2 Post Lift Help - Challenger VLE10 Versymmetric

[Mr. Notorious]

I'm 75% sold on the 10k Challenger Versymmetric 2 post lift (VLE10), but still considering the ProKar 9k lift. The ProKar is about $1700 cheaper than the challenger, which is about the bill for all the concrete work, and comes with similar warranty.

This is strictly for personal / hobby use, and will likely never pay for itself in jobs performed. I will be shocked if I use it more than once a month. I am looking at the verymmetric because of it's 3 stage arms, and how possibly it's pretty dang universal.

- Curious if anyone had any first hand experience with this lift and a variety of veicles? Mainly curious if the verymmetric is gimmicky, or actually maybe it is a cool hybrid of the standard and asymmetric designs. Or maybe the door ends up right where the post is anyways?

- For those that have installed, I have read alot (especially on this forum) so what have you guys done as far as the concrete? I'm too close to a joint, so I have to re-pour something new anyways. I am 75% leaning towards a 4' x 15' pad, 12" deep with reebar and "keying" into existing surrounding pad. Lift Manufacturers have different requirements depending on brand. Some just require 4'x4'x12" Piers / islands, and some recommend the full rectangular pad like I'm considering. The lift sales people and local concrete contractors say 4x4' x 6"-8", which I don't really see stated on any manufacture's website. The exact lift I'm eyeing doesn't have details so I'll be calling the mfg (and not sales people) directly tomorrow.

Here is list of potential things I'd be working on:
- Standard SUV's (FJ80 / wife's Durango)
- Diesel F250 4x4 Crew Cab
- side by sides
- Lowered track cars (5th gen ZL1 Camaro & BMW 3 series)
- Short wheel base 4x4's (FJ40 / SWB Jeep / Suzuki Samurai)
- If I can figure out a motorcycle adapter I'd probably lift that too eventually.

 

[pattenp]

Where are you finding a 9k Prokar 2 post for $1700? Is that used? The link is $3300.
I don't see that the Prokar is certified.

 

[Mr. Notorious]

Where are you finding a 9k Prokar 2 post for $1700? Is that used? The link is $3300.
I don't see that the Prokar is certified.

Yeah, it was a whoopsie on my end, I meant to say it's $1700 less than the Challenger...

 

[theegovernor]

Definitely the vle10. Remember the lift ratings are per arm, and with that truck you may be coming close to those ratings. I did a whole pad for my lift. The versymmetric arm design is indeed helpful for some vehicles.

 

[rnixon]

I've got a CL10v3 Challenger Versalift ,Mine's installed on 6" 4500 psi wire reenforced concrete. You can put the doors behind the posts , but because the posts aren't angled, you don't get as much clearance as with a "true" asymmetric. Your f-250 diesel crew will definitely need truck adaptors, [$250+] but weight is not an issue [ 7.5k lbs. max ] The short wheel base, and lowered vehicles might be a PITA because of the long [ 3 stage ] rear arms
If I had to do it over I would opt. for a straight symmetric

 

[SmackinHondas]

Diesel truck w/ 4x4 is an automatic 10k+ lift in my book. They are beefier. A 9k will do it, but I imagine it'd be janky. I have 3 stage front arms on my lift that appear very similar to the Challenger versymmetric. I have no problems racking up my 98-inch wheel base civic and you can see on the rear arm that there is room to go shorter (link, scroll down), so I'm decently confident about lifting the Suzuki with it, depending on lift points. With 2 stage arms you might have to drive in halfway, get out and swing one set of lift arms under the car, reverse and swing the second set of arms underneath - that's what we had to do with SWB JK wranglers at my previous work.

Challenger specs state the height of the lift pads is 4.25", so I'd measure your lowered cars and see. Worst case scenario you'll have to lay down a set of 2x10s.

I don't really lift anything asymmetrically, but the arms will give you options with shorter cars.

 

[Mr. Notorious]

Thanks for the helpful replies. I also just learned that Challenger has a CL10V3, which appears to me more slated towards commercial use, but it has 3 stage arms front and back. Plus it apears the arms appear to have more travel vs the VLE10 in both the extended and collapsed dimensions. Which tells me it's versatile with wheelbases.

I'm now curious if I can order the 3 stage rear arms for the VLE10? I don't really want to order the CL10v3 for another $2k.

With these verysametric lifts, does anyone know if I wanted to back a vehicle into the lift, can I just switch the arms around and everything will work fine?

I've got a CL10v3 Challenger Versalift ,Mine's installed on 6" 4500 psi wire reenforced concrete. You can put the doors behind the posts , but because the posts aren't angled, you don't get as much clearance as with a "true" asymmetric. Your f-250 diesel crew will definitely need truck adaptors, [$250+] but weight is not an issue [ 7.5k lbs. max ] The short wheel base, and lowered vehicles might be a PITA because of the long [ 3 stage ] rear arms
If I had to do it over I would opt. for a straight symmetric

Nice ride and floor! I think that's one of the main differences between the CL10V3 and the VLE10, is the C has 3 stage arms in the rear, where the VLE10 only has 2 stage arms. Just curious, why go straight symmetric next time around?

Diesel truck w/ 4x4 is an automatic 10k+ lift in my book. They are beefier. A 9k will do it, but I imagine it'd be janky. I have 3 stage front arms on my lift that appear very similar to the Challenger versymmetric. I have no problems racking up my 98-inch wheel base civic and you can see on the rear arm that there is room to go shorter (link, scroll down), so I'm decently confident about lifting the Suzuki with it, depending on lift points. With 2 stage arms you might have to drive in halfway, get out and swing one set of lift arms under the car, reverse and swing the second set of arms underneath - that's what we had to do with SWB JK wranglers at my previous work.

Challenger specs state the height of the lift pads is 4.25", so I'd measure your lowered cars and see. Worst case scenario you'll have to lay down a set of 2x10s.

I don't really lift anything asymmetrically, but the arms will give you options with shorter cars.

Thanks for the pics, that is helpful

 

[rnixon]

"Just curious, why go straight symmetric next time around?"

I can back my Mercedes 300SD and my F150 on my lift without changing the position of the arms . If you were to move the front arms to the rear , the configuration of those arms are such that you could only lift to the hight of the bottom of the fluid reservoir , any higher and you'd destroy the power unit
The lift points on my corvettes are only 53" apart , I have to move the car 3 times to position it for a safe lift

 

[m3bs]

I'm not familiar with the Prokar lift, but my Challenger E10 has been flawless since installation 12 years ago. I've had everything from Honda S2000 and BMW Z3 up to full size SUVs like my Expedition and a friend's Land Cruiser. The only thing I might do differently would be to opt for the 3 segment rear arms. That might save some time jockeying the car around to be able to properly place the rear arms on smaller cars. I would personally consider only certified units. They do cost more, but when you are working under a 6000# truck it's nice to know there is a decent factor of safety designed in.

 

[PeteyDaMan]

I have the Challenger LE10 lift. It is also verisemetric but before they came out with the name. I'm very happy with it as others have said.
It has the 3 stage front and 2 stage rear arms which I don't really find any issues with.
I went with the 10k lift as I have a Ram 2500 Diesel and wanted the extra 2K of capacity so I feel a little more comfortable working with it on the lift.

Challenger does warn not to load a vehicle backwards on the lift (eg 2 stage arms to the front) but you can reverse the arms font to back if needed.

Hope that helps

 

[djkurious]

Have you checked out Derek Weaver lifts? It's made by Rotary and i'm currenly waiting for mine to arrive in 2-3 weeks.
I chosed this lift after thorough research.