I have it narrowed down between two 4-Post Bendpak Lifts....

[jserr68594]

Hello,

I have been debating on 4 post lifts for a few weeks now. My search has been narrowed down to two different models. Both lifts are ALI certified Bendpak lifts. They are identical in every way, including price, except for their height and of course their max locking height.

Here are links to the two lifts in question:

http://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/four-post-lifts/hd-9xl.aspx

http://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/four-post-lifts/hd-9xw.aspx

Again, the only difference between the two lifts is their height. The Bendpak HD-9XL is the shorted of the two and has a max locking height of about 67" The HD-9XW has a max locking height of about 89".

I am trying to decide which will be a better choice to go with. The car I currently want to park on the bottom will fit without issues. However in the future, my wife might have a small SUV and it could present a tight fit. That is just a what if though.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the taller lift will require me to modify my garage tracking to get it to fit. Also, if I want to take the lift out of my garage for any reason, it will need disassembled. The shorter lift will fit out my door with no issues and require no modifications to my garage.

I am pretty torn between the two. I figure others have been through this before. Any input is appreciated! I just want to be sure I am making the best decision possible.

Thanks!

 

[jserr68594]

Does anyone have any thoughts?

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

I hope to have a lift next year so I don't have any experience. You stated your limitations and I don't think that you want to repurchase in just a couple of years so only you know what you need to do. So you need to figure how many times that will go outside and as far as working height I would be cramped with the 22" reduction in height, I'm 6'2"

 

[Garage Dog]

Unfortunately Ross is correct - only you can make that decision.

I would buy the taller lift and make the modifications, but I am 6'4"

How long do you plan on keeping this house?

The wife buying an SUV in the future is a very real possibility for many - I would hate to need one and then have to tell her to park it outside because of the lift.

Is your ceiling high enough to take advantage of the higher lift if you move the tracks? How high is your ceiling?

If it helps very few people I know ever move their lifts even if they can. What sort of projects would you want to move it outside for?

Have you checked how much modifying your door tracking would cost?

Just a few things to consider...

 

[Rye425]

If you are considering a larger car underneath go with the XW. I have this model and it fits a 12' Ram 1500 underneath but it sure is close. Ramps must be off even with the holders.

 

[Capt J.D.]

I have the HD9XW and the ability to move the one rail in or out is great. I needed that option to drop an engine. (Porsche)
The measurement from the bottom of the rail to my garage floor is: 77.75 inches when it is fully raised. I can fit my '13 RAM 1500 4x4 Quad Cab under it, but as stated, it is close and NO ramps.
My XW is fixed to the floor because I feel safer that way and also, the room to move it was minimal anyway.
I also have the Rolling Jack 4500 which is a must for any wheel work etc. It expands and contracts to the two designed widths easily.
I also have the 115v motor and have had no problems. ( I am retired and am in NO hurry to get a vehicle raised.)
Never start the day any faster than than you can end it. LOL

 

[911mike]

I had a 70" lift and sold it and bought a 9XW and I am totally pleased with that choice. Being 6ft tall the extra height is a big help. I just did a full exhaust on a buddy's Audi and were both 6ft tall and we had the hoist almost fully raised. The bump on my forehead is finally healed too. LOL

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

jserr68594, what are your thoughts now?

 

[NitroShark]

I'm 6.1 with a HD-9XW The extra height is what everybody will use if you have the ceiling height (mine is 175")

Also moved it 3x around in and outside, Only takes an engine hoist/chain and about 5 hrs. (one person...ME)

Hope that helps.

Shawn

 

[jomobco]

When I got my HD-9XW I debated on getting some casters for it. I thought I'd wait until I wanted to move it. I really can't see a need now that I've got it up and running. You may be different but I like the extra height (also 6'4"). I can get my cummins 2500 Quad Long bed and my Subaru Forester on it no problems (not at the same time of course

 

[Junkman]

I would go with the extra height. Your next garage might be taller, and you will appreciate having the ability to put a car up higher. I have had 3 Bendpak 4 post lifts. The first was too narrow, so that one went away. It was replaced with a wider lift, but when I got a car that was over 20 feet long, that lift was too short, so I sold it to someone on this website at a big loss. The one that it I now have is the extra wide, extra tall, and extra long. I also have the RJ45 rolling jack, and just love it. I only wish that my garage was larger and higher and my garage doors wider.

 

[rburke65]

The taller lift.

 

[Hoist Dude]

Buy a Direct ProPark9

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

Buy a Direct ProPark9

I'm not disputing what you are saying and in fact I'm leaning toward a Direct Lift but If you could site your specific observations it would be helpful.

 

[buzz4041]

I hope to have a lift next year so I don't have any experience. You stated your limitations and I don't think that you want to repurchase in just a couple of years so only you know what you need to do. So you need to figure how many times that will go outside and as far as working height I would be cramped with the 22" reduction in height, I'm 6'2"

Keep in mind the bottom of the runway is not the bottom of the car when working on them. Just because you are 6'2" tall doesn't mean the lift needs to go higher than that or you won't reach the undercarriage.

 

[Ross/Kzoo]

Keep in mind the bottom of the runway is not the bottom of the car when working on them. Just because you are 6'2" tall doesn't mean the lift needs to go higher than that or you won't reach the undercarriage.

I understand that but a lift that goes to 67" will be a head knocker every time

 

[911mike]

I understand that but a lift that goes to 67" will be a head knocker every time

If I had a dollar for every time i hit my head I could buy a new lift. Go big or go home.

 

[J Persons]

I have the HD-9XW, can't offer any advise on which lift to get since mine is still in pieces, due to be assembled tomorrow. One thing I can advise on it not to get the WSA-100 air/electric work station. It won't fit anywhere on the lift post without some modification, and is way to expensive for what you get. I bought it mainly for the air regulator/filter/lubricator, but that can be had much cheaper just about anywhere.

 

[tdkkart]

Keep in mind the bottom of the runway is not the bottom of the car when working on them. Just because you are 6'2" tall doesn't mean the lift needs to go higher than that or you won't reach the undercarriage.

This is one you don't think about. With an 11'-5" ceiling I can't use anywhere near all my lift's height with my 2wd F150 on it, however at 5' 9" I'm not tall enough to work on the truck with it all the way against the ceiling. It's more comfortable to work with it down 6".
Most vehicles will be 6-8" or more above the top of the lift rails which are already 4-5" thick, so unless your arms are 4ft long you won't be able to work on the vehicle if you can walk under the lift. With the vehicle at working height you WILL have to duck under the lift in almost all cases.

Any time you spend thousands of dollars on something it's natural to have some buyer's remorse. So far I'm not the least bit sorry I bought my lift, I spent 3-4hrs plumbing all new brake lines on my F150 yesterday, the lift was up and down numerous times, near full height for working on the underside all the way down for working in the engine compartment, waist high for work in the wheel wells. I giggle every time I walk past my now un-used jacks, ramps and jackstands!!

 

[Cryptic1911]

I have the HD-9XW, can't offer any advise on which lift to get since mine is still in pieces, due to be assembled tomorrow. One thing I can advise on it not to get the WSA-100 air/electric work station. It won't fit anywhere on the lift post without some modification, and is way to expensive for what you get. I bought it mainly for the air regulator/filter/lubricator, but that can be had much cheaper just about anywhere.

yeah it does.. there's a plate on the post that holds the motor / pump. Mine is bolted right to it

 

[Cryptic1911]

Here's how it attaches.. I got mine for free.. bought the "air bottle", but didn't like it, so I returned it, and asked for the wsa-100 instead. The place returned it, sent me the wsa-100, and then refunded my money. I emailed them, but they never charged me for it. LOL

I replied to your original post about this too, but figured I'd reply here too, so this is a copy & paste:

There's a rectangle adapter plate that bolts to a bumped out bracket on the "power" post of the lift. The pics only have a couple bolts in there real quick to hold it on, as it wasn't hooked up

 

[buzz4041]

This is one you don't think about. With an 11'-5" ceiling I can't use anywhere near all my lift's height with my 2wd F150 on it, however at 5' 9" I'm not tall enough to work on the truck with it all the way against the ceiling. It's more comfortable to work with it down 6".
Most vehicles will be 6-8" or more above the top of the lift rails which are already 4-5" thick, so unless your arms are 4ft long you won't be able to work on the vehicle if you can walk under the lift. With the vehicle at working height you WILL have to duck under the lift in almost all cases.

Any time you spend thousands of dollars on something it's natural to have some buyer's remorse. So far I'm not the least bit sorry I bought my lift, I spent 3-4hrs plumbing all new brake lines on my F150 yesterday, the lift was up and down numerous times, near full height for working on the underside all the way down for working in the engine compartment, waist high for work in the wheel wells. I giggle every time I walk past my now un-used jacks, ramps and jackstands!!

Exactly my point. You don't have 4' arms.

 

[jserr68594]

I think I am going to go with the shorter lift. I got quotes on modifying my garage doors and it will cost about $1500. That, added to the price of the lift, gets expensive! I only have a 10.5' ceiling anyway, so that is a limiting factor.

 

[J Persons]

Here's how it attaches.. I got mine for free.. bought the "air bottle", but didn't like it, so I returned it, and asked for the wsa-100 instead. The place returned it, sent me the wsa-100, and then refunded my money. I emailed them, but they never charged me for it. LOL

I replied to your original post about this too, but figured I'd reply here too, so this is a copy & paste:

There's a rectangle adapter plate that bolts to a bumped out bracket on the "power" post of the lift. The pics only have a couple bolts in there real quick to hold it on, as it wasn't hooked up



My WSA-100 didn't come with the mounting plate, all it had was just a 1" X 7" steel bar with three holes drilled in it. So I made my own. I used the steel bar as a hole template. I hooked up the air using some left over AN fittings, also had to modify the lock air valve mount. The mounting plate is a 11ga drop I got for about $1.20 from my local steel supply.

 

[Junkman]

That bump out bracket must be a recent addition to the power posts, since none of my lifts of the past had it. I will have to look into getting one from Bendpak to weld onto my lift post.