for garage owners who need strength, safety, and space-saving design for everyday use
If it was more, don’t tell me, although whatever it was, they were well worth it. At the time, my options were to add floor space or buy the lifts. Two lifts were considerably cheaper than brick and mortar.l
Mine were imported, but I see they’re advertising “assembled in USA” now.
OX1
Well-known member
Glad you posted up. As I love the Advantage (Wildfire) 4 post. I think they are the strongest 4 post made.
Even all the way up with my 4200 lb MEL 59 bird, it is rock solid (unmounted). Hard to find lifts to you can fit
newer 3/4-1 tons under (and on, with the crazy wheelbase
).
I recommend them often and can now just send them to Wildfire site. Crazy on price, just 4-5 years ago, I think I paid
$6200 for HD (XLT??) including higher capacity (4500 lb??) cross jack.
Methodical
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2014
- Messages
- 55
Here's a video where the full time mechanic (Faye Hadley) installs a portable 4 post lift. Check it out.
Man, if I could, I'd install a lift in a heart beat. It's getting tougher and tougher working on my back.
Man, if I could, I'd install a lift in a heart beat. It's getting tougher and tougher working on my back.
I had a 2 post for 10 years and loved it. I moved, tried to have another 2 posts installed, but they couldn't due to the concrete, so I went with a 4-post. I hate it. Difficult to work on suspension, brakes etc. , plus I am always dodging that extra metal from my head. I have also used my 2 post for storage with no problems.
The only advantage I see with a 4-post is the ability just to drive up and off easily. Thats it!
The only advantage I see with a 4-post is the ability just to drive up and off easily. Thats it!
I had a 2 post for 10 years, moved and can’t easily have a 2 post in the current carriage house so I bought a 4 post. I prefer the 2 post but try to make the best out of the 4 post. I did buy one that goes up 7’ so it is not in the way when not in use, and I raised the ceiling so I can have a full size car on it when it is 7’ up.
I have done a lot of suspension work on it and it is definitely less convenient. But still doable. I have 2 bridge jacks and most of my cars have rocker panel jack points so the bridge jack is not under the subframe while I am trying to work on the suspension.
Have not yet tried stopping an engine on the subframe but think it is doable. The Bendpak HD-9XW has the widest opening I found in its class of 7-9k 4 post lifts, though by just an inch or two. Won’t be able to drop the subframe with suspension still attached, though, like I could with the 2 post.
Would take a lot of work to install a 2 post since I have wood floors with a basement under the carriage house and expensive swimming pool equipment down there. Steel beams were added to support the wood floor. At the old house, there was just a dirt floor basement about 5 feet high so I filled it in and poured a slab. I could possibly build a concrete structure in part of the basement. Maybe even do an in ground 2 post, but it would be an expensive job.
I have done a lot of suspension work on it and it is definitely less convenient. But still doable. I have 2 bridge jacks and most of my cars have rocker panel jack points so the bridge jack is not under the subframe while I am trying to work on the suspension.
Have not yet tried stopping an engine on the subframe but think it is doable. The Bendpak HD-9XW has the widest opening I found in its class of 7-9k 4 post lifts, though by just an inch or two. Won’t be able to drop the subframe with suspension still attached, though, like I could with the 2 post.
Would take a lot of work to install a 2 post since I have wood floors with a basement under the carriage house and expensive swimming pool equipment down there. Steel beams were added to support the wood floor. At the old house, there was just a dirt floor basement about 5 feet high so I filled it in and poured a slab. I could possibly build a concrete structure in part of the basement. Maybe even do an in ground 2 post, but it would be an expensive job.
nadogail
Well-known member
You are More likely to regel not having one than having purchased one.
Assuming 4 post is the only option. If either 2 or 4 post are options, there are threads discussing the pros and cons of each. I definitely agree either is better than no lift.