Does anyone here have this lift? Looking for a lift for a residential garage so it will not be used to often. Need to safely lift a 6000 lb vehicle. Greg Smith is close so there will be a reduction from the internet price since there will be no shipping charges. I know it is not a Rotary or Mohawk. If anyone here is using this lift could you please give me your honest opinion. Don't want any danger to come to myself or anyone around me. Figured since it is certified, should at least be safe at full load? Correct?
Atlas Apex 10 two post lift
- Thread starter Turbo1002
- Start date
493 scamp
Well-known member
I believe ALI certification requires tsting at 1.5 times rating. So it has been proven at 15000 lbs.
I have an uncertified Atlas 9000lb and feel as safe as I do at work under a Rotary 9000.
What are you lifting thay weighs 6000lbs and what type of work will you be doing on it?
I have an uncertified Atlas 9000lb and feel as safe as I do at work under a Rotary 9000.
What are you lifting thay weighs 6000lbs and what type of work will you be doing on it?
Jlbc212
Well-known member
I have the non-ALI certified version of this lift. It has the double S column design. I safely lift my F350 SuperCab without issue.
Iroc-Z
Well-known member
In everything I have seen about atlas lifts shows they are a quality lift and quality company
FANTM58
Well-known member
Check out the Forward line, designed and built by and with ROTORY parts over seas.
I just ordered the I10 ,,,
I just ordered the I10 ,,,
turbosl2
Well-known member
I have an ATLAS lift 10k lift from Gregsmithequipment and i have had it for 7 yrs. I have done nothing to it and have not had a single issue.
turbosl2
Well-known member
JerseyJeep95
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2013
- Messages
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Hi. I too am looking at purchasing the APEX 10 in the next month or so for my home garage. I’ve done a bit of research and can tell you the APEX 10 ALI reviews are hard to come by. One thing I did notice while looking at other brands is that the Atlas APEX 10 and the Rotary SPO10 look very similar in design based on the pictures/specs I can find online. Both ALI certified. The Rotary description states: "single piece "double S" shaped column, three position flip-up adapters, 3-stage lift arms front with thread-up pads." And from the GregSmith site Atlas Description: "Apex 10 has Double S column design and symmetric columns. The Double S column design was so revolutionary, that it was protected by a patent. That patent has now expired." And then it says, "Compare the Atlas® Apex 10 to 'The Original”
I’m thinking the Atlas Apex 10 may be based on the Rotary Double S design, maybe? I can’t prove this and I can’t compare build quality but it is an interesting data point to consider. A selling point for me, as hobbyist that does not use a lift on a daily basis is the ALI certification. Right or wrong, the ALI Cert makes me feel a little better. RT
I’m thinking the Atlas Apex 10 may be based on the Rotary Double S design, maybe? I can’t prove this and I can’t compare build quality but it is an interesting data point to consider. A selling point for me, as hobbyist that does not use a lift on a daily basis is the ALI certification. Right or wrong, the ALI Cert makes me feel a little better. RT
Northerndave
Well-known member
Yes they can be installed either or.
I looked at one last week.
I have a Rotary SPO-10 in my shop, a new Atlas apex 10 went in to another shop close by me, I know the guys so I went over to look at it about a week ago. They installed theirs Asymmetric. It comes with universal arms that are supposed to work in either configuration. The fronts are shorter 3 stage arms and the rears are 58" 2 stage arms. They use the same arms for sym or asym.
Some things I noticed. The atlas apex is almost an exact copy of the rotary SP series (Like my SPO 10). The shape/profile of the columns is an exact copy, the arm carriers seem the very same, the arms are a bit different but the base plates are almost identical except atlas puts a couple more holes per plate for more anchors. The lift is an obvious copy of the rotary, right down to the molded plastic safety latch covers.
A couple of differences that are hard to spot without a tape measure.
The width between columns on the atlas is a little less that the rotary in both configurations. My SPO-10 is 115" between columns in symmetric config, the atlas is 112.5" between columns in symmetric config. As stated, the atlas uses the same arms regardless of symmetric or asymmetric setup. My SPO 10 has matching 3 stage 59" arms front and back, If I wanted to set mine up as asymmetric (SPOA 10) it uses a different set of arms.
One last observation, my SPO 10 Rotary is 100% friendly to a 12' ceiling height. The Atlas will install just fine under a 12' ceiling (the top crossbar clears easily) but with the lift at max height, the cylinder tops of the atlas protrude past the column tops to a height of 148". That's going to smash 2 holes through a 12' ceiling. My rotary cylinders also protrude up past the column tops at max lift but they stop just shy of 143".
I wan't to put a new atlas apex in a new building for my business but I have a 12' ceiling so I have some thinking to do. I'm not super warm to the idea of relieving a couple of clearance holes for the apex cylinders in my ceiling. The price is fantastic, the design is a copy of the rotary which is excellent, but it doesn't look like it's really friendly to a 12' ceiling.
My SPO 10 has a 72.5" rise height with screw adjust pads all the way down, no adapters. The Atlas is maxed at 70" height with the same type of pads. Couple of inches not a big deal but hard to understand when the atlas cylinders stick up 5" higher than the rotary's, and the rotary lifts higher.
I like the price of the Atlas way better than the Rotary, I can make it work in my new building if I relieve some clearance in my ceiling for each cylinder, just not sure I want to do that.
Also this is my first post, Hi. lol
Dave from northern MN, hot rod and classic resto shop owner.
I looked at one last week.
I have a Rotary SPO-10 in my shop, a new Atlas apex 10 went in to another shop close by me, I know the guys so I went over to look at it about a week ago. They installed theirs Asymmetric. It comes with universal arms that are supposed to work in either configuration. The fronts are shorter 3 stage arms and the rears are 58" 2 stage arms. They use the same arms for sym or asym.
Some things I noticed. The atlas apex is almost an exact copy of the rotary SP series (Like my SPO 10). The shape/profile of the columns is an exact copy, the arm carriers seem the very same, the arms are a bit different but the base plates are almost identical except atlas puts a couple more holes per plate for more anchors. The lift is an obvious copy of the rotary, right down to the molded plastic safety latch covers.
A couple of differences that are hard to spot without a tape measure.
The width between columns on the atlas is a little less that the rotary in both configurations. My SPO-10 is 115" between columns in symmetric config, the atlas is 112.5" between columns in symmetric config. As stated, the atlas uses the same arms regardless of symmetric or asymmetric setup. My SPO 10 has matching 3 stage 59" arms front and back, If I wanted to set mine up as asymmetric (SPOA 10) it uses a different set of arms.
One last observation, my SPO 10 Rotary is 100% friendly to a 12' ceiling height. The Atlas will install just fine under a 12' ceiling (the top crossbar clears easily) but with the lift at max height, the cylinder tops of the atlas protrude past the column tops to a height of 148". That's going to smash 2 holes through a 12' ceiling. My rotary cylinders also protrude up past the column tops at max lift but they stop just shy of 143".
I wan't to put a new atlas apex in a new building for my business but I have a 12' ceiling so I have some thinking to do. I'm not super warm to the idea of relieving a couple of clearance holes for the apex cylinders in my ceiling. The price is fantastic, the design is a copy of the rotary which is excellent, but it doesn't look like it's really friendly to a 12' ceiling.
My SPO 10 has a 72.5" rise height with screw adjust pads all the way down, no adapters. The Atlas is maxed at 70" height with the same type of pads. Couple of inches not a big deal but hard to understand when the atlas cylinders stick up 5" higher than the rotary's, and the rotary lifts higher.
I like the price of the Atlas way better than the Rotary, I can make it work in my new building if I relieve some clearance in my ceiling for each cylinder, just not sure I want to do that.
Also this is my first post, Hi. lol
Dave from northern MN, hot rod and classic resto shop owner.
You can get 3 inch longer cylinders in a Rotary SP-10 series. I have them in mine and had to make some holes in ceiling. I use 3" pvc for sleeves, works great
Northerndave
Well-known member
Cool, good to know!
look at the lifts, doesnt matter which with the Chinese, two bent metal columns, two cheaply made hydraulic cylinders, all the pump and motors are basically same, stone mfg.
some locks, some hoses, not much different. so what is different, the footprint plate and the arms.
a car doesnt weight much consisting the steel and the hydraulic, the columns and other are way over design to hold the weight.
the biggest problem is, is the foot print plate going pull out and tilt, as long as that doesnt move, the weight is nothing
some locks, some hoses, not much different. so what is different, the footprint plate and the arms.
a car doesnt weight much consisting the steel and the hydraulic, the columns and other are way over design to hold the weight.
the biggest problem is, is the foot print plate going pull out and tilt, as long as that doesnt move, the weight is nothing
Northerndave
Well-known member
Well, i agree with some of that but a few other things are important too. Comumn width is important for being able to get out of the vehicle without dinging a door.
Arm length, specifically rear arm length is crucial in being able to get the load centered properly so you don't have to test the strength of those base plates and anchors.
Its common for some of the longer pickups (crew cabs) to not have a lift point other than the front spring perch for the rear axles. That can be a reach, it often forces the truck to be loaded too far forward. These vehicles might be within weight specs for the lift but they are hard to load safely if the arms are too short.
Rise and decent speed, lift pad hight for low profile vehicles, column width, arm length, rise height. Its all relevant and specs vary all over the map within weght classes. Some of the differences might not matter much for a hobby and personal use application though I suppose.
Arm length, specifically rear arm length is crucial in being able to get the load centered properly so you don't have to test the strength of those base plates and anchors.
Its common for some of the longer pickups (crew cabs) to not have a lift point other than the front spring perch for the rear axles. That can be a reach, it often forces the truck to be loaded too far forward. These vehicles might be within weight specs for the lift but they are hard to load safely if the arms are too short.
Rise and decent speed, lift pad hight for low profile vehicles, column width, arm length, rise height. Its all relevant and specs vary all over the map within weght classes. Some of the differences might not matter much for a hobby and personal use application though I suppose.
Last edited:
Northerndave
Well-known member
Here are some pics of a newly installed apex 10 in asymmetric configuration.
navycryppie
Active member
I installed my Apex-10 last year, great lift and only complaint is the manual (installed asymmetric). Poorly written and vague, but I found the Rotary manual covered all the pieces that GS misses, along with language of someone on our continent. The lift is built well, comes with the adapters that most hobbyists will need, and for me parts are a 45 minute drive up the road. Never had a second thought on this purchase, and I built my shop specifically for it.
navycryppie
Active member
Looks good Dave! One item the manual doesn't cover and looks like you still need to do. On the long arm, pull out the small bolt on top, it will allow full extension; I think they do that so it doesn't shoot out in shipping.
Northerndave
Well-known member
Oh really? Good to know. This one isn't mine, it belongs to a shop up the road. They installed it in the past couple of weeks, it replaced a twin cylinder in floor lift. I went over to look at it and take pics to compare to my rotary because I am considering one of these Apex 10's for my new building.
My only issue is the cylinder height at max lift, I have to make relief pockets in my ceiling for them (12' ceiling)
My only issue is the cylinder height at max lift, I have to make relief pockets in my ceiling for them (12' ceiling)
Northerndave
Well-known member
Next time I am over at the shop where I took the pics I will tell them about the bolt.