So I'm starting to shop around the idea of getting a lift. I know I have heard a lot of folks on here talking about getting certified lifts however i don't really see any 9000 lb lifts that are. Of course I want to get the best lift possible, but like most guys money is really tight, so when I see a $1000 difference in the 9000 lb Eagle lift and say a similar 10,000 lb certified one I wonder what the best value is and hear opinions from others who have purchased the 9000 lb lifts. If money was no object I would just spring for a new Bendpak and not think any more about it, but reality is the price difference may be the difference in getting a lift or no lift at all. However I don't want to throw my money away either. Just want to work on the typical muscle car, truck, or suv. What you say?
2 post lift questions.
- Thread starter bop_pa
- Start date
HoosierMark
Well-known member
I bought one of these off this post. It is like new and I am very pleased. Price was $2,250. Some people are oppossed to buying used which I understand but if you had seen the facility and all the lifts lined up it is not like buying from a garage. These are out of a test facility in Detroit. I have found I would rather have quality in the long run then a cheap price. Not sure if he still has any.
Used Rotary SPOA10 Lifts in Detroit ( 1 2 view all)
Aahz 11-06-2013 06:02 PM
by Aahz
Used Rotary SPOA10 Lifts in Detroit ( 1 2 view all)
Aahz 11-06-2013 06:02 PM
by Aahz
Notch1988
Well-known member
I agree with Hoosier, you might want to look at a used hoist. My first hoist I bought was used from a hoist dealer and they had pulled it out of a Honda dealership. I used the hoist for 7 years before we sold the house and never had an issue.
if you want the best and you gotta have new only choice is Mohawk.
If you want the best and don't care if new or used (and don't mind "going thru" a lift and fixing things that may need it along the way (I call it maintenance which will eventually be needed even if you buy new) then your options are broader
I bought an '86 Weaver for $450 and after I dismantled it at the PO's location, it gave me a chance to see how it came apart so I could reassemble it here easier
I also checked it all over close (easier when apart) and replaced some "suspect" parts like stiff bearings in the rollers and sprockets It didn't cost me all that much, sure less than a new Chinamade one for sure...
If you want the best and don't care if new or used (and don't mind "going thru" a lift and fixing things that may need it along the way (I call it maintenance which will eventually be needed even if you buy new) then your options are broader
I bought an '86 Weaver for $450 and after I dismantled it at the PO's location, it gave me a chance to see how it came apart so I could reassemble it here easier
I also checked it all over close (easier when apart) and replaced some "suspect" parts like stiff bearings in the rollers and sprockets It didn't cost me all that much, sure less than a new Chinamade one for sure...
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Shadowdog500
Well-known member
I just did a google search on "9000 lb ali certified two post lift" and found a handful of 9,000 lb. ALI certified lifts for just under $3,000.
How much are you willing to spend?
You never go cheap on something you life depends on!
I bought a used Mohawk Series1 at a Saturn dealership that was going out of business.
Chris
How much are you willing to spend?
You never go cheap on something you life depends on!
I bought a used Mohawk Series1 at a Saturn dealership that was going out of business.
Chris
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Toyota_MDT
New member
I agree with what the guys above me have said, check out a used hoist, a lot of company's (at least here in Houston) will have some kind of warranty on them if they come and install it. A lot of guys in the shop will buy lifts from them from other shops that have shut down, so they can do all of their sidework at the house.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I hear of these people that money is no object but personally I don't know anyone like that. I do however, insist on buying quality with my hard earned money. Personally, I wouldn't even consider a lift without the ALI certification and this was a main criteria when I was researching prior to buying my lift. My life and my son's life is much more valuable than the $1k dollar difference that you mentioned.
Deals are out there on new lifts and like others have already mentioned, good qualilty used ones are out there as well.
Mike.
Deals are out there on new lifts and like others have already mentioned, good qualilty used ones are out there as well.
Mike.
ArmyVW_GuyInTX
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Best twin post lift (or scissor) is a Nussbaum - I bought a used one 15 years ago, ($800) it was great, heavier than anything today. Raise / lower controls on both columns, steel hydraulic supply lines, great design and of course great tech support here in the USA (even on a used one).
But like the orginal poster - I too have a budget and do not have a large garage anymore so I have a mid rise Snap on (Mohawk I believe) scissor lift for use in my home garage or out on the driveway.
Rotary is fantastic too, I used to use them everyday both twin post, inground, and scissor styles(both inground and surface mount scissor). But then I happened upon a used Nussbaum.
Certified or not, I would buy used American or European made quality vs new or used Chinese any day.
But like the orginal poster - I too have a budget and do not have a large garage anymore so I have a mid rise Snap on (Mohawk I believe) scissor lift for use in my home garage or out on the driveway.
Rotary is fantastic too, I used to use them everyday both twin post, inground, and scissor styles(both inground and surface mount scissor). But then I happened upon a used Nussbaum.
Certified or not, I would buy used American or European made quality vs new or used Chinese any day.
First off, I'm not saying certified is bad. But I'm also not saying that all non-certified are bad either. I tend to believe that a majority of lift manufactures don't bother getting lifts under 10,000 lb lifts certified, however I think there are a couple. But even those are pricey, i mean for $3000 I could just get a 10,000 lb lift for the same if not cheaper price. For instance Eagle has certified lifts and non-certified lifts. So should I expect half of what they make to be good and the other half garbage? Or are there quality, inexpensive lifts out there that just don't happen to be certified. My budget preferably is $1500-$2000 as I planned to have it installed by a lift company. I'd like to stay closer to the lower end of that price and the closest lift I found that I like are the Eagle 9000lb 2 post asymmetric (non certified) and on the higher side the Dannmar 10ac certified. Also I do recall the used 2 post lift. Good comments from those who saw them, however I thought the used price was similar to the new Dannmar I was looking at. I prefer new for less hassles and those for the same price may have been a little nicer of a lift than I really needed. Anyone have a new sub $2000 certified lift 9000 or 10,000 lb lift?
Have you looked at Bend Pac? I know there just a little more than what you want to pay but close. BTW after you get one youll wonder why you wsted so long. I remember my dad &I laying under a Camaro one winter with the car on jackstands pulling a trans. Then a couple of years later doing the same thing to a Bronco.COLD COLD. This summer he walked into my shop just as I was finishing putting the powerglide in my 64 chevyII he said wish we had a lift 25 years ago. Everything is alot easier.
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aint that the truth I put a clutch in my Dakota laying on my back, the week before I got my lift put in.
I've wanted a lift for so long, but the straw that recently broke the camels back was the rusty brake line on my Lincoln. Should have been a straight forward job, but after spending 45 mins getting it jacked up where I needed it to be I realized the entire front to rear line needed to be replace and would be a pain on my back. I ended up paying to have it done, just because I didn't feel like doing he job. Not that I could but just didn't want the aggregation. Embarrassingly I paid to have it done and told the wife with a lift it would have been easy and we could have saved the money and no aggravation as I could have easily moved around under the frame to get the line out and just bent up a new one.
ChargedUp!
Well-known member
I'm happy with my Danmar 10AC certified lift. Very reasonable price and is good so far!
DAVE VAN
Well-known member
I bought a Greg Smith 9000lb lift 5 years ago and am real happy with it. I lift my E-350 van which is loaded with tools and parts. The pads are also low enough to fit under my Cobra replica.The lift cost $1695 plus freight of $227.The only problem I had was my slab was 3" to 4" inches so I cut out 2ea 48" x 48" sections and poured 12" thick. His web site has some good lift info on it, good reading. Happy lift looking!
Leyland
Member
I have a Danmar 9000x, got lucky and picked it up on sale $1400 (half price) a few months back, unfortunately discovered my floor was too thin below one post during installation, soon to bust out a section and re-pour.
redsandman6
Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2013
- Messages
- 8
Ali certification is very important. A lift that is certified goes through third party testing to make sure it is a safe design. Ali has a set of regulations that govern the design and testing of lifts for North America. The lift have the meet these regs before it even go to testing. Testing is not cheap. That's why certified lifts cost more. It is similar to UL listing. I would contact your local lift company. They would be able to help you out. I would also stick to a more popular brand since it will be easier to get parts in the future. Most of your major lift companies make several brands/lines, some a marketed for residential use.
I have an Atlas 9koh 9000lb 2 post from greg smith equipment and have been more than pleased with it. I lift a 3800lb muscle car, 4000lb pickup and 5500lb SUV and it works fantastic! Yes it's chinese, no it's not certified, and I use it safely and intelligently. It's new, is rated to lift far more than I'll ever attempt, and there's gobs of people with them that are as satisfied as me. Up until I got the lift, I laid under vehicles for years on jack stands that weigh maybe 15lbs a piece, probably also made in china. I tell you what, I feel a helluva lot safer standing under my 1500lb anchored non certified chinese lift than I did laying on my back under those jack stands. Just my opinion.....don't have to like it.
I have an Atlas PV10. Yup no certification, don't really need one, this lift is massive, the post are .24" thick and well built. The chinese worker can weld too, it is really not to hard. Like a previous poster said, be smart and use your head and everything is fine.
boy that is thin compared to some of the older American ones
redsandman6
Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2013
- Messages
- 8
the pv10 from greg smith is $2395.00 plus shipping and install. http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-PV-10P You can save some money if you go pick it up yourself and install it yourself. I also know you can get a certified lift for a little more. http://baltimore.craigslist.org/tld/4215536770.html. I would call your local companies. see what pricing they offer.
FunkyfullWidth
Well-known member
Yes... Used lifts are a good bargain... But go into them cautiously. I bought a used lift last year, needed new cables, one hydraulic line and a motor. 2 cables made up was almost 300 bucks... I tried to find paperwork on it and there was nothing to be found... I couldn't even find a picture of the lift online... If you plan on having a decent set of adapters make sure you know what your getting into...
I'm not saying that used lifts are bad, just make sure you do your homework on it before you purchase. Do a good inspection of the lift, look for leaks check all the welds, cycle the motor, check the cables and the pulleys. Make sure the locks work. also a good idea to search around the internet for parts availability and known problems.
I'm probably blowing it up a little more than it needs to be, as there are plenty of people out there who buy used and never have a single issue, but it doesn't hurt to be cautious.
I'm not saying that used lifts are bad, just make sure you do your homework on it before you purchase. Do a good inspection of the lift, look for leaks check all the welds, cycle the motor, check the cables and the pulleys. Make sure the locks work. also a good idea to search around the internet for parts availability and known problems.
I'm probably blowing it up a little more than it needs to be, as there are plenty of people out there who buy used and never have a single issue, but it doesn't hurt to be cautious.