4 Post lift...Again

[Zevo]

I've searched the forum, but didn’t find what I’m looking for.

I’ve spent too much time reading about 4 post lifts for my home garage. I really like Advantage Lifts. Only concern is lack of ALI certificate, but I’m not convinced this is a big deal.

I have also considered the popular bendpak HD9. Before purchasing I wanted to have an installer that I am comfortable with. One of BendPak’s installers suggested Forward efp8, which they sell. My understanding is that Forward is the same as direct lift, but sold under a different name. I cant find much out there about Forward Efp8. I did like the idea of a local company being available for any problems.

To add to confusion, I saw a recent press release (Sep 3)- Advantage Lifts Becomes Backyard Buddy's Exclusive Distributor And Manufacturer. I don’t know if this changes anything.

I’m having a hard time coming to a decision. Anyone with regrets or praises one way or another?

 

[Andy Kraus]

I'm in LOVE with my Advantage DX-9000XLT. I got a manual bridge jack for it ( Plan on getting another around the holidays), LED lights that span the entire length of each runway, and some nice thick rubber pads to go underneath each column to help level it out further in my situation.

It's built like a tank, lifts everything I can throw onto it. Operates incredibly smooth as long as you take your time assembling it and understanding how it all goes together and operates.

It's the most sturdy 4-post lift specifically I've ever worked under. I've worked under a BYB Before also, but the Advantage in my mind is built better. I also like the fact that I can Grease ALL the Pulleys on this thing easily.

I do not have any complaints about it. Customer Service was fantastic, Tony Weber was phenomenal to work with. Even the two gentlemen who were unloading it for me took extreme care of it ( and they had 4 other units on the truck at the time... I was stop #1).

 

[boatshoes]

Forward is under the Dover Group's Vehicle Service Group, which also includes Rotary and Direct Lift. The benefit to buying from such a large company is availability of spare parts after purchase. I bought a Dannmar D-7/X but the Forward EFP9 was my second choice. Dannmar went out of business this year and their IP was bought up by Bendpak (mainly for the MaxJax patents, it seems). I have no idea if they plan to manufacture replacement cylinders, pumps, sheaves or cables for my lift, but I do know that my 3-yr covers-everything warranty became worthless after less than a year. Which is disappointing after the research I put in to select my lift.

Edit: Forward and Direct Lift may have models with similar specs, but try comparing the shipping weights to see the difference in build.

 

[south_paw]

I just got the Advantage lift a month ago and love it. It's really high quality and well built. It now comes with built in wheel blocks and a additional tension safety lock for the cables. Get the manual bridge jack. That has been redesigned too. I have nothing but big heavy cars. The lift handles them with ease. Very sturdy.

 

[alia176]

I'm considering a 4 post lift and thanks to this thread, the Advantage lift fell into my radar. I have a dirt driveway so a 4 post seems the easiest/safest/most logical way to lift my vehicles. I may put down some 3/4" marine grade plywood in the middle for ease of walking and to catch hardware once they fall from the vehicles. I might even be able to roll those tall engine oil catch pan things on wheels.

 

[kbuhagiar]

I’ve spent too much time reading about 4 post lifts for my home garage. I really like Advantage Lifts. Only concern is lack of ALI certificate, but I’m not convinced this is a big deal.

Many people here are extremely pleased with their Advantage lifts. I've seen them in person and they appear to be well engineered. My only gripe with them is every time I see them at a car show they always claim to be getting their ALI certification real soon. They've been saying this for seven years and at this point I'm convinced that they have no intention of even getting it.

Which is fine by me, as with each passing day I think the ALI cert is becoming irrelevant. I just wish they would come right out and say it.

I purchased an ALI-certified Direct Lift in 2015 and am very pleased with it but if I ever need another one I will definitely consider the Advantage.

 

[Zmann]

that Advantage "Big Al" might be my next shop purchase thx to this thread

 

[dagofast]

I've had my Advantage for a little over 2 years now. Still love it.

 

[jmiller_2308]

I've had my advantage lift for 6 years and still love it. Additionally, the people at Advantage lift are a huge bonus. They are extremely supportive, will always answer any questions you have, and will make things right if something goes wrong.

I recently added extensions to the lift and even though they didn't make a dime off it they spent time to help me with the design to make sure it would still be safe.

 

[19Vert64]

Advantage Big Al here, extremely happy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[04duramax]

anther owner of Advantage Big Al here, very happy

 

[930dreamer]

I wouldn't mind a Advantage SS-11000-WD for the F350. Any issues lifting a one ton dually truck or Honda Civic width wise?

 

[59 wagon man]

15 + years on my direct park and its never been bolted down and very rarely hasn't had a car on it and under it

 

[jlucas]

FYI I was talking to Advantage on Friday and the DX9000 has ALI cert according to them, I did not ask about other models.

 

[kbuhagiar]

FYI I was talking to Advantage on Friday and the DX9000 has ALI cert according to them, I did not ask about other models.

I just visited the ALI certification site and it appears that after several years of promise they FINALLY got their DX9000-XLT & HD lifts certified.