Let me preface this post by saying this seems like a great forum. I have been reading it for some time although haven't joined to post up until recently. I have done searches and read many similar threads to mine comparing the same lifts I am looking at. Although I think I'm considering some of the various models for different reasons than most.
So I’ve decided it is time for a lift. I want it for storage and for working on my vehicles. I’ve decided on a good four post lift with at least one center jack to start with. The vehicles that will typically be on the lift is a C6 Corvette, Lincoln Mark VIII, Chrysler Cirrus, Chevy 2500, and a Lincoln Town Car. I also have friends that I’m sure will be over on a regular basis to take advantage of the new lift with similar size vehicles.
So I have done a LOT of reading and research. I’ve come down to two brands that fit my price range and needs. I’m looking at BendPak and Direct Lift. The problem is I just can’t really jump for one or the other just yet.
Here is the big dilemma, I have a very deep garage (70 feet or so), but only a single door that is 9” wide and about the same height. The garage is much wider than the door, its at least 25 feet wide, ceiling is about 11 feet at the lowest point. I would really like the ability to put the caster wheels on and roll it out of the garage for when I want to put a tall vehicle at maximum lift height or just fit something like a boat behind the lift for winter storage.
I have looked at the direct lifts that will fit in and out of the door, and well I just don’t like the center jack set up on the PP8 lifts. So I would only go with a Direct lift if I decide to get the 9 plus. There isn’t a c channel for a nice roller jack on the 8 series, it just has pads and it slides on a shelf on the inner portion of each ramp. I want a nice smooth roller jack with a c channel.
This requirement leads me to the Direct lift PP9 which I really like but it won’t fit out the door. So the next choice is the BendPak series of lifts. They do make one narrow enough to fit out of the door and it satisfies my requirement of the rolling center jack which is available in extended lift height and length.
The issue with the BendPack units is the shipping is included in the price. I have a www.bestbuyautoequipment.com warehouse right down the road from me so I was really banking on saving shipping costs by picking up directly. I have not spoken with them yet about reducing the price on the BP units if I pick up. It looks like the price (which includes shipping) would be significantly higher than the Direct lifts (without shipping).
So the final questions are, how high do the caster wheels lift the posts, I have a bit of a lip on my garage door threshold. Is rolling it out of the garage even realistic?
Part of me is thinking just go with the largest one that fits between the columns in the center of the garage, I will probably be able to drive anything I want over or under it if I get a wide unit. I realize that BP is probably a slightly better lift, if I can get some sort of reasonable price reduction by picking it up at the warehouse I will likely end up with that.
Sorry for the novel! Thoughts?
So I’ve decided it is time for a lift. I want it for storage and for working on my vehicles. I’ve decided on a good four post lift with at least one center jack to start with. The vehicles that will typically be on the lift is a C6 Corvette, Lincoln Mark VIII, Chrysler Cirrus, Chevy 2500, and a Lincoln Town Car. I also have friends that I’m sure will be over on a regular basis to take advantage of the new lift with similar size vehicles.
So I have done a LOT of reading and research. I’ve come down to two brands that fit my price range and needs. I’m looking at BendPak and Direct Lift. The problem is I just can’t really jump for one or the other just yet.
Here is the big dilemma, I have a very deep garage (70 feet or so), but only a single door that is 9” wide and about the same height. The garage is much wider than the door, its at least 25 feet wide, ceiling is about 11 feet at the lowest point. I would really like the ability to put the caster wheels on and roll it out of the garage for when I want to put a tall vehicle at maximum lift height or just fit something like a boat behind the lift for winter storage.
I have looked at the direct lifts that will fit in and out of the door, and well I just don’t like the center jack set up on the PP8 lifts. So I would only go with a Direct lift if I decide to get the 9 plus. There isn’t a c channel for a nice roller jack on the 8 series, it just has pads and it slides on a shelf on the inner portion of each ramp. I want a nice smooth roller jack with a c channel.
This requirement leads me to the Direct lift PP9 which I really like but it won’t fit out the door. So the next choice is the BendPak series of lifts. They do make one narrow enough to fit out of the door and it satisfies my requirement of the rolling center jack which is available in extended lift height and length.
The issue with the BendPack units is the shipping is included in the price. I have a www.bestbuyautoequipment.com warehouse right down the road from me so I was really banking on saving shipping costs by picking up directly. I have not spoken with them yet about reducing the price on the BP units if I pick up. It looks like the price (which includes shipping) would be significantly higher than the Direct lifts (without shipping).
So the final questions are, how high do the caster wheels lift the posts, I have a bit of a lip on my garage door threshold. Is rolling it out of the garage even realistic?
Part of me is thinking just go with the largest one that fits between the columns in the center of the garage, I will probably be able to drive anything I want over or under it if I get a wide unit. I realize that BP is probably a slightly better lift, if I can get some sort of reasonable price reduction by picking it up at the warehouse I will likely end up with that.
Sorry for the novel! Thoughts?