Four Post Lift: ALI Certification and Design Differences

[kbuhagiar]

Four Post Lift: Value of ALI Certification

After many unexpected delays, I am finally ready to pull the trigger on a four-post lift.

I am pretty much sold on the Direct Lift Pro-Park 8 Plus. It has the capacity I need (8,000 lbs), clearance (81"), adjustable column lock racks (to accommodate differences in pitch on a concrete surface), and will easily accommodate all of my vehicles. On top of that, it is ALI-certified, and Direct-Lift has a local distributor close by (Shop Equipment USA, Hayward, CA). Plus, they have been very responsive and have quickly addressed all my questions and concerns. The icing on the cake is that two of my friends have Direct-Lift four-posters and are very pleased with them.

So along comes the Advantage Lift temptation. I saw one at Goodguys Pleasanton in August, and I have to admit I was impressed with its appearance. The 'outside-slider' design is different than the Direct Lift, and at first glance appears to be beefier, but I know that looks can be deceiving...and I really like how the jack tray and optional hydraulic jack roll on their own 'tracks", as opposed to the Direct-Lift (which slides on the edge of the runways, no rollers).

The Advantage sales rep was full of praise but could not answer several of my questions. Price is comparable to Direct-Lift...but they do not have any local distribution centers, nor do they appear to be affiliated with any local shippers or installers. Logistics (i.e. delivery and installation) is big deal for me; I live out in the country at the end of a private road, with a long driveway. Direct-Lift was able to immediately provide me with an estimate for delivery & installation ($600), whereas the Advantage reps seem to be winging it. Their sales team is quick to tout their 'advantages', but when I asked about about their lack of ALI certification, the guy at the show said "it was in the works" (whatever that means). The second sales rep I contacted online just stopped responding to me when I asked him about the status of ALI certification.

So, in the minds of GJ nation, how important is that ALI certification? Is the rolling-track feature a game changer? And is there any real structural significance to the 'outside slider design' versus traditional four-post construction, other that appearing to be stronger?

Thanks in advance!

 

[kbuhagiar]

Four Post Lifts - Value of ALI Certification

As a follow-up to my previous post, can anyone expound on the origination of the ALI lift certification process...was it created by a group of lift manufacturers, or was it a genuine attempt to address lift safety?

With all of the emphasis surrounding ALI certification, based on my observations and research, has it really made a difference in how people choose a lift? It's not as if there has been an abundance of safety issues with non-certified lifts.


Just wondering...thanks.

 

[lakeroadster]

Your questions regarding The Auto Lift Institute can be found on their website. It goes, in-depth, into their history and creation.

Here's a link to their 13 page Timeline: http://www.autolift.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/ALI-History-Timeline2.pdf

And their FAQ page: http://www.autolift.org/what-to-know-when-purchasing-a-car-lift/faq/

As to your question "how important is that ALI certification?" I worked in fabrication shops my entire career. We built ASME vessels that required a 3rd party inspection agency. Having somebody other than company management reviewing and approving procedures and policies is incredibly valuable from a repeatability of the end product quality perspective.

Have you gone on YouTube and searched "Auto Lift Failure"? You'll have to weed out the user error versus actual failures... but what you find is eye opening.

 

[kbuhagiar]

Your questions regarding The Auto Lift Institute can be found on their website. It goes, in-depth, into their history and creation.

Here's a link to their 13 page Timeline: http://www.autolift.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/ALI-History-Timeline2.pdf

And their FAQ page: http://www.autolift.org/what-to-know-when-purchasing-a-car-lift/faq/

As to your question "how important is that ALI certification?" I worked in fabrication shops my entire career. We built ASME vessels that required a 3rd party inspection agency. Having somebody other than company management reviewing and approving procedures and policies is incredibly valuable from a repeatability of the end product quality perspective.

Have you gone on youTube and searched "Auto Lift Failure"?

Hello John, thanks for the response.

Links and info much appreciated. And yes, I have searched - and watched - the videos on youTube.

I'll confess that my last query was a bit of a troll; I was surprised over the lack of response to my initial post. I am a proponent of ALI certification; I was just trying to generate some discussion on the subject.

I would love to hear some commentary on one of my initial questions, i.e. is the 'outside-slider' design (a la Challenger and Backyard Buddy) really better, or is it just different? If it's better, why isn't it certified?

 

[PoorOwner]

The installation is most likely not going to be $600, that may be the price in Texas or a national average, you are looking at around $950 and up from there in California with them picking it up from the terminal.

With regards to ALI certification, the advantage lifts originally did not have the secondary safety which it would need to get the certification, which is a second lock that will engage if a cable were to break or slack and come off during operation. Backyard buddy never bothered with this, so theirs would not be certified in their current form. Advantage have added that now. It's a second pulley that is spring loaded and rides on the cable, if the cable go slack it will spring the secondary "dog" into the tower slots.
With that they should be able to get the certification. The other bits involve changing the operation manual and dummy stickers, paying a fee for a ALI insert, kind of thing.
It's kind of a money maker (for ALI)

Go judge by yourself, you can get a good idea when you look at the welds and thickness of the steel.

The freight company won't deliver any 4 post for you, you are going to have to rent a dual axle trailer and pick up by yourself. I rented the trailer which also required a 3/4 ton truck.

 

[1938flatty]

Get yourself a pro-park 9, u will be happy.

 

[scottmoyer]

I have the Advantage Lift and after comparing all of the major companies, decided that the certification wasn't important to me with this lift. The primary locks, once engaged, cannot come out of the slots. There is a 5/8" plate on top of the lock, when engaged, so there is absolutely no chance of it "popping" out if there was movement in the lift. Also, as mentioned, it does have the cable slack secondary lock system. The outside sliders make the lift very stable. The cross members can't move side to side when they completely surround the columns with no gaps or play.

I feel the design and safety of the non ALI certified Advantage Lift is better than the ALI certified Bend Paks and Direct-Lifts that have movement side to side, and thinner steel.

 

[SILVERPLATE]

I have a Direct Lift Pro Park 8 and love it. Having a certification ment a lot to me. I enjoyed all the cool responses from lift makers that are not. I am in Fort Worth, TX. Delivery and set-up was 550 and money so well spent. I have the sliding to valuable.

 

[scottmoyer]

I forgot to mention that I picked my lift up at an Atlas Van Lines terminal with a 1/2 ton pickup towing a car hauler behind it. The warehouse used a fork lift to put the lift on my trailer, I strapped it down, and homeward bound I went. I unloaded almost all of the lift myself with the runways being the only parts I needed help with and I used an engine hoist and furniture movers.

There are local installers that don't care who the manufacturer is and they will pick it up and install it for you. Honestly though, it was a piece of cake to install using their online videos to walk you through it. My car was on the lift and stored for the night just 4 hours after I started the install. And that included me taking breaks and chatting with friends.

 

[Dakota00]

I have the Direct Lift PP8 (love it) and yes having ALI certificate was indeed very important to me in which lift I was purchasing.
Also having Direct Lift's warehouse close by in my city was a bonus as well.
Local installers wanted $750 for delivery and install. I contacted a tow company with a flat bed truck to pick up and drop off the lift at my house for around $150. Then assembled pretty much everything myself using an engine hoist. Very easy to do and the best money I saved.