Trailer Lift (not Bendpak)

[Scubadriver]

As I decend deeper into my track hobby, it is time to buy a car hauler (Aluma, Trailex or Futura to tow an MX5 with a Colorado ZR2). To avoid taking up space in the garage, I am eyeing a trailer lift. These trailers are pretty light, all about 1200 to 1400 lbs. I realize I cannot put the car and the trailer on the lift together.

I had settled on a Bendpak HD7500BLX until I was told by Best Buy Automotive Equipment that these have to be bolted down, which I do not want to do. Evidently, this is new guidance from Bendpak as the online manual still references optional casters. Does anyone know the story on this? Bendpak, are you here?

So now I am looking at alternatives, which appear to be Backyard Buddy and Wildfire. Does anyone have any experience with either of these trailer lifts? Are there any other brands out there that make a trailer lift? I have seen one from Olympic, but the rise is too low.

My intent is to eventually put this side-by-side with another 4 post lift. I kind of want to get both from the same manufacture, but that is mainly out of vanity. The HD7W would fit nicely next to the DH7500BLX in my 18' wide garage door. The BYB Classic Extra Tall seems too narrow between posts. The Wildfire WF9000XLT seems too big...I wish they made a WF9000T.

Thanks!

Bob

 

[WhoWhatNow]

I don’t think the Bendpak lift needs to be bolted down. I have a HD-9ST that is not attached as do many others on g to be forum. Bendpak sells a set of casters for these lifts which precludes them from being bolted down for use. Best Buy is just covering their **** on the off chance something happens.

 

[Scubadriver]

Yeah, it seems to be particular to the BLX. They said the didn't need to bolt down the 7W.

Hey, regarding the 9ST. Do yout park under it on a daily basis? I was wondering whether the narrowness of that lift makes it awkward to park under with like a midsize car.

 

[wssix99]

I had settled on a Bendpak HD7500BLX until I was told by Best Buy Automotive Equipment that these have to be bolted down, which I do not want to do. Evidently, this is new guidance from Bendpak as the online manual still references optional casters. Does anyone know the story on this? Bendpak, are you here?

You should trust but verify. It appears you talked to someone who didn't know what they were talking about and/or they didn't care.

Page 52 of the instructions states "Anchoring is optional."

If you were planning on working with this company, I would pass. Deal directly with BendPak and you can cut out the middleman. (The lift is going to ship from the manufacturer anyway...) Then, if you have issues, you can escalate directly up to BendPak's engineers and not have to worry about going through people like this who can't even bother to look up the right information for you. (But I recommend you still take the time to read the instructions yourself before making any contacts.)

 

[WhoWhatNow]

I do park under it daily, but I do not have a mid-size car. My lift is shoved all the way over against the wall, so I lose a few inches to the garage door framing. I need to pull in perfectly straight and go slow, but I do not mind at all. Any inconvenience in parking is more than made up for by being able to park three cars in a two car and how life changing working on cars is on a lift vs. on my back is. It is hands down the best tool I have ever purchased.

 

[Yetti37]

I purchased a Bendpak 7500-BLX last year and did not anchor it to the floor. I typically use it to store my car hauler and park a car underneath of it. I did put my car on it over the winter to do a transmission swap and didn't have any issues with it not being bolted to the floor. My trailer is 1,200 pounds and the car is 3,100 pounds.

Have you tried calling Bendpak? When I spoke with them last year, they confirmed that this lift did not need to be bolted down.

 

[Cairo94507]

I would definitely consult BendPak directly. I have a BendPak in my current home and installed one in my last home too. They are great people and easy to work with. Give them a call.

 

[firebirdparts]

I think some wisdom is called for. 4 posts lifts depend entirely on sliding moment connections at the 4 corners to not fall over. They'll rock. If you pick up something heavy on a sloped floor, you may collapse it. The 4 locks may not all release together, and if you lower it you may collapse it. You have to watch what you're doing. So there's definitely risks involved using a 4 post lift. With your little lightweight trailer, you are avoiding some of the risk. You still need to be really careful about lowering it with one lock locked.

Anchors would stiffen it up some, and if you were selling these lifts, you'd probably recommend other people anchor them too. Lifts are dangerous.

 

[Scubadriver]

I talked to Bendpak directly. Actually, I submitted a question on their contact page, and they called me up the next day!

Indeed, Bendpak does not require the BLX to be bolted down. Also, they offered me a better price than Best Buy Automotive. And they gave me contact info for a couple of installers in the Houston area.

In the end, I've decided to just buy 2 post lift for now--a GP7. Now I just have to find someone to scan my post tension slab. I don't trust the engineering drawings...

Thanks for the help and advice.

 

[Scubadriver]

I typically use it to store my car hauler and park a car underneath of it. I did put my car on it over the winter to do a transmission swap and didn't have any issues with it not being bolted to the floor. My trailer is 1,200 pounds and the car is 3,100 pounds.

1200lb car hauler, eh? What kind do you have?

 

[Yetti37]

It was made by R&R Trailers and is their 716CHA model. They are a direct-to-consumer manufacturer and were great to deal with throughout the process. The trailer has worked great and I've only had one minor issue with it (a light had a loose grounding wire that I fixed).

Our truck has a factory installed electric brake controller that I wanted to be able to use. I was initially looking at getting an Aluma or Trailex as I've heard great things about them and they seem to be really popular. I was not able to find used ones in good condition that had electric brakes though. I then found R&R and their new prices were less than used prices for the trailers I was looking at.

Here's a photo of the trailer on the Bendpak.

 

[Jeepster04]

Wildfire seems to be a good company. From what I've read/seen, if I were in the market for a 4 post, I would go with them over bendpak. Havent read anything on their trailer lift though.

 

[Scubadriver]

I forgot about R&R aluminum trailers. I will check them out.

Any regrets about getting a 16ft? Lots of advice of folks saying always get at least an 18ft.

 

[firebirdparts]

I forgot about R&R aluminum trailers. I will check them out.

Any regrets about getting a 16ft? Lots of advice of folks saying always get at least an 18ft.

Personally I have never ever heard that advice, and I have to think anybody saying such a thing hauls a wide variety of stuff all the time and maybe doesn't like to have to hook a 1975 Cadillac Fleetwood as close as he might on a 16. I am just making that up, though, as I am one of those people. If all you ever haul is your race car, then it only matters how you tie down your race car, and clearly 16 feet is gracious plenty for an MX5.

 

[1984shovelhead]

4 post lifts should have columns that are plumb when loaded and unloaded that’s why they supply shims not saying disaster will follow if not bolted down I say a lot rides on your floor and the extent of deviation of being plumb

 

[1984shovelhead]

Also wanted to add my experience with bendpak tech support is verify any advice or claims they make.I’ve spoken to some there that are clueless

 

[Yetti37]

Personally I have never ever heard that advice, and I have to think anybody saying such a thing hauls a wide variety of stuff all the time and maybe doesn't like to have to hook a 1975 Cadillac Fleetwood as close as he might on a 16. I am just making that up, though, as I am one of those people. If all you ever haul is your race car, then it only matters how you tie down your race car, and clearly 16 feet is gracious plenty for an MX5.

Exactly, it depends on the cars you plan on hauling. If you are only using the trailer for a specific car then get whichever length works best for that and works with your storage plans for the trailer. If you are hauling a wide variety then longer would be the best choice.

I forgot about R&R aluminum trailers. I will check them out.

Any regrets about getting a 16ft? Lots of advice of folks saying always get at least an 18ft.

Initially yes, I was thinking maybe I should have gone with an 18ft. I use the trailer to haul my track car shown in the photo and in order to reduce tongue weight, I park the car as far back on the trailer as possible (rear tires about an inch in front of the dovetail). That car is light enough and the length is short enough that it doesn't cause any issues. However, if I wanted to haul a longer and heavier car, it could be a problem as the trailer deck is only 14ft long with the dovetail being the remaining 2ft (I believe it is this length on all of R&R's car haulers). A friend just ordered the 18ft version of this trailer after test fitting his BMW M4 track car on mine. The tongue weight was at the max for him and he has storage space available so he went with the 18ft.

Luckily for me, it turns out ordering the 16ft was the right decision as I'm in the process of moving and an 18ft trailer would not fit in my new garage. It works perfectly for my car and if I ever replace it, I will most likely go with something similar is size.