Wildfire vs Advantage 9000 XLT lift. Why the price difference?

[Punkinhead]

I'm curious if anyone has recently researched and/or purchased a 4-post lift who understands why there's such a large price difference between these two. The specs are similar enough that I'd be surprised if they're not coming out of the same factory but the Wildfire is $6695 and the Advantage is $8995. They both come with a rolling jack tray, drip pans, tire stops, casters, and aluminum ramps. Is there something I'm missing that would warrant the $2300 more for the Advantage? They're both within my budget so if the Advantage offers something for that extra money I'd consider it but I'm not seeing what it would be.

 

[finn]

They were priced about the same when I bought mine a few years ago. I Chose Advantage because they offered the larger 11k (?) lift and Wildfire didn’t, plus I think the warehouse was more convenient, or something.

I did notice that Advantage is now advertising “assembled in America”, so, with the acquisition of Backyard Buddy, I wonder if they now have more domestic content.

When I bought my two, they were identical to Wildfire.

 

[kngelv]

The Advantage has 10" longer runways and is ALI certified. It also has nicer end stops. They likely have the same OEM. I don't think the Advantage XLT is assembled here. Only their side by side is and of course the Backyard Buddy's. I have a Backyard Buddy but in your case I'd get the Wildfire with their rolling air jack. That's still less than the Advantage.

James

 

[jtbinvalrico]

If all specs are otherwise equal, a weight difference would be telling.

 

[onewheat]

I had the same question - I went with the Wildfire XLT. It's been great.

 

[Burl]

When I bought my Advantage 9K about 10 years ago, most of that kind of lift were about the same price. Which is about half of the Wildfire now and Advantage clearly had the best built 4 post on the market. It amazing how the price has gone up. If doing it now, I would probably buy the Wildfire.

 

[mercifiknow]

Did Advantage and BYB go out of business?

 

[kngelv]

Something is definitely going on with them.

James

 

[kbuhagiar]

Advantage Lifts

Discover Real Garage Life, your trusted source for high-quality 2 post and 4 post car lifts. Our lifts are designed for low garage ceilings, car collectors, car restoration specialists, and DIY Automotive Enthusiasts.

realgaragelife.com

 

[mercifiknow]

Advantage Lifts

Discover Real Garage Life, your trusted source for high-quality 2 post and 4 post car lifts. Our lifts are designed for low garage ceilings, car collectors, car restoration specialists, and DIY Automotive Enthusiasts.

realgaragelife.com

I think that’s an old site now. I saw something on FB after being tipped off by friend who bought one a yr or so ago that they folded. It appears to be recent exchange. Not sure so that’s why I’m asking here for the skinny.

 

[Burl]

As I said before, I would buy the Wildfire. My Advantage has not been good to me. I ponied-up for the air over hydralic jack, and I'm on my 2nd pump, and I've noticed some fraying of my cables. My lift is used sparingly, I'm a hobbyist, and it seems to go out of adjustment often. When calling Advantage, they always say that my problems are just "normal".

 

[mercifiknow]

I think my personal concern is if Advantage can fold, along with BYB, Wildfire might as well. Parts/ maintenance support would problematic.

 

[finn]

As I said before, I would buy the Wildfire. My Advantage has not been good to me. I ponied-up for the air over hydralic jack, and I'm on my 2nd pump, and I've noticed some fraying of my cables. My lift is used sparingly, I'm a hobbyist, and it seems to go out of adjustment often. When calling Advantage, they always say that my problems are just "normal".

They’re the same lift.

I think my personal concern is if Advantage can fold, along with BYB, Wildfire might as well. Parts/ maintenance support would problematic.

Most of these lift retailers seem to be pushing the me lifts, probably made by the same cadre of Chinese manufacturers with different paint and minor changes.

The retailers same to come and go on a regular basis, and advertising is a major part of their budget. Being that so many lifts are seemingly from the same source, I suspect margins are thin.

 

[denis4x4]

I think my personal concern is if Advantage can fold, along with BYB, Wildfire might as well. Parts/ maintenance support would problematic.

I bought BYB 20+ years ago for less than $2000 at a Goodguys event. Earlier this year, I replaced all of the cables along with the shafts and pulleys for $1100 from Advantage.

 

[kngelv]

It looks like Advantage/Backyard Buddy is in the process of being sold but we know how that usually goes. They stopped dealing with their Chinese supplier sometime last year which is why they barely had any thing to sell recently. I think they wanted to go to all USA assembled lifts but they don't seem to be doing anything until they supposedly sell the business. The Chinese supplier is now being used by a company called Guardian Lifts and look identical to the Advantage. https://guardianlifts.com/ They are actually delivering product. I found this out while looking to get a larger Backyard Buddy as my Classic was the only size that could fit in my attached garage but the detached I built last year has far more room and I'd like to fit larger vehicles on it. My only beef with Wildfire is it loks like they reverse engineered Advantages designs and just cloned them.

James

 

[kbuhagiar]

It looks like Advantage/Backyard Buddy is in the process of being sold but we know how that usually goes. They stopped dealing with their Chinese supplier sometime last year which is why they barely had any thing to sell recently. I think they wanted to go to all USA assembled lifts but they don't seem to be doing anything until they supposedly sell the business. The Chinese supplier is now being used by a company called Guardian Lifts and look identical to the Advantage. https://guardianlifts.com/ They are actually delivering product. I found this out while looking to get a larger Backyard Buddy as my Classic was the only size that could fit in my attached garage but the detached I built last year has far more room and I'd like to fit larger vehicles on it. My only beef with Wildfire is it looks like they reverse engineered Advantages designs and just cloned them.

James

That may not necessarily be a bad thing...

 

[kngelv]

That may not necessarily be a bad thing...

I disagree. I'm not onboard with people profiting off others hard work.

James

 

[zimman]

A lot of my Youtube guys use Wildfire like Matts Offroad Recovery and Vice Grip Garage. Demo Ranch too when he was not retired.
Zim,

 

[finn]

Going to the way back machine, story was the the guys that started Wildfire formerly worked an Advantage.

There was a thread on that maybe five or seven years ago. No data, but I suspect Advantage bit off more than they could chew when they Bought BYB. That, and it seems they more or less abandoned the Chinese designs in favor of BYB when the import tariff fiasco shtf

There was a third entity selling the same lift at the time, so I don’t know who actually designed them and owned the IP.

 

[finn]

A lot of my Youtube guys use Wildfire like Matts Offroad Recovery and Vice Grip Garage. Demo Ranch too when he was not retired.
Zim,

Amazing how many free lifts have appeared on YouTube