Buying a rough Challenger E10 stored outside.

[Max78]

So I have an opertunity to buy 2 2 posts lifts. hes willing to take $1500 for both.

One is a challenger E10, the other is unknown. The other one is really beefy and looks like a 10k unit but cant verify. Both have been sitting outside for 2ish years as pictured here. there is only 1 motor unit and dont know if it even works.

Edit: other lift is a Forward DP97 9k lift.

Only superficial surface rust, nothing serious. Most of the rollers seem smooth, cables look ok. All of the hoses on both are bad.

I'm looking at about $600 in hoses alone per lift maybe, plus I will need a power unit for one. Seems like an OK deal, not stellar though. Just trying to see everyone's thoughts. This is the first time I have ever considered looking at a lift and just looking for some advice.

I have a lot more pictures if yall want more.

 

[finn]

Depends on whether you want a couple of lifts as projects, or a lift to work on projects. You’re probably going to put a couple hundred hours and another thousand dollars in power packs, paint, etc to make them function and look ok.

If you’re up for it, go for it.

Personally I would pass at this stage of life.

 

[mikedodge]

Don't forget there are pulleys and other parts that shouldn't get wet or have corrosion and you'd still have time making them look good. And finding out psrts are missing. By the time you get them in safely usable condition you should be able to find a couple used ones that are already in good condition for the same price.

 

[Pinne]

Couldn't pay me to take these.

By the time they're refurbished you could have just bought working units that have been stored inside. Marketplace is full of 2 post lifts around $2,000 or less and they don't seem to sell very quickly.

 

[Max78]

I only really want one, but he is basically saying if you buy one then your taking both. I have been keeping an eye out for used lifts here and people are asking $3k for older 8k units that probably need some work as well. A lot of the newer lifts listed locally are no names and not rated which makes me very hesitant.

Only reason I considers these are because I know the bones are good, but they need work for sure to be safe.

Maybe going with a new hobbyist lift is a better idea.

 

[Hooked]

By the time you get one cleaned up and working you may be close to the $3k plus untold hours finding parts, cleaning and reconditioning this one.
If you were closer I'd sell you my Rotary 9K I bought several years ago for that price. It's been stored inside (unused) since.

 

[finn]

I only really want one, but he is basically saying if you buy one then your taking both. I have been keeping an eye out for used lifts here and people are asking $3k for older 8k units that probably need some work as well. A lot of the newer lifts listed locally are no names and not rated which makes me very hesitant.

Only reason I considers these are because I know the bones are good, but they need work for sure to be safe.

Maybe going with a new hobbyist lift is a better idea.

I would look at new hobby lifts, for sure.

I don’t know where people find these mythical “like new” used lifts. When I was looking, most, if not all used lifts were rode hard and put away wet, or else priced pretty close to new.

I went new and never looked back.

 

[BobnCO]

I bought my used Rotary SPOA9 (3 phase) from a guy who had it stored outside. It was marked from a Richie Brother auction, guessing he didn’t realize it was 3 phase. As such it was the cheapest name brand certified lift I found. I don’t agree with above that you will spend $1,000’s on parts, but it was some work, I only replaced the stop release cable and one of the little stop release cable pulleys. (I know many on here would have replaced lift cables and pulleys but I chose not to; I think a catastrophic cable failure is never going to happen).
That said after all the work and cleaning up rust etc.. when I later saw cleaner units for $500-$1,000 more I kind of regreted not waiting (typical). That that said I would have had to wait 6-12 months longer.. shopping the entire time because the cleaner Rotary etc. units go fast! Good luck either way; I did enjoy working on the lift, and I know all the parts now and how to tune it!

 

[Overboost44]

By the time you get one cleaned up and working you may be close to the $3k plus untold hours finding parts, cleaning and reconditioning this one.
If you were closer I'd sell you my Rotary 9K I bought several years ago for that price. It's been stored inside (unused) since.

Wish you were anywhere on the east coast

 

[mikedodge]

I would look at new hobby lifts, for sure.

I don’t know where people find these mythical “like new” used lifts. When I was looking, most, if not all used lifts were rode hard and put away wet, or else priced pretty close to new.

I went new and never looked back.

A friend hooked me up with mine, it's not like new but in good shape.

If you watch facebook they show up from time to time, usually the like new ones I've seen people are selling because they're moving or they bought a house that came with it and they don't want it. They're also usually the no name brand ones tho. Lots of old ones in commercial shops that are for sale because they're being replaced. Anyone I know who replaces ones in their shops they aren't much better then scrap. But sometimes they're also being sold because they're moving or closing.. those would be more the ones worth getting if they're not over priced.

 

[finn]

The one the OP was still listed on Marketplace last night, so it’s not a fast mover. That said, people here in Tucson are freaked by rust of any sort. They can’t handle it. Just not in their psyche to deal with it.

 

[rsanter]

If I was planning to install it outside I think I would go negotiate with him a bit.

if you get them for $1000 to $1200 you can keep the one and sell the other one for cheap

 

[Ran when parked]

Can you fix both and sell the one you don't use? Posted this as I was typing. Still seems like a bunch of work for minimal return. Do you have the equipment to move them and set them up? How much is your time worth? How soon do you want to have a car up in the air?

 

[mikedodge]

I'm always trying to find ways to make some extra money but especially when they're not both the same IF i was interested in one in that condition I'd rather pay more like half the price for the one I want and not have the hassle of dealing with the other one. By the time it's gone through and cleaned up and repainted, the new hoses that are needed and power unit there might not be enough profit to make it worth while.
Then again if you only take one it usually ends up being the one you left behind that you should have gotten.

 

[Max78]

Where I'm at currently I think my time is worth more to me than what I will make moving one to fix and flip one for a profit. The hoses on both units are completely shot and will all need to be replaced, The challenger hoses are $800 before tax and shipping. Looking at the blue unit it looks like it could have 1 leaking cylinder as well.

The Challenger I would like to snag if I could get it for $500, but he wont take that. I have a skid steer that could make quick work of moving them, but I would then have to get my buddies to help trailer that there while I trailer the lift. I was just going to use and engine hoist, some dollies, and the winch on the trailer. At this point in my life, I have too many projects going on with 2 cars, dirt bike and garden cart, and things around the house to do. I think getting an up and running unit is what I need. I'm so cheap though and always looking for a deal.

The one the OP was still listed on Marketplace last night, so it’s not a fast mover. That said, people here in Tucson are freaked by rust of any sort. They can’t handle it. Just not in their psyche to deal with it.

Ya, I noticed that as well, its not back east where rust is actually a bad thing. Its just a little surface rust, we use it for decorations all over. . .

A friend hooked me up with mine, it's not like new but in good shape.

If you watch facebook they show up from time to time, usually the like new ones I've seen people are selling because they're moving or they bought a house that came with it and they don't want it. They're also usually the no name brand ones tho. Lots of old ones in commercial shops that are for sale because they're being replaced. Anyone I know who replaces ones in their shops they aren't much better then scrap. But sometimes they're also being sold because they're moving or closing.. those would be more the ones worth getting if they're not over priced.

Ya I missed an estate sale a few years ago that had some really clean name brand lifts for $900. They looked new and one was holding 1 of 3 NSX Acura's that were in the shop.

 

[DaChev]

I would not buy a lift on the ground. I would only buy a lift that you can try out and either take apart yourself, or pay a company to take it apart and move it.

I cannot imagine trying to figure out what is missing from a pile of parts.

I think they best post is: Do you want a project out of making a lift out of two piles of junk, or do you want to put a project on your lift.

I bought mine almost new for 3K, but I took it down and had a chance to put a car on it before I did so.

 

[Hooked]

I would not buy a lift on the ground. I would only buy a lift that you can try out and either take apart yourself, or pay a company to take it apart and move it.

I cannot imagine trying to figure out what is missing from a pile of parts.

I think they best post is: Do you want a project out of making a lift out of two piles of junk, or do you want to put a project on your lift.

I bought mine almost new for 3K, but I took it down and had a chance to put a car on it before I did so.

This is what I did. It was in a functioning tire shop and the owner was retiring. Lifted my F350 longbed to confirm it would fit. Paid $1800 for it and they helped with the disassembly and loading on my trailer. They also had the manuals and I took pictures for help with reassembly. Unfortunately, after purchasing it things changed somewhat in our family and the space I had planned to install it was no longer viable so it has been sitting in my boat shed since, thinking I would build another slab/building for it.

 

[Max78]

Has anyone heard of Hunter Pro for a lift manufacture? An almost new one popped up for $1500, mounted but not running. Research seems to show it a no-name off brand.

 

[GCS]

Not sure, but you could probably have a local hydraulic/hose shop duplicate the hoses cheaper than buying from the manufacturer…

just a thought

 

[Max78]

Not sure, but you could probably have a local hydraulic/hose shop duplicate the hoses cheaper than buying from the manufacturer…

just a thought

I have had a shop make several hoses for me in the past and they very in price. They are still quite expensive but ya it would probably be cheaper than direct through challenger. .

 

[Max78]

Quick question and dont want to start a new thread.

There is a 10k western lift that installed and I'm able to test. Looks clean and has been in a garage with little use. But i can't seem to find any information on the western brand. . . . Its $1800 firm. I cant find any information on the western brand, I dont know if its a good deal or not, if this is a good brand or not. . . Any help would be appreciated.