Chinese lift finally installed.

[mike1956]

Hi folks, I've been researching lifts on this and other forums for some time now and finally pulled the trigger on a 2 post base plate Chinese lift from Best Buy Auto. Despite some of the horror stories and warnings to only buy lifts which were double the cost I took a chance.
First off i like to say Ive been an auto and truck mechanic for over 30 years and have worked for GM for 14 years and was the diesel engine specialist at one of Long Islands biggest Chevy dealerships. I have worked on every lift imaginable for my entire career and must say this 9000 Lb lift is a solid and well made as any lift I've ever used.
I have raised vehicles from 3000 to 7200 hundred pounds without a problem.
Other than some slight cosmetic items like slag from welds not being ground off from the manufacturing process this lift is solid and I feel completely confident working under it.
I also have to add that Best Buy Auto is a great outfit to deal with and the customers service is great.
I'm not putting a plug in here but just my opinion because I have seen page after page of posts on which lift to buy, which lift not to buy, I've watched and researched every YouTube video of lift tests and collapses etc. So this is only an opinion and I hope it may help some future lift buyers into making a decision.
If anyone has any questions feel free to ask. I will post a pic or 2 as soon as I figure out how to do it.

 

[mike1956]

Pics

 

[SweetD]

Hi Mike and welcome to the GJ forum!

Thanks for the information on your Chinese made lift. It looks pretty nice - I know it gets very cold/wet/snowy in NY in the winter - will be interesting to see how it performs in that pretty much outdoor environment (assuming you plan on using it year-round?).



Dave

 

[fnieto]

I love having a lift, it makes life easier. I do have a concern based on the picture. It appears your anchor bolts are very close to the edge of your slab. These thing not only make life easier but they can take life away just as easy. Not busting your chops, just an observation.
Welcome to GJ.

 

[krux]

How much did it cost once everything was done? I woukd love to get one

 

[Falcon67]

Basically the same lift i plan to put in. Derek Weavers version is red. Good tool.

 

[mike1956]

I love having a lift, it makes life easier. I do have a concern based on the picture. It appears your anchor bolts are very close to the edge of your slab. These thing not only make life easier but they can take life away just as easy. Not busting your chops, just an observation.
Welcome to GJ.

Yes, that's 3/4 grade 8 threaded rod which is 20 inchs long into reinforced concrete which I about 16 inchs thick which I keyed under the existing slab. The rod is also thru 1/2in steel plate 20x8 inchs imbedded in the concrete.

 

[mike1956]

Hi Mike and welcome to the GJ forum!

Thanks for the information on your Chinese made lift. It looks pretty nice - I know it gets very cold/wet/snowy in NY in the winter - will be interesting to see how it performs in that pretty much outdoor environment (assuming you plan on using it year-round?).



Dave

Time will tell, I might even close that car port off and throw a heater in there, it goes to 10- F here upstate.

 

[mike1956]

How much did it cost once everything was done? I woukd love to get one

The lift was 1600 delivered, plus the cost of additional concrete work.

 

[fnieto]

Yes, that's 3/4 grade 8 threaded rod which is 20 inchs long into reinforced concrete which I about 16 inchs thick which I keyed under the existing slab. The rod is also thru 1/2in steel plate 20x8 inchs imbedded in the concrete.

Excellent!

Enjoy your lift and thanks for sharing.

 

[941designs]

I just put in an Atlas/Titan 9000lb overhead beam one in my garage. Lifting each column alone killed my back! I know people love knocking them as cheap, but for $1550, I thought mine was very acceptable. Instructions did ****.

 

[mike1956]

I just put in an Atlas/Titan 9000lb overhead beam one in my garage. Lifting each column alone killed my back! I know people love knocking them as cheap, but for $1550, I thought mine was very acceptable. Instructions did ****.

I give you alot of credit for lifting those columns on you own, and you are right the Chinese don't believe in very descriptive instructions. I pretty much got better info from YouTube and Google than the instruction manual provided.

 

[Bruce4310TX]

thats a nice setup, but i would close that in for year round use.

 

[Iron-Iceberg]

The red star is very fitting. LOL

 

[mike1956]

The red star is very fitting. LOL

That's funny, I was thinking the same thing when looking at the pics! Yea guess I better get rid of the star before my neighbors think I turned, lol...

 

[STANIMAL]

I have the exact same lift in my shop , works perfectly and less than half the price of most other lifts .

 

[Dmoen]

That's funny, I was thinking the same thing when looking at the pics! Yea guess I better get rid of the star before my neighbors think I turned, lol...

I don't get it. What's the red star stand for that I don't understand?

 

[chuckcrj]

Looks good. I prefer the asymmetrical lifts. Maybe because it's all I used for the 6 years I did automotive repair.

I'm currently looking for a used one, but at that price I might look more seriously at new.

 

[chuckcrj]

I don't get it. What's the red star stand for that I don't understand?

I'm guessing China

 

[mike1956]

I don't get it. What's the red star stand for that I don't understand?

The red star was a communist symbol, hence Chinese lift and commie star.

 

[venturesomerite]

Is that symmetrical or asymmetrical?


Thanks for posting it up, how do the safeties look on it? any pics of them?

 

[mike1956]

Is that symmetrical or asymmetrical?


Thanks for posting it up, how do the safeties look on it? any pics of them?

It's symmetrical. It has cable pulls for the locks, pretty much like most 2 post lifts, I will throw so pics of them when I get a chance.

 

[vpd66]

I also have a Titan 9000 lb overhead cable and hose lift in my home shop and have never had a problem with it.

 

[mike1956]

Well I apologize for not posting more often but wanted to give a quick update on my lift which has 9 months of pretty steady use on it. Between my 3 cars my son and son in laws veh not to mention side job vehicles I work on for freinds and neighbors I can say this lift has gotten a pretty good workout being used almost on a weekly basis.
I'm glad to report that this lift still performs flawlessly. It's as solid as ever and I've had many extended cab full size Ford, Chevy, and Dodge pickups on it. Several P/Us in the 7 to 8k range have shown little to no deflection on the lift arms.
I'm also using it to service things like zero turn mowers and plan on making steel cross members to lift my KUBOTA B series.
I will keep you guys updated on any failures, but so far so good.

 

[Falcon67]

Good info, thanks for the update. I still don't have one and the price is up $300 more now dang it. But good to know it's serving you well.

 

[Ign]

Read Poorly Made in China and it will shed some light on how Chinese products can change considerably in little time - and then maybe change back.

I'm not bashing the OP's product or China, but I am saying manufacturing consistency can be spotty at best, so this lift purchased today may or may not be identical to the OP's in design and quality.

 

[mike1956]

Read Poorly Made in China and it will shed some light on how Chinese products can change considerably in little time - and then maybe change back.

I'm not bashing the OP's product or China, but I am saying manufacturing consistency can be spotty at best, so this lift purchased today may or may not be identical to the OP's in design and quality.

You might have a valid point as many of the bad reviews I've come across were dated 2010 or as early as 08. Although never seeing any of these earlier versions of lifts manufactured in China I can't attest to the quality of the earlier versions. As far as future quality of Chinese manufactured lifts "who knows".
I took a chance and ordered sight unseen even after reading many negative reveiws.
I've spent a lifetime fabricating and repairing truck bodies, chassis and equipment including farm implements in addition to working for Chevy for 14 years and being a diesel mechanic my entire working carrier, although not having a degree in metallurgy I have to say I can find very little difference between this lift and any American made lift I've ever worked on. Other than fit and finnish this lift is pretty much an exact copy of several other American made lifts on the market today as far as steel thickness and design. I have also not seen anything that would indicate inferior steel being used because so far the powder/finish is holding up well, the cables and pulleys are all solid despite being in an unheated dampish location. But with that being said yes manufacturing in China has a reputation for being spotty and taking the chance I did is a gamble and certainly not for everyone.

 

[UpstateNY]

I will keep you guys updated on any failures............

Actually it'll be your surviving relatives updating this forum .

 

[juiced10]

I am surprised you have not been killed yet from failure.....have you not seen the youtube video of the chinese lift having total failure with 10 tons of steel put on it???????? BTW I am a survivor of 7 years with a 9000lb chinese lift. I BEAT THE ODDS! But my back loves me for it.

 

[Falcon67]

I just swapped the gears in the race car. After finally getting it up in the air i was muttering "shoulda bought the lift, not the dragster..."

 

[Kevin54]

I have a 9000lb Worth lift, which is made here in the US, but I don't know how I went so many years without a lift. I use mine quite a bit. The only bad thing is I still have to get down on my knees to set the arms. So when I went to a swap meet a few weeks back, I bought a thick spongy mat. The mat is 1 3/8" thick. It cost a total of $15 for a 4'x5' piece. I use this to get down on and it doesn't hurt my knees at all. And for anyone with bad knees, you know how painful it can be to get down on them. The mat makes a great compliment to the lift.

1956......the next time you have your mower on it, snap a pic and lets see how you have it setting.

 

[mike1956]

I have a 9000lb Worth lift, which is made here in the US, but I don't know how I went so many years without a lift. I use mine quite a bit. The only bad thing is I still have to get down on my knees to set the arms. So when I went to a swap meet a few weeks back, I bought a thick spongy mat. The mat is 1 3/8" thick. It cost a total of $15 for a 4'x5' piece. I use this to get down on and it doesn't hurt my knees at all. And for anyone with bad knees, you know how painful it can be to get down on them. The mat makes a great compliment to the lift.

1956......the next time you have your mower on it, snap a pic and lets see how you have it setting.

Nothing like a drive on lift. If I had the room a 4 post drive on might have been an option. I've grown accustomed to wearing kneepads and hate the part of bending over to set my lift arms. I will post pics next time I have the zero on the lift but what I do is run a chain across the angled lift arms under the mowers frame front and rear by the wheels and lift it right up.