Backyard Buddy Used Lift Cost

[heloc]

I'm looking at a local BYB that is a private sale and have been searching for avenues to determine a value on used lifts. Unfortunately, can't find anyone to offer suggestions. Searching the interwebs, I've found several craigslist adds, an ebay auction and a few various forums with sold and/or for sale posts but they are all over the place cost wise based on age, options, condition, etc.

Backyard Buddy wouldn't even speculate on a value for their own equipment and would rather I buy a new lift. Good for their business model but doesn't help me or the seller with a lightly used unit.

I'd have to disassemble, move and reassemble the lift which isn't a big deal since I have the knowledge, tools and equipment to make it happen. It's about 5 blocks from garage to garage and I could almost roll it from place to place but it's too tall to get out of his or into my garage without being taken apart.

The lift is a 2006 7000# Service model with ramps, casters, drip pans, rolling hydraulic lift bridge and storage/rolling cart for the casters/ramps. The lift is in excellent condition and doesn't appear to have been used very much. The lift is pre slack cable locks and, as best as I can tell, that's the only difference from a brand new lift.

 

[ovilla]

Backyard buddy isn’t a super popular or even commercial brand lift. Just look at this site alone and you’ll see that folks pretty much buy/have lifts from all the other MFG’s and very few will own a B.B. You also can’t really say it’s due to pricing since a lot of folks own more expensive Rotary lifts too. I think it’s really more of a niche lift, for folks that really like the BB design and really want one. Unfortunately you’re also not going to see a lot of pricing in the used market for them. I’d personally equate pricing in the same category as any used lift of that age and state that it’s worth 1/4 to maybe a 1/3 of a new 4 post lift, and possibly less than that due to it being a pre-slack model and most likely only a 7K model too (since most are 9K now). That would at least be my arguing point when trying to buy it.

 

[pbon]

I would definitely not pay more than half new. Depending on condition and age and use, up to that.

 

[6768rogues]

I would pay a little more than half the cost of new if it is in great shape, or less than half if it is not in great shape. You said it is lightly used, so that would put it at about 55% of new in my mind. It is 12 years old, if it was a year or two old I would consider more.
I have no scientific data for what I would pay, just responding to what my gut tells me.

 

[scottmoyer]

The backyard buddy lift is something like $5k new isn't it? You can get a better built (because it's got 12 year newer technology) Advantage Lift for around $3k brand new and it's a 9k pound unit. The Advantage Lift uses the same boxed column design as the Backyard Buddy, but has all of the safety features needed today. The seller says lightly used to increase the potential value of a used lift.

Personally, I'd rather buy new.

 

[1233user]

The Backyard Buddy is made here in America, so to many people (including me) it has much more value than a Chinese lift. Kind of like Snap On vs Harbor Freight. I paid $2500 for mine used if I remember correctly, and that was a good deal. They don't come up for sale very often around here. I would take a used Backyard Buddy over a new Chinese lift any day.

 

[scottmoyer]

I agree that buying US products is important, but not all Chinese products are junk. They build to US speculations. If the company having the product built in China is trying to save money by providing cheap specs, that's on the company. I have a safe in my house that was made in China, but it was made to the manufacturers requirements. So, unlike all of the box store safes that just slap their name on the same product, my safe uses 9 gauge steel, and is almost impenetrable compared to the "name brand" products.

So, with the lift discussion, the BYB uses 4x4 columns. The Advantage Lift uses 5x5 fully boxed columns of 3/8" steel. The locking tabs are a full 3/4" thick and get locked into the columns by a 5/8" plate steel that's welded to the crossmember. The 12x12" feet are also made of 5/8" steel.

I'm not saying that a BYB lift isn't good, but why buy a used 12 year old lift for the same $$ as a brand new lift that's actually built stronger?

Oh, and Snap-On isn't 100% manufactured in the US anymore as they have factories in China, as well as other countries.

 

[sleek98]

I bought 2 4 post lifts at auction that are similar to the backyard buddy (mine are made here in Missouri) for 1400 and 1450. I ended up spending 700 each on new cables, I could have just replaced the one cable on each that was going bad but figured being 17 years old it was time to just do them all. So I am in them for 2,100 each. Paid another 1,000 total to have them both moved from the auto dealers place to my place 60 miles away.

I would say no more than 2,000. Inspect the cables for fraying, if they are frayed, or starting to, knock it down to 1,500-1,700.

 

[kbuhagiar]

I agree that buying US products is important, but not all Chinese products are junk. They build to US speculations. If the company having the product built in China is trying to save money by providing cheap specs, that's on the company. I have a safe in my house that was made in China, but it was made to the manufacturers requirements. So, unlike all of the box store safes that just slap their name on the same product, my safe uses 9 gauge steel, and is almost impenetrable compared to the "name brand" products.

So, with the lift discussion, the BYB uses 4x4 columns. The Advantage Lift uses 5x5 fully boxed columns of 3/8" steel. The locking tabs are a full 3/4" thick and get locked into the columns by a 5/8" plate steel that's welded to the crossmember. The 12x12" feet are also made of 5/8" steel.

I'm not saying that a BYB lift isn't good, but why buy a used 12 year old lift for the same $$ as a brand new lift that's actually built stronger?

Agreed.

It isn't 2006 anymore, and lift technology has progressed. Before you jump into this purchase, research the currently available products and consider all of your options. Ultimately you will determine your own priorities, but if it were me, taking into account the age of the unit and the disassembly/transport/assembly issues, I wouldn't even consider the purchase of a 12-year-old lift unless it was an incredible bargain.

Just my 2 cents...good luck!