General 4-Post Lift (Bendpak HD-9) Questions

[Ro_Ja Boy]

I just found this forum a couple weeks back and appreciate all the info to be found. I'm in the process of getting HOA and City approvals for adding a fourth car garage to my house. I plan to build the ceilings high enough (hopefully 12') to give me plenty of room on the top for a lift. The dimensions will be between 12-14' wide and about 21' deep. The primary use will be for storing cars.

My questions that I hope someone would be kind enough to answer are:

Is anything needed for power besides the one either 110 or 220v outlet?
Is there something needed beyond power for air and is there an additional outlet needed for air?
How much room should I space in the front of the garage before putting the front posts?
Is there any rhyme or reason as to which post I should put the controls on?

Thanks and sorry for the noob questions!

 

[thickhead]

Welcome to the forum.

-12’ ceiling if you can and width and length as much as you can fit.
-Leave space to the wall and doors from the posts to walk though.
-controls where there is the least chance of getting pinned if something goes wrong
-Just needs 1 electrial plug and source for compressed air

I am very happy with my HD9 and would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[excavator]

Welcome to great forum. Also happy with my HD9
As said just one plug for electric. I set mine up for 220 as it is faster lifting but not required. I have small craftsman compressor to operate the locks.
I went for the optional rolling jack to make life easy to lift car up when doing brakes or tires. I have about 2 feet in front of lift to my work bench

 

[LX-Markham]

220V for sure.
And unless you have other uses for more air, a small airbrush or nailer compressor works great for the locks. I have a 1 gal. DeWalt nailor compressor. Quiet and fast.

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

You guys are awesome. 220v it is. I'm still not sure if I want to just worry about a compressor just for the lift or if I would use air tools enough to justify something larger.

I assume the air compressor needs a separate outlet from the lift's 220?

Right now my plan would be to have 23" of space on each side of the posts (left and right), 34" from the posts to the garage door for the ramps and 44" from the posts to the front of the garage to put my tool chest, air compressor (if I get one) and some cabinets. Any downside to any of these measurements?

Thanks again

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

Does that compressor not get in your way of parking a car @lx-markham?

 

[thickhead]

You guys are awesome. 220v it is. I'm still not sure if I want to just worry about a compressor just for the lift or if I would use air tools enough to justify something larger.

I assume the air compressor needs a separate outlet from the lift's 220v

Yes, you need an outlet for the compressor.
I just use an airbrush compressor to provide the air to release the locks and keep my regular compressor for the usual stuff.
See here: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=249683

 

[LX-Markham]

Does that compressor not get in your way of parking a car @lx-markham?

No. It's a double-wide lift in a double car garage. I use the outside pair of ramps for storage (shop equipment), and I use the middle pair of ramps to park my car in the middle.

 

[biggziff]

When so many other 4 posts don't require a compressor for locks, why consider one that does? Seems like added complexity and an additional point of failure.

 

[LX-Markham]

I guess it depends what you consider more complex?

A pneumatic cylinder and air lines
or
A series of mechanical rods and levers

Most shops with a lift generally have compressed air available. It's only the odd case in a residential setting where the homeowner may not have air.

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

Yes, you need an outlet for the compressor.
I just use an airbrush compressor to provide the air to release the locks and keep my regular compressor for the usual stuff.
See here: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=249683

That sounds like a good solution for me. How did you mount that on the post? Would I be best off running a 220v for the lift and a 110v for that compressor, both to the ceiling above that particular post?

Thanks everyone! Really appreciate it!

 

[biggziff]

I guess it depends what you consider more complex?

A pneumatic cylinder and air lines
or
A series of mechanical rods and levers

Most shops with a lift generally have compressed air available. It's only the odd case in a residential setting where the homeowner may not have air.

I guess...springs and pivots seem a lot less prone to failure to me

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

My hours of research lead me to believe Bendpak will satisfy my needs and that I'll be happy with their product. Running an air compressor will be easy given that I'll be building the garage from the ground up (well, I won't...a contractor will) and can position outlets (or air if I wanted to) wherever I want.

 

[biggziff]

My hours of research lead me to believe Bendpak will satisfy my needs and that I'll be happy with their product. Running an air compressor will be easy given that I'll be building the garage from the ground up (well, I won't...a contractor will) and can position outlets (or air if I wanted to) wherever I want.

I'm sure it's 6 of one/half dozen of the other. Best wishes with the lift. I'm in the same boat trying to decide which to buy and everyone says their lift is the best, etc.

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

I'm sure it's 6 of one/half dozen of the other. Best wishes with the lift. I'm in the same boat trying to decide which to buy and everyone says their lift is the best, etc.

I guess you're right. It just seems that Bendpak has good customer service and has been around for a long time.