Is the HD9 Right for me?

[jcaledon]

Hi there,

Just joined the forum. I'm looking to get a 4 post lift. I've got it down to two lifts - the Directlift ProPark 8 Plus, or the Bendpak HD9.

Here are my issues:

My garage is 24(W) X 21 (D). The ceiling height is 118". I plan to use the lift for storage initially, but hope to eventually get a third car. I think that my ceiling height is just sufficient to park two cars, on on top of the other. I have engineered roof trusses above the garage, so I doubt that I would be able to lift the ceiling height - if I could, then an extra 24" would be perfect since I have the room in the attic. Any thoughts? Anyone with experience/examples of something similar would be appreciated.

The max lifting height on the Bendpak is 70". My SUV is 71" high. Initially, I would like to be able to park my SUV under the lift. I understand that both lifts have some allowance to adjust the lifting height, for leveling purposes. Can I get an additional two inches by adjusting the locking ladders? My garage floor is sloped back to front, so adjusting the ladders this way will actually level out runways, and kill two birds with one stone. What if I cut some 2X8s and bolted them under the front posts?

Since I would be using the lift initially for storage, I was interested in the centre section. The Bendpak centre section is very expensive. I would not be placing anything that heavy on the lift. Could I not just cut some 2X4s, place them across, and screw some plywood overtop? Once the wood is primed and painted to match, I'm sure that it would look good. I have some 42" racking in my garage - I wonder if the steel safety bars on the racking would fit between the runways? Then I would just place the plywood overtop.

I'm leaning towards the Bendpak. The HD9 is much wider than the ProPark. I have 8(W) X 7(H) garage doors, on a regular track. The columns on the ProPark Plus will interfere witht the garage door track. The Bendpak will not since it is wider, and slightly lower than the current track. I would eventually like to convert the track to a high lift track, but have a brand new garage door opener, and would like to save a few bucks in the short term. If I ever get a summer car, then I will change the track and opener then.

Any thoughts on the ProPark Plus v. the Bendpak? The Bendpak is more expensive, but I don't think that you can go wrong with Bendpak. The ProPark appears to be a more residential type lift, whereas the Bendpak looks to be a residential/commercial lift. Interestingly, the shipping weight of the ProPark is actually greater than that of the Bendpak, suggesting that they use more steel. Perhaps the quality of the Bendpak steel is higher, thereby allowing them to increase the lift capacity to 9000lbs vs. the 8000lb capacity of the ProPark?

Your opinions/advice is much appreciated.

 

[HIRISC]

Welcome.

I have the HD-9. Quick answers below since I'm at work.

1 - You can't get 2" 'more' out of raising up the ladders.. remember that the ladders adjust the stop points and the cables adjust the lift height. The former cannot be higher than the latter or you won't engage the top lock.

2 - I've seen guys put a 2"x material under the lift, but never higher. It doesn't sound like you have enough ceiling height to worry about it - 71" lift height won't allow you to put any car on top w/ a 118" ceiling height. BP does make a HD-9XW, with over 80" of lift, but it's longer. My ceiling height is 10' even - see pic below. No way to get a car over an SUV, but I did read that you might change that.

3 - There isn't enough overhang on the edge of the ramps IMO to put a 2x4' across the gap - maybe an inch or so.. Remember - the platform is for the narrow setting only - it does not work with the wide spacing.

BendPak is well liked on this forum - it's well built, has a secondary air safety, no messy cabling, adjustable width ramps, great customer support. Search 'BendPak vs....' and you can read these for yourself.

GL w/ your decision.

 

[krooser]

Bend-Pak builds a better lift than Direct... if those are your choices buy the Bend-Pak

 

[38Chevy454]

I think you answered your own question, as the BendPak is the only one that fits without interference for your garage door tracks.

If your SUV is 71 inches high and your ceiling is 118 inches, simple math tells you 47 inches remaining. Unless your car is a Lotus Seven, Formula Vee or similar low vehicle there is no way to park the SUV under another car on the lift.

 

[jcaledon]

Thanks for the responces. Keep them coming. I understand that I won't be able to park a car on the lift with my SUV underneath given my current ceiling height. However, I would be using the lift for storage at this point. So I'd at least like to have the option. I would eventually like to cut the ceiling joists if it's possible. I've seen some pics on the forum of people who have vaulted their ceilings to get some additional height. I would only need to cut an 8x10 area to get an additional 2' of ceiling height. Moving to the HD-9XW is a solution to the height restriction of the HD-9, but its a lot more money. The ProPark 8 Plus is about the same price as the Bendpark HD-9, and the centre deck is half the money. The advantage of the HD-9XW over the ProPark is that it is much wider, and the current rails of my garage door will fit inside the columns. I plan on eventually converting my track to high lift, and replacing the belt drive garage door opener with a jack shaft opener - but I'd like to put this expense off for a while if possible.

If I can get an extra two inches out of the HD-9, then I won't need to move up to the HD-9XW. If I can't increase the max lift of the HD-9, then the ProPark starts to look more attractive.

If I go with the ProPark 8 Plus, then I have to convert the garage door tracks to high lift, otherwise, it won't fit. The lesser cost of the ProPark would make up for the cost of the conversion.

Any thoughts on cutting the joists? What about using plywood for the center section of the deck?

 

[HIRISC]

What about using plywood for the center section of the deck?

Unless you're going to run the plywood to the outside of either ramp AND you're not going to put anything too heavy on it, it might work.. I don't know what the load rating is for 37" of 3/4" plywood. I'm sure someone on here will.

 

[akdiesel]

I do not know the load range for the 3/4" plywood either, but I did just as you are asking.
I have my lift HD9XW set on the widest setting and got two 4x8 3/4" sheets of plywood and about five 2x4's 8' long. The plywood sits on the inner tracks that are used to hold the accessories. The 3/4" plywood sits flush if you cut the sheets approx 3/16" from the edges to clear the welds.
I then cut the 2x4's to allow for 1/8" clearence between the rails.
I then place the cut 2x4's ontop of extra 2x4's places flat on the floor spaced every 2 feet. This raises the 2x4's up slightly past the rails. I then take some tape and place it on both sides of the ramps to mark the location of the 2x4's.
With help I then place one of the sheets on top of the 2x4's at a time. I allowed for about 1/4" gap at each end of the lift due to the extra metal tabs on the rails.
I then screw through the top of the plywood to the 2x4's every 1 foot.
I keep a 1900 lb car on the lift. The car is not on the plywood but it is small enough to allow for additinal storage. I walk on it with two people and no issues.
It is removed easly in two pieces and when the lift is all the way down, the plywood ramains in position. The clearance underneath is determand by the ramps and not the plywood.
I would treat it no different than a roof load rating, maybe even better since it is 3/4" plywood.
If you have a "Pocket Reference" manual it should have the psi load rating in it. If not you can pick one up at any hardware store.

As for the HD9 or the HD9XW you may not live at that house for ever so if you can afford it I would go with the HD9XW and have the option there is needed. I also thought BendPak made the narrow version that raised to the 82" level.