Danmar lifts

[thejudges69]

I did a search and couldn't find any direct threads realated to dannmar lifts.

I'm looking at this lift http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dmr-1375649 the specs say that the drive thru width is 106" which is good for me. it will be tight but doable with only 2 inches on each side. Are these good lifts? anyone know the COO? typically COO don't bother me but for something like that I want a good quality since my life will be in its safety system when I'm under it. Anything that I need to know about this?

Is there a better alternative that won't break the bank? If I was going to use this on the regular basis for cars I would invest in something more popular but since this will be mostly stationary/dormant in the shop and only used a little bit I don't want to break the bank with it.

 

[finn]

China: at least it was when I was looking.

 

[Burl]

Check Portage Lifts, they handle different brands.

 

[ghnl]

I suspect all the homeowner grade lifts are made in China.

Danmar has as good a reputation as the others. If it meets your needs as far as size/weight capacity/price it should be fine. I wouldn't want to use any lift at the upper limits of its capacity so leave a decent margin of safety.

 

[thejudges69]

Check Portage Lifts, they handle different brands.

they show 3 10K 2 post lifts. the widest being 105" and about 1400 dollars more then a dannmar. I don't want to skimp on quality but I don't want to blow my wad on one since it won't be used very often.

 

[thejudges69]

I suspect all the homeowner grade lifts are made in China.

Danmar has as good a reputation as the others. If it meets your needs as far as size/weight capacity/price it should be fine. I wouldn't want to use any lift at the upper limits of its capacity so leave a decent margin of safety.

I'm told I want a 10K for my pickup 2010 ram 6.7 diesel crew cab 2500. I guess it puts a 7K at or above its rating.

 

[Forever Fixin]

I have the exact lift you are looking at. COO is China. I've had mine since July of 2013. It doesn't get used every day but heavily as a weekend warrior. VERY happy with it, best money I've ever spent. Biggest thing I've put on it was an 04 SRW dodge 3500 CC. It lifted it fine but the you knew it was there, you could see the arms deflect some. Usually spends most of it's life with trucks and SUV's on it. Any specific questions you have?

 

[thejudges69]

I have the exact lift you are looking at. COO is China. I've had mine since July of 2013. It doesn't get used every day but heavily as a weekend warrior. VERY happy with it, best money I've ever spent. Biggest thing I've put on it was an 04 SRW dodge 3500 CC. It lifted it fine but the you knew it was there, you could see the arms deflect some. Usually spends most of it's life with trucks and SUV's on it. Any specific questions you have?

is the drive through width accurate? Also, were talking the same truck on it.

My 2010 maybe a little different weight wise but did it struggle or were you uncomfortable with that much weight on the lift?

Any issues with the lift?

how is yours mounted?

Can you stand up under it? I've seen some that come up short and at 6'1 I would like to be able to stand under it if possible.

I don't even think this will be a weekend warrior type setup, BUT when I do have to work on my pickup or the wife's car I don't want to lay on a creeper. This really seems like a good and reasonably priced investment.

 

[Forever Fixin]

Let me go grab a tape measure and I'll measure from the arm to arm cause that is the narrowest point. Trying to add a photo but can't figure it out. It lifted it fine, but you could see the deflection in the arms. If the door sticker was correct that truck was 9800lbs so at the top of the range. I'm not sure I would be comfortable reefing on anything that was REALLY stuck with it up there. Mounted with the included anchor bolts in to a 4 inch engineered slab. I'm 5"10 with adapters it is ok to stand under. Sometimes I would like a little more height. I've removed two engines, replace one, removed a transmission, lots of front end and brake work, I'm popular with oil changes, done a fuel pump. Trust me you will gain new friends, be prepared. I would rather have the lift than an expensive toolbox.

107 1/2" from lift arm carriage to lift arm carriage. Not sure where the company is measuring from

 

[thejudges69]

Let me go grab a tape measure and I'll measure from the arm to arm cause that is the narrowest point. Trying to add a photo but can't figure it out. It lifted it fine, but you could see the deflection in the arms. If the door sticker was correct that truck was 9800lbs so at the top of the range. I'm not sure I would be comfortable reefing on anything that was REALLY stuck with it up there. Mounted with the included anchor bolts in to a 4 inch engineered slab. I'm 5"10 with adapters it is ok to stand under. Sometimes I would like a little more height. I've removed two engines, replace one, removed a transmission, lots of front end and brake work, I'm popular with oil changes, done a fuel pump. Trust me you will gain new friends, be prepared. I would rather have the lift than an expensive toolbox.

107 1/2" from lift arm carriage to lift arm carriage. Not sure where the company is measuring from

not sure, they are saying 106 drive through clearance. I got the pic and the lift looks good.

How is the structure of the lift itself? heavy built?

any pics of the mounting plates to the floor?

 

[Forever Fixin]

1/4 rolled square tube, pretty heavy built. I have a bud who wrenches professionally who got two new wheeltronics structural lifts, way thinner columns and they seem flimsy by comparison. Apologize for the messy floor, it is a working garage, I JUST took them.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/57844651@N06/shares/Yz6q9H

 

[thejudges69]

Looks good to me. I'm gonna look more into these lifts and also into the atlas lifts.

Any dislikes about the lift?

 

[Stretch79]

I've been looking at the bendpak brand and these danmar seem to be around the same price. Is one better than the other for occasional home use?

 

[Forever Fixin]

A few, they have what is best described as an oversized key ring in the lift arm safety locks to pull them up that sometimes gets stuck and doesn't lock the arms into place (you can see it sticking in the 3rd pic), need to be watchful of it. The rubber on the lift pads doesn't hold up very well after a lot of use and I've replaced some of it. The single point safety release sometimes sticks, but that may be an adjustment issue. All in all, very happy with it and I think I've used it enough to give it a complete evaluation. Let me know if you have any more questions or need any more pics.

I believe bendpak and dannmar are made by the same company.

 

[thejudges69]

I've been looking at the bendpak brand and these danmar seem to be around the same price. Is one better than the other for occasional home use?

I have looked at bendpak also and I don't think they make a lift that has the drive through clearance I need. So far dannmar, atlas and forward lifts definitely have the width I need..I'm going to research more before I buy.I just have to do this before I put my radiant floor tubes in..

 

[motofool33]

forwards, derek weaver and rotary lifts look identical all produced by same factory.

derek weavers are the cheapest of the 3 check them out

 

[thejudges69]

forwards, derek weaver and rotary lifts look identical all produced by same factory.

derek weavers are the cheapest of the 3 check them out

I will. Any info to support what your stating?

 

[motofool33]

This email is from Doug at Derek Weaver :


if u call Doug he will tell you the same company makes forward, derek weaver, and Rotary. but id bet that forward and derek weavers lifts are probably using alot of asian components

then look here rotary and forward are listed on VSG website
http://www.vsgdover.com/

 

[thejudges69]

This email is from Doug at Derek Weaver :


if u call Doug he will tell you the same company makes forward, derek weaver, and Rotary. but id bet that forward and derek weavers lifts are probably using alot of asian components

then look here rotary and forward are listed on VSG website
http://www.vsgdover.com/

Ok, I'll look into it. I see Derek Weaver has a 105" wide lift. That's tighter then I want but maybe workable.

 

[thejudges69]

This email is from Doug at Derek Weaver :


if u call Doug he will tell you the same company makes forward, derek weaver, and Rotary. but id bet that forward and derek weavers lifts are probably using alot of asian components

then look here rotary and forward are listed on VSG website
http://www.vsgdover.com/

Talked to Doug at Derek Weaver. He had nothing to work for me. The widest that he had was 103". I did look at a Dannmar that the local hot rod shop has and I really like it and being 109" drive through clearance it perfect. I'm going to do some price shopping for it.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dmr-1375646/overview/

 

[TNToy]

If the door sticker was correct that truck was 9800lbs so at the top of the range. I'm not sure I would be comfortable reefing on anything that was REALLY stuck with it up there.

Pick up a screw jack / safety stand and brace the rear of the truck by using it to support the receiver hitch assembly.

I work for the local power company and an F-350 cab/chassis with 3k pounds of tools in the bed is a "small" truck here. I do all of my work on them on a very similar 10K Rotary lift.

Supporting the rear of the vehicle and being very precise on screwing all of your lift pads up/down to the exact same height side/side helps immensely. The screw jack takes all of the rocking ability out of the entire vehicle.

Tip: stick a piece of tape or a glove over the LOWER handle on the lift when you have that stand back there. I forgot to pull it out once... Until the tail of the truck was about 3" off of the rear legs of the lift on it's way down. You will only do that once!

 

[Casey69]

could check w/ direct lifts:
http://www.directlift.com/Two-Post-Lifts-C8.aspx

 

[Kevin54]

Judge....check with Diesel Dan on the site. He just bought a WORTH lift, 10,000lb., made in Texas. He can fill you in on the price, lead time, and so on.

 

[thejudges69]

Judge....check with Diesel Dan on the site. He just bought a WORTH lift, 10,000lb., made in Texas. He can fill you in on the price, lead time, and so on.

I talked to Worth today. They are 8 weeks out which is fine for me, however they are almost 3700 for a lift capable of what I need. I don't think they are out of line but for me.... that's out of line. I'm not going to use this daily, in fact if I use it once a month I'll be surprised, I couldn't get the guy at Worth to understand that. His big thing was safety and how much safer their lift is then everyone else's. I'm sorry but, rotary, bendpak, atlas, dunnmar, then are the big names out there and thousands of them sold yearly, so they must not be total junk, and a lot cheaper for a guy like me.

 

[thejudges69]

could check w/ direct lifts:
http://www.directlift.com/Two-Post-Lifts-C8.aspx

nothing wide enough for me.

 

[motofool33]

are u wanting a floor plate model the one you linked is a floor palte

 

[motofool33]

http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com...-ali-etl-certified-p/dannmarbrigadier10cx.htm

 

[thejudges69]

are u wanting a floor plate model the one you linked is a floor palte

I like it cause I won't have to worry about hitting the top of the lift if I back in between it loaded with a tall load.

 

[motofool33]

I like it cause I won't have to worry about hitting the top of the lift if I back in between it loaded with a tall load.

strangely the FP model is more expensive but its still cheaper then summit
http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com...ormerly-d9-2x-9k-lb-p/dannmaradmiral9000x.htm
at 9k i would be leary about putting loaded work trucks on it my cummins long bed with no fuel is 8800#

 

[thejudges69]

strangely the FP model is more expensive but its still cheaper then summit
http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com...ormerly-d9-2x-9k-lb-p/dannmaradmiral9000x.htm
at 9k i would be leary about putting loaded work trucks on it my cummins long bed with no fuel is 8800#

Are you sure your not looking at the towing capacity?? My truck only weighs 7200 lbs. The 9K lift should support it fine.

http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2010/docs/ram/rammlup2500.pdf

 

[motofool33]

Are you sure your not looking at the towing capacity?? My truck only weighs 7200 lbs. The 9K lift should support it fine.

http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/2010/docs/ram/rammlup2500.pdf

sorry i guess the number is 7500# i could have swore it was listed at 8800 somewhere else.

either way, call the people who sell the lift ask them about lifting your truck with it. The reason i say this is: Whip would not sell me a 9k lift that i was to use for my diesel truck, nor would MAHA-USA. both priducts were rated and certified at 9k but they said we will sell you a 10k or higher to use with a diesel pickup.

 

[Forever Fixin]

Pick up a screw jack / safety stand and brace the rear of the truck by using it to support the receiver hitch assembly.

I work for the local power company and an F-350 cab/chassis with 3k pounds of tools in the bed is a "small" truck here. I do all of my work on them on a very similar 10K Rotary lift.

Supporting the rear of the vehicle and being very precise on screwing all of your lift pads up/down to the exact same height side/side helps immensely. The screw jack takes all of the rocking ability out of the entire vehicle.

Tip: stick a piece of tape or a glove over the LOWER handle on the lift when you have that stand back there. I forgot to pull it out once... Until the tail of the truck was about 3" off of the rear legs of the lift on it's way down. You will only do that once!

A stand or two is on my list of things to buy, but it's very rare that I work on something that heavy. Mostly half ton trucks and SUV's and the lift holds those vehicles SOLID.

I don't have the lift pads that screw up and down, I have stackable adapters, but I like the idea of them and I think it would really help make the vehicle more stable.

I like the glove idea and will keep it in mind, thank you. I bet that event made you pucker up a little.

 

[Diesel Dan]

FWIW, size of the columns, foot print of the pedestal, beef of the carriage I'll take my 10K worth over a 12K Rotary any day.

We have a 12K rotary at the shop and it looks anorexic to me.
Not as beefy as a Mohawk but a tweener and IIRC Worth uses USA made power units as well and mine was 8-10 weeks out as well.

Edit:
just checked and the drive thru clearance is just over 110" on mine.

 

[thejudges69]

Well, after doing lots of research, and talking to several people I have decided on the dannmar 9000X open top lift.

I looked at bendpak, dannmar, whip, atlas, worth, challenger, rotary and many more and the Dannmar and Worth were the widest 2 open tops I could find. I chose Dannmar over Worth for a couple reasons, first was price. This lift will be lucky if its used once a month, The Worth lift is 800-1000 more. I can't justify that for a lift that won't be used daily. Second, My neighbors have the exact 9000X lift in their hot rod restoration shop. They have had it for 3-4 years with zero issues and they use it on the daily basis working on classic cars. I did explain to Worth the additional cost of his lift over the Dannmar and the lack of use its going to get, I understand his response that I will be getting a better lift American made but I still can't justify the cost.

Besides, I know majority of the lifts on the market are made over seas. BUT, There are thousands of them in use on the daily basis in shops all across the country. I think for my use the Admiral 9000X is a perfect fit.

I did discuss the weight of my pickup with the manufacturer and Matt at Garage Equipment. I explained a couple of companies wouldn't sell a 9000 lb lift for a vehicle that heavy. But after telling him that my truck was 7200 lbs he said he had zero issues with the lift holding up and doing its job. He did say that if it was actually 8800 lbs that he would more then likely be in the same boat as the other manufacturers. 8800 lbs is pushing the limits of a 9000 lb lift and dependent on the amount of add ons on the vehicle, you could very easily put it over 9000 lbs.

 

[thejudges69]

Here is the weight of my truck with ½ tank of fuel and no one in it..

 

[slodat]

I'm about to order a 9000X. Curious if you found any online reviews, photos, etc?

 

[thejudges69]

I'm about to order a 9000X. Curious if you found any online reviews, photos, etc?

The only thing I found was real life from the neighbors hot rod shop. They've had it for 3-4 years, use it daily and have nothing but good to say about it. Other research online that I've read has been positive. The only negative I read was in regard to shipping. Apparently they get beat up a little in transit.

 

[slodat]

Thanks for the info!

 

[c39er]

Commercial Rotary lifts should not be batched with lower line Danmar, Benpak, Atlas, Direct Lift ect.
There is a difference.
Many don't seem to realize that Rotary has a lower line DIY lift and also their commercial line lifts .
I have a commercial 12,000 lb Rotary 4 post and a 14,000 lb Bendpak 4 post.
The Rotary is twice the lift of the bendpak though the BP is trouble free..

 

[thejudges69]

Commercial Rotary lifts should not be batched with lower line Danmar, Benpak, Atlas, Direct Lift ect.
There is a big difference

That is 100% your opinion. Rotary is a foreign made lift, no better or worse then the others. I'd ask to show me the differences but there really isn't a ton of difference between the foreign made lifts rotary included.