Diesel Addiction
Member
I have been buying Forward lifts new since my business started and have seen many changes to their line up. Forward was bought from the family that originally start the company by Dover industries (owner of Rotary lifts) a number of years ago. One nice change was a one point release system, most other changes were to cut costs and cheapened the lifts or production process.
Just got into a new shop and called to order 3 DP10S2 lifts like the 3 I already have, and a DP15S for heavier jobs. Found out they don't make the DP10S Symmetric lifts any more and only make the DP10A with "versymmetric" arms. Those 3 stage arms are too flimsy for the diesel trucks I work on and the design puts the door of a truck right into the post, where as a Symmetric lift has 2 stage arms that are more sturdy and the door opens in front of the post. Even with ordering 3 lifts at a time Forward is not willing to work with me or my supplier to get me what I want - they will only sell me 3 DP10A2's then sell me the arms separately for about $1100 per lift. At that price I could step up to a heavier lift. That was actually their recommendation - step up to I12 lifts, "working on something so heavy you should be using the I12". These trucks typically weigh 6,500 to 8,000 lbs and they are basically telling me that their 10,000 lb lifts are no longer built strong enough to lift that kind of weight, especially since they know I am buying a 15,000 lb lift for anything that is heavier than usual. Guess that's what happens when a corporation decides "If you can't beat them, buy them" and buys out their competition then cheapens the quality that had them beating you - sending products and jobs overseas in the process.
Unless I find a Forward distributor with older symmetric models in stock it looks like I will be switching to Whip lifts that are still American made by the people who sold Forward to Dover. Only downfall is I will have to modify the adapters since they are not stackable like I need them to be.
Just got into a new shop and called to order 3 DP10S2 lifts like the 3 I already have, and a DP15S for heavier jobs. Found out they don't make the DP10S Symmetric lifts any more and only make the DP10A with "versymmetric" arms. Those 3 stage arms are too flimsy for the diesel trucks I work on and the design puts the door of a truck right into the post, where as a Symmetric lift has 2 stage arms that are more sturdy and the door opens in front of the post. Even with ordering 3 lifts at a time Forward is not willing to work with me or my supplier to get me what I want - they will only sell me 3 DP10A2's then sell me the arms separately for about $1100 per lift. At that price I could step up to a heavier lift. That was actually their recommendation - step up to I12 lifts, "working on something so heavy you should be using the I12". These trucks typically weigh 6,500 to 8,000 lbs and they are basically telling me that their 10,000 lb lifts are no longer built strong enough to lift that kind of weight, especially since they know I am buying a 15,000 lb lift for anything that is heavier than usual. Guess that's what happens when a corporation decides "If you can't beat them, buy them" and buys out their competition then cheapens the quality that had them beating you - sending products and jobs overseas in the process.
Unless I find a Forward distributor with older symmetric models in stock it looks like I will be switching to Whip lifts that are still American made by the people who sold Forward to Dover. Only downfall is I will have to modify the adapters since they are not stackable like I need them to be.