Lift buying

[akapero]

If I had a garage that looked like yours, I would never leave.

If I had a car like the Stratos I would rarely return.

 

[Al Bundy]

If I had a car like the Stratos I would rarely return.

ROFL. Good point. The end game is to drive the cars isn't it?

 

[DonIvey]

Oh WOW. I want the Stratos

Get in line!

Don Ivey
'87 Carrera

 

[Jack Olsen]

By the way, Jack, I've seen that photo of yours many times, but each time I am amazed at the neatness of your installation and how practical you've made it. Your photos (and video) were what encouraged me to install a lift.

Thank you very much, Andy.

Jack, yes, I went through most of your build and love the hidden lift. However, I have a tall ceiling so no limit to lift height. Since my shop can hold 6 air-cooled VWs I'm not really in need of additional storage space.

This one is pretty awesome.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35433

 

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

Those are very nice settings! But far too much work and a 2-post is more in line of what I need anyway.

 

[wyattboche]

What is the height requirement(ceiling height) for a 4 post lift? I'm building a new garage on our house and trying to figure out what ceiling height I need.

 

[ket-tek]

What is the height requirement(ceiling height) for a 4 post lift? I'm building a new garage on our house and trying to figure out what ceiling height I need.

The only height requirement it your own needs. The lifts themselves will fit in an 8' ceiling and I've seen people squeeze two vette's in under an 8'..

The taller the better, but you may be be able to work with less. I have a 12' ceiling, and it's decent. If I could do it over I would go 16'.

 

[Big-Foot]

I was undecided on a 4post or 2post when my garage was being built, I had never worked under either. I did a lot of research, this piece helped. http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Articles.asp?ID=155
I visited a few shops and looked closely at both types.
Taking up more space for the 4post, banging your head, not being able to remove an engine from underneath, maybe changing a clutch and having to mess around with rolling jacks sold it for me.
In the end I bought a 2post Bendpak and could not be more happy. Positioning the car is not really a problem. I bought a $5 ball on the end of a string from one of the lift manu (cant remember which one) and that made life so easy. Line the car up so the windscreen hits the ball in the centre, close the door and the ball retracts.
I may buy a 4 post in the future if I want to store a car, but if you have a choice of 1 lift and you work on cars, 2 post would most likely work out best.
As Jack said, both are a lot better than jack stands.

Man - thanks for that link!!! They show a video of a competitor's lift failing when pushed to the American test standard of 1.5x the rated capacity of the lift.. Darned scary to be sure and I can't help but wonder whose lift that was that failed..
I am leaning (maybe a bad term for this discussion) toward a 2 post asymetrical lift that will lift 8,000# safely..
I'd really like to know more about the requirements for the concrete floor for two-post lifts. I don't know how thick the floor is in my shop either and may need to drill a sample hole to find out for certain..
So does Greg Smith equipment deal exclusively with BendPak lifts?

Thanks for any and all information..

 

[robertwhite]

Man - thanks for that link!!! They show a video of a competitor's lift failing when pushed to the American test standard of 1.5x the rated capacity of the lift.. Darned scary to be sure and I can't help but wonder whose lift that was that failed..

So does Greg Smith equipment deal exclusively with BendPak lifts?

Take Greg smiths videos with a grain of salt. They do their lift collapse video, but never show whose lift it was. Video looks convincing, but if they did a true test, they would not be afraid to show the maker. Maker would have no cause to sue if it was factual. I was impressed also, until I thought about the whole scenario.

Greg Smith is also NOT a Bendpak dealer.

Greg Smith also has only 1 lift that is ALI certified (Master Series ***) as confirmed directly to me by a GS employee. They use this little "safety" warning sticker, but not an ALI cert sticker on all their other lifts. ALI may or may not be the "litmus test" of a lift, but all the major players use it.

Am I saying not to buy from GS? Nope, just do some research and decide for yourself.

 

[Al Bundy]

All I see is Atlas and Direct Lift. I would love to know who the "certain competitor" is too.

It's funny based on the advertised prices for Direct Lift I would have figured them to be the junk ones. They are significantly less than Bend Pak.

 

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

robertwhite, yes, I went to the BP site and from there to the certification site...GS was not there. His company seems to prize Atlas and that manufacturer wasn't listed. So I'm wondering, if the lifts they sell are so great (honestly, they do look good) then why aren't they certified? Kind of makes you wonder...

FAQ

 

[Big-Foot]

Take Greg smiths videos with a grain of salt. They do their lift collapse video, but never show whose lift it was. Video looks convincing, but if they did a true test, they would not be afraid to show the maker. Maker would have no cause to sue if it was factual. I was impressed also, until I thought about the whole scenario.

Greg Smith is also NOT a Bendpak dealer.

Greg Smith also has only 1 lift that is ALI certified (Master Series ***) as confirmed directly to me by a GS employee. They use this little "safety" warning sticker, but not an ALI cert sticker on all their other lifts. ALI may or may not be the "litmus test" of a lift, but all the major players use it.

Am I saying not to buy from GS? Nope, just do some research and decide for yourself.

Thanks for the response.. It's a bit leading on the GS site when their part numbers for at least a couple of lifts start with "BP" which is why I asked if they might be distributing BendPak lifts..

Research - absolutely.. And this thread and others here on this site and other sites is part of that research. Sorting through the chaff to get to the wheat is difficult some times..

 

[Big-Foot]

Back to my other question -

Is there a rule of thumb or hard case requirements for slab thickness for 2 post lifts?

I'm pretty certain that the requirement would be on PSI and thatq would be influenced by the footprint of the mount the post is bolted or welded to...

Thanks!

 

[Al Bundy]

Different manufacturers will give you different specs. IIRC BendPak suggests minimum 4" of 3000 psi.

 

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

On that note, how can one tell what psi cement was used? I just got a shop and the PO is clueless. What are the different levels of cement that are used in garages/shops?

 

[Rickenbackerman]

Greg Smith also has only 1 lift that is ALI certified (Master Series ***) as confirmed directly to me by a GS employee.

Not true, my Direct Lift pro-park 8S is ALI certified and I bought it from Greg Smith. It's listed here:

http://www.ali-directory.org/ali/al...9200ed482e0b9625852573550072ca96?OpenDocument

edit: Unless you were speaking strictly of two-post lifts. In that case, you're correct.

 

[Al Bundy]

On that note, how can one tell what psi cement was used? I just got a shop and the PO is clueless. What are the different levels of cement that are used in garages/shops?

Good question. I would think someone could test it for you. I'd call a local supplier and ask.

 

[DaWoodster]

Back to the 2 vs 4 question, I have both and would generally agree with most comments above. Biggest diff for me is loading; like others have noted it is far easier to just drive up the 4 post. And with all the chassis variations, like uni-body stuff, finding the correct lifting points for the 2 post can be a challenge.

Once in the air, the greater accessibility of the 2 post is obvious, but not always needed.

You will find more uses than just lifting vehicles, with either one. I use my two post to unload stuff from the truck, has saved me some pain. Throw some plywood on the 4 post and you have a variable height workbench, etc.

Bottom line, either one will change your life.

 

[robertwhite]

Not true, my Direct Lift pro-park 8S is ALI certified and I bought it from Greg Smith. It's listed here:

http://www.ali-directory.org/ali/al...9200ed482e0b9625852573550072ca96?OpenDocument

edit: Unless you were speaking strictly of two-post lifts. In that case, you're correct.

Sorry, should have said I was referring to 2 posts.

 

[rkirshner]

Laroke mentions The Bear single post lift
i know it seems low tech but does anybody have experience with this lift
is it as portable as it seems
i have a porsche race car that is pretty low ,do you think this lift would work
thanks

 

[rlme36]

I don't know about the single post lift mentioned above, but I just had a challenger installed on monday that pics up my track car, about 3 1/2 to the lift points on the car. I went through the same decision process. I tailored it for the work I tend to do, which is a lot of tire swaps and under carriage work for prepping the car for events.