My new Bendpak 2 post lift.

jlbota · Oct 4, 2009

Well after alot of debate I ended up with a new Bendpak 2 post XPR-10CX. I was going back and forth between Assymetric and Symmetric and I think this lift fits the bill nicely. It's heavy enough for my Dodge Diesel and wide enough to open most doors fairly easily. I put together a video for you guys to check out. I know there has been alot of questions on lifts and had them myself when I was looking. I went with Bendpak due to reputation and quality at a decent price.

Here is my video on Youtube.

autoclassicnut · Oct 5, 2009

Nice video, good work!

PurdueSD · Oct 6, 2009

Can you tell me exactly how tall that lift ended up?

THX!

jlbota · Oct 6, 2009

I think its 12ft 1 but I will measure it and let you know.

OldCarGuy · Oct 6, 2009

Benpak is a good choice in lifts. :thumbup:

Nice video,, and thanks for taking the time to share with us your new lift. I'm sure that it'll give you a lifetime of good service.

jlbota · Oct 8, 2009

PurdueSD said:
Can you tell me exactly how tall that lift ended up?

THX!

It is 12ft 1inch overall height. My ceilings are 12 ft 8 and had no problems with the install.

jlbota · Oct 8, 2009

OldCarGuy said:
Benpak is a good choice in lifts.
Nice video,, and thanks for taking the time to share with us your new lift. I'm sure that it'll give you a lifetime of good service.

My first choice was a Mohawk like the one you have but to be honest I could not find a decent person to deal with who seemed genuine if you know what I mean. I didn't get a warm fuzzy feeling from there dealer network and they seemed less then eager to help or sell me anything.
So I went with the Bendpak due to the fact they have a good rep and I found a great dealer who was very helpful.

PurdueSD · Oct 8, 2009

jlbota said:
It is 12ft 1inch overall height. My ceilings are 12 ft 8 and had no problems with the install.

Thanks!

... unfortuately thats about 3" taller than i have....

e-tek · Oct 8, 2009

Sweet lift !!! I was looking at a no-name lift in the local Princess Auto (HarbourFright) and it's amazing just how much heavier the materials are and how the BP looks to be over-engineered compared to that one! I'm happier with it mine today than when I got it two years ago!

prc07nascar · Oct 14, 2009

i saw your viedo, i am getting one of the xpr lifts in a week or 2, mine will be professionally installed also. i wanted to ask a few questions......you said the installer didnt want to use the anchors that came with it, did he already have the other ones or did you have to go buy them, and if i need them what was the brand, item #, length, and thread size? can the pump go on either side? and the power.....did you have it already there before lift was installed? and who hooked it up when the lift was ready, i mean dosent the installer have to have it hooked up to test or adjust something????

jlbota · Oct 14, 2009

prc07nascar said:
i saw your viedo, i am getting one of the xpr lifts in a week or 2, mine will be professionally installed also. i wanted to ask a few questions......you said the installer didnt want to use the anchors that came with it, did he already have the other ones or did you have to go buy them, and if i need them what was the brand, item #, length, and thread size? can the pump go on either side? and the power.....did you have it already there before lift was installed? and who hooked it up when the lift was ready, i mean dosent the installer have to have it hooked up to test or adjust something????

He already had the new anchors with him when he came. I would say the anchors that come with it work well as long as they aren't overtightened. He used a Simpson strong tie brand wedge style that is 3/4 inch by 5-1/2 inches long. Basically the instructions say to run a nut to the top of the bolt and hammer them in until the washer is making contact and then hand tighten. I would say if you have a local Fastenal you should be able to get some like this.
As far as the pump location it only has one mounting place but if you buy a symmetric lift like I purchased you have the choice of which side the power side upright is on because the columns face one another. On an assymetric you may be limited to the one side because the posts are turned 30 degrees or so facing your entry. In my experience its usually nice to have it on the passenger side because usually when you get out of the vehicle you set the drivers side first and then the passenger side and your power is right there when your done setting the car.
I already had the 30 amp 220 breaker in the building and wired it all myself. But if your installer knows what he is doing he can run the lift on 110v to bleed the lift cylinders and adjust everything as needed.
The only thing I have needed to get after the install was some white lithium spray for the inside corners of the columns where the guides run. I think my installer should have done this but he did give me a great deal so I can't complain to much. I called Bendpak to verify what to use and they also recommended either a 90wt for the cables or a specific cable lube that will penetrate to the core of the cables so they stay well lubricated. Oh and they are sending me decals to replace the scratched up decals. They were very helpful and quick to answer all my questions. So far I am happy.

Hope this helps.... :beer:

prc07nascar · Oct 14, 2009

what was the length of the anchors that came with it? you said the ones he used were 5 1/2" long, if these are longer than the ones that came with it i would think longer would be better.

jlbota · Jun 25, 2010

Re: My new Bendpak 2 post lift (Revived)

Wow I had no idea it had been that long since I posted my last video on the lift. Here is a new one lifting my Dodge diesel for those who are interested.

haugy · Jun 25, 2010

Re: My new Bendpak 2 post lift (Revived)

Stupid question, didn't feel it needed a thread.

Difference between assymetric and symetric? Yeah I know, stupid question.

Lift looks good though man, helps me visualize how i want to do mine.

e-tek · Jun 25, 2010

Re: My new Bendpak 2 post lift (Revived)

haugy said:
Stupid question, didn't feel it needed a thread.

Difference between assymetric and symetric? Yeah I know, stupid question.

Lift looks good though man, helps me visualize how i want to do mine.

There are NO stupid questions!!!! I want to know too!! (and I HAVE a lift!)

jlbota · Jun 25, 2010

Well a Symmetric lift like the one I have the vehicle will be centered between the posts and all 4 lift arms are about the same length. This makes lifting heavier vehicles a bit safer and more stable. The lift arms when not in use will fold out two in front and two towards the rear.

An assymetric lift is designed with longer rear arms and short front arms so more of your vehicle will hang out towards the rear of the lift. The arms all fold towards the rear of the lift when not in use. Bendpak actually designed their lifts so the posts are also turned like 30 degrees toward your entry side to make it easier to open car doors. They are fine for lighter front wheel drive cars and you can lift trucks with them but its not recommended to do so every day.

hilld · Jun 25, 2010

I can answer that one.

Asymmetric has shorter lift arms in the front vs. the back ones.

Symmetric has equal length lift arms.

Asymmetric lifts are usually turned at the columns 45 degrees (or close to that) to allow for easier opening of doors but the real reason is to move the center of gravity backward so you can use the shorter lifting arms without causing the load to be tippy.

Hope that makes sense.

Derek

71blackcheyenne · Jun 25, 2010

How thick of a floor do you have, or better yet how thick do they specify for that lift?

jlbota · Jun 25, 2010

They specify for the 10000lb lift a 4 inch minimum 3000psi concrete. I redid the section of floor where my lift is because it had a sloped drain in that location. So I repoured it 6 in and layed a vapor barrier and a rebar grid and tied it into the existing floor. The concrete was about a 3400psi mix.

71blackcheyenne · Jun 25, 2010

Cool, thanks, I am still in the planning stages of my shop and that is the exact lift i had picked out/dreamed about.

Motown 454 · Jun 25, 2010

Very nice lift. You have a sweet shop.

kerker · Jun 26, 2010

Nicely done. I hope to be buiding a new garage soon and you have enlightened me on some pre-planning I should be doing. Thanks :beer:

bondsman · Jun 26, 2010

I too am in the process of figuring out which lift to get. Going with either Bendpak or Dannmar. I own a few powerstrokes. My 05 weighs 8k.
On the Bendpak site, they recommend the asymetrical lift for trucks because it puts the center of gravity closer to the columns.

edit....just read it again. the asymetrical are recommended for light trucks not commercial trucks that would have weight on the back like tow trucks, welding trucks, utility trucks. They would cause undue stress on the rear arms.
So am I to assume that F250/350's are considered light trucks (unless you have a utility bed or wrecker bed with some heft on it)... I don't know... Maybe I will just go with a symetrical lift... Guess I need to call Bendpak..

Love your shop with all that room....

KM1013 · Jun 27, 2010

OT a bit but in your video what insulation do you have on your pole barn walls or am I just seeing the back of the metal walls themselves.

jlbota · Sep 30, 2010

KM1013, Sorry it took so long to reply. My buildings panels are actually insulated themselves. They have metal on both sides with about a 3inch insulated core. They used to make them in Ohio where I live but Im not sure if they do anymore. I have both of my garages built with these panels and i have blown insulation in the ceiling of this particular building and it never seems to get below 40 degrees even in the dead of winter with no heat running.

My new Bendpak 2 post lift.

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