what do you own (brand), what do you like/dislike about it, thickness of concrete poured, thickness of metal used in columns, chain, cable etc. for lifting, asseymetrical or regular and anything else you can think of. I am planning a lift for next year, unfortunately only will have room for a 14x25 foot garage for the lift....12 foot height is max city will allow...cheers
2 post users step inside please
- Thread starter lt1driver
- Start date
I bought this http://www.affordableautomotiveequip.net/product_info.php?cPath=27_28&products_id=102 Its just a hobby lift but it does everything I need. I haven't had any problems in the two years I have owned it, but it does not get heavy use. It is a 9000 lb asymmetric with the overhead connection, not the floor bump.
When I had slab poured I wasn't sure about where the lift would be located or if it would be symmetric or asymmetric. I had the slab thickened to a foot in an 8ft X 12ft area, very overkill. If you don't make the slab so thick you can knock the bolts through the slab if they need to be removed. My floor has blind holes so removal would require a grinder.
When I had slab poured I wasn't sure about where the lift would be located or if it would be symmetric or asymmetric. I had the slab thickened to a foot in an 8ft X 12ft area, very overkill. If you don't make the slab so thick you can knock the bolts through the slab if they need to be removed. My floor has blind holes so removal would require a grinder.
wit2003
Well-known member
I have a Rotary SPO12(12k pound symmetric extended height). The extended height and load capacity is overkill for my home use, but i got a good deal on it so I couldnt really go wrong.
Previous owner of my house build the garage and he had a lift in there before as well, so the slab was 6" thick all around and poured specifically with a lift in mind.
Previous owner of my house build the garage and he had a lift in there before as well, so the slab was 6" thick all around and poured specifically with a lift in mind.
wnstwolf
Well-known member
I was planning on a 4 post unit brand to be determined but about 4 months after I had walls and a roof on the barn I had an opportunity to buy a almost new Bend Pak XPR-10 2 post lift. Symetrical arms. I had poured the entire center bay where lift would go at 6-8" thickness so it was no issue to change at this point. I did however only have 13'6 clear to bottom of attic/storage truss above lift area. I had to cut 2 holes out as the lift columns are at 14'-8" tall. Cross brace is actually up in the attic space.
Love it. Scared at first but have had GMC 1/2 ton, FJ cruiser, Cobra and Jag up there for al lsorts of work and all feel sturdy and I am for the first time in 40 years not on my back on cardboard or a creeper.
Getting car aligned is a bit of a learning curve but I now have hash marks on floor for all my cars and second go round is much simplier. Sure a 4 post would be easier for a oil change but I have 3 restorations ahead of me and the 2 post by far for me was the way to go. Down side is the added items. I have a oil change can, tall stabilizer jacks, and just got a ****** lift. All were not on the radar prior to lift!
Good luck
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Love it. Scared at first but have had GMC 1/2 ton, FJ cruiser, Cobra and Jag up there for al lsorts of work and all feel sturdy and I am for the first time in 40 years not on my back on cardboard or a creeper.
Getting car aligned is a bit of a learning curve but I now have hash marks on floor for all my cars and second go round is much simplier. Sure a 4 post would be easier for a oil change but I have 3 restorations ahead of me and the 2 post by far for me was the way to go. Down side is the added items. I have a oil change can, tall stabilizer jacks, and just got a ****** lift. All were not on the radar prior to lift!
Good luck
wedge40
Well-known member
wnstwolf.
Ya kind of scare with your numbers. If I read the specs about the BendPak 10 or 10A it states that the max height is 145" but you say it's 176". Which is correct?
Wedge
Ya kind of scare with your numbers. If I read the specs about the BendPak 10 or 10A it states that the max height is 145" but you say it's 176". Which is correct?
Wedge
I bought two of the two post Challanger lifts...( got a deal on them painted the wrong green for the Porsche Dealer 2900ea) they were the 12k units...they worked great and pretty easy to intall. The only drawback I found was my car was lower to the ground with running boards then the lift arms...fing pain in the ***. I had to put my car in the bay, jack it up, go around set the arms, use the ext. pads ( option ) then lift the car up a bit pull the jack out....so if your planing to lift any type of street rod that is lower then the arms...welcome to 30min of hassle eveythime you decided to lift it, or take it down. This time I went with an open front 4 post...both work and storage...works great. If you only have room for a two post and have low clearance cars check the floor height from the floor to the top of the lifting arm pad when screw all the way down.
aka Larry
Well-known member
I have a 2-post Atlas 9KOH model. Concrete was poured thicker (12") in the area of the lift because it just made me feel better. No problems so far. Price was right too. $1450+ $200 shipping from Greg Smith Equipment Co. I paid a pro $450 to install it.
wnstwolf
Well-known member
Wedge,
if you can make it out in my picture the walls in the "lift" bay are 12' clear to the bottom of my trusses 144". The truss is a 2"x10" (9.5" nominal) and then 3/4 deck above and then the top of the columns sit about 12" past the deck I am confident it is 14' tall Very confident it is taller than 145"
if you can make it out in my picture the walls in the "lift" bay are 12' clear to the bottom of my trusses 144". The truss is a 2"x10" (9.5" nominal) and then 3/4 deck above and then the top of the columns sit about 12" past the deck I am confident it is 14' tall Very confident it is taller than 145"
wedge40
Well-known member
Thanks for the reply.. I'm going to have to call Bendpak and get some real numbers. My ceiling height should be 12' 6" to the bottom of the truss. This should give me 5" clearance if the post height is 145".
Another question about this. There is narrow install and wide install. Why would anyone use the narrow install?
Wedge
wnstwolf
Well-known member
No problem. I had planned on a 4 post lift until this came upon me a little to no cost. I am not sure on the narrow / wide install as the top plate on mine has zero adjustability. maybe something you do at order time. I am with you narrow seems to not make sense. I know mine is about 6 years old and not a-symetrical but just the same any narrower and I would start to think the arms would be too long to hit frame rails??
jerkyboy
Well-known member
Got a BendPak XPR-10A, assymetric....5"-6" of 2,000psi concrete reinforced with rebar. I love it!!! BendPak has great customer service too.
camarotoolman
Banned
I've got an Italian one thats all mechincal, no oil to fool with. Just wired it up and thats it. Down side is the base plate that goes across between the posts. Its been great, only was only $500
Before I bought my Bend Pak XRP-10A, I checked out all the lifts in person....Mohawks, Challengers, Rotarys, Greg Smith.
Mohawks - over rated and you'll pay for it, don't like the double release points, don't like the hydraulic equalizing
Challengers and Rotarys - don't like the flip up arm adapters
Greg Smith - cheap.
What ever you buy, make sure it's certified.
I cut out my slab 4x6, dug down 12" and under the existing slab, pinned and made a rebar mat.
My ceiling height is 12' and had to box out where the lift cross beam went.
Billy T.
[email protected]
Mohawks - over rated and you'll pay for it, don't like the double release points, don't like the hydraulic equalizing
Challengers and Rotarys - don't like the flip up arm adapters
Greg Smith - cheap.
What ever you buy, make sure it's certified.
I cut out my slab 4x6, dug down 12" and under the existing slab, pinned and made a rebar mat.
My ceiling height is 12' and had to box out where the lift cross beam went.
Billy T.
[email protected]
Notch1988
Well-known member
I just ordered my XPR-10A this week and it's scheduled for install October 30th. Can't wait. They list it as being 145" tall and my ceiling is 150" so I'm hoping I have no issues
How do you like the lift so far?
Love it.
If you're going to lift trucks, get the cradle frame adapters.
I wish they made longer adapters for lifted trucks but I made my own adapters
Billy T.
[email protected]
If you're going to lift trucks, get the cradle frame adapters.
I wish they made longer adapters for lifted trucks but I made my own adapters
Billy T.
[email protected]
SVE Performance
Well-known member
I have a 30 year old Worth and a 20 year old Forward both have been reliable as a stone both still in daily use at my shop. My friend has all Mohawk lifts now after replacing his Forward and wishes that he had his old Forward back.Bill
GeorgiaHybrid
Well-known member
What "flip up arm adapters" are you talking about? Mine has screw adjustable rubber pads for cars and you can see the truck frame adapters and extensions that it uses on the column.
What "flip up arm adapters" are you talking about? Mine has screw adjustable rubber pads for cars and you can see the truck frame adapters and extensions that it uses on the column.
Yea, my mistake. I meant to post the screw adapters. My friend has two versymetrical Challenger lifts at his shop that have the screw up adapters.
Billy T.
[email protected]
Notch1988
Well-known member
That Challenger is nice, I just wish the pricing was more competitive. For a hobbyist like myself, after getting quotes for Challenger, Rotary and Bendpak 10K lifts, the 40% price premium over the Bendpak just wasn't justifiable for me.
GeorgiaHybrid
Well-known member
Notch, I understand your choice but to me, it came down to wanting a commercial lift that was welded by an American to stand under and made by a company that I knew made a tough lift that would last the rest of my life. There are a LOT of shops in my area running them and everyone of those owners that I asked had either never had a problem with a Challenger or the problem was a minor one that was easy to fix.
davedriveschevys
Well-known member
I have an XPR-10 set wide.
What I like,
Lifting capacity
Door clearance
Price
Arm configuration
Customer service
Versatility
ALI/ETL certification, do not buy a lift without it. http://www.bendpak.com/support/ali-certification/
What i dislike,
The lift arms are difficult to swing under low riding cars (i mostly work on trucks so this is a minor complaint)
Having set the posts wide the arms dont reach as far back as they would with the posts narrow, only a problem on long wheelbase trucks. I end up pulling the truck further forward than I would like to get the lift pad on the spring hanger.
The safety switch and housing are a little lackluster, cover didnt fit correctly, and i had to put a small piece of plastic tubing on the switch to keep it from hanging up on the foam pad on the safety bar.
What I like,
Lifting capacity
Door clearance
Price
Arm configuration
Customer service
Versatility
ALI/ETL certification, do not buy a lift without it. http://www.bendpak.com/support/ali-certification/
What i dislike,
The lift arms are difficult to swing under low riding cars (i mostly work on trucks so this is a minor complaint)
Having set the posts wide the arms dont reach as far back as they would with the posts narrow, only a problem on long wheelbase trucks. I end up pulling the truck further forward than I would like to get the lift pad on the spring hanger.
The safety switch and housing are a little lackluster, cover didnt fit correctly, and i had to put a small piece of plastic tubing on the switch to keep it from hanging up on the foam pad on the safety bar.
saabman
Well-known member
As was mentioned, get the the truck cradle adapters.
What "flip up arm adapters" are you talking about? Mine has screw adjustable rubber pads for cars and you can see the truck frame adapters and extensions that it uses on the column.
What height are your ceilings? I'm with you. I think the challenger is what I'll go with.
Agree! My local Costco tire shop replaced all their import lifts with Challenger lifts and the guys said they were shocked at the difference in regidity. The Challenger was far superior. For me, my life is worth the 40%! I'll skimp on something else like paint or maybe eat hot dogs for a year
Notch1988
Well-known member
Agree! My local Costco tire shop replaced all their import lifts with Challenger lifts and the guys said they were shocked at the difference in regidity. The Challenger was far superior. For me, my life is worth the 40%! I'll skimp on something else like paint or maybe eat hot dogs for a year
I guess I'm just a very irresponsible human being... playing russian roulette standing under a Bendpak ALI certified 10K lift, knowing that it WILL fail. I just can't believe Bendpak has been able to cover it up this whole time, must have some great PR people.
Shadowdog500
Well-known member
Mohawk series1. Love everything about it. No dislikes other than the price.
Poured 6', 4500PSI reinforced concrete. No chains or cables, it uses two stainless hydraulic lines to balance the rams. So there is no tripping over the chain housing on the bottom or worrying about fitting a tall lift under a low ceiling. The hydraulic lines can be run anywhere, and the colums can be placed closer or further apart if needed, so oddball installs aren't a problem.
Chris
Poured 6', 4500PSI reinforced concrete. No chains or cables, it uses two stainless hydraulic lines to balance the rams. So there is no tripping over the chain housing on the bottom or worrying about fitting a tall lift under a low ceiling. The hydraulic lines can be run anywhere, and the colums can be placed closer or further apart if needed, so oddball installs aren't a problem.
Chris
aka Larry
Well-known member
Damn, 6' of concrete? To think I thought 12" was overkill when I did mine!
GeorgiaHybrid
Well-known member
The ceilings are 15'-8" high and the lift has an optional 2'-0" extension added to it that get the cross bar up around 14'-0" or so. It's high enough that I should be able to pick up anything that I need to without worrying about the vehicle hitting the cross bar.