jimval - I would not have expected anything less from you! Thanks for keeping it real!
Wow, where do I start.
Is MesaDE not asking about opinions related specifically to the BYB lift? Hence, that is why I solely focused my attention and opinions on this one lift and did not express my thoughts on your Pro Park model.
Is the price of a BendPak HD-9 lift plus an RJ-45 rolling air jack cheaper than a BYB? Yes, do the math. I spent about $3,500 (free shipping) for my set up back in March 08', which consisted of a HD-9-B and an RJ45 from Brian at
www.asedeals.com. Call BYB and get a quote. I did a few years ago and back then the basic one was about $4,300. I'm sure it's closer to 5K now (plus shipping).
Is a BendPak safer than a BYB lift? You can kill yourself with both due to operator error but which one has gone through additional testing (read: certification) and which one incorporates secondary safety locks? Only BendPak and not BYB! Does this give the BendPak units a greater safety margin? I think they do. Will a BYB fall apart and come crashing down from regular use? It shouldn't. How about if a cable breaks or gets tangled up on something or slack gets introduced as the lift is being used? Yes, by its design the column that has a compromised cable will become the weak point in the ability to hold the weight of a vehicle. That's where the saftey locks on the BendPak would prevent damage to the lift and the vehicle. With that being said, BYB is really a hobby lift so I would say that you really can't compare it to the BendPak line but MesaDE was looking for thoughts when comparing these two units so I gave my input.
Is a certified lift not more desireable than a non-certified lift? Okay, maybe that's just the opinion of safety minded folks like myself who do value the certification and seek it when throwing down a lot of hard earned money on a lift. Also, hmm... why do we all spend so much time asking about whether or not a lift is certified?
Does BendPak make the best lifts? Yes, that's why I bought an HD-9 and that's probably why you see them all over the place in shops (i.e. monster garage) and other shows. Yes, I'm biased! Sorry jimval, I haven't seen your ProPark anywhere other than the gregg site and in your emails (that's a fact not my opinion).
BYB community - If you think I was knocking your purchase then by all means feel free to bash away for my decision to buy a certified BendPak. I do feel strongly though that for the price of a BYB lift (whatever it is now), it should incorporate safety locks or at least some other safety device. It is also my opinion that the column design is not as superior as their marketing makes it out to be. Check out the BendPak comparison that was done and you'll see why I feel this way. Finally, all of the hype over the hydraulic fitting that BYB uses to attach the hydraulic line to the ramp is also not worth all of the space it takes up (in my opinion). Check out any forklift, you'll never see the type of fitiings that BYB uses on their ramps.
Do all MFG's state that their lift is the best? HELL YES!!! Jimval, why do you think this is such a confusing purchase and the most highly discussed topic on these boards. We don't go more than 2-3 days without talking about lifts here. I'm surprised we don't have a lift discussion forum yet. Since Walmart has yet to incorporate lifts into their automotive isle, this is the closest anyone is going to get to even see one up close and personal and get some type of feedback on lifts. The only thing that I see that seperates all of these MFG's (and fly by night outfits) is certification of products, reputation (to include customer service), and customer feedback/loyalty. That's why I really value the BendPak Company and it's product line.
Finally, Jimval, I must say you have me laughing so hard this afternoon!!! Thank you!!! I do enjoy being the target of your affection.
