BenPak HD-9XW ordered.

[akdiesel]

Well I just ordered the BendPak HD-9XW from Eagle Equipment.
They say it should take 2-3 weeks for delivery which is just fine for me.

This was a decision I made that came down to the this one and the Direct Lift Propark 9. My choices are not due to one being better than the other or cheaper. Shipping was a major factor in this purchase.
I plan on giving honest and upto date info on the process if anyone is interested.

Thanks to all the information given and any in the future.

 

[shocksystems]

Well I just ordered the BendPak HD-9XW from Eagle Equipment.
They say it should take 2-3 weeks for delivery which is just fine for me.

This was a decision I made that came down to the this one and the Direct Lift Propark 9. My choices are not due to one being better than the other or cheaper. Shipping was a major factor in this purchase.
I plan on giving honest and upto date info on the process if anyone is interested.

Thanks to all the information given and any in the future.

I love mine so far. Good luck.

Cheers!

Jim

 

[e-tek]

Don't tell jimval!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ovilla]

I really like my BendPak too. Congrats!!!

 

[jcs_in_ky]

Good luck, I hope you have better luck with your lift then I've had with my HD-12

 

[akdiesel]

Thanks for the replies. I hope things go well with the order.
It is a large item with many different hands involved in getting it to the destination, and yes some are over seas.
I plan on giving non-biased info with the set up. This is to help any buyers/owners with their BendPak's or other lift owners that might have a simlilar issue.

 

[ol55]

Good luck, I hope you have better luck with your lift then I've had with my HD-12

Don't leave us hanging!

 

[RacerX]

I hope all goes well for you also. I emailed Jeff about receiving information on the Bend-Pak lifts and haven't gotten any reply.

 

[akdiesel]

I hope all goes well for you also. I emailed Jeff about receiving information on the Bend-Pak lifts and haven't gotten any reply.

I have tried to call him about the lift as well about six times, but he was either out or in a meeting. Seems to be a little busy.

 

[Junkman]

I have tried to call him about the lift as well about six times, but he was either out or in a meeting. Seems to be a little busy.

Did you leave a message for him to call you? That is what I do when I can't get a hold of someone. Also, you can ask the operator to have him paged. I am certain that they must have a paging system at Bend Pak.

 

[ovilla]

A lot of the info on lifts is readily available to the BendPak dealers as well. Just ask them for it. Even before I had placed an order for my lift, Brian at www.asedeals.com had already emailed me the install manual and some other specs for the HD-9 series. BendPak's tech support can also answer questions on install prep, motor wiring, performance (110 vs 220 motor) and anything else you need. Anyway, last time I had spoken to Jeff, he said they were getting ready for SEMA.

 

[akdiesel]

Thanks for the info.

 

[revlover]

Did you get your lift yet? Make sure to post plenty of pics!

 

[akdiesel]

Nothing yet. I am at work for another week. I am going to call Eagle tomorrow to see if they have a tracking #.

 

[akdiesel]

Well I finally got my lift on 10-27-2008. I ended up renting an equipment trailer and picking it up at the loading dock 40 miles away. I also purchased an engine lift to lift the heavier items off of the trailer. This came in very handy.
The lift came wrapped in selifane (spelling) and cardboard. There were some scratches on the none powered runway and one of the pillers. These cosmetic issues were due to the trucking company and not BendPak. BendPak could have, and may consider this in the future for shipping, put additonal angle metal along the sides to protect the items from being damaged in shipping. But a little sanding and the touch up paint they provided took care of scratches. As for the the piller that was scratched, it came outside of the package by itself. Unsure why this came this way. As well as the caster kit.

 

[akdiesel]

Junkman helped with some usefull information when construction this lift and he has another topic that gives details as well for the HD-9XW but these tips will work for any of the BendPak HD-9 models and maybe even the larger 4post BendPak models.
I would like to add some information regarding issues when constructing the lift.


When routing the cabels make sure they are below bolts that hold the runways.

It is also a good idea to have atleast two people constructing the lift.

Prior to inserting the crossmembers remove the cotter pins and the large pin that hold the pulleys at each end. Take note as to which way the items go back in place. Use a good grease to lubricate the brass bearings. These pins will not be able to be removed once the crossmembers are in place. Slide the crossmembers all the way down to the bottom the pillers. You may also choose to install the ladders at this time with the end caps so that you can work at a comfortable level. Also make sure to use your addtional help to lift the pillers insinc as to not twist the crossmembers.

 

[akdiesel]

The lift took me approx 8 hours to construct with the help of my wife.
Everything works as expected. Smooth up and down operation and the caster kit is easy to attach and move around.

 

[ovilla]

Congrats! First of all, your garage is way too clean. Secondly, where's the pic of a car on the lift? Anyway, the lift looks great. Are you thinking about getting an RJ45 or a jacking tray? I've got the RJ45 and it makes it ever so easy to work on brakes or suspensions. It works on air too. In the mean time you could also just use your lift to lower the car onto jackstands, as needed.

 

[e-tek]

You gonna drive a car onto that lift from the side?!?

Congrats on the lift - you're gonna LOVE it. But, if your wife is anything like mine, she will mention it everytime she wants something shiny and expensive too!

Hey Ovilla - what did you mean about "using the lift to lower it onto stands"?
Do you mean the stands would be on the floor?

 

[Phatsub]

AKDiesel, congratulations! I'm SOOO envious.

 

[akdiesel]

Here is one of the truck on the lift. The ceiling is 12'6". With the lift locked in at that level it gives me a comfortable level to work on the undercariage.
The truck weighs in at 7400#. With it on the wheel kit I am unable to move it. Maybe with one or two more people it can be moved.
With out a vehicle on the lift it can be manuevered easily on the wheel kit.

 

[pattenp]

Ok… nobody has said it yet, but I am. That one post should have been in the packaging and I must say you’re a kinder man than me because I would have been pissed to see the one post out of the packaging and the paint scratched up the way it was.

One picture there looks like a major paint touch-up to me.

 

[revlover]

You think it was shipped out that way?

Looks like his lift works...

 

[pattenp]

I can't imagine that BendPak sent it out that way. Looks like the trucking company totally trashed the packaging. No wonder you hear about the amount of damage lifts receive during shipping if this is typical of what the packing looks like after the journey.

 

[Junkman]

Ok… nobody has said it yet, but I am. That one post should have been in the packaging and I must say you’re a kinder man than me because I would have been pissed to see the one post out of the packaging and the paint scratched up the way it was.

One picture there looks like a major paint touch-up to me.

I can't imagine that BendPak sent it out that way. Looks like the trucking company totally trashed the packaging. No wonder you hear about the amount of damage lifts receive during shipping if this is typical of what the packing looks like after the journey.

It is obvious that you must want a work of art, because trucking companies handle freight like freight. If you want it handled like fine art, then you will need to have it moved by a moving company. They wrap everything in furniture cloths. Trucking companies put it on the truck with a fork lift, and take it off with a fork lift. It is surrounded with lots of other freight that will slide and tear into the cardboard. It is a tool, not a work of art. Scratches are the norm, and that is why they supply you with a can of spray paint.

 

[pattenp]

It is obvious that you must want a work of art, because trucking companies handle freight like freight. If you want it handled like fine art, then you will need to have it moved by a moving company. They wrap everything in furniture cloths. Trucking companies put it on the truck with a fork lift, and take it off with a fork lift. It is surrounded with lots of other freight that will slide and tear into the cardboard. It is a tool, not a work of art. Scratches are the norm, and that is why they supply you with a can of spray paint.

And it’s obvious you support this type of handling practice by a trucking company and feel that the condition in which.akdiesel received the lift to be reasonable. As a consumer I don’t believe it’s expected to receive an item in the state as shown in his pictures. And no I don’t expect a work of art but I do expect all the parts to be within the packaging. I'm glad the plasma TV I bought through the internet which was shipped via a trucking company was not in a truck with a lift.

 

[e-tek]

And it’s obvious you support this type of handling practice by a trucking company and feel that the condition in which.akdiesel received the lift to be reasonable. As a consumer I don’t believe it’s expected to receive an item in the state as shown in his pictures. And no I don’t expect a work of art but I do expect all the parts to be within the packaging. I'm glad the plasma TV I bought through the internet which was shipped via a trucking company was not in a truck with a lift.

OMG - a plasma TV and a 2500lb steel lift are not the same! I don't think a plasma TV would get shipped with heavy tools by any company. You have to be reasonable...who cares about a few scratches on a shop lift? I don't. Although my lift actually came without any scratches - I scratched it a few times setting it up! Although I was impressed BP included a can of spray paint, I didn't bother with it. My shop isn't a show room, it's a shop.

 

[revlover]

But we're talking about 2,000+ pounds of steal here...
.

 

[revlover]

You beat me to it e-tek!! =]

 

[Junkman]

My Plasma TV was purchased locally, at a locally owned store. It was broken in the sealed carton before I even touched a hand on it. The store said that it was a common occurrence that they were broken in shipping, and that the manufacturer would take full responsibility, since the trucking companies will not take fragile items and be responsible if they are damaged in transit. A lift is a 1800 pound piece of iron machinery as far as freight forwarders are concerned. They handle them with machinery that is designed to handle heavy items. If you would want the item to arrive in pristine condition, then pay Bend Pak to crate it in wood, and put it on a trailer for direct shipment. Mine came on a direct trailer shipment, and it took a little longer to get here, but it came without damage, with the exception of a few minor scratches. Heck, they can't even ship cars without damaging a few, so I don't expect every lift to arrive in pristine condition. I live in the real world and deal with trucking companies every week when they deliver. Sometimes things are damaged, and other times they come in perfectly. When they come in damaged, the manufacturers eat the problem, since if they didn't, they would have to pay a much higher shipping rate to compensate the freight companies for the fragilities of the items.

 

[pattenp]

OMG - a plasma TV and a 2500lb steel lift are not the same! I don't think a plasma TV would get shipped with heavy tools by any company. You have to be reasonable...who cares about a few scratches on a shop lift? I don't. Although my lift actually came without any scratches - I scratched it a few times setting it up! Although I was impressed BP included a can of spray paint, I didn't bother with it. My shop isn't a show room, it's a shop.

I wasn’t serious, just being sarcastic. I just feel akdiesel receiving the lift with the post and wheels being outside the packaging were a bit much and the one large scrap was far from being a scratch.

 

[Junkman]

It isn't Bend Pak's fault that one post was outside the packing. They have no control over the unit once it leaves their facility. That is the shipping company, and being that it was going to Alaska, which means that it had to travel through another counrty... CANADA.... possibly Canadian Customs pulled the leg out to check the product for possible contraband. Who knows what might have caused it to be checked. Possibly a Customs dog sniffed something between the ramps, such as a mouse, and they needed to investigate.

 

[e-tek]

I wasn’t serious, just being sarcastic. I just feel akdiesel receiving the lift with the post and wheels being outside the packaging were a bit much and the one large scrap was far from being a scratch.

I don't know why the parts where outside of the package - that is a bit much.

 

[pattenp]

It isn't Bend Pak's fault that one post was outside the packing. They have no control over the unit once it leaves their facility. That is the shipping company, and being that it was going to Alaska, which means that it had to travel through another counrty... CANADA.... possibly Canadian Customs pulled the leg out to check the product for possible contraband. Who knows what might have caused it to be checked. Possibly a Customs dog sniffed something between the ramps, such as a mouse, and they needed to investigate.

I never said it was BendPak’s fault that the post was separated; I actually insinuated that it must have been the fault of the trucking company. You made a good point about possibly going through Canada and getting pulled apart by customs.

 

[akdiesel]

ovilla,
I would like to get the 45 air jack but for the cost it will have to wait awhile. I can do as you suggested and lower it to the floor for the time being.

e-tek,
This purchase was a nagotiation with the wife. She got a nice glass cutter and I got this. I think I came out ahead.

It does disappoint me that when you spend this much money for something you want it to be like new, but when dealing with so many hands on it in between that deal with countless shipping items in a days time, you will get those that don't have the same respect for your items.
That was a good point Junk, about Customs handling it. I did not even think about that.
The time and cost of phone calls to get compensated for this type of problem is not worth it. No safety issues in my mind.
As I said earlier maybe BP will read these and package them better in the future to have an even better PR. This may add to the cost of the lift though.

 

[ovilla]

e-tek - So far, I did have ONE time when I wanted to get my entire vehicle off of the ramps and having only one RJ45 and no additional jacking tray was a problem. So, to get around this I raised the front end with my RJ45 and then placed my 6-ton jack stands on the floor (positioned at the rear of the car) and then lowered the car on to the jack stands. I actually had the ramps themselves all the way down, the front end supported on the RJ45 and the rear supported by the stands. My 914's only weight about 2,100 pounds so the 6-ton jack stands are overkill but they're nice and tall and never even have to be extended.

Anyway, I had wanted to take all four wheels off so that I could throw them in my van and take them to get balanced (in case you are wondering - YES, I am a bit weird with my old cars and don't want anyone thrashing my rims with an impact gun or incorrectly jacking up my car using the wrong lifting points). With my daily drivers I could care less how they handle them but since they're not making anymore 1975 Porsche 914's, I have to watch out for their well being. Since you have old cars too, I know you understand exactly where I'm coming from.

BTW, I kind of did something similiar when I did an engine drop over the summer. In that case I dropped the engine and ****** together as a unit onto a 1,000 lb furniture dolly. It was easy as pie. I lowered the car close to the dolly, undid all my hoses, connections, and unbolted everything and let the powertrain fall gently onto the dolly, then I raised the car and rolled everything out. Since the ramps on the H9-B are adjustable, I was also able to set them up as wide as they go and that gave me some extra room for the engine drop.


Regarding scratches - I also got some on one of my ramps and have yet to paint them. It's a lift and it's going to get used and have chemicals sprayed/dripped on it and you're going to be putting tools on the ramps too. Just enjoy it and don't worry about it staying pretty and do wipe it down or blast it with air every now and then. Otherwise, you'll have to start a thread titled "What wax do you use on your lift?".

 

[tsagg]

I'd like to get this back to a discussion about the BendPak lift if i may...

I see that the BenPak's need an air supply to activate the safety lock/latch. I believe this is different than other lifts??? I'm not sure but really never thought about needing an air supply.

How do you guys set up the air in your garages? What system do you use?

Do you ABSOLUTELY need the air locks? Or does BendPak offer a mechanical safety lock as an aoption?

I need to get this aspect figured out before I purchase.

Please help.

Thanks!

 

[tsagg]

just putting this to the top...really hoping for some insight here....

I'd like to get this back to a discussion about the BendPak lift if i may...

I see that the BenPak's need an air supply to activate the safety lock/latch. I believe this is different than other lifts??? I'm not sure but really never thought about needing an air supply.

How do you guys set up the air in your garages? What system do you use?

Do you ABSOLUTELY need the air locks? Or does BendPak offer a mechanical safety lock as an aoption?

I need to get this aspect figured out before I purchase.

Please help.

Thanks!

 

[akdiesel]

You will need to have air to retract the main air locks. The secondary (slack locks) are held back during lowering operations in which the cable has tension still in place untill the cabel slacks and therefore giving a secondary safety catch.

I simply used my hose reel to connect the air to the spring loaded push button provided by BP.

 

[akdiesel]

Oh and I thought I would mention this if it was not already mentioned in other posts about these lifts. Those that have the lifts know of this but those getting one may not.
When lowering the runways to ingage the air locks remember to not slack too much on the cables as they may run off of the pullies. If you do happen to slack off of the cables make note to check the pullies as well as the locks prior to going underneeth or raising/lowering.
Don't ask me how I know this just take note on it.