Lift for tall guys.

[galute]

I'm soon to be in the market for a lift for my garage. I am 6 foot 4 inches and getting too old to be hunched over under a lift. Any tall guys out there with extra high lifts? If so what is it and how do you like it? How high will it lift?

BTW, I need at least a 10k capacity two post lift.

 

[pattenp]

With being 6' 4", I think you're going to be hard pressed to find a lift that will lift high enough so you don't have to hunch over some. I believe 74 inches is about the max height, but you'll still have to watch out and not knock your head on the arms.

 

[skyking]

Im 6'2" and have to wear a novelty m/c helmet to save my head. Got tired of blood and scars.

 

[joebiodiesel]

I haven't found one that goes higher than a Rotary. I'm in the same boat.

Joe

 

[saabman]

If you are looking at a 4 post lift, check out the Bendpak HD9-XW. Not only is it extra wide but it is extra TALL. A good 12 inches higher lift than the standard HD9.

I have both a 2 post and an HD9-XW. WIth a rolling jack the HD9-XW has almost the same utility as the 2 post. I also feel more confident working on my 6500 lb trucks on it.

 

[galute]

True that. But I hope to keep hunching over to a minimum. Besides, my head has been banged around on stuff more than it needs. LOL.

I had a link to a lift that a member here uses that if I remember right had a max height of 81 inches. Unfortunately for me I lost the link and can't remember who the member was.

 

[cyamaha2007]

What will you be lifting if its trucks ive seen hi rise pads to get the frame higher in the air.

 

[roaddog359]

Bend Pak hd9-xw max rise is 82 inches. I am 6-1" tall. Cant tell how it is yet I am still waiting for the installer to quit wining about the heat and get it put together. Love the service and follow up bend pak has provided me with. They are a great company to deal with.

 

[roaddog359]

http://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/four-post-lifts/HD-9XW.aspx

 

[galute]

The hd-9xw is a 4 post. I want a 2 post. Thanks anyway.

I found this one with 76" lift, 82" with the adapter. What do yall think of it? Anyone have a Danmar lift?

www.dannmar.com/dannmar-products/two-post-lifts/admiral-9000.asp

 

[PeterT]

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Pro-Park-9-Plus-Vs-BendPak-HD-9XW

I am also in the market and am tall, I've been looking at this Pro park 9 plus

 

[saabman]

Notice no mention of the safety latches in the Greg Smitch Comparison. Bendpak is double redundent with air latches and cable slack fail safe. No release cables to stretch or adjust.

Caster kit is nice if you are not planning to bolt the lift down. What percentage of people leave it free standing. Are you planning to anchor it? If so, the casters are dead weight. I suspect that a number of the Bendpak dealers would kick in drip trays with the lift.

IMHO, dont get sucked in by a feature comparison. Determine what your needs are and focus on the features you need.

Disclaimer I am a happy Bendpak customer with an HD9-XW and XPR-9F.

To the OP, just did change out pads and rotors on one of my low slung cars. Both of my lifts were free, and I chose to do it on the 4 post (with rolling jack). I like the fact that the ramps act as a tool tray of sorts. With the newly designed low boy RJ45 I find I can get the working end of a LOW car up faster on the 4 post (and I am not on my knees while setting it up) Now dont get me wrong, there are other jobs that I will choose to do on the 2 post lift. My point is the 4 post can do pretty effective duty as a work lift.

 

[galute]

Looking at all these specs is making me dizzy. LOL. Someone help me understand something. On a two post where it says max lift height, this number would be from the top of the pad to the floor? If so that would be from the bottom of the frame of the vehicle to the floor at max lift height? So if it says 81 inches that would be 81 inches from bottom of frame of vehicle to the floor, correct?

 

[PeterT]

Yeah, the Greg Smith comparison is obviously biased towards the lift they sell. I like the double reduncancy in the Bendpak.

 

[saabman]

Depending on the vehicle and the lift points, the lift height may be less. Take typical sill plates on modern unibody cars, these are higher on the vechile the underbody components. Also, keep in mind the arms will always be below (and I have hit my head on them more than once) than the pads (duh)

Also if you go 2 post, be sure to get truck frame rail u-pads and a telescoping jack (or two)

 

[roaddog359]

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Pro-Park-9-Plus-Vs-BendPak-HD-9XW

I am also in the market and am tall, I've been looking at this Pro park 9 plus

I was looking hard at the pro park 9 plus also but went with the bend pak hd9xw
better warranty, adjustable runway, longer ramps, air locks, more lock positions, great customer service! ect.

 

[galute]

Depending on the vehicle and the lift points, the lift height may be less. Take typical sill plates on modern unibody cars, these are higher on the vechile the underbody components. Also, keep in mind the arms will always be below (and I have hit my head on them more than once) than the pads (duh)

Also if you go 2 post, be sure to get truck frame rail u-pads and a telescoping jack (or two)

Thanks saabman, good info. That will give me some ideas about what I'm looking at as far as raised vehicles go. Most of my lifts will be on my F250 or F350. You've also got me rethinking the 2 vs 4 post debate which is a good thing.. err uuhh I think. LOL

 

[saabman]

An F350 is a heavy beast. I dont think I would want to lift one of those on a 2 post 9K lift. What is the front axle weight on a F350. The RJ45 (for the sliding jack for a Bendpak 9k 4 Post) is rated at 4500 lbs.

Bendpak and Rotary are commercial grade lifts. And for your use, I think one of these brands would be called for.

The other thing about trucks is you lift them around the cab corners (the rear frame often juts up after the rear cab corner. This is the reason for the telescoping jack. Depending on the job, you may need on front and rear.

 

[KPSquared]

My 2001 F350 Diesel weighs 7600 lbs with a heavy front end bias. I know lots of shops that throw them on 9k lifts all day long.

 

[galute]

Oops, my bad. I originally posted that I needed a 10k lift. I guess I got distracted by all the recomendations of the 9k bendpak. I think my F350 comes in around 8k pounds.

 

[hidollartoys]

I would contact Worth @ 800-433-7016. Thet are located in DFW area. Talk to Steve Prater (owner). They build custom heights and widths as well as their std models. Prices for their std lifts are comparable or way better than than the "big 2". AND built in U.S.

I did a ton of research and chose their 10000CF... a 10,000lb "clear floor" symetrical model. I will be lifting a 3/4ton dodge diesel and a 1976 dodge power wagon. Their warrenty might be comparable as well.

 

[mikefromme]

Oops, my bad. I originally posted that I needed a 10k lift. I guess I got distracted by all the recomendations of the 9k bendpak. I think my F350 comes in around 8k pounds.

My f350 crew srw v10 crosses the scale at about 7400 with me and a few tools. Also have a fiberglass shell on the bed.

 

[Olyar15]

Any reason why you can't get a rolling stool so you can sit while working on the car? That way any 2-post will work, and you would be a bit more comfortable (assuming the lift is a clear-floor model).

 

[Bruce Amacker]

6'5" here, and in the same boat last year when I bought a lift.


1. I had Mohawks my whole life when I had the shop, and they lift higher than any of the other lifts I measured. This was last year, and I threw my notes away on how high all of the lifts go that I measured.

2. DO NOT read the lift mfr's info sheet and take it as truth. Most of them "slant" their numbers in their favor, misrepresent, or flat out lie. NONE of the lifts I measured were the same as the mfr stats showed. Many of them use their "pad height" from the floor as travel when it is far from the truth as that includes the 4-5" extra of the thickness of the arm, air gap to the floor, etc. I was really quite pissed off when I started measuring lifts and looking at the spec sheets. I called 1-2 of them to challenge them on their specs when I found how the slant their numbers. I received BS by the bucketload over the phone.

3. I measured at least 8-10 different brands over a month's time with a tape measure at local shops, using the top of the pad (lift down) and top of the same pad (lift raised all the way) as my basis. Remember there is almost 2" lost to go to the top stop. (as a former shop owner, I have a lot of friends with shops that easily let me in and measure) I remember doing cheap and good Rotaries, Challenger (cheap and good), Mohawks, BendPaks, and others.

4. Mohawk System 1 and A-7 were tied for the most "travel" with a true travel about 4" higher than any of the others that I measured. Unfortunately, those are $5500-6200 delivered (not installed) which is near double what many of the other lifts cost.

5. Most of the "budget" lifts I measured were within 1-1.5" of each other in true travel.

6. I bought a Challenger E10 (10K) late last year for $3200 total with truck adapters and installed it myself. I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable with an 8k SD on it, though. I don't notice any true loss between it and the Mohawks I had, but I only lift 1-2 cars a week for maintenance, not 8 hr repairs.

Good Luck!

 

[gsport]

The hd-9xw is a 4 post. I want a 2 post. Thanks anyway.

I found this one with 76" lift, 82" with the adapter. What do yall think of it? Anyone have a Danmar lift?

www.dannmar.com/dannmar-products/two-post-lifts/admiral-9000.asp

I've got a Dannmar 4 post, and totally happy with it. I'm 6'3" and don't do any hunching over. Sometimes I use a roll around office chair when under the lift.

 

[roaddog359]

You cant beat Bend Paks customer service. I cant say that enough. Its the 4th of July and Jeff of Bend Pak is sending me email back in forth asking me if I got the lift installed. You think Gregg Smith will do that? I dont think so! Jeff wants to make sure his customers are 110% satisfied with their product and it shows.

 

[bad_idea]

Im 6'2" and have to wear a novelty m/c helmet to save my head. Got tired of blood and scars.

A bump cap would look less silly. Also would be more comfortable. Cheap too. They even make bump cap inserts that fit in a ball cap. Should help the OP with height problems as well.

 

[Wastedwagesracing]

Looking at all these specs is making me dizzy. LOL. Someone help me understand something. On a two post where it says max lift height, this number would be from the top of the pad to the floor? If so that would be from the bottom of the frame of the vehicle to the floor at max lift height? So if it says 81 inches that would be 81 inches from bottom of frame of vehicle to the floor, correct?

You want to be looking at the amount of rise not the height. The more rise a lift has "cylinder stroke" the more clearance you will have under the vehicle.

 

[zmotorsports]

6'5" here, and in the same boat last year when I bought a lift.


1. I had Mohawks my whole life when I had the shop, and they lift higher than any of the other lifts I measured. This was last year, and I threw my notes away on how high all of the lifts go that I measured.

2. DO NOT read the lift mfr's info sheet and take it as truth. Most of them "slant" their numbers in their favor, misrepresent, or flat out lie. NONE of the lifts I measured were the same as the mfr stats showed. Many of them use their "pad height" from the floor as travel when it is far from the truth as that includes the 4-5" extra of the thickness of the arm, air gap to the floor, etc. I was really quite pissed off when I started measuring lifts and looking at the spec sheets. I called 1-2 of them to challenge them on their specs when I found how the slant their numbers. I received BS by the bucketload over the phone.

3. I measured at least 8-10 different brands over a month's time with a tape measure at local shops, using the top of the pad (lift down) and top of the same pad (lift raised all the way) as my basis. Remember there is almost 2" lost to go to the top stop. (as a former shop owner, I have a lot of friends with shops that easily let me in and measure) I remember doing cheap and good Rotaries, Challenger (cheap and good), Mohawks, BendPaks, and others.

4. Mohawk System 1 and A-7 were tied for the most "travel" with a true travel about 4" higher than any of the others that I measured. Unfortunately, those are $5500-6200 delivered (not installed) which is near double what many of the other lifts cost.

5. Most of the "budget" lifts I measured were within 1-1.5" of each other in true travel.

6. I bought a Challenger E10 (10K) late last year for $3200 total with truck adapters and installed it myself. I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable with an 8k SD on it, though. I don't notice any true loss between it and the Mohawks I had, but I only lift 1-2 cars a week for maintenance, not 8 hr repairs.

Good Luck!

Good info here. I was in the same boat although I am only 6'2" I wanted one with as much rise as I could get (my son is 6'4" and he would be using it as well). I really wanted the Mohawk system 1 but it was out of my price range, especially for the minimal usage I would give it vs. a full-time repair shop.

Many of the manufacturers specs showed anywhere from 68"-72" rise. The Challenger and Ammco 10k lifts showed a 76" rise. I was able to measure one in a local shop here and it was just shy of the 76" advertised rise so that is the one I went with. I was also impressed with how the Ammco held up to six to eight cars per day in a shop. This guy had two of the Ammco CV series lifts and they were just over three years old.

I have had my Ammco CV series 10k two-post lift now for 16 months and it is absolutely the best investment I have made to the shop in the past several years. I saw my productivity go up as well as overall comfort when working, not to mention less aches and pains afterwards. Funny how we don't feel ourselves getting older until the body tells us one day, kind of sneaks up on us.

I use it probably four to six times per week and have had my CCSB Duramax on it as well as several CC Ford Powerstrokes and Dodge Cummins and it lifts them great. Those are probably the heaviest of the vehicles that I have had on it.

Mike.

 

[galute]

Some good info here. Thanks everyone. One other thing I probably should mention as far as the 2 vs 4 post debate goes. I have a pitbull motorcycle lift that use to lift my Goldwing. I just love it. I plan to adapt the tie down plate from it to one of the arms on a two post to use for lifting my bike. Also I plan on raising the lift to over the top of my bed rails and backing my trucks under it to lift heavy stuff in and out of the bed. I can see a lot of uses for it other than just lifting vehicles which I will actually only be doing a dozen or so times a year.

 

[torquepower85]

with 6" adapters the Dannmar 2-Post Lift comes up to 79" for 2439$

and same specs for the BendPak 2-Post Lift for 2860$

Guess to better answer your question: are you looking for a clear-floor lift or a floor plate lift? Asymmetrical or symmetrical?

You cant beat Bend Paks customer service. I cant say that enough. Its the 4th of July and Jeff of Bend Pak is sending me email back in forth asking me if I got the lift installed. You think Gregg Smith will do that? I dont think so! Jeff wants to make sure his customers are 110% satisfied with their product and it shows.

Hard to beat BendPak. Sadly they don't sell direct I always point people to GES for car lifts.

 

[saabman]

As for what you can pick up with a lift, check out what I recently lifted with my HD9-XW (4 post).

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155575

 

[galute]

As for what you can pick up with a lift, check out what I recently lifted with my HD9-XW (4 post).

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155575

WOW! Very cool. Plus 1 for the 4 post with casters.

Would you consider adopting a son? I promise I don't eat much.

 

[zmotorsports]

with 6" adapters the Dannmar 2-Post Lift comes up to 79" for 2439$

and same specs for the BendPak 2-Post Lift for 2860$

Guess to better answer your question: are you looking for a clear-floor lift or a floor plate lift? Asymmetrical or symmetrical?





Hard to beat BendPak. Sadly they don't sell direct I always point people to GES for car lifts.

Good point. I forgot to mention the choice also between a floor plate model and a clear floor model. Another reason I chose the Ammco CV Series, clear floor so nothing in the way when doing transmission work or moving tool cart around under the vehicles as well as the Ammco CV is a 2 in 1 lift whereas you can use it in the symmetrical or asymmetrical configuration.

Mike.

 

[Bruce Amacker]

For S&G I measured my Challenger E-10 today. Pad height (lowered to floor), 4.25" with the rotating pad retracted all the way.

Height at top: 72.5" (on hydraulics)

Height at top: 70.5" (on top lock)

This means true travel is 66.25" if you're working on the stops. IIRC, most of the cheapie lifts were measuring about 67" when I did them. I will work "on the hydraulics" for a time (LOF, etc) but it sits on the stops if it's going to be there a while.

Brochure says "Rise Height" of 75 3/4" including adapter.

Why the hell would you include the height the adapter if you weren't trying to deceive people?

Other than this minor BS I'm really happy with the lift, I really like the rotating adapters and it doesn't seem all that different in height from my old Mohawks. Just cause it's rated at 10K doesn't mean I'd feel safe working on a Powerstroke under it without jackstands.

 

[saabman]

Bruce makes a good point. The max lift is not the same as the max safety height. Most lifts go 2 or more inches highter than the last safety (you need some height above the safety to unweight it for release). On a 4 point lift you have some wiggle room as you have about 2 inches of adjustment on the safety ladders. On my old HD-9ST I adjusted the ladders for max height.

 

[sc105b]

I'm 6'6" and use a Bendpak HD-14. I have a rolling height adjustable stool that my wife got me from griots and I just roll under.

Works well for me and a little less on my feet.

With a shop cart nearby theres not much in & out on & off...

just an idea..

BTW quite happy with Bendpak.....

 

[torquepower85]

Wondering if you ever decided on a lift? Did it work out for you?

 

[PCMusicGuy]

Perhaps just getting rid of a few inches of concrete under the lift area where you will be working would be easier?

 

[galute]

I am not 100% sure yet on the lift but I'm leaning toward the OH10-X Atlas from Greg Smith. I would of ordered it already but I'm having a hard time working out the logistics of shipping it. They will ship it to my shop but I can't be there to unload it during the week and they won't deliver it on Saturday. None of my buds are available during the week either. The only other option is to pick it up at the shippers dock and get my wife to go pick it up which also has to be done during the week. Problem is, only shipping dock available is 70 miles away in Little Rock. She refuses to pull my 16 foot trailer in that kind of traffic and I don't blame her. Working for a living *****. LOL.

www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-OH-10X-EXTRA-WIDE-EXTRA-TALL