If you have stuff that fits. I work on anything from lawnmowers to heavy equipment.
Cheap lift?
- Thread starter wantacoe
- Start date
racecougar
Well-known member
05snopro440
Well-known member
As far as your estimate for accessories, I have an oil drain that was given to me. They currently retail for $145 CAD brand new. I bought a bottle jack on sale for $30 CAD. I'm far from a couple grand and I've done a ton of stuff on my lift without the need for a transmission and prop jacks cluttering my shop. They make so much work under the vehicle so much easier. Granted I have a third bay for a project vehicle and the four-post lift, so I'm not driving on and off of it every day.
Do I use the lift for my lawnmower or tractor? Nope. Heck, not all of my vehicles fit on it so I do those jobs on the ground. But for the jobs I can do on the lift, it's a huge benefit to me. Almost all automotive repair shops and many DIY car enthusiasts have lifts for a reason.
As you are very obviously cemented in your dislike of lifts and that it wouldn't be useful for you, you shouldn't buy one. For most people, they'll find them to be a treat.
You have pulled transmissions on your lift with a $30 bottle jack?
A decent one is about $1000
gizardlizard
Well-known member
I’ve had my two post Rotary lift for 5 years now. My only regret is not buying one years ago. It is absolutely life changing. I use it almost every week. I own two supermoto bikes, tractor and three vehicles and every single one gets put on the lift. No more working on the floor. I bought a oil change container, and two pole jacks. That’s it. If I ever need to pull a trans, I’ll buy a trans Jack but as of now it’s not needed. Worked under my buds 4 post lift a few times and it’s not for me. Ramps in the way, and having to Jack the vehicle up to work on suspension *****. Plus they take up more room. If you need to store vehicle in the air they’re great but I bought my two post for wrenching and couldn’t live without it.
AC-WC
Well-known member
Gizardlizard is right! I know I'm to old not to have it anymore. You will NOT regret it. IF you get a trans jack they can be found for <$1000 usually 6-800. I have the 5 gal HF oil drain <$60, 1 post stand <$80, tool cart <$60, lights for your head <$15. IF your doing it for a living you may want to spend more but only for more complicated tools. Other than the trans jack these are all simple inexpensive items not worth spending big bucks on.
Farmall450
Well-known member
The marketing director is a lawyerTheir CEO is amazing. Not only is he the CEO of their company in Pennsylvania, but he finds the time to also be a professor and the co-president of the Insitut Lafayette in France.
About - Garage Auto Equipments
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People – Kippelen Research Group
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Junkdrawer Dog
Well-known member
So which is best? Two post or four post?
NimbleMotors
Member
I bought a used-once 12k two post that 'twisted' first time lifting a big truck, and fixed it to use with 5k vehicles.
This was the first lift I've had after 20 years working on my cars without one, and what a joy it was to have it.
Unfortunately I had to sell it as 13ft would not fit in the new place. I have an idea to make one similiar to this..
This was the first lift I've had after 20 years working on my cars without one, and what a joy it was to have it.
Unfortunately I had to sell it as 13ft would not fit in the new place. I have an idea to make one similiar to this..
05snopro440
Well-known member
When did I say I pulled transmissions on my lift? I said I don't need a transmission jack cluttering my shop. You're really stuck to that idea of needing a transmission jack.
How else are you pulling transmissions, diffs, t cases, sub frames, etc?
I like to tell places like this I live nearby, and could I just come pick it up or take a look at whatever they are selling, though on this site I feel like I might lose all my money just lingering on the site too long.
05snopro440
Well-known member
Umm, I'm not. Not everyone does every job.
Actually when I changed my transfer case in my daily I did it on the ground on jack stands.
Like I said, my hobbyist lift isn't perfect for every job, but it makes a lot of jobs easier.
I've never seen someone on such a crusade against lifts.
I've never seen someone been so against someone with an opinion.
05snopro440
Well-known member
Dude, you're on a thread about lifts trying to claim lifts ****.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Don't feed the troll. Not worth it
clutchee
Well-known member
Buy from reputable business and quality lift. Hate to think I made purchase based on price and if hanging above my head to save $$.
I have two in my shop, challenger twin post and also challenger 4 post drive up type.
No question or thoughts when standing under either.
I have two in my shop, challenger twin post and also challenger 4 post drive up type.
No question or thoughts when standing under either.
If those prices are legit, they are far cheaper than anywhere. I bought what appears to be a very similar lift pre-covid for around 2100 dollars, 2 years later they were around 4000 during the supply chain issues. They work great, I use mine mostly just for storing another car and it does great for that.
I will say, these are not the best built lifts but they work for the most part. They say they do not need to be anchored down, I used mine for years like that. Until the day I had one corner bind up on me, and then down it came! yes, I dropped a car off of it. Long story short there is a spot for a pin, that is at the top that I assume is to lock it the safety system. I accidently had that pin installed above the platform on one leg, I raised the lift to unlock the safety locks, it caused it to bind up and down came the lift with a car on top of it. The only saving grace I had here was there was no car under it and the car that was on it was only a shell with no drivetrain or interior. I did not damage the car, somehow.
Upon further inspection, there are some nylon blocks that hold the platform into the legs. They are just stuck in there on some flimsy pegs, those bent and caused all of this to happen. When I fixed it, I drilled and installed grade 8 bolts to prevent it from happening again.
My advise, absolutely bolt them down! I don't think my situation would have happened the same way had it been bolted down, I think the safety system would have locked in and it would have only dropped the 1 corner a few inches.
I will continue to use mine, but I use allot of caution when raising or lowering it. If I had to buy it again, I might pony up some more cash and get one a bendpak lift. I say that as I am seeing one listed on that site for 1100 bucks and I am thinking that I could bring another car home LOL.
I will say, these are not the best built lifts but they work for the most part. They say they do not need to be anchored down, I used mine for years like that. Until the day I had one corner bind up on me, and then down it came! yes, I dropped a car off of it. Long story short there is a spot for a pin, that is at the top that I assume is to lock it the safety system. I accidently had that pin installed above the platform on one leg, I raised the lift to unlock the safety locks, it caused it to bind up and down came the lift with a car on top of it. The only saving grace I had here was there was no car under it and the car that was on it was only a shell with no drivetrain or interior. I did not damage the car, somehow.
Upon further inspection, there are some nylon blocks that hold the platform into the legs. They are just stuck in there on some flimsy pegs, those bent and caused all of this to happen. When I fixed it, I drilled and installed grade 8 bolts to prevent it from happening again.
My advise, absolutely bolt them down! I don't think my situation would have happened the same way had it been bolted down, I think the safety system would have locked in and it would have only dropped the 1 corner a few inches.
I will continue to use mine, but I use allot of caution when raising or lowering it. If I had to buy it again, I might pony up some more cash and get one a bendpak lift. I say that as I am seeing one listed on that site for 1100 bucks and I am thinking that I could bring another car home LOL.
Ricky Joe
Well-known member
If you don’t like lifts, you could always investigate the benefits of a pit.
05snopro440
Well-known member
Apparently some insurance companies will not insure residential properties with mechanic pits.
I bypassed the cheap lifts with questionable quality and parts availability, saved up more money and purchased a USA made lift from a local auto equipment dealer. That dealer’s technicians delivered and installed it. Sure, it was a lot more money, but I have the peace of mind of having a high-quality, professionally installed lift where I can call the dealer for service and parts in the future.
TomC750
Well-known member
Even though I don't yet have a problem getting off a creeper (I am 83) I'm still considering a lift!
dave*99
Well-known member
I considered buying a couple of their lifts but If I get hurt I may have a tough time suing them. Their marketing director is also an attorney in Russia:Their CEO is amazing. Not only is he the CEO of their company in Pennsylvania, but he finds the time to also be a professor and the co-president of the Insitut Lafayette in France.
About - Garage Auto Equipments
People – Kippelen Research Group
The others on the team have similarly disparate backgrounds and resumes.
Delcredere Team
We have a 7k Rotary 2 post in one shop, but with only 12' ceilings it is not fun with a pickup on board. I have a 12k 2 post for next (new) shop. For my home shop I would love a lift, but since I do a lot of fabricating in my one central 10 x 25 work bay a lift would be in the way. So: lifts can be really nice, but define the space into which they are installed. Our 7k is offset since most of what we work on is extremely weight biased to one end or the other, so vehicles go in with heavy end on short arms. My real concern (with 2 posts, obviously) is pulling fasteners out of the pad, so we estimate or even measure CofG to keep bending load on columns under control.
For the OP: I would be leery of ANY deal that seems too good to be true, and when it comes to lifting a couple tons of stuff and working under it STRONGLY advise as much caution and reduced risk as you can afford. 4 post usually far less risk, but certainly define what you can and will do with that bay.
For the OP: I would be leery of ANY deal that seems too good to be true, and when it comes to lifting a couple tons of stuff and working under it STRONGLY advise as much caution and reduced risk as you can afford. 4 post usually far less risk, but certainly define what you can and will do with that bay.
My lift that I bought from a supplier on EBay looks exactly like the one the OP posted. I use it to double my car storage and it’s been great. I had to pick it up from a local trucking company and my buddy and I put it together in 5 hours. I’ve had it for 2 years and like that it’s 110 vol. The locking mechanism is great and the welds are all good. I paid more than that websites price so I can’t comment on whether it’s legit or not.
Coming to a forum to bash another seller and only to promote your product is nothing but spam itself.
Thread cleaned up.
Thread cleaned up.
MuhThugga
Well-known member
I bought one of these at the end of last year. I went with A-Plus because they gave me a $440 discount for picking up from the warehouse and it was the only lift in this price range that was of a different design. Every other 4-post was the same Tuxedo lift with an adjustable ladder for the locks. These lifts have the locks welded in place on each post. So far, the lift has been fantastic with the sliding bridge jack that I bought with it. My only complaint with the bridge jack is that it hangs below the runways, so it rests on the ground when the lift is down. You have to be mindful of that because the jack will then protrude higher above the runners. If I were to do it again, I'd probably look at a different sliding bridge jack that doesn't rest on the ground, but this was the only sliding bridge jack I could find that was also pneumatic. I also like the design of this bridge jack because the pads spin up instead of having to stack spacers. So, I just make sure it is fully retracted and slid to the front of the lift before lowering.
All in all, I would buy this 4-post again. It is a great lift for the money and is definitely one of those things I wish I had bought sooner.
All in all, I would buy this 4-post again. It is a great lift for the money and is definitely one of those things I wish I had bought sooner.