Challenger CL4P9S vs Bendpak HD-9

[VetteNut]

I can't decide between these two, any opinions?

With Challenger's 5% off Black Friday sale they are within $200 of each other, so price is not an issue.

 

[ronr80]

I have had a HD-9 for 6 years now ansd love it .

 

[oilslick]

Challenger has terrible design, I would not even recommend one to an enemy.

 

[kwschumm]

Challenger has terrible design, I would not even recommend one to an enemy.

Any specific details to offer?

 

[madbim]

Any specific details to offer?

Would be interested to hear as well.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

[oilslick]

Ok, I am low effort on this but here is my story. We bought a 12000$ 4 post open front lift in 2012 from them after I talked to factory guy tells me it's all usa made. It shows up and rolling Jacks are packaged in China plywood? So I open up and sure enough, China . Within 2 years pulley bushing failed taking out a 100$ pin and when I tried to order a bushing it turns out that they upgraded to a new improved design and required a whole pulley with bushing! What a joke,should have been free. Then the rollers on front post started sticking, after many calls they agreed to supply me new rollers since they upgraded to different designs on those as well, since then all have failed again! I found a fwd press in bearing that I could make work on half of the 8 rollers. I said to hell with it and called in again to let them know, guess what, it's been completely redesigned to a plastic sliding chassis, well over 400 in parts plus a total pita to disassemble front towers. Bottom line is that they produce **** and we find the flaws and then pay to fix them. I had hope when they had some goodwill on the first set of rollers but that was only after I spent tons of time reaching out etc etc. So that is why I won't recommend them to anyone .

 

[holdover]

My HD9 is 9 years old , works great. I do not think it was made entirely in USA, but I have not had any problems. I was impressed enough with it to purchase a HD 12 about a year latter, have not had any issues with that life either.

 

[kwschumm]

Ok, I am low effort on this but here is my story. We bought a 12000$ 4 post open front lift in 2012 from them after I talked to factory guy tells me it's all usa made. It shows up and rolling Jacks are packaged in China plywood? So I open up and sure enough, China . Within 2 years pulley bushing failed taking out a 100$ pin and when I tried to order a bushing it turns out that they upgraded to a new improved design and required a whole pulley with bushing! What a joke,should have been free. Then the rollers on front post started sticking, after many calls they agreed to supply me new rollers since they upgraded to different designs on those as well, since then all have failed again! I found a fwd press in bearing that I could make work on half of the 8 rollers. I said to hell with it and called in again to let them know, guess what, it's been completely redesigned to a plastic sliding chassis, well over 400 in parts plus a total pita to disassemble front towers. Bottom line is that they produce **** and we find the flaws and then pay to fix them. I had hope when they had some goodwill on the first set of rollers but that was only after I spent tons of time reaching out etc etc. So that is why I won't recommend them to anyone .

Now that's a bad experience. Thanks for following up!

 

[VetteNut]

Snap-On bought Challenger lifts in May of 2013. I can't imagine they would stand to offer an inferior product today. And probably why it was redesigned.

Bendpak is also made in China now. I believe only the power unit is made in the USA

 

[pattenp]

You'll find displeased customers somewhere along the line for almost every lift brand. I've seen a fair share of disgruntled BendPak owners. Personally I have a Challenger 2 post and have had zero issues. I wanted to buy a Mohawk but couldn't afford it. Local auto-equipment supplier had the Challenger in stock and a very good price so I bought it.

 

[jfitz]

Have had an HD9XW for 2 1/2 years now with the RJ45 Rolling jack. Have had zero problems, lifts everything up to my Dodge MegaCab. Some people don't like the air release locks but I like them. My neighbour bought an Atlas and has had problems with the release rod mechanism, wishes he had got the Bendpak after seeing mine

 

[davidlee]

I have had a Bendpak HD9 for about 4 years. I put it together myself and had no problems at all.

 

[VetteNut]

Thanks guys, I leaning towards the Bendpak for the air locks. Seeing how it can be an added safety feature with kids around.

 

[thickhead]

I have a keyed switch to shut off power going to the lift if that helps.

Also, I have an HD-9, but I'd give the Challenger lift a good look if I were buying today. I don't know anything about them but if they are part of Snap-on corporate structure it is really worth knowing more about their current lifts.

 

[papester]

I just installed an HD-9 and my 07 Vette sits on top of it. Very happy with the purchase.

 

[VetteNut]

Hmmm, leaning the other way now as it seems the Challenger is sturdier.

1/2" vs 3/8" cable
12"x12" vs 10"x12" column base
1,850 lbs vs 1,686 lbs ship weight

 

[TTA89]

Do a search for Bendpak on here and look at the last ~2 years worth of installs. It seems they changed some stuff and a lot of people have reported quality issues with the newer ones. The older ones seem to be rock solid as evidenced by a lot of replies in this thread... That is just what I've noticed over the past few years when these threads come up.

 

[VetteNut]

So I've decided on Challenger, everything is just a little more heavy duty on it. I also realized the actual weight difference is closer to 200 lbs because the CL ships with standard aluminum ramps and the BP is standard steel.

Do a search for Bendpak on here and look at the last ~2 years worth of installs. It seems they changed some stuff and a lot of people have reported quality issues with the newer ones. The older ones seem to be rock solid as evidenced by a lot of replies in this thread... That is just what I've noticed over the past few years when these threads come up.

That's exactly why I was cross-shopping. A few years ago I would've purchased a HD9 without question.

 

[VetteNut]

Big question now is I'm second guessing the size. My garage space is 11'3" wide and 23' deep, with walls on 3 corners. Depth isn't an issue because I'll take the ramps off to save a few feet. It's the width that now concerns me.

It appears I'll only have 1 foot of space between the wall & each post end to get around it, but I'd get only another 6" if I step down to the 7k model.

 

[jdsac]

COSTCO tire centers use Challenger CL_10 series lifts. Cars up & down all day. They can afford anything made & must have done their research.

 

[foolio]

COSTCO tire centers use Challenger CL_10 series lifts. Cars up & down all day. They can afford anything made & must have done their research.

I was just at Costco today noticing that as I am in the market for a lift as well. For me, the front runner is the Revolution RPT-10. Quite a few dealerships and shops around here use those as well.

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

Big question now is I'm second guessing the size. My garage space is 11'3" wide and 23' deep, with walls on 3 corners. Depth isn't an issue because I'll take the ramps off to save a few feet. It's the width that now concerns me.

It appears I'll only have 1 foot of space between the wall & each post end to get around it, but I'd get only another 6" if I step down to the 7k model.

What'd you end up deciding? I was set on the HD9 until people have talked me out of it with Bendpak's recent QC issues. I'm now looking at the Challenger lifts and my concern with the 7k model is the width between ramps and overall width of the runways/between runways. I'd like to have something that I can store virtually any car on and some of the wide exotics are wider than the combination of the two.

It looks like the 7k version is new(er) to Challenger and can't find much feedback.

 

[c39er]

I bought a HD 14 four post 7 years ago... plus 2 RJ7 jacks... no problems at all.

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

The problem is when you bought it. Most of the Bendpak complaints are within the past year due to a change in manufacturing.

 

[James E]

Big question now is I'm second guessing the size. My garage space is 11'3" wide and 23' deep, with walls on 3 corners. Depth isn't an issue because I'll take the ramps off to save a few feet. It's the width that now concerns me.

It appears I'll only have 1 foot of space between the wall & each post end to get around it, but I'd get only another 6" if I step down to the 7k model.

When I keep a car on my lift (which I do most of the time), I lift it. That way I can walk under it instead of around. When it's up in the air, as long as I watch my head, it doesn't matter what the clearance to the wall is.

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

Bump

 

[VetteNut]

What'd you end up deciding? I was set on the HD9 until people have talked me out of it with Bendpak's recent QC issues. I'm now looking at the Challenger lifts and my concern with the 7k model is the width between ramps and overall width of the runways/between runways. I'd like to have something that I can store virtually any car on and some of the wide exotics are wider than the combination of the two.

It looks like the 7k version is new(er) to Challenger and can't find much feedback.

I got the Challenger CL4P9S. I'm very glad I didn't get anything smaller.

When I keep a car on my lift (which I do most of the time), I lift it. That way I can walk under it instead of around. When it's up in the air, as long as I watch my head, it doesn't matter what the clearance to the wall is.

I ended up pushing it against one wall, so I actually have 2 ft on one side to walk around

 

[Ticketed2much]

Interesting thread. Was going to get the Bendpack 10S but am taking a look at the Challenger SA10.

It seems the Challenger does not have the wide configuration. The narrower configuration would be nice to allow more room around the lift, but will my full size Silverado fit ok? I will mostly be using it on smaller cars but occasionally may have my truck on it.

Anyone with experience?

Edit. Your looking at 4 post. I am looking at 2 post.

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

I got the Challenger CL4P9S. I'm very glad I didn't get anything smaller.



I ended up pushing it against one wall, so I actually have 2 ft on one side to walk around

Thanks. I won't go smaller. Will end up with the Challenger if they do a sale on Costco. Otherwise, will end up with an Atlas. Thank you