4 post lift dilemma/advise

[lightn95]

before we start, i did use the search, i read all 12 pgs. ask my wife, she's ready to kill me!!

i've been looking for a 4 post lift for some time. the one that works the best with my garage and the requirements i need is the Atlas Pro 8000 EXT. the dam thing fits my garage perfectly! (i've gone as far as laying it out on my garage floor in blue tape) it rises high enough to get my dually under it. it is narrow enough that i can still get my trailer next to it. it is short enough that it leaves me 10' behind it. and i can get it in delaware and not pay any tax on it its perfect!! but its made in china. so after lots of searching on here it sounds like alot of people dont like them.

direct-lift made one, the Pro Park 8 plus, but they discontinued it. i really dont know what to do here. i dont wanna buy a POS lift. but i need one that fits my floor space

any help would be appreciated

i know, i cannt spell

 

[mbret2004]

Re: 4 post lift delima/advise

spelling experts not required, we're garage guy's. Sorry can't help you with the lift issue but when you figure it all out--I'll be right over!

 

[JSK]

Re: 4 post lift delima/advise

Check out the BendPak HD-7W. A Short Runway / Wide / High Lift.

or....

the BendPak HD-7P. A Short Runway / Narrow / High Lift.

Specs are kinda similar.

 

[ghnl]

Re: 4 post lift delima/advise

I suspect it will be very difficult to find a truely 'made in USA' lift in the hobbyist/homeowner price range.

 

[brownbagg]

Re: 4 post lift delima/advise

made in china doesnt mean its a bad lift, they are so many american products being assembled with parts from china it be hard to tell

 

[ra42mario]

Re: 4 post lift delima/advise

I don't have the atlas, but I have a Tuxedo 9000lbs that I use daily in a commercial environment and it works fine. I am confident that the Atlas, Tuxedos, and every other "knock off" lift is made by the same company.

Your dually would be a tough fit on the lift, they are narrow. They are more designed for cars and small SUVs then trucks. I can get F150s and Silverados on it, but a dually would be tough.

 

[ixlr8]

Re: 4 post lift delima/advise

I am in the same dilemma, it is about impossible to find a truly "made in USA" lift for less than $5000. I have found a few that claim to, but I can't find anybody who is actually using their lifts to get their experiances. To add to the confusion, some companies have top of line lifts that are made in USA, but I can't afford. They also carry lifts I can afford, but they are made in China and it is hard to sort out which ones are which. I am about to give up and just buy a china made lift, but it is going to be a ALI certified lift. There gets to be a point where the checking account wins over principle, at least for me.

 

[Gus_Mahn]

Re: 4 post lift delima/advise

I just bought a Atlas Pro 8000 EXT from Greg Smith in Indy. I'm pretty happy with it. The welds are decent quality. The set up is easy as the cables are already reeved under the cylinder ramp. It is amazing how high it lifts. The powdercoat is heavy and pretty uniform. There was evidence of blue and red powdercoat in places, so I'm sure there are other branded lifts coming down the same line. It does seem really wobbly at times, but it's not bolted down, and my floor it not too level. I'm going to shim the feet, but I don't plan on bolting it down. The only real issue I have is, that I couldn't get the rear lock rod in. It was too long and was hitting the back wall. Next Time I clean, I'll move some stuff and spin the lift so there is room to get it in. I would have rather had the Direct Lift, but my sales guy said they are pretty much identical. Frankly, I thought the Atlas was Korean, and would have ordered a Direct lift for $300 more if I'd known Atlas is Chinese.

 

[lightn95]

Re: 4 post lift delima/advise

thanks for all the input. i know ill never be able to get 100% made in USA. but i just want to get something good and not a POS. im going to look into that bendpak.

am i just being gun shy about the atlas?? i just havent seen to many good things said about them.

 

[carhunter]

Re: 4 post lift delima/advise

I've got a direct park and atlas side by side here at work. Both were purchased from Greg Smith. They're pretty much identical except the Atlas has a matte black finish that's kind of textured (rough to the touch).

They both perform the same as well. The 110v pumps are a little slow to lift but we use them for car storage.

They're fine for storage and occasional car repairs, but for daily use they don't compare to a bendpak or rotary.

 

[carhunter]

Re: 4 post lift delima/advise

Forgot to mention, I've only heard one complaint about the Atlas, and that was from a friend who installed one himself but ran into pump issues. Whenever he'd run the lift with a load on it, a breaker would trip.

He's replaced capacitors, etc, but I'm thinking he's just trying to pull too many amps through the circuit. Of course I can't convince him of that...

 

[Ray916MN]

Re: 4 post lift delima/advise

I would check the width measurements of your dually. I'd be very surprised if it can fit a ~95" wide between the posts lift. You also want to be very careful with the lift height measurement. Some lifts are spec'ed to the top of the runways and when measured under the runways are not tall enough for a full size 4wd truck.

I found to fit my F250 SRW crew I needed an extra tall and wide lift. BTW, although my F250 specs at ~80" wide, it measures ~105" mirror to mirror. My truck measured 80" tall, so I wanted to see 81" inches under the runways to make sure there was enough clearance.

 

[46Nash]

Re: 4 post lift delima/advise

They discontunued the Pro Park 8s? Damn, thats the one I was going to buy.

 

[Gus_Mahn]

Re: 4 post lift delima/advise

I've got a direct park and atlas side by side here at work. Both were purchased from Greg Smith. They're pretty much identical except the Atlas has a matte black finish that's kind of textured (rough to the touch).

My Atlas is shiny and mostly smooth, but there is some texture in places.