2 post lift installation

[brihvac]

I bought a 2 post Atlas 9000lb lift. I was going to install it myself but I really dont have anyone to help me with the install. How mush do you guys think is a fair price for installation? I talked to one guy awhile ago that told me $600 and he will pick it up, etc. He will do everything but the electric.

 

[zmotorsports]

When I purchased my 10k pound two-post almost two years ago from my local NAPA store, they had a company that would install the lift for me and tried to talk me into using them. I was crunched for time so I got a quote from them and they wanted $500.00 to install the lift. This did NOT include the electrical connection nor electrical supplies, that would be extra as they would have to bring in an electrician.

For that much I told myself I would find the time to do it myself. I also was not fond of someone else drilling into my concrete and wanted to make certain it was done correctly.

I did however have my son to help me and it took me two evenings to stand the posts and get them secured to the floor and one evening to run all of the electrical and get it up and running. The electrical cost me approx. $200.00 for a circuit breaker, conduit, stress releif, wiring and I also installed a double pole single throw switch into a box right at the lift so I have a means of killing power to the lift without having to go to the circuit panel.

Long story to your question, the $600.00 for installation less the electrical sounds about right but they are really not that difficult to install if you could find one person to at least help you stand the columns. After that it is a one person job. I used my engine hoist to stand ours and I possible could have done it myself but having that extra body to help stabalize the columns as they were going up sure helped.

Mike.

 

[pattenp]

I paid $500 several years ago to have mine delivered and installed. I could have done it myself but I just didn't feel like dealing with how to get it and then handling getting it up. For me it was worth the 500 bucks. It was up and going in one day. But, I did do the electrical.

 

[brihvac]

Picked it up today and recruited the wife to help me get it off the trailer. I might as well did ityself, but its in the garage and the post are standing up. I have a hand truck to move the post around, so I should be ok doing everything myself. If I need an extra set of hands I guess I will have to ask the wife, but that will be a last resort.

 

[RalphInCA]

"I might as well did it myself" and "that will be a last resort"

LOL. Us married guys know what you mean. Things that would be real easy if just guys were involved take on much complexity and stress when the wife is involved.

 

[brihvac]

"I might as well did it myself" and "that will be a last resort"

LOL. Us married guys know what you mean. Things that would be real easy if just guys were involved take on much complexity and stress when the wife is involved.

You know EXACTLY what I mean

 

[e-tek]

You know EXACTLY what I mean

Worst thing is there's likely a few guys on your block that would LOVE to come over and help, shoot the ****, use some tools but we're all basically loners...

 

[egnorant]

Price sounds about right...but I am the DIY kinda guy and love the feeling when a plan comes together.
Today we drilled anchor bolts and got the pins installed for the arms on my lift.
Got to weld, plumb hydraulics, drill concrete and use a chop saw today.
Actually lifted stuff!
Did the mechanicals and electricals last week...Might have spent $500 for all the conduit, hydraulic fluid, bolts and such, but I had a great deal of fun (with my brother) and know that everything is installed correctly. Learned a great deal too, and that is my fun.

As a member of a car club, I am never without "A few good men" to help piddle around.

Bruce

 

[brihvac]

Price sounds about right...but I am the DIY kinda guy and love the feeling when a plan comes together.
Today we drilled anchor bolts and got the pins installed for the arms on my lift.
Got to weld, plumb hydraulics, drill concrete and use a chop saw today.
Actually lifted stuff!
Did the mechanicals and electricals last week...Might have spent $500 for all the conduit, hydraulic fluid, bolts and such, but I had a great deal of fun (with my brother) and know that everything is installed correctly. Learned a great deal too, and that is my fun.

As a member of a car club, I am never without "A few good men" to help piddle around.

Bruce

Im a DIY guy also. But you said the key thing. You HAVE help. Im gonna do it myself now that the heavy lifting is done

 

[andersen24]

Worst thing is there's likely a few guys on your block that would LOVE to come over and help, shoot the ****, use some tools but we're all basically loners...

SWEET! I KNEW I was normal, I just knew it!

 

[jimp]

I might as well did ityself.

You will never hear me say that, while she is not as strong as I am. Last summer when I was using a 60# jack hammer to run some gas line. She climbed down in the hole and said it looked like I needed a break (I did).

 

[jimp]

I have a hand truck to move the post around.

As I recall I was glad I had scaffolding to tie the post. Be careful if you are moving them with a hand truck.

 

[IndyGarage]

I did my 12K mohawk 100% by myself. It took probably 4 hours.

Couldn't have even thought about moving those posts without a forklift, however.

 

[volaredon]

I did my 12K mohawk 100% by myself. It took probably 4 hours.

Couldn't have even thought about moving those posts without a forklift, however.

sounds like the posts on my old (built 1986) Weaver 2 post; it took 4 of us to lay the posts down and at that it almost wasnt enough; I have a chainfall for the day when I get to put it up within my garage (got a mess that needs dealt with 1st) Aint no hand truck strong enough (or person strong enough to ooperste the hand truck) without someone getting squashed

 

[egnorant]

My brother stood up one upright by himself one Saturday.
Went from the ground to the back of his truck with an A-fame and come-along which he admits was "strained".
Out of the truck and in position with an engine hoist, then lifted upright with a rope block and tackle setup with a few restraining ropes to prevent swaying and skidding.
Took him about 2 hours, but he got it up and in position without breaking anything.

I showed up and the second upright, combining a second body and his new "learnin'", took us about 20 minutes.

Then while he was working, I did final measurements (about 15 times), electricals, cables and crossbar. We got up early yesterday to drill for anchor bolts. I got to do 2 of 16 holes and had to work so he finished the bolts, hydraulics and arms.
Got off work in time for handing a few tools up the ladder and the first test lift.

Either of us could have done it alone...it would have just taken 4 times as long and its more fun to high five an actual person!

Bruce

 

[bjcouche]

Just wanted to add my $0.02. The brand of lift is a significant factor in how easy the columns are to stand up and move around. The Atlas, Bendpak, Rotary, for lifts under 16,000lbs all of which are made in China. These lifts are quite light and can be lifted upright by two people. I payed about 3X the price and bought a US made Mohawk 10,000lb lift. I won't debate the US vs China here other than to say I wouldn't recommend the Mohawk to everyone as the value proposition isn't always there.
I had to use the forks on my front end loader to lift one end and stand the columns upright on the Mohawk. Each column without arms weighed in excess of 1,000lbs. That means the top end that I had to lift to stand the column up weighed just less than 500lbs, which the 2 people I had on hand couldn't lift off the floor.

Moral of the story is to get the weight info from the manufacturer to determine how much each column weighs. Remember that the older lifts that were made in the US are significantly heavier, so if you are installing a used lift, keep that in mind.

 

[yuk]

dont think that just because something weighs X amount of pounds that each end will weigh the same. the posts on my lift were 9ft long. the balance point was about 27-29 inches from the bottom due to the floor plate, ram and carriage being at the bottom.

 

[c39er]

Just wanted to add my $0.02. The brand of lift is a significant factor in how easy the columns are to stand up and move around. The Atlas, Bendpak, Rotary, for lifts under 16,000lbs all of which are made in China. These lifts are quite light and can be lifted upright by two people. I payed about 3X the price and bought a US made Mohawk 10,000lb lift. I won't debate the US vs China here other than to say I wouldn't recommend the Mohawk to everyone as the value proposition isn't always there.
I had to use the forks on my front end loader to lift one end and stand the columns upright on the Mohawk. Each column without arms weighed in excess of 1,000lbs. That means the top end that I had to lift to stand the column up weighed just less than 500lbs, which the 2 people I had on hand couldn't lift off the floor.

Moral of the story is to get the weight info from the manufacturer to determine how much each column weighs. Remember that the older lifts that were made in the US are significantly heavier, so if you are installing a used lift, keep that in mind.

Are you sure the "Rotary" lift is made in China?

 

[phawco]

Did my 10k ammco myself with the help of my cherry picker. Thepicker wouldvput the posts almost vertical with a strap about 3 ft from the bottom

 

[493 scamp]

I watched a crew of 2 install a Mohawk. They backed a trailer in just past the door,slid the columns out past center off the end,then stood them up. I asked how they were going to move them stood up and one guy just smiled as he gently rocked one side to side then started to walk the side with less weight forward. Took about 30 seconds to walk it about 15 feet! I wouldn't try it without help and first clearing the whole area but these guys had it up in 2 hours and headed out to the next install. I wonder how many they dropped doing this?

 

[usafmora]

Are you sure the "Rotary" lift is made in China?

Rotary came to Madison, Indiana in 1955, where it has been actively involved in many community programs and events. Our goal is continued growth and strong community involvement for the future generations of this region.

 

[bjcouche]

Both Rotary and Direct lift are owned by Dover. I can't find the proof that I once had about COO of the lifts but COO doesn't always mean everything these days. When I researched Lifts a year ago, I was unable to find a single manufactured in the US with the exception of Mohawk. What I did find was that a lot of the reputable manufacturers higher capacity professional models were US made.
I would seriously consider Rotary if I bought another lift.. And about lifting them, YES the center of gravity will be towards the bottom. As another poster suggested, if you can drag a column off of a trailer and set the bottom on the floor, you've just partially uprighted the column and it will be less weight to lift it upright. Once it is upright you can walk it across the garage, although it might scratch the concrete a little, that's how i got mine into position.

Brian

 

[c39er]

I understand it as the Cheaper DIY Revolution lift imported by Rotary (Dover) was made in China.

 

[IndyGarage]

I watched a crew of 2 install a Mohawk. They backed a trailer in just past the door,slid the columns out past center off the end,then stood them up. I asked how they were going to move them stood up and one guy just smiled as he gently rocked one side to side then started to walk the side with less weight forward. Took about 30 seconds to walk it about 15 feet! I wouldn't try it without help and first clearing the whole area but these guys had it up in 2 hours and headed out to the next install. I wonder how many they dropped doing this?

That has got to be dangerous as can be.

 

[brihvac]

Well, ended up doing everything myself. I just took my time. Hardest parts were measuring/positioning the post, and running the sync. cables. Remember.....I did this 100% alone. I believe if I did it again it would go a lot faster. Took me one full day to get everything assembled and a few hours the next to wire it, fill with fluid, and adjust the sync cables so it goes up evenly. I asked a few buddies for help but they were busy for the holidays. Guess I will be busy also when they need the lift. Overall I am very happy with the lift. I paid $1600 and I now see they raised the price on them. One thing I will say is the instructions **** balls. Greg Smith Equipment has an online pfd that was much better, but still was not too good. No more crawling on the ground for me.

 

[bazzateer]

^^^ Nice!

 

[brihvac]

Thanks. It makes things so much easier

 

[Daedalus]

Did my 10k ammco myself with the help of my cherry picker. Thepicker wouldvput the posts almost vertical with a strap about 3 ft from the bottom

Did the same thing with 12' posts and help from the wife. The hard part was maneuvering the posts up through the holes I cut in the 7' ceiling and the roof above to get them to stand up straight. We got it done in a night.

Good job OP. You will probably find a LOT of undercarriage things that need attention now.

 

[1507dennis]

I watched a crew of 2 install a Mohawk. They backed a trailer in just past the door,slid the columns out past center off the end,then stood them up. I asked how they were going to move them stood up and one guy just smiled as he gently rocked one side to side then started to walk the side with less weight forward. Took about 30 seconds to walk it about 15 feet! I wouldn't try it without help and first clearing the whole area but these guys had it up in 2 hours and headed out to the next install. I wonder how many they dropped doing this?

I have an older Bendpak when they were made in the USA (very heavy) I set them upright using a sissor lift. They were easy to "walk" to the correct position. In fact, I moved them three times before I decided where to put them.