BendPak 4 Post Lift

[1garagerunner]

Hi,
I'm looking to purchase a 4 Post Lift for my garage to store 2 cars in 1 bay. I have looked at multiple options, but have settled on either the BendPak HD-9 or the Pro Park Plus. These different options meet my needs for outside runner width and garage space. I prefer the BendPak because or 4" intervals between locks and price.
Please share experience with either to help me make my decision.
Thanks,
Jim

 

[kbuhagiar]

Can't tell you anything about the BendPak lift, but I am extremely happy with my DirectLift Pro Park 8 Plus Long.
Purchased it in 2017 and have had it up and down a few hundred times.
No problems whatsoever.

 

[SILVERPLATE]

Direct-Lift here for ten years, no issues. Works flawless.

 

[racecougar]

Another happy DirectLift Pro Park Plus customer (actually, it's a Forward EFP9, which is the exact same lift).

 

[Poolshark314]

Can't speak on experience for either lift, but when I was researching the Bendpak lift requires an air supply line to disengage the locks on the ladder bars. I didn't want to deal with that so I decided against that lift. Not sure if the DirectLift uses that or not. I suspect not, so take that into consideration

 

[racecougar]

Excellent point. The DirectLift/Forward does not utilize air for the locks. It has a manual lever.

 

[ronr80]

Bnd-Pak HD-9 here for the last 15yrs no issues and love it. Sorry for the bad pic.

 

[Toyo72]

@racecougar Nice Chevy truck!

 

[racecougar]

@racecougar Nice Chevy truck!

Thanks!

 

[c39er]

HD14 Bent-Pak here for 13 years...
Never an issue.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I’m envious of you guys with your lifts.

I’m having a garage built at this very moment at the lake. The pad will be going in shortly. Due to the lot size the garage will be 20’ Wide and 28’ Deep. My plan is to put in a 4 post lift. What are you guys using for a garage doors. The lift will be used for car storage in the winter. I just got thinking about this lately. My standard doors on my other garage would likely not allow a roll up with a vehicle once elevated.
Sorry about hijacking the thread.

 

[DirtyEvo]

Just had a 2 post installed today. Guys were pretty against bendpak lifts. Apparently the quality is pretty poor.

 

[racecougar]

I’m envious of you guys with your lifts.

I’m having a garage built at this very moment at the lake. The pad will be going in shortly. Due to the lot size the garage will be 20’ Wide and 28’ Deep. My plan is to put in a 4 post lift. What are you guys using for a garage doors. The lift will be used for car storage in the winter. I just got thinking about this lately. My standard doors on my other garage would likely not allow a roll up with a vehicle once elevated.
Sorry about hijacking the thread.

Pretty typical insulated 16'x8' sectional overhead garage door with high lift tracks here. No interference issues at all with the lift. The interior length of the wall shown is 29' (it's a 30' x 60' building) and the ceiling height is 12'7".







EDIT: Here is a pic with the lift all the way up.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

@racecougar You have a pretty sweet setup We will be building soon and the high lift doors would definitely be the answer. My 2 garages at home are standard doors and always thought I would place a lift at home. But the lake would be a better choice in the long run especially when it comes to storage. Appreciate your assistance!
Now back to @1garagerunner ‘s question.

 

[racecougar]

Thanks. If you have the head room, it isn't too difficult to convert your existing tracks over to high lift. I did that a few years ago on my attached garage, mainly just for appearance sake. I think all in it cost me a few hours and about $200.

 

[P0234]

I went with Direct Lift because it was a better price, didn't need air (plug in my air compressor once or twice a year) and they didn't try to make a bunch of money selling you accessories (includes casters, drip trays and jacking stand). Their after sales support has been excellent, no regrets.

 

[1garagerunner]

Keep them coming please. The Pro Park Plus is prefered, but a lot more money. They charge shipping $1,400 on top of installation $1,500. The pricing on the BendPak is with free shipping and installation less than $1,000.
Still shopping around to get shipping included.

@ronryour HD 9 has locks every 4" correct?
Would you be able to measure the height of the top of the runway in any of the locks for me. I ask because I can than add or subtract 4" to get real height and spacing for my cars.

The Pro Park also has 6" locks which could limit my options with the height of my cars and garage.

 

[ybnormal]

Pretty typical insulated 16'x8' sectional overhead garage door with high lift tracks here. No interference issues at all with the lift. The interior length of the wall shown is 29' (it's a 30' x 60' building) and the ceiling height is 12'7".







EDIT: Here is a pic with the lift all the way up.

knowing the specs helps. what's the vertical height under the lift at full lift? if I'm tall am I gonna bump my head like this?

 

[racecougar]

knowing the specs helps. what's the vertical height under the lift at full lift? if I'm tall am I gonna bump my head like this?

Working off the handy 4-post lift comparison spreadsheet I compiled when I was shopping back in 2020, it looks like the height under the runways when resting on the top locks is 79.25". As long as you're not 6'8" or taller, you're good to go without ducking.

 

[P0234]

FWIW, the design of the direct lift gives you about 2" (IIRC) of adjustment on the stops, meaning that 6" inch spacing is really 4 and even better it can be tweaked. I forget if it was the same with the BP. Also 2 years ago the BP was way more expensive, at least the two models I was shopping.

 

[kbuhagiar]

Keep them coming please. The Pro Park Plus is prefered, but a lot more money. They charge shipping $1,400 on top of installation $1,500. The pricing on the BendPak is with free shipping and installation less than $1,000.
Still shopping around to get shipping included.

Holy **** - I knew prices had gone up, but I didn't realize how much. Where are you located?

I paid $3327.13 in December of 2017 for my Pro Park 8 Plus Long, which included the RJ35 sliding bridge jack and 90 degree motor mounting bracket. Delivery and installation to Sonora, CA (120 miles) was $850.
Grand total $4177.13



I just spent a weekend disassembling and transporting the same lift 500 miles to Escondido, CA, at a total cost of around $1000 (including truck rental, gasoline, pizza, beer, more pizza, and more beer for my two buddies who helped). I had debated whether to bring it or not, as opposed to just selling it up there (at a great loss) and buying a new one here.

I'm really glad I decided to move mine, as it looks like I still came out ahead in the long run.
Bonus - I can knock down a lift and put it back together and do all the maintenance all by myself now.

Best of luck to you, it is still a great investment at twice the price.

 

[kbuhagiar]

FWIW, the design of the direct lift gives you about 2" (IIRC) of adjustment on the stops, meaning that 6" inch spacing is really 4 and even better it can be tweaked. I forget if it was the same with the BP. Also 2 years ago the BP was way more expensive, at least the two models I was shopping.

^^^This.

BendPak was the higher-priced 'quality' option back when I bought mine in 2017, but I couldn't find a dealer closer than 500 miles away. In hindsight I'm very glad I chose the DirectLift.

 

[racecougar]

There's a reason BendPak wasn't even included on my spreadsheet above. When I was shopping back in April/May of 2020, they were at least double the price of those listed. I bought the Forward EFP9 (DirectLift Pro Park 9 Plus) for just under $3800 with tax, hydraulic fluid, jack tray, drip trays, and casters included.

 

[PatY]

Direct lift here. So far I'm happy with it.

 

[1garagerunner]

My problem with the Pro Park is that the footprint is bigger than the area in my garage.
I'm looking at Tuxedo and BendPak, but still looking for something else that will even work.
The garage bay is 20' deep and just under 10' wide which is where I have a problem.
I also need an outside runway width of 78" which really limits my choices.

 

[Poolshark314]

My problem with the Pro Park is that the footprint is bigger than the area in my garage.
I'm looking at Tuxedo and BendPak, but still looking for something else that will even work.
The garage bay is 20' deep and just under 10' wide which is where I have a problem.
I also need an outside runway width of 78" which really limits my choices.

Is 9000 lb capacity a requirement? 8000 lb capacity models tend to be smaller

 

[Mike65]

I am looking at the Advantage DX 9000 HD.

Advantage 4-Post Car Lift - Best Residential Lift On The Market

The Advantage Lifts' 4-post lift SS-9000-HD is tailor made for residential garages. You'll receive a inclusive five-year warranty along with all of the auto lift accessories you could possibly need.

www.advantagelifts.com

 

[racecougar]

My problem with the Pro Park is that the footprint is bigger than the area in my garage.
I'm looking at Tuxedo and BendPak, but still looking for something else that will even work.
The garage bay is 20' deep and just under 10' wide which is where I have a problem.
I also need an outside runway width of 78" which really limits my choices.

The Bendpak HD-9 doesn't meet those criteria either. You may have to purchase a smaller/narrower lift and add angles to the outside of the runways to meet your needs. That said, watch your drive thru width spec on those narrower units.

 

[P0234]

Is 9000 lb capacity a requirement? 8000 lb capacity models tend to be smaller

And cheaper

 

[isb cornbinder]

I’m envious of you guys with your lifts.

I’m having a garage built at this very moment at the lake. The pad will be going in shortly. Due to the lot size the garage will be 20’ Wide and 28’ Deep. My plan is to put in a 4 post lift. What are you guys using for a garage doors. The lift will be used for car storage in the winter. I just got thinking about this lately. My standard doors on my other garage would likely not allow a roll up with a vehicle once elevated.
Sorry about hijacking the thread.

I hired a company to remove my 30 year old 4 section door and replace it with a Made In British Columbia roll-up door. The door rolls into a 24 inch space above the door opening.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

@isb cornbinder Thanks for the option. Asked Smart door for a quote. My builder says depending on door I could have a 6 month delivery interval. 10’ high 12’ Wide.

 

[Sunsetomaha]

Any thoughts on the Backyard Buddy or Advantage 4 post lifts?

 

[isb cornbinder]

@isb cornbinder Thanks for the option. Asked Smart door for a quote. My builder says depending on door I could have a 6 month delivery interval. 10’ high 12’

I had my roll-up door installed in June of 2017. It cost me $2300 with the tax. My door is 8' high and 10' wide.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

@isb cornbinder I had just sent you a PM.

 

[isb cornbinder]

@isb cornbinder I had just sent you a PM.

I replied. I hope the reply goes.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I replied. I hope the reply goes.

Got it thanks.

 

[finn]

Any thoughts on the Backyard Buddy or Advantage 4 post lifts?

I’ve said it before, but I bought two Advantage four post lifts, a 9k and an11k when I sold a neighboring property with a fairly large garage I was using for storage. The lifts weren’t budget lifts, but still cheaper than building an addition to my shop.

After a bit of research, I selected the enclosed post design of the Advantage over a cheaper folded metal / loose ladder design that’s common to many other imported lifts. Backyard Buddy looks like a similar design, albeit pricier, since it’s not imported. All the extras, ie jack tray, casters, drip trays, and aluminum approach ramps are standard on the Advantage, and optional on the folded metal lifts.

Aluminum approach ramps are an important feature.

Wildfire appears to be the same lift.

The advantage lift quality and attention to detail seems far better than my slightly older Bendpa two post lift.

 

[racecougar]

Any thoughts on the Backyard Buddy or Advantage 4 post lifts?

There's the miscalculation by many that the square tube posts on those lifts increase strength over the rolled/formed posts used on others. An FEA says otherwise. The other benefit of the rolled/formed posts is the ability to adjust the lock ladders and cables separately, so that you don't have to shim your posts to compensate for any floor slope. Lastly, it tucks the cables within the posts to reduce moment on the posts, protect the cables, increase drive through width, and improve appearance. I wouldn't choose the BB or Advantage design, but there's plenty of room in the market.

Do any of the BB or Advantage lifts tuck the lock rods inside the runway crossmembers like others on the market. Every photo I've seen shows them exposed on the ends of the runways.

 

[Djeclipse]

There's the miscalculation by many that the square tube posts on those lifts increase strength over the rolled/formed posts used on others. An FEA says otherwise. The other benefit of the rolled/formed posts is the ability to adjust the lock ladders and cables separately, so that you don't have to shim your posts to compensate for any floor slope. Lastly, it tucks the cables within the posts to reduce moment on the posts, protect the cables, increase drive through width, and improve appearance. I wouldn't choose the BB or Advantage design, but there's plenty of room in the market.

Do any of the BB or Advantage lifts tuck the lock rods inside the runway crossmembers like others on the market. Every photo I've seen shows them exposed on the ends of the runways.

Sorry to bring up an old thread. I am looking for a 4 post lift and all my research says the Square tube posts are more stable as the lift ands wrap around the posts leaving no room for play/ wobble. With the C channel design what is stopping the posts from moving? to me it looks like the C channel design could sway and disengage the safety locks relying only on the cable.

 

[racecougar]

Both designs rely on UHMW at the carriage-to-post slides. No, the formed post design can't sway and disengage the locks.