Thoughts on the 2-post lift I should buy

[Nitrousbird]

We just finished our house build a few months ago. We did a detached 24 x 50 building (with a 18 x 14 door) for storing toys. On the attached garage, we did a 3 car with a small workshop area in front of the 3rd bay, and I made the 3rd bay 15', 6" tall. Now it is time to buy a lift.

My #1 choice right now is either the Bendpack 10APX or 10APX-181. I'm 6'3", so I want a high-rise lift. I will also be lifting vehicles of very different weight distributions - a mid-engine Porsche Cayman, rear-engine Can-Am X3 Max RR, 1/2 ton quad-cab truck, and my wife's Audi S4. There will be an electric car (or SUV) coming soon as well. So 7000lb+ capacity is needed, but also the ability to change how it lifts with its symmetric and asymmetric lifting setup.

Before I pull the $6000+ trigger (and of course freight charges and tax), I wanted to see if any lower-cost alternatives out there meet my needs.

 

[killahog]

I can’t offer any advice on what other lifts to look at but I bought a XPR 10ALP an it has worked just fine for about 4 years. I am about 45 miles north of you.

 

[pattenp]

Being on east side of the US, check out Challenger Lifts. They're out of Kentucky.

 

[AC-WC]

I presume the truck is the heaviest. As long as the lift can support that weight and because of your height you're in the right direction. I presume you've investigated the different lift suppliers?

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[Gauss66]

A few people on here love this lift - not ALI though ( but a version of it is ):

OHX-10H - AMGO

The OHX-10H is the extremely high lifting model with lifting height up to 78 3/4" ~ 87 3/4". Height & Width adjustment. The lift is designed with super asymmetric arms and share many same features as model OHX-10. Contact Us Now Click to download Product Brochure Click to download Product Manual

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I considered it - but ended up choosing a Forward I10

 

[trashyman]

Agree on the challenger. I got the 10k DPC (dual pendant control). Super nice to be able to look underneath at the arms for placement with the controls in hand. Granted it's more money.

 

[eclipse860]

OP - I am in the exact same situation as you with requirements. I am looking at the OHX-10H as suggested above. One thing to consider is the Max LOCKING height which is less then the Max Lift height. I doubt you will want to work on a vehicle without it locked in place. The Locking height of the OHX is 77+ inches, perfect for us taller guys. I posted a couple days ago about another lift (Atlas BP8000) that SHOULD be OK but it is not documented anywhere. The Atlas email on the website is broken. So I may call. It is also floor plate which I dont really want. Someone did respond back to my post that is 5'11" and stated we SHOULD be able to walk under the car... but I think I need more exact answer. I will try calling Atlas today if I have time... and hope they have an answer. If BP8000 does not work out, then I am likely going to go with OHX-10H to keep my price point (before freight) under $4K.

 

[Gauss66]

OP - I am in the exact same situation as you with requirements. I am looking at the OHX-10H as suggested above. One thing to consider is the Max LOCKING height which is less then the Max Lift height. I doubt you will want to work on a vehicle without it locked in place. The Locking height of the OHX is 77+ inches, perfect for us taller guys. I posted a couple days ago about another lift (Atlas BP8000) that SHOULD be OK but it is not documented anywhere. The Atlas email on the website is broken. So I may call. It is also floor plate which I dont really want. Someone did respond back to my post that is 5'11" and stated we SHOULD be able to walk under the car... but I think I need more exact answer. I will try calling Atlas today if I have time... and hope they have an answer. If BP8000 does not work out, then I am likely going to go with OHX-10H to keep my price point (before freight) under $4K.

Good Points - but a few more variables to consider:

You don't want to be to high, as you need to reach and 'force' things under the car. Rise height is usually measured from the floor to the top of the adapter ( the arms will be lower and things in the car could be higher ... ). Also - rise heights can be increased with extensions - which tend to range between 3 - 8 inches. However, for full extensions - you need to have clearance from the min adapter height ...

I have heard Atlas is hard to have a conversation with - is there a distributor you can talk too ?

My decision to go with the I10 is to be ALI, plus I will am a hobbyist, not under the lift full time. I talked to a few taller guys ( taller then me - I am 6'2" ) at car shops and they like using stools when needed.

 

[Ry24000]

just be sure it's American made and not China. China cables have been known to fail.
I have a Forward BP-9. It's 9000# and designed for low ceiling, although I have 16' ceiling. It came with the shop when I bought the property. It has the cables running on the floor. I don't like this for things like transmission jack work, but it's what I have for now. When I upgrade I am thinking Forward, Rotary, bendpak, or another USA made lift.

 

[Gauss66]

just be sure it's American made and not China. China cables have been known to fail.

Do you have any documentation? I am not aware of ALI certified lifts made in China that have failed. Now Non ALI is a different story

 

[Ry24000]

I am not sure what ALI is? What exactly are you asking for? I don't have a doccument just the word from my uncle who is 80 years old and been wrenching under 2 posts since his teen years. He is the person who warned me Is that good enough?

 

[Gauss66]

ALI is the Automotive Lift Institute.

Automotive Lift Institute Directory of Certified Car Lifts

The directory of certified car lifts include 2 post, 4 post, low-rise, mid rise, mobile column lifts, parallelogram lifts, scissor Lifts and transmission jacks

www.autolift.org

Here is a good link that discusses people's thoughts on ALI ( both for and against ):

ALI / ETL Lift certification requirements?

So, I've been looking across the web for more information on the ALI/ETL lift testing process. The only information that I have found is that the lift is loaded to 150% of its rated capacity and then cycled. It is then apparently checked for deformation. My issue is, if you are supposed to pay...

www.garagejournal.com

In general, no one claims ALI it is a bad thing, but some argue that is over engineered certification or validation of the testing criteria.

Your lift ( Forward ) is manufactured in China, so has Chinese metal. My I10 lift is a Forward lift which is also ALI Gold certified ( ALI certification require on site inspection and testing ). I believe all BendPak lifts are made in China. Rotary is made in the US - I wanted to buy their newest AV lift, but the Forward is wider and I wanted the extra width. Foward and Rotary are both owned by Dover Corp - when I chose my Forward lift, I talked to the Rotary Tech support in discussing both the AV lift and the I10

 

[Gauss66]

Just checked - the latest version of your BP9 lift is ALI certified, so assume yours is

 

[Ry24000]

Just checked - the latest version of your BP9 lift is ALI certified, so assume yours is

How do I know for sure? Mine is older not sure what year it was manufactured? Ill check to see if I can find a marking or a sticker or something. Thanks for the information! I had no idea it was made in China. My Uncle specifically said that the Chinese cables were the problem. I think in the crimped fitting area. I'll have to ask him where he got that information.

 

[finn]

just be sure it's American made and not China. China cables have been known to fail.
I have a Forward BP-9. It's 9000# and designed for low ceiling, although I have 16' ceiling. It came with the shop when I bought the property. It has the cables running on the floor. I don't like this for things like transmission jack work, but it's what I have for now. When I upgrade I am thinking Forward, Rotary, bendpak, or another USA made lift.

Bulldhit. I have three imported lifts. None have failed, nor have I seen any documented failures where the lift was properly loaded.

The interweb is full of dealership drops, where the lifts are American made commercial products, These are loading failures, also.

 

[bb29510]

i hate bendpak, well let me rephase that. i hate the people that work at bendpak, they customer service *****

 

[dante2]

Good Points - but a few more variables to consider:

You don't want to be to high, as you need to reach and 'force' things under the car. Rise height is usually measured from the floor to the top of the adapter ( the arms will be lower and things in the car could be higher ... ). Also - rise heights can be increased with extensions - which tend to range between 3 - 8 inches. However, for full extensions - you need to have clearance from the min adapter height ...

I have heard Atlas is hard to have a conversation with - is there a distributor you can talk too ?

My decision to go with the I10 is to be ALI, plus I will am a hobbyist, not under the lift full time. I talked to a few taller guys ( taller then me - I am 6'2" ) at car shops and they like using stools when needed.

Do you have the I10 lift?

 

[Gauss66]

Do you have the I10 lift?

Yes I do - but not installed yet. Installation will be on May 7th !

 

[dante2]

I'm 6'1 but with the work boots probably closer to 6'2. I usually wear the white cap when I have a vehicle overhead.

 

[Gauss66]

Nice - looks like you have 8 inches of extensions But duck for the arms.

I'll be lifting mostly low clearance cars - so using the extensions will require a bit of extra work.

Is that locked at the highest position ?

 

[dante2]

Yes would be nice to have a little more but I rarely work at this height. I usually sit on the stool and roll everywhere.

 

[Gauss66]

What kind of stool do you use ?

Also - if the arms are above your head, you might not be able to reach the bottom of the vehicle !

 

[dante2]

Just a cheap HF round one. I do need to get a better once someday. Sorry about the thread derail OP.

 

[JoshS]

I'm 6'4" and have a Amgo OHX-10H and it has been great for me so far.