sleek98
Well-known member
We just picked up their extra big 4 post from the Mecum auto auction Saturday night. Its very well built, and i am glad we got it.
Here is a pic of us bringing it home.
BendPak (or other?) 4 post lift selection
- Thread starter garagelogician
- Start date
We just picked up their extra big 4 post from the Mecum auto auction Saturday night. Its very well built, and i am glad we got it.
Here is a pic of us bringing it home.
Jazzman442
Well-known member
I looked for over a year. I have a suburban and a few Mustangs, and a couple other cars in between those in size. After I found out the Bend pack is only rated at the lifting points on the ends I ruled it out very quickly. That left the Challenger and the Rotary Direct lift. I went with the Direct lift for its size lifting weight and certification. I am very please with it and the service is second to none. This lift is built like their commercial ones.
jcthorne
Well-known member
I actually think the general difference between the happy Bendpak customers and the not so happy ones is the professional install by a dealer that installs and services them every day.
When you try to DIY the job, what would be very small issues turn into very large ones.
I have a BendPak HD-9XW that is just about a year old and could not be more pleased with it. Having watched the install, had I done it myself, I would not have been such a happy camper.
When you try to DIY the job, what would be very small issues turn into very large ones.
I have a BendPak HD-9XW that is just about a year old and could not be more pleased with it. Having watched the install, had I done it myself, I would not have been such a happy camper.
jcthorne
Well-known member
Not quite sure what you THINK you figured out but NO 4 point lift is fully rated to lift its label capacity applied at one point midway between the posts. They are ALL rated for a distributed load.
jcthorne
Well-known member
Since the rolling jacks roll so easily, I have not found them to be in the way. Whatever end I am working on, I just shove them to the other side unless I need one or both.
jcthorne
Well-known member
I have the wide version and my Excursion sits with the tires outside to outside of the ramps. I could not service full size trucks on the narrow version.
lakeroadster
Well-known member
I'm in no way recommending the Advantage Lift, just providing you with a link for a lift you may have not been aware of.
As for it not having an ALI certification, that has nothing to do with air safety locks.
ALI is merely a "3rd party Certification Program that promotes the safe design, construction, installation, inspection, and use of automotive lift products." http://www.autolift.org/car-lift-industry-regulations-about-ali/
It's great to have ALI certification, I wouldn't buy a lift without it. But lack of ALI certification doesn't necessarily mean the product is bad, it just means you don't really know unless you practice the due diligence to find out the companies reputation and quality.
In fact, a manufacturer's lift can be ALI certified, and still have issues after the fact due to poor quality.... Derstig's BendPak HD-9 lift is a prime example.
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LX-Markham
Well-known member
Even within Bendpak's line-up, not all their lifts are ALI certified. My HD-9-SWX for example is not certified. It has the same quality and safety features as the rest of their certified lifts, but they don't sell enough of them to warrant having them certified. Doesn't bother me one bit. I'm quite satisfied with the strength and quality of the lift.
Bingo!
I disagree. I think the people who do a professional install honestly dont know where to look to see these problems. I am not calling them ignorant, absolutely not. But unless you put this together and fine tune, you wont know whats right or wrong.
The issues I have had would have still happened with the installer. Now I did spend a lot of extra time installing the lift myself and yes that probably wouldnt have been the case if the installer did this, but the issues? How can you say the installer vs me doing this is the explanation for these?
- The motor was leaking fluid and had to be replaced.
- Cables were wrong length
- Lift had to be painted several times due to rust and damage
- Rolling ******** its axis in all 4 directions
- Rolling jack catastrophically failing and dropping the car
- Columns being warped
None of these issues would have been solved by the installers. In fact, none of these issues would have been addressed by the installers unless I paid extra, because based on my discussion with BendPak, these "post install" issues are owner's responsibility to take care of (minus the part replacement obviously which BendPak takes care of).
I'm sorry but if you actually read word by word what I wrote and pay attention to these issues, you would have be delusional to claim that having an installer would have made a difference.
The rolling jack saga alone is ridiculous. You have to see how bad this thing is welded and how rusty it was. It almost killed me when I landed on my head! Please tell me how an installer would have made a difference on a unit that is literally "plug and play"!
c39er
Well-known member
OK..... DerStig I gather you don't like BP and anything they sell.
It's clear... we get it!
It's clear... we get it!
Z2V
Well-known member
I installed my HD9 by myself. Zero issues with install or operation. I'm a happy camper.
Z2V
Well-known member
^^^Nice
bobabuee
Well-known member
well DerStig definite problems??? within last 2 years i have bought 2 bendpak hd-9 installed 3 not a problem with any of them other than 3 yellow plastic covers busted in shipping. no saying new version does not have problems?? but if i had to buy another lift BP is going to be at my short list you see them everywhere.... their good quality product for good price. sure there is better for more money and cheaper junk for cheaper price.
if you don't have enough skills to install these type of things .... pay someone to do it.
if you don't have enough skills to install these type of things .... pay someone to do it.
lakeroadster
Well-known member
Derstig is doing everybody a favor by posting his experience. In return you fella's are demeaning the guy, kicking him while he is down? He also paid good money for his BendPak lift, just like you. Except he has had to rebuild his.
Erecting a 4 post lift is in no way difficult. It's easier than assembling an IKEA tv stand.
Some companies have a great product, that ends up being built by out sourced labor that employ hit and miss fabricators.
I looked at several lifts, and I mean several.My initial thought was I needed the Bend Pak, because...well they're the ones everyone wants. After actually physically looking and running a bunch up in the air and comparing them dollar for dollar, I ended up buying an Atlas 9000 pro. it raised higher than most, was higher than most and had good bones in the build quality for the money. the welds seemed to be consistent and I felt safe under it.
And I can almost buy two of these for the price of one bend pac in comparable dimensions.
And I can almost buy two of these for the price of one bend pac in comparable dimensions.
There is a DirectLift distributor in Shakopee http://www.bencostuff.com/ , Take a look at the http://www.directlift.com/Four-Post-Lift-Pro-Park-8S-Standard-P44C9.aspx While things like 220V and air locks may be nice for heavier home users, unless you have 220V in your garage and a compressor running all the time, a unit with mechanical locks and 120V motor can make more sense.
It is also nice to have local sales and service available and Benco will come to your home and install any lift you buy from them giving you one neck to grab should there be any problems with a lift you get from them.
It is also nice to have local sales and service available and Benco will come to your home and install any lift you buy from them giving you one neck to grab should there be any problems with a lift you get from them.
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bobabuee
Well-known member
demeaning ,i tried to help.... we all tried over course 3 threads.in the end it fell on deaf ears.so it is what it is
I'm not sure what it takes to get ALI certification, but for anyone considering an Advantage lift it has a couple safety features I haven't seen on others, or I've seen listed on others.
1) Secondary safety locks, there is a complete second set of locks that are held off by the lift cables. They each have a roller that rides on its' respective cable. If the cable fails, or goes slack for some reason the secondary locks engage.
2) Hydraulic fuse: I forget what they call it, but there is what amounts to a hydraulic fuse at the ram. Idea being if the hose busts, or you experience some other hydraulic failure it closes to keep the lifting deck from dropping suddenly.
Both of those are in the online assembly videos as being newer additions.
1) Secondary safety locks, there is a complete second set of locks that are held off by the lift cables. They each have a roller that rides on its' respective cable. If the cable fails, or goes slack for some reason the secondary locks engage.
2) Hydraulic fuse: I forget what they call it, but there is what amounts to a hydraulic fuse at the ram. Idea being if the hose busts, or you experience some other hydraulic failure it closes to keep the lifting deck from dropping suddenly.
Both of those are in the online assembly videos as being newer additions.
What did you dislike about your old Direct Lift that made you switch brands?
OP
garagelogician
Well-known member
I've been looking at them too, might swing down there someday to have a chat with them. I think I have it narrowed down to Advantage or Direct Lift...but the Advantage unit looks a little better to me. I like the locking system and how the holes are integral to the post. Clearance underneath is taller (for the standard unit) and I like how the collars wrap around the posts.
jfitz
Well-known member
Like Z2V, I installed my Bendpak HD9XW almost 2yrs ago. Also got the RJ45 rolling Jack. Everything works great. My neighbour who has any Atlas now wishes he had gotten the Bendpak. Unfortunately for DerStig, he ended up with a lemon, so it seems
I was about to order the BP also, but I am also looking at the Advantage now. In the setup videos and unpacking videos they show really well packed product, customer pics shows nicely finished lifts, not all scratched up and rusted.
Got to think about this more. Direct lift says it can easily adjust the ladder for uneven floors. I read something about the Advantage/BYB lift design is not able to do this and you might need to shim the posts really well instead. Nothing wrong with shimming if done properly. However, if you make it too high from the 4.5" runway height, you are more likely to scratch up the car going up because now the runway sits at maybe 5-6". Or in the case of my higher trucks it may cause the roof to hit the garage opening as it need to go up to the runway.
So then does the advantage lift can be adjusted in garage sloped for drainage? They have added the valve burst protection, cable slack protection, and a limit switch to stop the lift from going too high. (BP wants to charge a bunch of money on a limit switch add on and it's not even a very clean setup)
OP
garagelogician
Well-known member
Per the Advantage Lifts manual, the lift can be installed on a floor with no more than 2 degrees of slope. That translates to approximately 0.4" per foot. Most garage floors are sloped no more than a quarter inch per foot, so it shouldn't be a concern for most people.
The adjustable ladder of the Direct Lift is nice (especially if you are trying to dial in a particular lock position height), but is it as robust? I've never seen one in person yet.
I forgot the mention there is a big gusset on each side of the runways on the BP, the direct lift also. This matters if you want to load a car slightly wider than the 2 runways allows. Plenty of users here can testify... doesn't have to be a big truck, apparently the newer muscle cars is a tight fit because they have such big tires.
it would be hard on tire/rims or side skirts if it scratch on the gusset.
It looks like the advantage lift doesn't have it in the way.
it would be hard on tire/rims or side skirts if it scratch on the gusset.
It looks like the advantage lift doesn't have it in the way.
lakeroadster
Well-known member
Robust?
kind of a personal opinion call. I'd say the ladder design is more than adequate though. It's pretty low tech. The ladder itself is torch cut from plate, and it has a stud welded on top that sticks up through the top plate.
The stud has a nylock nut on it that when you tighten it it raises the ladder... loosen the nut and the ladder lowers.
Good point
That was indeed an annoyance on my Direct Lift... whenever I loaded my utility trailer on it that had a wide track.
Wasn't an issue with my wife's '07 Wrangler though.
Measure twice... buy once.
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I bought my lift from them and had them install it. They don't really have a showroom so there isn't much to see if you visit them. You're more than welcome to swing by my shop if you want to see what a DirectLift looks like in action. You could also probably go to Cars and Coffee at the Chanhassen AutoMotorPlex Saturday morning www.automotorplex.com/calendar/ and get a good sampling of what a wide variety of lifts look like as well as what some really rich guys own for toy cars.
jfitz
Well-known member
The only gussets on my BP HD9XW are the welded runners for the rolling jack and are actually lower than the runway so they don't interfere with anything. The one runway is adjustable which comes in handy when going from a small car to a truck
OP
garagelogician
Well-known member
See red circled area on attached image. If you are trying to squeeze a car in that has tires at/over the edge of the runway...they are going to hit. Advantage, Direct Lift and some others don't have that (or it is further from the runway). Not an issue on your extra wide lift, but some of us have less room and are trying to fit in a narrow lift.
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garagelogician
Well-known member
Mind if I ask how much delivery/install cost you? Cars and coffee is a good idea, I'll drop you a line if I need more info.
Thanks!
ovilla
Well-known member
Garagelogician you really want to think of ALL the cars/trucks you'll be putting on your lift - not just your current fleet.
That's why I went with a BendPak HD9-B (extra wide but regular height and length). The absolute best thing about this ALI certified lift, which I've yet to see on any other lift, is the ADJUSTABLE TRACK WIDTH. Simply by loosening and reinstalling a couple of bolts (on the ramp with no cylinder or cables underneath it), you can be set up for the narrowest of cars or pushed further out for wide trucks. I'm not sure why this is not marketed much but it's honestly the coolest and most useful feature I enjoy about my lift. I've had everything from my old STX-38 JD rider mower, small/narrow trailer, boat trailer, and even a full size Tahoe with extra wide tires on it. The adjustable track width simply eliminates you ever having to wonder if you can accommodate a specific vehicle.
I also have an RJ-45 and a separate jacking tray. I normally lift the front with the RJ-45 and then I put jack stands on my jacking tray and then drop the front back down on to the jack stands. Then I roll the RJ-45 to the rear and lift the back with it. Easy peasy! The jacking tray also comes in real handy as a rolling table for tools/parts/lights or for your oil drain container.
Anyway, with regards to which lift to buy, keep in mind that customer service and the history of the company you're buying from is key. Like most of us, you'll be buying 1-2 lifts in your life time (unless you're OldCarGuy and need a dozen lifts). Anyway, a company like BendPak is constantly innovating their products but has always been their to support their customer base with parts and service. Just google any issues that Bendpak customers have had (especially on this board). They always take care of their customers. I'm not knocking other companies, I'm just saying that there's a ton of examples of BendPak making things right for their customers. Plus they're a big international company that's been in business for 50 plus years and will easily have any part you ever need.
Anyway, let me know if you have any questions. I'm sure this will give you more to think about now.
Here's a pic of my BendPak HD9-B.
That's why I went with a BendPak HD9-B (extra wide but regular height and length). The absolute best thing about this ALI certified lift, which I've yet to see on any other lift, is the ADJUSTABLE TRACK WIDTH. Simply by loosening and reinstalling a couple of bolts (on the ramp with no cylinder or cables underneath it), you can be set up for the narrowest of cars or pushed further out for wide trucks. I'm not sure why this is not marketed much but it's honestly the coolest and most useful feature I enjoy about my lift. I've had everything from my old STX-38 JD rider mower, small/narrow trailer, boat trailer, and even a full size Tahoe with extra wide tires on it. The adjustable track width simply eliminates you ever having to wonder if you can accommodate a specific vehicle.
I also have an RJ-45 and a separate jacking tray. I normally lift the front with the RJ-45 and then I put jack stands on my jacking tray and then drop the front back down on to the jack stands. Then I roll the RJ-45 to the rear and lift the back with it. Easy peasy! The jacking tray also comes in real handy as a rolling table for tools/parts/lights or for your oil drain container.
Anyway, with regards to which lift to buy, keep in mind that customer service and the history of the company you're buying from is key. Like most of us, you'll be buying 1-2 lifts in your life time (unless you're OldCarGuy and need a dozen lifts). Anyway, a company like BendPak is constantly innovating their products but has always been their to support their customer base with parts and service. Just google any issues that Bendpak customers have had (especially on this board). They always take care of their customers. I'm not knocking other companies, I'm just saying that there's a ton of examples of BendPak making things right for their customers. Plus they're a big international company that's been in business for 50 plus years and will easily have any part you ever need.
Anyway, let me know if you have any questions. I'm sure this will give you more to think about now.
Here's a pic of my BendPak HD9-B.
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garagelogician
Well-known member
Thanks for the input. The size of my garage will definitely have downward pressure on the size of the vehicles in my fleet. If I can't close the door and have enough room to move around the car, what good does a bigger lift do me? I will have to sketch up the wider unit in CAD and see where the columns land and if I can make it work in my tight 3-car. I wish they offered extended height with the standard length...I could probably make that work.
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ovilla
Well-known member
Call BendPak! They don't really advertise it but I've seen where they'll do customizations like that. You'd be using all standard components, from various stock lifts, and would just need custom length cables - very doable! I bet it wouldn't be more than a few hundred or so to get yours exactly how you want it. I'm not sure if you've ever seen their double wide lifts (lifts two side by side cars at the same time). I believe someone on this site once ordered a 2-post BendPak that was slightly taller than their regular unit. BendPak actually had parts that bolted on to the top of the posts for the extra height that was needed. Seriously I'd call and explore options. That's the advantage of a big company like them.
scottmoyer
Well-known member
I was considering the Direct Lift due to cost, power and accessories, but kept hearing about Advantage Lifts and decided to check them out. I was so close to getting one today from the Barrett Jackson Auction in Palm Beach, but I can't find a pontoon trailer in the area to pick up an assembled lift! Amazing that nobody in the Orlando area rents pontoon boat trailers. Very disappointing.
I was talking with Richard at Advantage today and he explained that they are getting their lifts certified, but are having some issues. They have a limit switch that the lift owner can put where they need it to go, but the cert company doesn't like the idea of the lift owner being able to put that where they want and possibly doing it incorrectly. I don't get it, really. Many of the lift owners put these lifts together and use the lift for automotive maintenance and such. I think we're capable!!
Wish I could get the Advantage now that I've researched it. I may have to wait.
I was talking with Richard at Advantage today and he explained that they are getting their lifts certified, but are having some issues. They have a limit switch that the lift owner can put where they need it to go, but the cert company doesn't like the idea of the lift owner being able to put that where they want and possibly doing it incorrectly. I don't get it, really. Many of the lift owners put these lifts together and use the lift for automotive maintenance and such. I think we're capable!!
Wish I could get the Advantage now that I've researched it. I may have to wait.
ovilla
Well-known member
Just wanted to point out one more thing about my extra wide BendPak HD9-B lift. I have a 3 car garage and my lift is all the way on the right, within the single bay. The columns are actually much wider than my single bay opening. So, if you can drive in to the garage, through a standard single wide garage door, you can get on my lift. Once on the lift, my cars (even my van and my SUV) allow me to easily walk around just the car. I never have to walk around the posts as I can easily circle around and walk between the car and the posts - on the inside of the posts! I really like it because it gives me full access to every corner of my cars. Also, if/when I need to do something, like pull axles apart, I can then use the dolly kit to slide the lift to the center bay of the garage.
OP
garagelogician
Well-known member
Do you have a pictures of it in the wide configuration and the narrow?
I opened an email line of communication with one of their sales guys, still waiting to hear back but it sounds like it will probably be doable. So now I'm leaning back towards BendPak again.
I am putting in a 3 car garage as well, and it's going to be in the middle parking spot.
Tell me if this is not ideal? but I need space to work and don't want to be cramped against the wall. And I am not sure if I can push the lift into the single bay because there is a beam going up to support the room upstairs giving around 16 feet of clearance so I cannot just roll it over there.
Tell me if this is not ideal? but I need space to work and don't want to be cramped against the wall. And I am not sure if I can push the lift into the single bay because there is a beam going up to support the room upstairs giving around 16 feet of clearance so I cannot just roll it over there.
Jazzman442
Well-known member
Garagelogician you really want to think of ALL the cars/trucks you'll be putting on your lift - not just your current fleet.
That's why I went with a BendPak HD9-B (extra wide but regular height and length). The absolute best thing about this ALI certified lift, which I've yet to see on any other lift, is the ADJUSTABLE TRACK WIDTH. Simply by loosening and reinstalling a couple of bolts (on the ramp with no cylinder or cables underneath it), you can be set up for the narrowest of cars or pushed further out for wide trucks. I'm not sure why this is not marketed much but it's honestly the coolest and most useful feature I enjoy about my lift. I've had everything from my old STX-38 JD rider mower, small/narrow trailer, boat trailer, and even a full size Tahoe with extra wide tires on it. The adjustable track width simply eliminates you ever having to wonder if you can accommodate a specific vehicle.
I also have an RJ-45 and a separate jacking tray. I normally lift the front with the RJ-45 and then I put jack stands on my jacking tray and then drop the front back down on to the jack stands. Then I roll the RJ-45 to the rear and lift the back with it. Easy peasy! The jacking tray also comes in real handy as a rolling table for tools/parts/lights or for your oil drain container.
Anyway, with regards to which lift to buy, keep in mind that customer service and the history of the company you're buying from is key. Like most of us, you'll be buying 1-2 lifts in your life time (unless you're OldCarGuy and need a dozen lifts). Anyway, a company like BendPak is constantly innovating their products but has always been their to support their customer base with parts and service. Just google any issues that Bendpak customers have had (especially on this board). They always take care of their customers. I'm not knocking other companies, I'm just saying that there's a ton of examples of BendPak making things right for their customers. Plus they're a big international company that's been in business for 50 plus years and will easily have any part you ever need.
Anyway, let me know if you have any questions. I'm sure this will give you more to think about now.
Here's a pic of my BendPak HD9-B.
Measure Measure Measure. KNow what you will want to lift now and in the future. I am so glad i bout the bigger lift I lift my suburban to my smaller cars. No problems.