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The Ultimate Garage Lift

PAToyota

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Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
4,366
Location
South Central Pennsylvania, USA
Interesting. When I built my shop I really didn't consider that a lift was a possibility. Figured they were so expensive I didn't even check. A lot has changed in the past decade and a lot more information is now available through sites like this. I really wish I had another foot of headroom in the shop.

The portability is another factor. Along with the extra headroom needed for a lift, the way my shop is set up one of the bays would be the "lift bay" and one of the daily drivers would end up being parked there as well. This way the lift wouldn't be in the way when it wasn't needed.

This could be a definite possibility for me. Very interested in the possibility of a GJ discount when it comes out.
 
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tatra

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Dec 2, 2007
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pirate contest city
my idea so i get the first one free to evaluate?............cool............sign me up for the first one but make it quick as i have cash and i does like me girls and beer.................you can make the choice for me...............btw you got mail from me ........ebbton
 

Junkman

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Dec 18, 2006
Messages
6,645
Location
Northeastern CT
When can I get my evaluation unit so I can tell everyone at GJ how great it is and why I like it??? What is the delivery time, so I can be home when it arrives??? :thumbup:

my idea so i get the first one free to evaluate?............cool............sign me up for the first one but make it quick as i have cash and i does like me girls and beer.................you can make the choice for me...............btw you got mail from me ........ebbton

Hey!!!!!!! Get in line..... I asked first!!!!!!!:lol_hitti
 

tatra

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Dec 2, 2007
Messages
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pirate contest city
yea but iwas thinking of the greater good for all of us and you just wanted candy for yourself..........bad junk............:beer::lol_hitti:bounce:
 

Phatsub

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Joined
May 10, 2007
Messages
680
Location
Ridgecrest, CA
I just want to say here that I'm releived to know that I'm not the only one who has been in need of this type of a lift, it makes me feel better...Just had to share.
 

Junkman

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Joined
Dec 18, 2006
Messages
6,645
Location
Northeastern CT
yea but iwas thinking of the greater good for all of us and you just wanted candy for yourself..........bad junk............:beer::lol_hitti:bounce:


I only have good junk:thumbup:, and I have a garage full to prove it. I have been collecting junk since before you were born. I'll post pictures of the install, and give it my expert engineering evaluation, along with proof that if it will lift my rusty junk, that it is a well designed machine. I even have my hammer drill standing by ready to start poking holes in my level, insulated 5" 4500 PSI smooth finish, 25 year old concrete garage floor...:lol_hitti :beer:
 

Junkman

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Dec 18, 2006
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Location
Northeastern CT
You can have a testing lab come out and drill a test core that they take back to the lab and test. Unless it is a development home, the chances of the floor being sub standard is quite low. You could do a few 1/2" test holes to see how thick the concrete it. I would assume that most, if not all concrete sold back then was at least 2500 PSI. The only sure fire way to know is to have it tested I have no idea of the costs involved, but I would venture a guess that it could cost several hundred dollars. Calling and asking is free, so make a few calls..
 
OP
J

JSK

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Joined
Nov 16, 2007
Messages
432
Location
Southern CA
Please stop the attacks.

jimval,

Stop by SEMA / AAPEX if you attend and say hi. Maybe we can shake hands and settle our differences. I'm throwing out a fig leaf. We'll be upstairs - AAPEX booth #4664. I'll buy you a round. I can get you in if you need a badge.

:beer:

Sorry for all the tension.

Yes, the lifts will be produced at our factories in China but factories like no other. Our BendPak and Ranger factories are modern in every way with state of the art processes and technology.

See below.

http://www.bendpak.com/downloads/BendPak-Factory-Tour08.pdf


Jeff
BendPak
 

Yoke

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Joined
May 19, 2008
Messages
51
Location
Calgary Alberta
Well let me be the.... what fifth in line to add my name to the GJ group buy. I'll be keeping my eyes open for the final prices and dates!!!!
 

goodfellow

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Joined
Dec 17, 2006
Messages
2,288
Location
NoVA
So you guys really think this is a better option than the one I talk about in post 5 here:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24079

It's this mid rise scissor, note the Bimmer shown is on a similar bendpak.

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-6600-MRLX-Mid-Rise-Scissor-Lift-p/at-6600mrlx.htm

Just my opinion, but depending on what project im doing, in my little garage I have to move equipment constantly. I need to be able to move it to the side and get it out of the way. I have used a small scissor lift at a friend's garage, and for regular maintenace they work great; but they are hard to move and store. I also prefer to get complete under carriage access, but am restricted by a 9ft ceiling height

So everything I look at is a compromise -- This lift provides enough flexibilty to do full maintence on my cars, and then get it out of the way when I don't need it. I might have to sit on a stool to do large repair jobs, but it sure beats crawling on the floor with a creeper. I really don't want to do that anymore --

Judging by the reponse, there are a large number of folks who are in the exact same position that I am. Up to now we didn't have a really GOOD home shop solution.

Kudos to Bend-Pak for designing something that I can use --- and afford!
 
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Yoke

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Joined
May 19, 2008
Messages
51
Location
Calgary Alberta
I have a mid rise already, let me tell you it does come in handy for brakes tires suspension work, but the ability to get under a car work on it and then be able to clear the garage floor for another project is a great idea.
 

ovilla

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Joined
Dec 18, 2005
Messages
2,342
Location
Plainfield, IL
Damn it! I don’t check the boards on the one night we started dog training (for Archie) at Pet Smart and I miss the unveiling.

This thing is Awesome! Talk about innovation!

Who dreams up this stuff? BendPak must have a think tank somewhere with a bunch of engineers sitting in a garage just dreaming of lifts all day.

I was thinking of getting another RJ45 for my BendPak HD-9 but now…. Hmmm….

I gotta stop by the store on the way home tonight and get the wife some flowers (you know, for no reason at all – just to tell her how much I love her, and then show her the lift over the weekend!)

Guys, I’m already thinking of an indoor and OUTDOOR set up. Heck, with a 110 motor and my buds little red Honda generator, I bet we can set this up at the track too. Looks like it’s light enough to throw in the back of his truck or on his race trailer. I can also definitely see friends coming over to “borrow” the lift for the weekend. At least then my HD-9 will get some much needed rest.

Wow! This thing is going to be VERY popular.
 

Craig Balzer

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Joined
Sep 21, 2005
Messages
867
Location
Colorado Springs
Dear Mr. Kritzer

You, sir, are a Class Act.

I believe my blood pressure is elevated higher than yours from simply reading the running diatribes from JCS_in_KY and Jimval – and I have no relationship with you, your products or your company whatsoever. I truly do not understand how you put up with ungrateful customers – but I guess that’s the bane of all businessmen. To be fair, Jimval has fired only a single volley across your bow (so far); JCS_in_KY does appear to have . . . . issues.

Let me address your unanswered question first: “What did you think about the website? Did it answer all your questions?”

While I have not taken the opportunity to thoroughly read the entire site, what I have read I find to be informative, useful, well supported with photos and/or diagrams, and nearly complete.

• This is one of the few sites I have seen that divided the FAQs into functional categories. I like it – I don’t have to plow through what I consider unnecessary stuff to get to what I want to know.

• The photos/diagrams load quickly (even in Kabul) and are clear and useful

• Many – if not all of the questions – asked on this thread are answered on the web-site. Too many of the posters on bulletin boards today are too lazy to look for the information they desire; they seem to expect others to do the research for them. To wit: power requirements are specified (as another poster provided) for both 110 and 220 sources; the d*** things ARE bolted to the floor (I learned that a minute into reading your site); concrete thickness and quality requirements and positioning of lift pads (relative to walls, seams, cuts and other mounting bolts) are clearly spelled out on at least two locations and maybe more (like I said I haven’t explored the entire site).

• You caution the reader that the description of the installation is for demonstration purposes only but I found the demo to be so clear and supported with such great photos that anyone could install the lift based on the photos and with access to the proper tools.

• The “How does it work?” page is particularly useful and also well supported with photos.

• I also like “Optional power unit station” – very tidy for the cramped attached-garage user

Let me expand on the “nearly complete” comment.

I am nearing retirement and intend to play with things automotive when I do. Why else would anyone visit this web-site more than once? My automotive hobby is split between American Muscle and Brit Sports. The current collection has 2 x Jag E-Types, V-12’s both; and a soon-to-be added GS Stage 1 (or Skylark clone if that is too expensive).

That leads to my first criticism: minimum lift height. I have had my low-slung Jags on several lifts over the years and countries (27+ years in US Army). There are some styles of lifts that have a cross connecting beam (I an sure ‘it’ has a name but I have no clue what it might be) along the floor and my Jags drag bottom on some. Your new lift model has no such “obstacle”. But the other “obstacle” I face is the Jag’s 5” ground clearance (no better or worse than today’s ’Vettes) sometimes makes it impossible to get the lift arms/pads under the vehicle. OOOPS: just found the minimum pad height is 3.5”/89 centimeters on the Specifications page. THANX!! Just to save a bit of face – do you/will you have taller pads to lift SUVs without fouling the body work? (SWMBO’s daily driver is an SUV.)

Second comment. But a preface first: I suspect this lift is being marketed to the guy with an automotive bug bite and a two-car attached garage with low ceiling. This lift is the ideal solution for that guy; or for the guy whose wallet allowed a nice detached but couldn’t reach far enough to cover the cost of a lift. BUT – for the guy with a bit more space to work with, it could be foreseeable that he would want to place the lift over here for some work but over there for long term work or short term storage (see the way I waving my arms). So, that raises two unanswered questions:

• To position the lift on multiple sites (or in multiple garages) can you easily order a second set of MaxJax™ concrete anchors?

• And once a vehicle has been lifted, what is the safe duration it can hang (I suspect the answer is indefinite because I read the site and recall being told to always use safety pins in the lift before working beneath the vehicle. Therefore, the weight is maintained by the mechanical pins and not the hydraulic pressure; but there may be other considerations.) Your photo on the Features page shows a single pin safety pin hole – are there others and if so at what height(s)?

Thank you, sir, for your patience, forebearance and release of what appears to be an excellent product.

Craig Balzer
 

Vicegrip

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Joined
Mar 9, 2007
Messages
1,187
Location
NoVA.
P.S.

Junkman, E-tek, Ovilla (and any I'm missing),

You are truly over-the-top BendPak supporters. I'm continually humbled by your kind words. I would be happy to allow you to acquire one of these very favorably for a Christmas present.

It's the least we could do.

Love you guys.

Jeff
I fall in "the any I am missing" group ;) I have at least three Bend-pac 2 post lift "sales" to my name after folks saw/used mine. Even got it pictured in 2 publications, once on the cover and an even better shot inside. I maintain 150, Yes 150 lifts made by others at work but bought a Bend-Pac for my own home shop.


Great idea you have there and I bet a good seller in the home market. I have always found parallelogram and scissor lifts frustrating for all but brake work.
 

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JCByrd24

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Joined
Jul 21, 2005
Messages
493
Location
Bath, ME
How would you store that unit out of the way?

You don't store it, it stays bolted down and when collapsed is 4" from the floor, you just drive over it and park... working on other projects, move the car, raise it up, two work tables...

I guess for me in my two car garage I never have the need for two bays completely devoid of a 4" protrusion from the floor. In fact I can see them being used often as work tables.

What is very unappealing to me is finding storage for, and dragging out, two 1ft square x 4ft tall steel columns weighing 300 lbs each, then bolting them down, just to do an oil change.

For clarity, this is what I'm talking about:

AT-6600MRLX-6.jpg
 
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cw_racefan

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Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
254
Very cool idea! Kinda in between a quicklift and a full size lift for those of us who didn't build with high enough ceilings!

As for the website, I think it pretty much covers any questions I would have had. I guess the only question is one posted earlier about non-level floors, and how you level it, or if you need to.

Looking forward to more info on the GJ initial group purchase you mentioned!!
 
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Craig Balzer

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Sep 21, 2005
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867
Location
Colorado Springs
CW Racefan

The issue of mounting this new style lift on uneven floors is addressed on the web site, from the Installation Guide page:

"If one column has to be shimmed to match the plane of the other column, use horseshoe shims or similar. Shim thickness MUST NOT exceed 1/8" when using the drop-in anchors provided with the lift. Adjust the columns plumb so that the lift pads or level with one another."

Craig
 

e-tek

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Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
10,690
Location
Saskatoon, SK
I fall in "the any I am missing" group ;) I have at least three Bend-pac 2 post lift "sales" to my name after folks saw/used mine. Even got it pictured in 2 publications, once on the cover and an even better shot inside. I maintain 150, Yes 150 lifts made by others at work but bought a Bend-Pac for my own home shop.

Vice - What publication is that? :bowdown:What a COOL looking shop! Do you have any more pics you can share with us? Maybe you could even start a thread showing the shop and your projects. (Also, wondering why you didn't pull the welder closer to the car?!:bounce:)
 
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vette-kid

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Joined
Jul 21, 2008
Messages
3,636
Location
Navarre, FL
You don't store it, it stays bolted down and when collapsed is 4" from the floor, you just drive over it and park... working on other projects, move the car, raise it up, two work tables...

I guess for me in my two car garage I never have the need for two bays completely devoid of a 4" protrusion from the floor. In fact I can see them being used often as work tables.

What is very unappealing to me is finding storage for, and dragging out, two 1ft square x 4ft tall steel columns weighing 300 lbs each, then bolting them down, just to do an oil change.

For clarity, this is what I'm talking about:

I think you are missing the point here. to start, you dont HAVE to remove the posts. You can easily leave them in position and just park in between them. This seems like a better solution for guys with lowered vehicles than trying to park on top of something without scraping! Then if you do need the space cleared for some reason, you can do so easily without breaking your back. True the posts are heavy, but it looks to me like they have a a handle and caster for rolling them away. Its about the options and flexibility.
 

FunfDreisig

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Joined
Feb 12, 2008
Messages
413
....I'll make an initial offer of 20 units max at special GJ pricing for GJ members which will be finalized soon....
Jeff
Please count me in on a GJ special pricing offer :)

I'm really interested in the option to use this style lift in multiple locations (i.e. all three bays of the garage I'm building).

Funf Dreisig
 
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J

JSK

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Joined
Nov 16, 2007
Messages
432
Location
Southern CA
Sorry not much time to write today. Doing yard work and have an English family coming to stay at our house this weekend so gotta help momma get ready.

Craig Balzer - You sir, are a man of substance. Thank you for taking time to offer the website review. I will read all your comments and others and update any deficiencies to the site on Monday. :thumbup:

YES - Extra anchors can be purchased for multiple lift /multiple width set-up locations. That's the beauty of this thing.

GUYS - 300 Pounds has never moved so easy - Once you see our upcoming video with a girl throwing the columns around like my kids Sponge-Bob suitcase, you're manliness will seem tarnished a bit. They really do move very easy and the five course-thread bolts install in minutes. Connecting the hoses takes seconds.

STRESS on the floor - Because this is not a full-rise lift, the moment loads placed on the floor are considerably less than a full-rise two-post. I will be able to post design calcs soon showing typical safety factors.

tatra and all you first-comers - I will offer 20'ish units between US and our friends up north. I want to keep my sanity through the whole ordeal when trying to pick names out of the GJ hat. I'd rather not have to worry about giving one or two extra in the mix and not inadvertently screw out some guy hoping to get a deal on one so he could replace the brakes on his grandma's Skylark.

ovilla - Good to see you could make it. Hope the pooch can do tricks soon.

e-tek - What's up - eh?

To the many BendPak supporters - :bowdown:

To everyone else - gotta go, my little girl has just found a wounded praying mantis and wants me to "make it better". When you’re a handyman, they think you can fix anything.

Cheers!

Jeff
BendPak
 

toadjammer

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 14, 2007
Messages
296
Location
WI
I question how you can allready have "Customer Testimonials" 4 of them in fact on your web site when you say this is a new product? Where these test market users and if so were they compensated?
 

arthur1920

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 11, 2008
Messages
89
To all,

Many on this board know of me and are probably aware that I've been a stranger lately. Been AWOL only because our team have been working feverishly on this new project trying to finalize for the upcoming SEMA / AAPEX show in Las Vegas.

Be prepared to get very excited.

Full production in two months.

Projected street price - $1795.00'ish with FREE SHIPPING.

www.maxjaxusa.com[/

Jeff Kritzer
SR. VP.
BendPak Inc.


P.S.

Sorry sliced bread.




What functionality do you give up compared to a conventional lift?
 

arthur1920

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 11, 2008
Messages
89
How would you store that unit out of the way?

that little jobby under the Bimmer is too low and the plates take up too much room under the car. Jack stands allow more access though admittedly more trouble to put the car on stands.
 

stimpee

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 1, 2006
Messages
70
Location
Gallatin TN
This is a pretty attractive solution. I recently moved, and have a 20W x 22D attached 2 car. I have an older Benwil 2 post lift in the garage at my old house (now being rented). I have thought about moving it, but my current garage is not as conducive to permanent placement of the lift. I have been tossing back and forth the idea of getting a 4 post drive-on or moving the old 2 post, but both will impede the daily use of the garage.

I eventually want to build a larger garage on the new property, but that is probably a few years away, and my need/desire to work on things will not go away in the meantime. I have had my car apart for the past 3 weeks working on some major updates, and using a floor jack, stands, and ramps is not "doing it for me" right now after having the lift for the past few years.

This little setup is looking kind of tempting, although it might only be a "temporary" solution for me. The possible portability of it is pretty attractive too though.

Nice innovative approach!!
 

arthur1920

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 11, 2008
Messages
89
The floor of my 2 car attached is pitched to a central drain. Does that mean I could not use such a lift.? I suspect it would be more that the 1/8 inch shimms you mentioned. Probably about a 9 foot 8 inch ceiling.
 

tatra

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Joined
Dec 2, 2007
Messages
4,785
Location
pirate contest city
let me know when a where for the cheque..........also any help with customs from you guys would be appreciated......never bought anything thru customs , so be gentle guys..............:lol_hitti:beer:and jeff, did you get my email?..............
 

kidatari

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Joined
Jan 14, 2007
Messages
104
Location
So. NH
Can't wait to see the videos of this one. I wish the ceiling in my garage was higher though.
 

Vicegrip

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Joined
Mar 9, 2007
Messages
1,187
Location
NoVA.
I fall in "the any I am missing" group ;) I have at least three Bend-pac 2 post lift "sales" to my name after folks saw/used mine. Even got it pictured in 2 publications, once on the cover and an even better shot inside. I maintain 150, Yes 150 lifts made by others at work but bought a Bend-Pac for my own home shop.
QUOTE]

Vice - What publication is that? :bowdown:What a COOL looking shop! Do you have any more pics you can share with us? Maybe you could even start a thread showing the shop and your projects. (Also, wondering why you didn't pull the welder closer to the car?!:bounce:)
Welder is a 300 pound+ Miller Syncrowave Tig and moves as little as posable. most of the time i am bench welding with it and the bench moves over to it. There is a "my shop" thread here http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9143

This is the picture that shows the lift better. It was done by taking 3 shots using a spotlight as a light source the camera merges the 3 shots together.
 

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