4 Post Lift User Input

[nmk_61802]

With all of the 4 post threads showing up lately, I figured I'd add mine to the mix. I have spent the last few months following Bandit's lift thread, and am now about to take the journey myself.

Here is what I hope to accomplish:

I have an average size two car garage and own five vehicles, two of them being a 92 Mustang Gt and a 94 Mustang Cobra. I would like to get a lift to store the 92 Gt above the Cobra.

Garage dimension update:

25' Length
23' Width
9.5' Tall (I know I will need to vault ceiling)
9' Doors (8.75' usable)

From my research the standard width lifts (approx 90" inside) seem tight on the 94. I know a lot of users also fall into the Mustang owner category, any of you use a 4 post? What brand and interior post dimensions work best?

A little more info:

The 92 GT measures as such:

54"T
68" Out (80" w/ Mirrors) 48" Inside Track
172"L
WB 100.5
Wt = 3350lbs

94 Cobra:
55"T
72" Out (88" w/ mirrors) 48" Inside Track
184" L
WB 101.3"
Wt = 3565lbs

Also have a 66 Mustang and 97 Jeep GC that would share the lift occasionally. I believe their WB and Track Dimensions are all similiar.


More dimensions to follow once I get to a PC.

 

[Matt M PA]

I have a BendPak HD9. I know they make different widths of these lifts..but if memory serves mine is the standard HD9. Mine is placed in the end bay of the garage.

We use it for double parking on occasion, but usually my Excursion parks on it. I do fold the mirrors in to get it through the garage door (although I'm not 100% sure that's needed) but I'd say there's at least a foot on the passenger side and more than that in clearance on the drivers side between the columns and the truck. Me thinks you'll have no trouble at all with a Mustang.

I've had everything from my Vipers to a 1938 Nash on the lift.

 

[darkk]

We have had our Bend Pak HD9XW 4 post for about 1 1/2-2 years. It's xtra wide, xtra high and xtra long, and the ramps are adjustable for wide or narrow vehicles. We have had a great variety of vehicles on it without any access or clearance problems. We have had to park under it during snow storms to keep the driveway clear for plowing and have had no under lift clearance either. I even have a pretty tall Dodge 4x4 pickup...The only thing better than the lift is Bend Paks customer service.....

 

[nmk_61802]

A little more info:

The 92 GT measures as such:

54"T
68" Out (80" w/ Mirrors) 48" Inside Track
172"L
WB 100.5
Wt = 3350lbs

94 Cobra:
55"T
72" Out (88" w/ mirrors) 48" Inside Track
184" L
WB 101.3"
Wt = 3565lbs

Also have a 66 Mustang and 97 Jeep GC that would share the lift occasionally. I believe their WB and Track Dimensions are all similiar.

These are rough dimensions taken by me (in the freezing cold) so take them for what they are worth.

The current front runner for lifts was this one from Complete Hydraulics:

http://www.completehydraulic.com/lifts-4-post-cl08000cs.html

However with all of the negative reviews combined with the 92" clearance inside the posts I am a little hesitant on purchasing it.

Second Runner is this Auto Lift from Best Buy Auto Equipment:

http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com...arking-lift-8000-lb-p/autolift-car-park-8.htm

Best Buy has recieved good reviews, but the 94 1/2" between post still concerns me somewhat.

I would love to purchase a BendPak lift, but with the added cost of the extra's and the premium cost of the lift, I think it would kill my budget.

After thinking on it a little last night, I think I had a moment of clarity to help ease my decision. The garage this is going in has two single doors which I believe are 8'-0", so if the inside column width of the lift is 96" or greater, anything that would fit in my garage would technically fit on the lift.

Garage dimensions to follow.

 

[akdiesel]

I have the BP HD-9XW and it fits from the smallest 356A Porsche to a GMC Crewcab Short bed 2500 HD. With the 356A on it I still have room for additional storage for an axle and a plow.

 

[Matt M PA]

What is your concern with the widths? I guarantee your Mustangs are no wider than my Excursion and it fits fine. In fact, I had it on and off the lift today. I used to have a 2003 Cobra that also fit just fine.

Am I missing something?

 

[nmk_61802]

What is your concern with the widths? I guarantee your Mustangs are no wider than my Excursion and it fits fine. In fact, I had it on and off the lift today. I used to have a 2003 Cobra that also fit just fine.

Am I missing something?

If you have the standard HD-9 you should have 106-3/4" between columns, big difference between the 92" or 94" on the two lifts I posted above, worse when your the 94 has a mirror to mirror measurment of 88". (Could be a little off on that number because the later fox series had a wide azz, hence the hope for real world users). If you have the HD-9ST, then we are in the same ball park of 90" between columns

As stated above I do like the BendPak's, but I have not been able to wrap my head around the $1500 or so premium, so I do respect your input.

I will post garage dimensions later, which will also clarify why I am concerned about the widths, since space is always a premium.

 

[Chris05gto]

I have a HD-9,Check it out!

New BendPak HD 9 4 Post Lift

 

[Ray916MN]

Take a look at Direct Lifts. Unlike the non-BendPak lifts you are looking at, they are ALI certified. The PP9+ gives you over 109" between the posts. They come with a jack tray, casters and drip trays. Although they come standard as 110V you can get them as 220V if you like. The PP8S is close in dimensions and price to what you've mentioned.

Since you say you're garage is a standard garage, I think what you are going to find with the wide lifts is that the outside post to post width is going to be too large for your space. You can narrow the outside dimension of the PP9+ by getting the right angle mount option for the motor. OTOH, BendPak has shown a willingness to make lifts in non-standard widths and is coming out with an intermediate width between their narrow and wide. Of course, you pay a premium for their lifts.

As you mention, if your garage doors are 8' wide, getting a wide lift isn't going to do much for you. With outside dimensions close to 10', the only thing you may get in practice with a wide lift is, less usable space inside your garage.

 

[nmk_61802]

Take a look at Direct Lifts. Unlike the non-BendPak lifts you are looking at, they are ALI certified. The PP9+ gives you over 109" between the posts. They come with a jack tray, casters and drip trays. Although they come standard as 110V you can get them as 220V if you like. The PP8S is close in dimensions and price to what you've mentioned.

Since you say you're garage is a standard garage, I think what you are going to find with the wide lifts is that the outside post to post width is going to be too large for your space. You can narrow the outside dimension of the PP9+ by getting the right angle mount option for the motor. OTOH, BendPak has shown a willingness to make lifts in non-standard widths and is coming out with an intermediate width between their narrow and wide. Of course, you pay a premium for their lifts.

As you mention, if your garage doors are 8' wide, getting a wide lift isn't going to do much for you. With outside dimensions close to 10', the only thing you may get in practice with a wide lift is, less usable space inside your garage.

I will have to check out Direct Lifts. Garage dimension update:

25' Length
23' Width
9.5' Tall (I know I will need to vault ceiling)
9' Doors (8.75' usable)

 

[Aahz]

Also make sure to check out Revolution Lifts, Direct Lift's "Big Brother". A bit pricier than the Direct, but much higher quality. Both lift lines are made by the same company that own's Rotary Lift. http://www.revolutionlift.com

 

[ket-tek]

Also make sure to check out Revolution Lifts, Direct Lift's "Big Brother". A bit pricier than the Direct, but much higher quality. Both lift lines are made by the same company that own's Rotary Lift. http://www.revolutionlift.com

The revolution was my second choice next to the bendpak, but I never could get any of the answers to the specific questions I had, no replies from the emails sent to them. It did/does look pretty well done, and there are a few members here with one that have posted them up in previous threads and seemed very happy.

Keep in mind don't confuse 'owned by rotary' and 'is a rotary'. This lift is not a rotary lift, it is being branded under the name for recognition.

Heck that is $3190 and I don't see anything about shipping charges on the site?

You can get the largest model bendpak HD-9 which is the XW for $3010 shipped from asedeals.com right now.

 

[HIRISC]

After thinking on it a little last night, I think I had a moment of clarity to help ease my decision. The garage this is going in has two single doors which I believe are 8'-0", so if the inside column width of the lift is 96" or greater, anything that would fit in my garage would technically fit on the lift.

I fit my Z06 and Ford GT (barely) through our 8' wide garage doors at home, so the column part of your moment of clarity is correct, however be careful to understand the actual outside width of the lift runways (aka tire clearance) to ensure your widest (outside to outside of rear tires) car will fit. You wouldn't be the first guy to end up notching your supports.

Don't be this guy:

 

[nmk_61802]

Take a look at Direct Lifts. Unlike the non-BendPak lifts you are looking at, they are ALI certified. The PP9+ gives you over 109" between the posts. They come with a jack tray, casters and drip trays. Although they come standard as 110V you can get them as 220V if you like. The PP8S is close in dimensions and price to what you've mentioned.

Since you say you're garage is a standard garage, I think what you are going to find with the wide lifts is that the outside post to post width is going to be too large for your space. You can narrow the outside dimension of the PP9+ by getting the right angle mount option for the motor. OTOH, BendPak has shown a willingness to make lifts in non-standard widths and is coming out with an intermediate width between their narrow and wide. Of course, you pay a premium for their lifts.

As you mention, if your garage doors are 8' wide, getting a wide lift isn't going to do much for you. With outside dimensions close to 10', the only thing you may get in practice with a wide lift is, less usable space inside your garage.

Anywhere to buy a Direct Lift besides direct from DL?

 

[Snakepilot]

Guys,
With the BP HD-9 am I assuming correctly that the ramps would need to be at the wide setting for cars such as Corvettes etc?
I know that only one ramp is movable, but are you all having to change widths often to accommodate different vehicles?
Thanks,
John

 

[peropett]

I still have room for additional storage for an axle and a plow.

 

[Ray916MN]

Anywhere to buy a Direct Lift besides direct from DL?

I bought mine from Benco, http://bencostuff.com/ which happened to be local to me. They say they are a Direct Lift distributor, so my guess is there has to be one in your neck of the woods.

 

[Crusty Nut]

You are WAY over thinking this. I have a HD9XW. (Extra wide and tall.) Everything fits on it in the wide setting. I have had Model A Fords, VW's, F-250's, and even this big ******* on there. If the wheelbase was an inch longer, it wouldn't have let the ramps swing down.

I don't foresee needing to ever set the runways on the narrow setting.

 

[HIRISC]

Guys,
With the BP HD-9 am I assuming correctly that the ramps would need to be at the wide setting for cars such as Corvettes etc?
I know that only one ramp is movable, but are you all having to change widths often to accommodate different vehicles?
Thanks,
John

What Crusty said ^^.

Yes, you'll need it set wide for 'widebody' cars like newer Vettes, Vipers, etc.

I have my HD-9's set wide and forget them. I've never changed them back to narrow. The individual widths of the ramps ensures that virtually any car will fit on it (ie my Ford GT and my mom's Saturn SL-1).

 

[MrVette]

Problem with the Bend Pack as I see it is you need an air supply to operate the release. I'd rather have a mechanical release so the caster kit can be used to move the lift as needed and outdoors for pressure washing the underside of vehicles.

 

[Crusty Nut]

Problem with the Bend Pack as I see it is you need an air supply to operate the release. I'd rather have a mechanical release so the caster kit can be used to move the lift as needed and outdoors for pressure washing the underside of vehicles.

See, the advantage I see with BendPak is the air locks that are easilly operated with a simple air line, that most garage users will already have, and without any of the rods, levers, and goofy linkage most other lifts have and all the potential pitfalls for linkage binding or whatnot, that could cause one corner to hang up.

I prefer brunettes, maybe you like blondes?

 

[46Nash]

Linkage seems to work well on my Atlas. I think all the talk about linkage problems is just to justify the extra complexity of the air locks. I read about more problems with air locks and leaks, malfunctions etc than I do about locks connected with linkage. Level the lift and adjust the linkage and it works just fine.

 

[Crusty Nut]

Well, they obviously work. There is plenty in service. I just prefer the air and to me, it seems less complicated. Just run a small air line to each corner and have it actuate a valve.

 

[AndrewnTX]

I'm thinking through and measuring for the same things you are for my lift. You said you are putting it in a regular 2 car, so you have to check that you don't cross the line and restrict upon entrance and use of the other non lift bay. Going the wide models such as BP HD9 at 116 3/4 or similar may very well do just that.

So back to consider the narrow ones like HD-9ST, being it's 89 3/4" inside columns, will it clear the mirrors? Will the runways at their positions suit the range of track widths for your vehicles?

 

[RMR&C]

I just bought a bendpak HD9stx (long, narrow, high). I went with this model because it would take up a lot less space in the shop. Clearance is fairly tight, but will work fine for me. If you have large (wide) vehicles, you may want to go with the wide lift.

As for the air locks, I was leery of them.....but they seem to work fine. I hope they are not a problem after a few years...

 

[AndrewnTX]

As I'm reading through many threads here on the GJ, learned that Bendpak is revising the width of the HD-9. For my case it makes the HD-9 a winner and it may be the advantage for you too. The HD-9 was 116 3/4 wide, which for my 112" space on a single bay was just too wide. The next narrow Bendpak lift, the HD-9ST being 99 3/4" wide would be ok, but to maximize entry space between columns, the new dimensions of the HD-9 Rev "M" are perfect, the overall width is 109 3/4. Seems like that would really help on your 2 car garage to preserve the other bay's space.