Bend Pak 4 Post...Install Myself?

[Matt M PA]

Hi guys...I have decided (just about 100%) on Bend Pak HD-9 for the garage.

What I have not decided on is whether or not to try to set it up myself. I'm certainly not a stranger to mechanical things or tools...but the price I was quoted locally to install this lift is enough to make me think.

I was told that this firm would accept delivery...then bring it to me and set it up for $800. I'm not disputing that this is alot of work...and very likely fair...but would I be better off doing this myself?

Your thoughts?

 

[OldCarGuy]

For $800.00,,, I'd set up two of them for you. Do it yourself,, enough members have done it. And after all it’s not rocket science to install a lift.

 

[Junkman]

For $800, I will set it up and buy you lunch when I am done. I will need my helper to come along. Question, are you with me on this???

 

[e-tek]

I set mine up and if you do a search you'll find many set-ups on GJ. You can read through them and have enough experience to get 'er done. Just don't cut the hydraulic lines too short!!

 

[gsport]

easy set up with a friends help..... i set my four post up in about 5 hours, just follow the instructions...

 

[Question]

For $800, I will set it up and buy you lunch when I am done. I will need my helper to come along. Question, are you with me on this???

Yes.. its easy beer money,

Whats my cut??

 

[ptschram]

I assembled my four-post lift alone with only the help of an engine hoist, a floor jack, two pairs of jack stands and the Shopmoggy helping.

It was not difficult, but it WAS time consuming to do it alone.

The time savings woul dbe the only reason I'd wnat any help with the job.

 

[HIRISC]

I remember paying about $450 for delivery/install. I thought that was right on the edge of acceptability. I was too busy to monkey around with it at the time, but I would have done it myself for anything north of $500.

Guys above are correct, after watching it being put together, it's not very technically challenging. Running the cables and the air lines was the most technically challenging looking part.. the lock mechanisms are already assembled.

For your situation, I'd buy a case of beer, get a couple of friends and an internet-connected laptop for emergency questions and put that big erector set together yourself.

Best install write-up I've seen on the HD-9:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-general/1468748-lift-installation-garage-phase-ii.html

G/L - you're going to love it

 

[akdiesel]

I have to ask... is the price including delivery from a BendPak supplier and set up?
As you mentioned you like to work on things so doing this yourself will aid you learning more about the lift and possibly saving you time and money later down the road if somthing goes wrong that you will have better understanding of what it may be and fix it.
Just make sure you have at least one person helping you.

 

[Matt M PA]

akdiesel...delivery is "free"....or at least included in the price of a Bend Pak.

When I called the dealer Bend Pak, they suggested a dealer...ASE. It was the dealer who suggested the installer. The lift would be delivered to the installer as opposed to being sent to me.

A friend who has a forklift suggested I have the lift delivered to him...then I can go to his place with my enclosed car trailer for pickup.

I keep thinking that even if it took me two days...that's $400 per day I'd save.

I'm glad to try and do it myself....but I have to ask...can this be done without a cherry picker? I have read some installs and it seems that everyone had a engine hoist or some thing for lifting the runners.

 

[brownbagg]

its so simple, I do it and hand you back $700. its really just a couple hours job by yourself. although it seem heavy , the pieces itself are not heavy

 

[akdiesel]

I used an engine hoist for mine as well as many others on this thread.
The runners are too heavy for two people to lift, just balance it well with the straps and a tag line or someone holding it from tipping.
I bought my engine lift specificly for this installation but I use for alot more now.

 

[HIRISC]

I agree with akdiesel - the ramp with the hydraulic seems too heavy for two 'normal' guys to lift.. 4 guys, yes. That's the heaviest piece. The posts and the front/rear cross pieces are easily handled by two men. I've read where one guy and a cherry picker have assembled the HD9, but I personally don't see how they got the front/back cross sections on - even if the columns were laid down first - by him/herself.

I'd shop around - in this economy, there have got to be plenty of guys willing to do this for $400 - that's $50 an hour for a full day. (you could help the guy and rent a cherry picker) and still be ahead.

 

[Matt M PA]

Thanks guys...I am going to shop this install a bit. I want to order before the end of the month as there is a price increase coming.

A friend's brother has a few gas stations and we're going to call the guy that does his installs too. I was able to borrow a engine lift should I need it.

 

[e-tek]

its so simple, I do it and hand you back $700. its really just a couple hours job by yourself. although it seem heavy , the pieces itself are not heavy

You've obviously never put one together!!! At least not an HD9.....
It's 6-10 hours easily and (as said above) you need 4 guys or 2 plus a cherry picker for the ramps - they weigh over 400lbs each.

But it's still a "do-it-to-yourself" job. Use the $800.00 for tools!!!!

 

[Junkman]

Yes.. its easy beer money,

Whats my cut??

I owe you, so I'll just take enough for gas money... I still owe you and your wife dinner for helping me. Now that summer is here, we should have more time to plan in advance. You can pick the weekend and let me know... Junk..

 

[brownbagg]

 

[Fiberglass Fred]

I was told $325 by a shop that primarily services lifts.

You can't beat that.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is insurance. There's something to be said for having a bonded company put it together. To me, having someone else to blame is worth the $325.

Sure I've got auto insurance and home owner's insurance, but I really wouldn't want to make a claim if I went out to the garage and found my top car crushing my lower car because something was put together wrong...and I really don't want to hear the insurance company's reaction when I tell them that I was the one responsible for putting together the device that caused all the damage.

my $0.02.

 

[Matt M PA]

Thanks again for all the input.

For $800...even if it takes me two days....that's still $400 a day. Now, if I find a service closer to the $325 number, there would be no decision.

I need to order in the next day or so, so I am also going to check with some friends that have a garage and see who they use.

 

[Matt M PA]

Well guys....here's what's going on.

A friend with a flatbed and a body shop said I should sent it to their show and they'll winch it from truck to flatbed. Then, they'll slide it off into my garage.

I did call a service equipment guy this morning...who has yet to call me back. When it takes forever to get a new biz call back...I always wonder how long it will take to get a "problem" call back. I guess we'll be setting it up ourselves.

 

[Bevis]

I just got home from installing a 2 post bend pak. Had a friend call and asked if I'd give them a hand. I read the directions, and started laying things out, then the other two people left, and it was all me. wasn't too bad, least I had the use of an overhead hoist to use in standing the uprights up. Shocker was when my friend gave me $350 for setting the thing up alone.

 

[e-tek]

You;ll be so happy you did it yourself. You'll know how it works, how to change something out. It's not complicated - otherwise mine would still be in pieces!!

 

[Matt M PA]

Thanks again guys...placed the order today.

After speaking with Brian at ASE Deals, we decided to ship the slower way, which would (obviously) take longer...but would help control too much handling and potential damage.

This week, and the next two...I am simply too busy to set it up, etc....so the time delay won't be a problem.

What did I order? An HD9, two jack trays (the adjustable versions) and longer ramps (to make sure the Viper doesn't scrape).

 

[jcs_in_ky]

I set my HD-12 up by myself. It wasn't hard but I did use pallet forks on my tractor to unload the parts from my flatbed trailer and also to put the runways in place. If you set it up yourself then you have a better idea of how it all works.