Mid Rise Lift

[AffableCurmudgeon]

Hi there,

I am looking to buy a mid rise lift for home use.

I looked at Eagle and BendPak's 6000 lbs models but I just came across American Automotive Equipment's lift. The model number is PMR6XT.

http://www.americanautomotiveequipment.com/Motorcycle-ATV-Lifts-p/pmr6xt.htm

It is about $500 less than the Eagle or BendPak.

Has anyone ever used this lift from American Automotive or know someone who has one? I would like to know what you think of the quality.

Thanks.

 

[a3tripod]

Looks a whole lot like this one.

No idea in terms of quality. Can't tell from the description/pics what kind of safety measures are in place to keep the thing from collapsing if the hydraulics fail.

 

[wachuko]

Looks a whole lot like this one.

No idea in terms of quality. Can't tell from the description/pics what kind of safety measures are in place to keep the thing from collapsing if the hydraulics fail.

It has a lock for different heights... solid construction. pump and motor is made in the USA the rest is from China.

Why not go with a two post?

 

[goodfellow]

Those lifts all look pretty much alike. The basic componenets are probably imported from Asia. I guess that some are better than other because they use US made pumps or motors, but the rams and frames are likely all Asian imports.

 

[wachuko]

True. Both units lock automatically when raising, but the USA units have automatic locks for when lowering. The one in that picture has a manual unlock (like a bike's brake cable) to release the lock. A bit of a pita when you use the lift often. Is the auto unlock when lowering worth the extra cash? A little, maybe, but not 500.00 worth...

Those lifts all look pretty much alike. The basic componenets are probably imported from Asia. I guess that some are better than other because they use US made pumps or motors, but the rams and frames are likely all Asian imports.

 

[wachuko]

I would still recommend a two post unit... You avoid the need for ramps and that bulky piece of metal under the car... And now with the low ceiling two-post lift available for about the same price it is a no brainer... Imho of course.

Btw, I have a mid-rise... But soon to replace for a two-post. Wooohooooo!

 

[HIRISC]

Scissors are pretty versatile - and you can move them around.

Lot's of happy scissor lift users - including me

BendPak MD-6XP. Mechanical safety lock (automatic). Very well built:

 

[DARK AGE 53]

Hi there,
It is about $500 less than the Eagle or BendPak.

I don't see it being $500 cheaper then the BendPak 6000 from Northern Tool, Northern Tool has the BP6000 for $1799 and that includes free shipping.

 

[DonL]

Does this lift dig into floor? Can you move it by yourself to store it ?

Don

 

[michakaveli]

Scissors are pretty versatile - and you can move them around.

Lot's of happy scissor lift users - including me

BendPak MD-6XP. Mechanical safety lock (automatic). Very well built:

Gorgeous Camaro and Vette. How do you perform work on the transmission, i.e. fluid changes, etc... as it appears the scissor lift is/gets in the way?

 

[HIRISC]

Thanks very much.

Using a scissor for transmissions (normal, under the center types like the Camaro) is a PIA.. For the Z, it's not a problem as the ****** is in the back (and I've never even looked at it).

You get better under-car access than you would think:

Scissors are best for wheels off/brakes/some suspension/detailing/under-motor/under-rear end.

I now use this for all center-line/under-car work

 

[HIRISC]

Does this lift dig into floor? Can you move it by yourself to store it ?

Don

No, the scissor has steel wheels and doesn't even scratch the floor.

It's easy to move around the garage - one end of the lift has a tab w/ a lifting hole and the hydraulic dolly has a nub that allows you to lift up one end of the scissor and move it around.. I move mine around all the time - depending on the season and what cars I want where.

 

[Burl]

I notice the wood planks to get the car up a little higher. How much clearance is needed under the BP lift? Thanks.

 

[SULLY]

I had the same problem with my mid-rise and Camaro.
I intitially used the same technique for clearance.
I ended up going with Go-Jacks. I drive the car up to it,
use the Go-Jacks under the front tires pump them up and
drive up the rest of the way. I only have a clearance issue
under the front subframe.
By the way HIRISC is that Blue car real?


Sully........

 

[HIRISC]

I had the same problem with my mid-rise and Camaro.
I intitially used the same technique for clearance.
I ended up going with Go-Jacks. I drive the car up to it,
use the Go-Jacks under the front tires pump them up and
drive up the rest of the way. I only have a clearance issue
under the front subframe.
By the way HIRISC is that Blue car real?
Sully........

I haven't tried to drive the Camaro over the scissor w/out the ramps - but like you - I don't think it would work.. that sub-frame is as low to the ground as my Z06 undercarriage is.

GoJacks are a smart solution - kudos.

Re the Camaro, it's a real car, but not a real Yenko

 

[HIRISC]

I notice the wood planks to get the car up a little higher. How much clearance is needed under the BP lift? Thanks.

The stated lowest 'height' of the BendPak MD-6XP scissor is 4.5".. that is the lowest height of the lift pads, but the center mounting points for the mechanical safety sits about 6.5".

See the red-circled area below:

Depending on the height of your car - and where it is the lowest - you may or may not need them. I can drive my wifes 335Xi and my mom's Saturn right over the lift w/ no ramps. My Corvettes have always been to low to try it.

IMO, the best thing to do is try it without the ramps - the angle of approach helps, and most cars aren't low enough to the ground to necessitate any ramps.

I've seen guys dig a trench for the scissors, and that eliminates the need for ramps. For me, I like to move my lift around so a stationary solution wasn't worth the effort.

 

[zrxrider]

HIRISC, how high is you garage? I'm trying to plan my pole building and i'm not sure if I want 10ft or 12ft.

 

[HIRISC]

HIRISC, how high is you garage? I'm trying to plan my pole building and i'm not sure if I want 10ft or 12ft.

10' 6".. i'm 6' and can stand straight up under my Z06, but not my Camaro - and certainly not my SUV.

If I could build my house again, I'd go 12' minimum.

 

[merlinpro]

10' even.. i'm 6' and can stand straight up under my Z06, but noty's my Camaro - and certainly not my SUV.

If I could build my house again, I'd go 12' minimum.

HIRISC, I have 10'9" height in mine with a HD9 (which is almost done) and a 69' camaro also...about how high can you get ur car?

I do plan to vault my ceiling in one of the bays to about 11'8-12ft. But for now I got to live with what i have.

Thanks. Dave.

 

[HIRISC]

HIRISC, I have 10'9" height in mine with a HD9 (which is almost done) and a 69' camaro also...about how high can you get ur car?

I do plan to vault my ceiling in one of the bays to about 11'8-12ft. But for now I got to live with what i have.

Thanks. Dave.

The top of the ramps in the pic below are about 58" - I've got another 15" max and the roof of the Camaro would be touching. At that height, my garage door would need to be shut.

Absolute top-side of the ramps, with room to lift enough to get off the locks would be 72" with the Camaro. That gives you about 76" walk under down the center.

I have a light bulb right above it at the moment, so I can't test it out.

 

[Volkstech]

This is some of the coolest stuff I have ever seen! I totally want one of these! Any Canadian suppliers? Thanks.

 

[HIRISC]

This is some of the coolest stuff I have ever seen! I totally want one of these! Any Canadian suppliers? Thanks.

Lots of places online selling BendPak.

www.asedeals.com or www.northerntool.com

 

[Dolfan]

Question for you mid-rise lift owners.

What amperage circuit are you using for the motor? I just picked up an Atlas mid-rise and it works fine with nothing on the lift, full height lift, but under load of a car it won't lift, trips the 15A circuit in my garage.

Can folks chime in on what they are using?

 

[Volkstech]

Lots of places online selling BendPak.

www.asedeals.com or www.northerntool.com

Thanks HIRISC!

 

[HIRISC]

Thanks HIRISC!

Happy to help.

Let me know if I can answer any other questions about this mid-rise.

 

[Rich]

Question for you mid-rise lift owners.

What amperage circuit are you using for the motor? I just picked up an Atlas mid-rise and it works fine with nothing on the lift, full height lift, but under load of a car it won't lift, trips the 15A circuit in my garage.

Can folks chime in on what they are using?

20A with 12/2 wire

 

[Dolfan]

Thanks Rich, 20A with 12/2 sounds fair. I'm tripping a 15A circuit in my garage, I'd be OK adding another circuit up to something like 30A but much over that makes me wonder.

I'm going to contact Greg Smith Equipment to ask them about what they have seen with this power unit. It does make a "rattling" noise when it starts???? Maybe I've got a bad power unit in addition to the circuit.

 

[mikeyr]

mine is a bend-pak mid-rise and with 15amp (most likely 14/2 wire) it dimmed the lights and would cause my PC's UPS on the same circuit to beep. New garage with 20amp and no problems but I never tripped a circuit in the old garage with the 15amp circuit.