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Quick!! Need some lift advice!!

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nterry1957

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Apr 3, 2014
Messages
118
Location
SW Missouri the garden spot of the USA
Hey fellas (and gals), I need some quick advice....

I have been keeping an eye open locally for a used lift. All of the sudden there are two available and I'm not sure what to do.. Here is the choice.

7,000 lb Challenger 2 post. Used in a local auto shop. Age unknown. Asking price- $800 but very negotiable.

9,000 lb Rotary 2 post. Owned by an individual and not used much lately. Age unknown. Asking price- $900 not very negotiable.

I will be using the lift as a hobby mechanic working on hot rods and drag cars. I think I can swing a great deal on the Challenger and price is very important but I thought I would try to get some expert advice before I made a decision.

Thanks in advance!

Nate
 
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jav

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Mar 5, 2010
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108
Location
Massachusetts
My vote is the 9K rotary. Both good names but the extra 2k of capacity is worth the extra $ in my book... especially since it's arm capacity that matters.
 
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86turbodsl

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Jul 1, 2005
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6,556
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Michigan
Challenger and rotary are both great brands. Buy on your needs.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
 
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racerock

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Nov 2, 2009
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Assuming the Rotary is in good shape: No doubt, Rotary between the two described
 
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Todd.Brock

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Jul 15, 2008
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Cincinnati
Don't count out the Challenger. Depending on the age , challenger was made in Louisville, Ky and are a good strong lift. My neighbor bought one and painted it and cleaned it up, and I believe it was ALI certified , etc. take a close look at condition before ruling either one out. While Rotary is top shelf, if it's a rusty pos that needs cables, bushing, hydraulics, etc. then it may not be as good of a deal as you think.

I bought a Nussbaum SPL 8000 for 900 and then put another 600 into it to get it running.

Good luck!
 
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gungatim

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Jan 8, 2013
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Location
west mich
I would go for the one with less use. I got my used 2-post from a chevy dealer for $500. nice lift, but I am going to have to press out the bushings and replace them soon due to wear. if a lift sees daily use for 10 yrs., it's going to have wear and slop. not that you can't overcome that if the price is right, but for $100 difference, it would be a no-brainer for me...not to mention the additional capacity...
 
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LXCam

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Apr 23, 2013
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AZ
Get the rotary and don't even haggle the price. Gezzzis both those if in good working order are a smoking deal.
 
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sberry

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Jun 18, 2005
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Brethren, Michigan
I agree there isn't anything fundamentally wrong with the Challenger but the juice from a well used 7 and a little used Rotary 9 is nothing and the rotary is a better lift to start with, a class larger. No home brew type could put a dent in wearing it out if they tried.
If a 100 or 2 juice is a deal breaker to a guy working on race cars is a deal breaker he is in the wrong hobby. 1 days pay at a fair job, replacing a bushing or 2 would cost way more than that.
 
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Todd.Brock

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Edit-- missed the picture of the rotary for sale. Thought that was something else. It appears to be very nice. Hopefully you are loading it as we speak.
 
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Radix2

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May 28, 2014
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1,853
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the thumb!, MI
If the Challenger is maintained and will meet all your requirements, see what the real price will be. I agree with the others that for $100 the rotary with more capacity and what should be better condition is the easy choice.

But if they will go down to say $500 or ?, you will will have to judge that. Point being at some price the challenger makes sense... after all if it could serve in a profession al shop, it will likely serve you just fine to play with hot rods.
 
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ndm

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Jun 12, 2013
Messages
242
nterry1957 said:
Got a text before I got off work yesterday that the Rotary had sold.

Going to look at the 7,000 lb Challenger today right after work.

Wish me luck!
Click to expand...
You should have ran top speed to get that rotary...just saying. That was a smoking deal if it was in good shape.
 
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HoosierBuddy

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May 9, 2006
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Southern Indiana
Maybe it's just me, but in the same situation I would have called the guy and said I'm buying it and I'll give you what you're asking as long as it matches your description, but I need you to hold it until I can get there.

I bought my $600 south bend 10 L that way. Bought a $200 set of recaro front buckets that way. Smoking deals are hard to find because they just don't last long. If you get there and the thing's a piece of junk, you can always tell him "this is not what you represented on the phone."

Phil
 
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James-W

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Feb 3, 2013
Messages
12,432
Location
Southeastern Wisconsin
sberry said:
I agree there isn't anything fundamentally wrong with the Challenger but the juice from a well used 7 and a little used Rotary 9 is nothing and the rotary is a better lift to start with, a class larger. No home brew type could put a dent in wearing it out if they tried.
If a 100 or 2 juice is a deal breaker to a guy working on race cars is a deal breaker he is in the wrong hobby. 1 days pay at a fair job, replacing a bushing or 2 would cost way more than that.
Click to expand...
I agree with you that the 9k Rotary is a really good lift, but we have no idea as to the condition it is in. The opening poster didn't say it wasn't used very much, he mentioned what the add said:

"9,000 lb Rotary 2 post. Owned by an individual and not used much lately. Age unknown."

Question is, how much was it used before "lately"? For all we know it was used constantly for 12 years before "lately" and it is worn out and needs a bunch of work done to it. Or, it could be in mint condition and worth twice as much as the asking price. The thing is, we really don't know what condition the lift is in until we see it in person.
 
OP
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nterry1957

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Joined
Apr 3, 2014
Messages
118
Location
SW Missouri the garden spot of the USA
Well like I reported yesterday, the Rotary sold before I could get to it.
I went to look at the Challenger last night as soon as I got off work and ended up buying it.
It's coming from a small repair shop that needs a bigger lift to service diesel trucks. It's been in service 15 years and used daily.
Best part is, I only have to give $450 for it!
It is a symmetrical unit and really built well.
The homemade "bridge" across the top comes off and will not be used in my shop.
 

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James-W

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nterry1957 said:
Actually, He needs to keep it for a few more weeks until his new lift comes in. When his new one comes in my son and I will help him take it down and load it on my trailer.

The guy says he has the equipment to get it loaded.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you have everything under control. I am sure you will be happy with the lift once you get it set up and working.
 
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