Lift choice dilemma

[hatfield44]

I am in the process of building my new garage, and am having trouble deciding on a lift. I have never had a lift, and I want a four post for ease of use and storage, but am having trouble settling on a particular one.

I will be using the lift to work on vehicles and maybe for storage if I run out of parking spaces. The vehicles span a big range though. Ford Fiesta and Jeeps too Raptor and F-350s, the odd SxS, maybe a small backhoe. So from like 86" track width down to like 48" track width. I don't think I will ever have anything over 9,000 lbs.

I have been looking at the Atlas 409-HP premium 9000 lb lift as it should fit the width of my Raptor. Do you think it will be a pain to get my Fiesta on the ramps? It says the width between the ramps is 42" and the Fiesta's track width is 57' with 8" wide tires. I think that will leave about a 1/2" of tire to the inside of the ramps on each side. Is this acceptable or am I going to have to buy two lifts to be able to work on the varying track width vehicles?

Anybody know of a lift that will fit my needs if that one doesn't, or something that may just be better even if that one does fit my needs?

 

[SJW]

I believe some four posts have one runway that can be moved to widen or narrow the space between the two runways. Have you found any of those in your search?

 

[hatfield44]

The adjustable ones I have found have to narrow of a drive thru width to fit my truck.

Sent from my SM-S727VL using Tapatalk

 

[pbon]

Bendpak HD-9XW has the length you need, height to work under it if you are 6’ plus, and one runway is adjustable in or out so you can fit your Fiesta or truck. Some of the others also have similar features. I chose the Bendpak because it gives 41” between the runway rails for the jacks on the side setting, which would be enough to drop an engine or maybe a rear subframe if I turned it sideways.

 

[firebirdparts]

I dont know if this is helpful, but I would say at least de prioritize the backhoe (no benefit to picking it up) and be ready to modify the lift to put the side by side on it. There are lots of lawnmower and cycle mods guys do. You need a hole in it if you are ever going to work on anything.

 

[In2toys]

make sure 9K will pick up your f350. friend of mine has a 9k lift and it wants nothing to do with my f350... granted mine weighs a bit more than 9k

 

[ghnl]

I bought a Direct Lift ProPark 9. I wanted to be able to lift my small cars (MG, Alfa Romeo) and my F250 ext cab. Most of the other lifts I looked at could accommodate one or the other but not both. The ramps on the ProPark 9 are wider. I also wanted to be able to use a jacking bridge - the lifts with one moveable ramp didn't seem to easily accommodate that.

 

[finn]

Be careful with putting a backhoe or any short wheelbase vehicle on a four post lift.

The lift rating is calculated with some minimum wheelbase, and is significantly reduced for shorter wheelbases.

A 9000 lb lift will buckle the ramps if a 9000 lb load is applied to the center of the runway span.

 

[pbon]

I also wanted to be able to use a jacking bridge - the lifts with one moveable ramp didn't seem to easily accommodate that.

Many bridge jacks are expandable. The ones on my Bendpak HD9-XW slide out to fit either the narrow or wide runway setting.

 

[hatfield44]

The Bendpak lifts have a drive thru clearance of 86.5", my truck is 86.3" to the outside of the tires right now and may be wider in the future. That's why I was thinking about the atlas with 98" drive thru. I may just have to buy the atlas and do something else for the fiesta later.

Did not know that about the wheelbase affecting rating. My hoe is only about 4000lb but I will just lift it with itself if I need to and keep it off the lift.

Sent from my SM-S727VL using Tapatalk

 

[pbon]

There are bigger lifts that would be more suited to 7’ wide trucks. Some even have an open front. But it might be a challenge to get the Fiesta on them.

My HD-9XW has 100” between posts. It’s not bolted down so I have no anchors sticking up out of the post base plates. If I did, it would be more like 90” between base plates. I think Bendpak subtracts another 3-4” because the motor assembly protrudes in from its mounting post a little. I put mine on a front post and don’t drive through so it’s not an issue for me.

Still with the big mirrors you see on trucks, I think you would want an even wider lift. Bendpak is good, but Atlas is also good. I had an Atlas 2 post for years and liked it. I also like Greg Smith Equipnent — they provide parts for what they sell and have been around for a while.

 

[jfitz]

I have an 08 Dodge 2500 MegaCab that I use with my Bendpak HD9XW with no problem. Now I do fold one mirror in when I drive on, and the tires are at the max width of the lift, but not over the runways. I also chose this lift because it does have an adjustable runway, air lock release and the capacity for a rolling jack (not a sliding jack). It was slightly narrower overall to other 9k lifts, which to me was significant because of space constraints. I have had the lift for three years now without a blip, should have bought on sooner!

 

[SJW]

Regarding the wheelbase issue. The runways can support the most weight when the tires of the vehicles on the lift are closest to the crossbeams at the front and back.

The shorter the wheelbase of the vehicle, the further those tires are from the crossbeams, and thus the weight the lift can hold decreases.

This is just my understanding. Your mileage may vary.

 

[hatfield44]

pbon thanks for the pics and nice garage. What would you say it is between the angled prices at the edges of the runways?

I believe I may have to get a 2 post for the truck, and I can always add a 4 post later if I want. Anybody have any feelings on an extra tall top plate lift. I like the looks of the atlas pv 10 hp. I have a F350 with a van body bed. It should be well under 10k but do you think it will fit height wise? I'll have to measure the height of the truck bed tomorrow.

Sent from my SM-S727VL using Tapatalk

 

[WaterBoyz]

After much research for a 4-post, I bought the Bendpak HD-9.

I set the movable runway to the wide setting and my Tundra fits just fine as well as my CRV and son's Golf.

The wide tire package on my Tundra had the tires hanging over from 1-2 inches on EACH runway on most of the lifts, which I prefer not to happen. So that limited my search since most lifts do not have the optional width setting.

As to the weight capacity changing depending on the wheelbase, Bendpak was the only one (that I remember) that published the changing capacities vs wheelbase. Which makes perfect sense when you really think about the mechanics and engineering. I'm pretty sure no one else even mentioned it let alone publish the numbers.

These are the ratings for my 9K lift:
Minimum wheelbase is 115" @ 100% capacity of 9K.
Minimum wheelbase is 100" @ 75% capacity of 9K.
Minimum wheelbase is 85" @ 50% capacity of 9K.
Minimum wheelbase is 70" @ 25% capacity of 9K.

 

[pbon]

pbon thanks for the pics and nice garage. What would you say it is between the angled prices at the edges of the runways?

I believe I may have to get a 2 post for the truck, and I can always add a 4 post later if I want. Anybody have any feelings on an extra tall top plate lift. I like the looks of the atlas pv 10 hp. I have a F350 with a van body bed. It should be well under 10k but do you think it will fit height wise? I'll have to measure the height of the truck bed tomorrow.

Sent from my SM-S727VL using Tapatalk

About 6.5 inches for each angled piece. That must how the drive through clearance is measured — take 13 away from 100 and you have 87 — close enough to the 86.5 specified by Bendpak. If your wheel to wheel is 86, that’s too close. You would want a wider lift, but then likely have a problem putting a Fiesta on it.

I prefer 2 post lifts for working on cars. If my floor was not wood and over a basement, I would have a 2 post. Not as good for storage due to drooping suspension. And I prefer top plate to floor plate though I had a floor plate for 5+ years and did everything I needed. And angled columns for easier entry in and out of the car. And probably triple stage arms for easier fitting on variety of vehicle sizes.

 

[ybnormal70]

This is why I went with a Worth lift because both runways are completely adjustable and can be positioned anywhere from touch in them middle or spread apart as far as they will go. Gives me the most versatility.

Kevin

 

[pbon]

These are the ratings for my 9K lift:
Minimum wheelbase is 115" @ 100% capacity of 9K.
Minimum wheelbase is 100" @ 75% capacity of 9K.
Minimum wheelbase is 85" @ 50% capacity of 9K.
Minimum wheelbase is 70" @ 25% capacity of 9K.

Should not be an issue unless you planned to put a forklift on the lift. Shorter wheelbase cars tend to be lighter and longer wheelbase cars tend to be heavier. My heaviest car is a 4000 lbs BMW E61 Wagon with a 113” wheelbase. My lightest car is a 3000 lb BMW M3 with a 106” wheelbase. In comparison, an extended Lincoln Navigator is about 6000 lbs and has a 130” wheelbase.

 

[pbon]

This is why I went with a Worth lift because both runways are completely adjustable and can be positioned anywhere from touch in them middle or spread apart as far as they will go. Gives me the most versatility.

Kevin

I just looked up Worth and they have 120” between posts. Pretty wide. 12000 lb lift. It is on the wide size if space is an issue.

 

[WaterBoyz]

Should not be an issue unless you planned to put a forklift on the lift. Shorter wheelbase cars tend to be lighter and longer wheelbase cars tend to be heavier. My heaviest car is a 4000 lbs BMW E61 Wagon with a 113” wheelbase. My lightest car is a 3000 lb BMW M3 with a 106” wheelbase. In comparison, an extended Lincoln Navigator is about 6000 lbs and has a 130” wheelbase.

It just tells me that Bendpak is more thorough.

Well, that's just it, there is probably someone who did a forklift and complained to Bendpak. Just like the hairdryer and the bathtub warning.

I'll never place a 9K vehicle on my lift but I just felt more secure with whatever I loaded it with. If I was pure storage, as some people use it for, than the cheapest 7K probably would have worked.

 

[hatfield44]

Waterboyz; I really like the Bendpak lifts, but my Raptor is almost 20" wider than a stock Tundra, and may be getting wider.

I contacted Worth and am just waiting to hear back if they have anything that will work.

If they don't I believe I am going to get a 4 post and put a 2 post behind or beside it as I should have plenty of space for both.

Depending on what Worth lifts cost, it may be more cost effective to buy the 2 lifts anyways; definitely more versatile.