Lifts, Complete Hydraulic good or bad

[Tscott]

Does anyone here have any actual experience with this lift, or the company that sells it?


http://www.completehydraulic.com/sl10000oh.html

Yes I realize they are most likely Chinese in origin, and no that does not necessarily bug me. I know we all love American made, but in all honesty "Made in China" is not always equal to "Made like ****". So if anyone has actual experience with them please let me know what you think.

and let me just answer a few questions before they are posed:

Yes I have searched this forum and the the entire net. (All I found is folks telling others they need to buy Rotary or Bend pack or etc, etc. etc.)

No I don't want to trust my life to piece of junk lift (Not everything from China goes to Harbor Freight)

And no I am not against American products, but I feel the lifts made in the US are a little too pricey and as most of us are on a budget I am always on the prowl for a good deal. If I find that this is not a popular and quality item, I will not hesitate to start looking els were in a higher price range.

Thanks,
Tom

 

[Steve in Mi]

Does anyone here have any actual experience with this lift, or the company that sells it?


http://www.completehydraulic.com/sl10000oh.html

and let me just answer a few questions before they are posed:

Yes I have searched this forum and the the entire net. (All I found is folks telling others they need to buy Rotary or Bend pack or etc, etc. etc.)

Thanks,
Tom

I just searched completehydraulic (the posts in all the forums) on this site and see some by actual owners.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=257354

 

[Tscott]

Steve,
Thanks for the help. I had seen all of these posts but the first 2 about Benwil lifts and wouldn't you know it, they were the 2 most helpful. Well it looks as though there are very good opinions regaurding these lifts by a few who do indeed own them and install them.

Anyone els with actual experience, please let me know your thoughts on these lifts.

Tom

 

[Ezzie]

I just bought a model SL 10,000 OH unit and have just finished putting it together myself (with some help from my sons). I only had one problem, the pressure hose from the pump to the distribution block was about 1" too short and I had to make up a new hose to replace it.

I did a lot of research before buying it and came down to either this one or a Rotary unit. During my investigation it appears (and correct me if I am wrong on my assumptions) that the unit that Complete sells is made to their specs. by a company called Powerrex in Korea (www.powerrex.net).

Pricing was not my only deciding criteria - I am a value shopper and felt that the Rotary was my #1 choice. I found the Rotary distributor in my area however was not very helpful and somewhat arrogant about their lifts being "the best". He passed me off to one of his local dealers (a local NAPA store) whose pricing was way out of line with the US pricing (even though the Canadian$ is now higher than the US$). An eBay vendor in Ohio was selling the Rotary model I wanted for about $3350 US but the Canadian dealers wanted $5500 CDN (not including shipping or any installation). I was prepared to drive to Ohio and pick the thing up rather than pay the $2150+ uplift!!!

I found a local dealer for the Complete units near Stoney Creek that sold me the SL 10,000 OH for $2250 CDN (which works out to almost par exchange with the $1750 US price + $500 shipping). The guy even had one in stock so I was able to drive over and he loaded it on my open deck car trailer for me. When I got the unit home I unpacked it and it looks of very good quality. The hydraulic unit and controls all seem to be of US origin so maybe what Complete does is purchase only the knocked down steel work from Powerrex and add their own components to it?

 

[carguy123]

I had my choices narrowed down to the completehydraulic or the worth equipment model. But the Worth equipment is over a thousand dollars more.

I really would like to hear more from some other owners before I part with the cash.

I don't HAVE to buy one this month, but I'd like to.

 

[zr1nsx]

I live in Greenwood Indiana, and am about a 12 mile drive from Complete Hydraulic in Franklin Indiana. About 5 years ago I started shopping for a lift and had met the owner of Complete Hydraulic at a local "car hangout". The Lambo in his advertisements is one of his toys. During a conversation with him, he invited me over to his shop to look at his lifts first hand, and to get a better look at the Diablo. I thought his products were just OK. I wasn't very impressed with the braided 5/16 cable that wraps around a variety of shieves that ultimately tie to the hydraulic cylinder. Whatever weight is being lifted is held by this cable, and then backed up by insurance blocks in the event of cable failure. To my knowledge, most lifts under $2500 utilize this basic design. I've got way to much money invested in my cars and just didn't feel comfortable with the design, as well as the fact that someone in the Corvette club had emailed me pictures of a lift that had a cable/shieve failure that resulted in 2 seriously damaged cars. I ended up buying a Worth that is rated at 7500 lbs. but is tested to 15000 lbs. This lift however is not rated as a "storage lift". It is a "service lift". Basically they made me sign a release form stating that they were not responsible for damage to automobiles in the event that I use the lift for storage. When they came up with this ****, I asked:

So how much time do I have to service my car up on the lift before I begin to worry about the lift collapsing? I mean, give me a break. You can't convince me that storing a car for extended time is dangerous, yet getting under a car on the lift for "service" is acceptable. I mean, if I'm doing a restoration of a car and it's on the lift for a week, am I supposed to worry? If it's on the lift for 5 minutes or 5 years, I still need to be confident that it won't collapse. I never could talk any sense into the nuckleheads at Worth. I know they were ust covering their asses, but trying to differentiate a storage vs. service lift seems ignorant to me. Being a fabricator and building special machinery for a living, I ran the specs of the chain and cylinder that the Worth uses past my mechanical engineers and went ahead and signed the release anyway, but wasn't happy about it. Anyway, after 5 years, I have had absolutely no problems with my Worth lift and have had my ZR-1 Corvette on it the whole time with a Acura NSX under it. It also has a safety catch in the event of a chain or cylinder failure so I have absolutely no worry about it falling. This lift weighs 3 times what the other storage lifts that sell in the $1800-$2500 range. It was about a $1000 more and is not moveable, but it is a very substantial lift by comparison. The cylinder and the massive timing chain that raises the deck is just a superior design in my opinion. I can't say enough good things about it. I also wonder if Worth investigated/re-evaluated their policy regarding the ratings of service and storage lifts?

 

[OldCarGuy]

I know it has been stated many times before. But you get what you pay for in this world. And it is best to purchase a lift that the manufacture went the extra mile and took the time to receive an ALI ETL Certification. That certification not only covers the design, it also covers the day to day manufacturing process and quality control procedures. I sure don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want their product to be certified.

Another item of concern is the availability of parts and service. Plus the resale value. Eventually the lift will be sold. And a 15 year old BendPak, Rotary, or Mohawk will be easier to sell and for far more money than a NoName Chinese import.

 

[Gus_Mahn]

Oldcarguy, I enjoy reading your comments, and all of your comments here are accurate except for your financial analysis. I’d rather keep my money for investment. Figure a commercial quality lift costs $5000, and a budget lift costs $2500 and will be sold in 15 years. Historically the stock market averages close to 10%. The $2500 saved could be invested and should have a future (15 year) value of about $10,000. Assume the commercial lift keeps all of its value and the hobbyist lift looses all of its value. You’ll still be $5000 ahead at the end buying the cheaper lift. I have this same argument with guys that bash $8000-$10,000 Jap bikes if favor of $15,000-$20,000 Harleys.

I agree that the factory parts may be a little difficult to come buy in the future, but I believe most talented DIYers should be able to handle any issues that come up. Not that I‘ve witnessed many issues with any type lift in the 20+ years I’ve been around the car industry.

I’m currently struggling with the decision myself. Frankly I need a lift (more likely two) to increase garage space. There is no way I can afford/justify $10,000 worth of lifts. I’m not sure I trust shop used equipment more than new imported equipment sold by reputable distributors. I’ve looked at an 8 year old used Backyard Buddy. I offered $1500 but they wanted $2200. I’m very tempted to get one from Greg Smith or Complete. They are about 2 hours from here, and I know Greg Smith has been around for quite a while. In a perfect world I’d get two new USA made certified lifts, unfortunately my reality will be something less.

 

[Mad Man]

I've purchases a lift from them but not the kind your looking at... I purchased this one http://www.completehydraulic.com/tcmlw.html
as I'm into bikes more than cars... My lift has been rock solid and I've not had any problems with it in the year that I've owned it, and it see's it's fair share of use!!!

 

[OldCarGuy]

Oldcarguy, I enjoy reading your comments, and all of your comments here are accurate except for your financial analysis. I’d rather keep my money for investment. Figure a commercial quality lift costs $5000, and a budget lift costs $2500 and will be sold in 15 years. Historically the stock market averages close to 10%. The $2500 saved could be invested and should have a future (15 year) value of about $10,000. Assume the commercial lift keeps all of its value and the hobbyist lift looses all of its value. You’ll still be $5000 ahead at the end buying the cheaper lift. I have this same argument with guys that bash $8000-$10,000 Jap bikes if favor of $15,000-$20,000 Harleys.

I agree that the factory parts may be a little difficult to come buy in the future, but I believe most talented DIYers should be able to handle any issues that come up. Not that I‘ve witnessed many issues with any type lift in the 20+ years I’ve been around the car industry.

I’m currently struggling with the decision myself. Frankly I need a lift (more likely two) to increase garage space. There is no way I can afford/justify $10,000 worth of lifts. I’m not sure I trust shop used equipment more than new imported equipment sold by reputable distributors. I’ve looked at an 8 year old used Backyard Buddy. I offered $1500 but they wanted $2200. I’m very tempted to get one from Greg Smith or Complete. They are about 2 hours from here, and I know Greg Smith has been around for quite a while. In a perfect world I’d get two new USA made certified lifts, unfortunately my reality will be something less.

Your broker did a lot better than mine, 10% per year growth... Even some sound mutual funds lost me more money than I care to say. Investments are a bird of a different color.

A 10,000 BendPak is ALI certified and ETL approved. And with some negotiations I’d imagine that you could purchase two of them for $5,000.00 total including shipping. Two 10,000 pound Complete Hydraulics list for $3500.00 plus shipping. Say shipping is only $500.00,, we’re only talking about $500 additional each. We still have apples and oranges comparing the two...

You can invest the difference any way you wish.. I’d purchase the ALI Certified lift....

 

[Yotaforce]

I was looking at these lifts as well. Great comments and info. to consider. Glad someone brought it up.

 

[sharpshooter]

I seen this lifts on ebay and the price I seen was right around 1300, If you look for them on there make sure the sellers name is complete lifts. Looks to be a pretty decent deal...

 

[brad d]

As long as the locks work i think it should be pretty safe... Im sure the welds and steel are up tp par... What is not made over seas these days?


I would only use the lift 3 times per week max...

 

[Tscott]

Thanks for all the comments guys. Everone talks about the ALI certifications and what not, but don't these types of products have to be certified by someone? I find it hard to believe that a product designed to suspend 9000lbs over someones head is not regulated by anyone.

Tom

 

[PxTx]

I can't say everything being imported has had some sort of ISO9000 or TUV certification, but the better ones do. I consider the SL10000 one of the better lifts being imported today. There is no reason to base your decision of this lift with the fear that it could fail because it does not carry an ALI cert. It is a proven lift from a large, internationally recongnized manufacturer. Additionally, it's versitile arm design puts it ahead of any other competein lift in this price point. I've said this before, I really like this lift! Anyone in the PA/NJ area that wants to contact me and see for themselves why I feel this way is welcom to do so. I've got plenty of lifts on display to compare against.

ALI is only an American certification. Recently Rotary bought out one of Greg Smith's lift suppliers (Hanmecson) in order to compete in the value priced market. Rotary will not be getting these lifts ALI certified. I do not think Rotary has poor judgement.

 

[Tscott]

I did notice that on the ALI site the history given tells they were started by US manufacturers, and currently only certify lifts built here or more precisely in the north America. Now they did not specifically say they do not certify foreign lifts, but if you read between the lines it does seem to say that. I am sure they do good testing, but if they don't test all lifts sold in the US then what good is the certification. If you have the quality of product needed to pass the tests, but cannot get certified do to manufacturing location then it's not really a very good system.

Tom

 

[Ledman_70]

I bought the 10,000lb model almost 2 years ago from the dealer in Indiana...they were easy to deal with and the owner made sure I was happy with the deal because he wanted me to tell my buddies about them. I drove from Columbus, Ohio with my buddy's car trailer behind the wife's Explorer and picked it up. It weighs about 1800lbs. When I got it in the garage I used my chain hoist on the trusses to unload it a piece at a time...took me about 8 hours to set it up alone, just like the dealer said it would. I'd advise getting some help as each post weighs I'd guess around 700lbs and could smash you like a fly if dropped. The only issue I've had is that it wouldn't lift my buddy's Suburban higher than 4 feet, so I called them and they told me how to adjust the pressure with a hex nut in the side, but I never needed to do it. I have my Dakota R/T on it regularly, as well as the wife's old Durango. I have used it to drop the engine/trans out of my 64 Polara, and the car has sat on if for several weeks while I rebuilt the drivetrain and front suspension. It was GREAT for stripping/repainting the engine bay with the K-frame removed. This is about the best tool I've ever bought, and it was $1650. When I called to order it I was going to get the 7500lb model, but the lady told me some guys said it was struggling to lift an SUV, so I spent the extra $200 and got the heavier one. I have NEVER regretted the purchase and use it every week almost. Oil changes and tire rotations are so easy, not to mention exhaust work. I'm not the least bit worried when I'm under a car on the lift as all the components seem very solid to me. Also, it's only 9-ft tall, and my garage has a 10-ft ceiling. I had to notch/brace 2 of my trusses to clear the car's roof, and an SUV won't clear the trusses, but I just sat on a short chair when working on the Durango. You WILL need a good hammer drill to drill through the concrete to install the anchor bolts though.
Jeff

 

[PxTx]

I beleive ALI will test any lift someone submits. The only place the ALI has a value is in the US, on an international level nobody cares and it does not help sell lifts. This is not a free test, and adds cost to every lift which carries the certification.

The more expensive lifts have larger profit margins to help cover this expense. I would ask anyone who owns an SL10000 how much additional money would they be willing to pay to have their lift certified?

I did notice that on the ALI site the history given tells they were started by US manufacturers, and currently only certify lifts built here or more precisely in the north America. Now they did not specifically say they do not certify foreign lifts, but if you read between the lines it does seem to say that. I am sure they do good testing, but if they don't test all lifts sold in the US then what good is the certification. If you have the quality of product needed to pass the tests, but cannot get certified do to manufacturing location then it's not really a very good system.

Tom

 

[Tscott]

Yeah, I think I have heard enough good to be pretty comfortable getting one. It won't be for a while but I am definetly getting one of these bad boys. Thanks, for all the comments guys you were all a great help.

Tom

 

[mikeceli]

I bought the SL10000BP (base plate) a few months ago. I have only used it a few times, but no regrets. The symetric/asymetric capability, is great. I can't imagine my Corvette (2001)fitting on a symetric lift.

Power pack(motor/pump/reservior) is labeled "made in USA". CE has several distributors, in the US. I saved shipping $$ by picking it up, about 30 mi. f/ my location.

 

[71Canam]

This is a comparison between Direct Lift and Complete. I called them and asked who the Mfg. was of the "Certain Competitors"

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Articles.asp?ID=151

I'll take 2 guage over 5 guage any day.

Another good page for comparisons.

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Articles.asp?ID=158

 

[Piper]

up to this point I'd pretty much settled on a bend-pak hd9 xw. Now you've all got me thinking!

Can we expand this thread a bit and have people comment on the 9000lb 4 post lift? I am thinking this way as it will be used for storage and work. I like the idea of having 2 sliding jacks (either hand or air operated).

comments?

Piper

 

[Tscott]

Thanks, 71Canam. I had not even Heard of Greg Smith Equipment, but I will now be looking closely at them. They have a store in Atlanta, GA which is much closer than the nearest CH dealer. So at the very least I will save a littel on shipping and may be able to make the drive and save on it all together.

So does anyone out there have experience with Greg Smith Lifts?

Tom

 

[PxTx]

I've handled both the Complete and GS units. Both will do the same job. I would caution you that the links above are a little misleading. The first link is comparing a 10,000 base plate lift that is not a Powerrex or an SL10000. Although they reference it as a premium lift, the specs do not match the Complete premium lifts. I'm not sure where they got their information. The specs do match the entry level lift sold by Complete as a CL10000.

The links also reference an American owned company. This too is misleading. Just recently Dover (who ownes Rotary) purchased some factories in China. They are still producing the same stuff, made by the same workers, but Dover technically ownes them. I think the way it is presented allows some people to beleive what they want in regard to the product being "American".

Don't get me wrong, both lifts do the job. I wish GS felt more confident to compare his lift to the SL10000. I would recommend to the fellow in GA to buy from whoever serves you best. If GS is just around the corner, then when you need help- he'll be there. I don't care for the GS mud slinging. I do beleive the SL10000 is more versitile and easier to own than anything GS offers.

This is a comparison between Direct Lift and Complete. I called them and asked who the Mfg. was of the "Certain Competitors"

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Articles.asp?ID=151

I'll take 2 guage over 5 guage any day.

Another good page for comparisons.

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Articles.asp?ID=158

The more I read over the GS comparisons, the more I feel it's a slimy presentation. I'm not sure how old they are, but I didn't remember these techniques in play last year.

From my perspective, the Complete 10k rated lifts should be comparable in quality to the GS 8-9k and the Complete 12k lift would be comparable to the GS 10k. Using this as a guide, the Complete lifts then appear to have a leg up in construction, features, weight, structure, hydraulic and price. The inexperienced/ uneducated consumer is being mislead there. If they have to resort to these methods to get your business, will they be stand up guys if a problem arises?

 

[i12flytoday]

I just got my Complete Hydraulics TCPL6 today. It was given to me as a gift, so I was unsure what to expect. I know it isn't the lift you are asking about, but as this is a cheaper, less capable model, I feel that the model you are asking about can only be better.

Granted, I have only had mine for less than a day, but I am completely satisfied. The steel is thick, the hydraulic cylinders are more than capable, and I did a test lift with my Jeep on it and it was more than capable. As far as the fact that it comes from China, or Korea, or whatever, I could care less. Everything comes from Asia or India now. Heck, I drive a Mercedes, and do you want to know how many parts I have found in my car that were made in Hong Kong, Japan, or Singapore? It's the way of life now.

I'm not saying that it's the Lexus of the Asian lifts by any means. The pain quality on the motor and dolly assembly leaves a bit to be desired... and the safety lock release took a bit of adjusting to get the lift to go down. Other than that, I find no fault with the lift as of yet. In a few weeks I will do a full writeup, including pictures of the lift and accessories.

Wade

 

[edl]

up to this point I'd pretty much settled on a bend-pak hd9 xw. Now you've all got me thinking!

Can we expand this thread a bit and have people comment on the 9000lb 4 post lift? I am thinking this way as it will be used for storage and work. I like the idea of having 2 sliding jacks (either hand or air operated).

comments?

Piper

Piper - folks are pretty focused on the main topic...so a little hesitant to hijack - but i do want to share some of my buying experiences as they are relevant.

I researched for months - i am more than happy to buy made in china, but i recognize that you have to do your homework (which goes for products made anywhere...there is the good, the bad and the ugly...what did you think of Detroit car products over the late 70's and 80's and into the 90's?).

the thing i realized is that when you come up from the weeds, some of the comparison models are not that much more money - in my case, i looked at the GS lift and all the other ones that were around the 1.8K price range - then i looked at the bend-pak hd9...and you know what, asedeals had it for about 2.3K - so as old car guy says... .5K difference - when it came down to it, i figured .5K ($500) was a decent insurance policy to pay (which like many of them , you pay for and hope to never (and usually never do) use them) for a lift that had the various certifications, was made here, etc.

i guess my point is don't get so caught up on one being "less" that you fail to see that the difference is not really material.

as for the lift itself, i have had it for a year or so and have been very pleased - no issues, no parts that have needed replacing, works every time as advertised - whether you want 2 or 4 post is a whole different subject -


and if you want a real laugh, good old Harbor Freight has just launched their first 4 post lift...just shy of 3K...and I would bet a year's salary that it is a bendpak that they have private labeled...i downloaded the manual and it is identical in design, parts, everything - the manual is a copy of the bendpak manual - could be pirated, but i don't think so - so go figure...the cheap import store has a us made lift (i believe) at a price that is significantly higher than you can get it elsewhere!!

by the way, if you do your homework with HFT, they do have the occassional private label that is top US stuff - the compressor i bought from them under the US General brand (their largest one 80g/7.5hp nominal) is actually made for them by ABAC - i called ABAC tech help and they confirmed this) in good old South Carolina - fwiw - thanks, ed

ps abac was italian, is now british, did a joint venture with IMC (which is the American part of the story) and still has the heritage IMC business in SC - and so it goes...http://www.abacamerican.com/

 

[jimval]

Last summer I was researching lifts. I needed tall and wide. The only one that fit the bill was the Greg Smith Direct Lift Pro Park 9 PLUS wider than wide (WTW). They happened to have a few scratch and dent ones. I ordered two. Around that time frame GS was altering the design slightly to make the lift even wider to accommodate dually trucks. There was some confusion regarding how wide the lifts were going to be that I ordered. I called Greg Smith Equip and they told we the width would be less than I had originally understood. They said don't even go to the trucking terminal and pickup the lifts. We will ship out the newer wider versions. They even gave me a discount on the lifts (they were more money because they weren't scratch and dent). They had the trucking company return the first set of lifts, didn't charge me an extra penny for shipping or anything. They stood behind their product and advertising 100%. I have not seen a company service the customer like this in years. They were fabulous.

As far as a certification, remember the bridge that collapsed in Minnesota? According to the latest report, the gusset plates were only half the thickness of what they should have been. That design was signed off and approved by licensed structural professional engineers......

As far as a lift manufactured in America? Does it say anything about the steel being manufactured in the USA? I don't mind supporting America but a lot of companies hide behind the USA name without disclosing all the intimate details of a product..... (Edited piece: See the H3 Hummer under the lift? That's a USA made product. The lift is a China made product. If the Hummer performed as good as the lift, I would be more than happy. The Hummer has been back to the dealer for warranty fixes 12 times, the lastest being it needs a new cylinder head at 23,000 miles. GM *****.)

As far as the Greg Smith lifts, I am very happy and have not had any problems with them.

I would NEVER BUY ANYTHING from Harbor Freight. Their stuff is 99.9% **** (first hand experience).

 

[MC67]

I live in Greenwood Indiana... I wasn't very impressed with the braided 5/16 cable that wraps around a variety of shieves that ultimately tie to the hydraulic cylinder. Whatever weight is being lifted is held by this cable, and then backed up by insurance blocks in the event of cable failure. To my knowledge, most lifts under $2500 utilize this basic design.....

This is seriously misinformed. I have owned 2 hydraulic lifts now and purchased a 2 post hydraulic lift about 3 years ago. Before buying the lift, I did some extensive research myself because I hate making big purchases without being informed (my head still spins when considering the pros / cons of lcd vs. plasma, and how led backlit lcd is coming along....)

Anyway, the post above indicates the cables "hold" the weight, that is just wrong. I suspected the same thing when I first looked at the lifts, but they serve a totally different purpose.

The cables that run from one post to the other sychronize the arm carriages, they support no weight whatsoever! The only thing that supports the weight in the design being discussed is the hydraulic cylinder in each post. (however, in a base plate / low ceiling lift, the cylinder connects to a heavy chain that runs over a pulley [this is what allows the cylinder to be shorter] - but the cables STILL do not support the weight).

The "Synchronization Cables" (that is what they are called), do not support weight, they only insure that the arms in each post rise at the same rate. It is a simple concept that I have seen in some illustrations (which I do not have handy at this time).

Hopefully this makes sense to people interested in buying a lift - I just couldn't leave this unaddressed - the internet is just too full of people explaining things they do not understand and spreading misinformation!

 

[brownbagg]

i have a bendpak, by looking at it, it really doesnt take much to have a quality lift. a small hydraulic can lift a lot so it doesnt take much. I think most of the quality would be the welds, the footprint. I love mohawk big footprint. i mean it doesnt have to be a super strong piece of metal to lift a car. withstand side to side movement, withstand pulling out of the ground, have some good locks and release. smoothness. I think even china made would be ok if eye to detail was followed.

 

[Ezzie]

I have the Complete Hydraulic SL10000OH lift and am having a helluva time getting it past the local electrical inspector at the moment.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39677

Before buying one of these, might be a good idea to find out what your local electrical certification requirements are. They don't have any UL or CSA approvals on them. Not sure if anyone else does either though.

 

[89LXNotch]

I have one their 2-post 9K LB lifts & I love it. I liked the fact that I could easily install it myself, and it works great. I especially like the screw-up/down feature of the feet on the lift arms...makes for very easy adjustment to get a perfectly level lift on any vehicle, especially if you are going to keep it in the air for an extended period of time. For example...I usually store my mustang over the winter on the lift & back my truck under it to leave the other bay open for my wife to park in over the winter.

Just this past fall I had my 6500lb Super Duty pickup sitting on it for almost 3 months while friends & I picked-away at doing a gear-swap on it, amongst other upgrades...

I have done a lot of side work with it, and have had no problems so far. This is in my personal garage that is not for commercial use, so I have no idea how it would hold up under that abuse, but it has a Baldor pump motor, and I also like the fact that is has a key to turn it on & off...plus the one handed down feature. Most of the other lifts require you to push the lock lever & then push a down button...mine is as simple as moving the lock lever all the way down, which automatically activates the downward movement.

As if you can't tell, I'm very happy with mine & would definitely buy another from this company.

FYI...mine has a build date of 2004, I believe they now sell the same model as mine rated at 10k lb.

 

[89LXNotch]

forgot to include my model number....SL9000OH

 

[89LXNotch]

Also, you should know that these are my 1st posts to this site because I was referred here by a friend that has a Bend-Pak & thought I should post on this thread to brag about mine...(he really likes the screw up/down feet, and the BALDOR motor).

 

[soarhead25]

All,

I think alot of you may be overlooking another alternative supplier-

Garage Equipment Supply

http://www.gesusa.com/Automotive-Lifts-s/1.htm

I purchased my bendpak from them several years ago and it was the best investment I made in my back. Their service was top notch and after finding out that they supported our troops overseas I no longer wonder who I will buy my lifts from.

If I was to look at a cheaper lift option it would definitely be their Dannmar unit:
http://www.gesusa.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=120038&CartID=1

But it does not come with free shipping. Shipping is $300. However the similar Bendpak is only $362 dollars more and comes with free shipping. I'm sorry but the quality and the ALI cert is worth $362 to me.

http://www.gesusa.com/BendPak-XPR-10ACX-Two-Post-Lift-p/120119.htm

And I dont buy the complete hydraulics baloney about both assymetric and non-assymetric. To me, the reason why you would want an assymetric is the ease of opening the car door to get in/out of the car while its parked in lift position. If you dont rotate the columns backward, you don't achieve that goal. That simple.

I suggest you go save for a couple more months and pick up a true assymetric lift. Go with the wide version. Bend-pak or dannmar are good choices.
This is only my opinion, but I have been an automotive tech for 15+ years and although I do not do it anymore for a living, this is what I have at home and its money well spent.

P.S. I always hated the screw style height adjusters. I love the drop in kind that bend-pak uses....

 

[89LXNotch]

He asked for someone with experience with one of these lifts, not a Bend-Pak owner who has an opinion...

 

[mikeceli]

I bought a Complete Hydraulic SL10000BP, about a year ago. It is made by "Powerrex", (Korea, I think). The pump and motor assembly is USA made.

I have been very pleased w/ it. The symetric/asymetric capability is great for my sports cars and trucks. (order the longer truck adaptors)

I recently had my 8000 # ford Excursion diesel on it w/ no problems.

Complete Hydraulic provides great telephone tech support!

I picked it up f/ a dealer in n cali and saved on shipping.

 

[mx5.7]

So I had been studying lifts for a few months now and really liked my buddies SL10000OH lift from Complete Hydraulic, but after watching a video of their base plate lift I was having second thoughts. My freind puts his 96 Dodge Ram ext cab with a Cummins on his all the time with no troubles. So I decided to drive 8 hours to their facility in Indianapolis, IN to have a look for myself. I figured if I wasn't satisfied I'd go to Greg Smith's also in the same area. Here is what I came up with. The CL and the SL lifts are made by two different manufactureres. I would not buy a CL series lift. They are only a few hundred dollars cheaper and the welds look like they were made in jr. high shop class. The SL is very heavy nice looking lift. I bought the SL10000BP and installed it yesterday. I have yet to try it out, but I will keep you guys posted.

 

[mx5.7]

Here is a picture. The only trouble I ran into was that I took the tech support guys word for it and removed two brackets that keep the top of the cylinders located in the center of the carrages and keeps the end of the rams from rotating. It allows the lift to raise and extra 2" so that you can walk under the arms when not in use. This was bad advice. Before I put a car on the hoist I was scepticle of the mod so I ran the hoist up and down about ten times. Sure enough the chain started to work its way off of the pulley on the end of the ram. Which could be a major problem. So I reinstalled the bracket with larger bolts to take any slop out of it and all is well. I raised my 98 Chevy K1500, my wifes Ford Escape ,and my V8 Miata so far without any trouble.

 

[Snap50]

With such an important purchase, and all hydraulic items, I always consider that I'll be needing repair parts in the future, so spending more now is always better than throwing the whole thing away in the future due to lack of manufacturer support.

 

[mx5.7]

Hydraulic units can be had by any manufacturer, cylinders can be repaired, and almost anyother part of the lift can be made by me, if not by alocal machine shop. These are not very complicated machines. If you don't think that you can handle repairing a lift I personally don't see a reason to own one. Here is what made my decision between a foreign made one and an american made one. I could either have one or not. The suposedly US made ones (most are made overseas just owned by US companies) cost three times the money. I love to buy american, but sometimes I can't. My buddy has the same hoist, but it is a clear floor model he recently had the electric motor make a funny noise every once in awhile so he called complete and received the new hydraulic unit in three days. So they do stand behind it for the warranty period of five years.