4 post lifts - again

[jdaallen]

Does anyone here know anything about AAE Lifts. http://www.americanautomotiveequipment.com/4-Post-Lifts-p/ss7000xlt-d.htm
How can they be so inexpensive?? Their web sit doesn't say much about construction at all. Anybody have one??

 

[Cryptic1911]

it's not "american" at that price.. looks pretty flimsy to me. I'd say its a chinese knockoff of another knockoff. Its got the same look as alot of other cheapo lifts, but this one looks like it has thinner metal, and smaller posts

 

[jdaallen]

it's not "american" at that price.. looks pretty flimsy to me. I'd say its a chinese knockoff of another knockoff. Its got the same look as alot of other cheapo lifts, but this one looks like it has thinner metal, and smaller posts

That's what concerns me too. They don't go into any detail about design or construction and none of the photos are close up enough to see any detail.

 

[yellowgt1vert]

Does anyone here know anything about AAE Lifts. http://www.americanautomotiveequipment.com/4-Post-Lifts-p/ss7000xlt-d.htm
How can they be so inexpensive?? Their web sit doesn't say much about construction at all. Anybody have one??

I have two of their 8000xlt lifts. They are built in China, but I'm more than happy with the construction on my four posts. Only one bolt was rubbed...not bad for shipping across the ocean to a warehouse in Cleburne. I actually spent nearly an hour on the phone with the owner of the company when I purchased my lifts-very interesting guy to talk to-I'm a marketing professor and have owned and managed a number of businesses over the year...it was fun talking shop.

The lifts came in when promised and they had them sitting ready for pick-up when I arrived in Cleburne. A couple of the instructions could have been better, but even if I wasn't an ASE Master Tech, I could have put these things together.

Shipping prices were average (I think it was around $430 to ship from Cleburne to my home in Oklahoma for both lifts), but for me I was able to save a couple of hundred by driving to Texas and picking them up...plus I got to take my new truck on the road...

I'd recommend them for a homeowner without question, unless you're planning on throwing an H1 Hummer or some fully-loaded one-ton service truck, you'll be fine.

 

[rickycobra]

it's not "american" at that price.. looks pretty flimsy to me. I'd say its a chinese knockoff of another knockoff. Its got the same look as alot of other cheapo lifts, but this one looks like it has thinner metal, and smaller posts

I wouldn't speculate but I don't know anything about these lifts either. I would contact them and ask questions about these lifts.

 

[sberry]

I wouldn't speculate but I don't know anything about these lifts either. I would contact them and ask questions about these lifts.

What do you figure they would say if you called them?

 

[yellowgt1vert]

What do you figure they would say if you called them?

They will probably be very open about discussing their product and how it stacks up to their competition. That was my experience. The owner went as far as telling me the lifts were on a boat from China...so it's not like they are trying to hide anything really.

 

[jdaallen]

I need 2 lifts but the way I figure it, if I'm parking a couple hundred thousand dollars worth of vehicles on and under a lift, the additional $1k in price is cheap insurance for the additional quality and piece of mind.

 

[Speargun]

$1699 for the "American" lift vs. $1895 for a Direct Lift.

$196 more for a certified lift.......


http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Direct-Lift-Pro-Park-8S-p/tppro-park8s.htm

 

[yellowgt1vert]

Actually I was at $1550 for the extended height/width lift out the door vs. $1995 for Direct Lift that was comparable-a difference of $445 on a lift that gets used as a hobbyist operation. The $1699 is list for the lift you are looking at...that one was priced to me at $1450 or so when I called and asked-a difference of $445 again. Greg Smith didn't even want to discuss a discount for a double purchase.

I'm not saying that Direct Lift or BYB or any other lift isn't a good lift. I think the issue here is what is dependable and will do the job versus what will work, do the job, and costs more.

My Snap-On box, and my son's Snap-On box look really good in the garage and I can brag about how much they are worth...but my old Craftsman box really did the same job quite well for a number of years. I've got a mixture of Snap-On, Matco, Mac, OTC and Craftsman in my box-heck I've even got a few Chinese tools in my box that don't have a brand name on them...but they do the job I bought them for.

Sometimes you give a 'lesser-known' brand a chance and it comes out good. I'm more than happy with my purchase. I'll put any of my cars on the lifts without pause.

Granted they aren't European exotics, but our Corvette is documented as a 1-of-1 build, my Mecham car is #21 of those produced in 1982 and has 38k original miles, our ex-air force 1949 chevy is apparently a 50k mile original vehicle and unrestored at this point and our-everyone-can find 1967 swb chevy all will be on the lift at some point and I won't bat an eye.

Before anyone comments-I promise to let you know (or have my wife notify you) WHEN one of them falls. I've worked in shops as an ASE Master Tech and GM Master Certified Tech...I understand what it means for a car to fall (I've seen a couple of guys dump cars off big name brand lifts even) and I did my research before I bought from American Automotive.

I understand "buy American", but I am also a realist that says "if I can buy a comparable product at a lower price I will." In my case I save $890 plus the warehouse proximity allowed me to save another $300 (subtracting out my fuel) on shipping-Greg Smith was about the same shipping cost...so I saved nearly $1200 over buying the lifts from Greg Smith. Maybe someone will say that makes me unAmerican, but I will tell you that everyone of us has been there. Did we do it as a last resort? Maybe, but I doubt you can find anyone that TRULY buys 100% American 100% of the time...partly from the fact that some things just aren't made here anymore...

 

[dmeadow]

I had the cheapest AAE lift in my garage. It is a typical cheap chinese lift. It uses small welded blocks for the four safety latches around the four posts. The towers are open C channel. It isn't as sturdy looking as my friend's Backyard Buddy, but it worked fine for me. I never lifted anything heavier than about 3500# (C5 Corvette).

I don't have any real complaints about it for the price. You do have to be sure the rod release mechanism is adjusted properly or one of the safety latches can hang up and you can dump your car. Always watch when lifting or lowering the car!


Only reason I left it behind was that the guy who bought my home made it a condition of the contract. I was looking forward to moving it, anyway, but would otherwise would have kept it.

Sign up for their emails, they will send you constant "specials" with reduced pricing, shipping, etc.

 

[cruzn57]

I have "North american auto equip"
which is the same as all the rest of the chinese lifts,
I picked it up directly from the importer, and got a good laugh when he opened the cargo container, there was "bendpak" stuff in there!
yes, the same stuff they claim as "american"
I trust my chinese lift as much as any other "anywhere" lift.
I've had f350 dually's on it, no stress at all!
I say buy what fits your budget, and your comfort level.
and for all the BUY US people, I would if it was affordable!

 

[SloppyDogDrool]

I use 2 Bend-Pak units and I'm very happy with them. I purchased them from www.asedeals.com/four_post_lifts.html about 4 years ago and I have nothing bad to say about them. I have a 7000lb and 12000lb. The 12 is much larger and I feel much safer under it when working. The 7 is fine. I had my 68 Camaro on it for year with no trouble and then my 01 Corvette. Never worried me a bit.

Installation is the only thing I can say you need a professional. Don't skimp in this area! I did on one and the results were obvious.

Also you might check with the local lift service and installation folks to see if you can find something used. With the economy there are a lot of garages closing. I have two friends that scored great deals on commercial lifts. One from a closed Chevy dealer and the other from a service garage.

 

[holdover]

I have 2 BendPac lifts a HD9 and a 12K. The HD9 says that it is designed by bendpac and made in China, there are no such markings on the 12K. I am a certified welder and see no problems with the way the HD9 is constructed. Both lifts are certified I use the HD9 for stack storage of my Mustangs, and the 12K as my working lift. A nice feature of the 12K is that the right ramp is movable, the left one is fixed. You can adjust to any width from touching each other to full width on the beam. I even use it to change the oil in my lawnmower and 4 wheeler. There are many good and safe lifts out there, the reason I went with the BendPac was there are a bunch of shops in my area that use them and I was able to check them out.