Wildfire XLT vs Bendpak HD-9XW

[Ro_Ja Boy]

I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel for my garage build (https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=374387) and am just about ready to pull the trigger on a lift. I've gone back and forth between these two lifts and I believe the Wildfire is probably the right answer. I have wanted to stay at or under $4k and in order to do that with the Wildfire, will have to install myself. Brad from Wildfire has been awesome to deal with and responds to texts in a matter of minutes. That service has me leaning towards Wildfire and he referred me to a person 15 minutes away from me that has installed a Wildfire themselves in their garage that would be willing to lend a hand.

Therefore, cost for Bendpak ($3k shipped + install = $3750) vs cost of Wildfire ($4k shipped + install on my own). I know doing the install myself will add value from a standpoint of any issues that arise I should be able to handle myself vs calling someone.

Anyone think I should go with the Bendpak over the Wildfire and if so, lmk why.

Thanks in advance for helping me to make a decision on this 6 month process.

 

[pbon]

I want maximum space between runners for working on the car, so the Bendpak HD-7XW looks good. But customer service is terrible. Weeks could go by without a response. Backyard Buddy is much more expensive, but has a tall wide and long 9000 lb lift. Eagle has an inexpensive 8000 lb lift that is short and wide but is currently out of stock. When I checked wildfire, the distance between runners was merely average so it would not be as desirable to me since I may drop a motor occasionally.

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

Got it. I want wide width to be able to fit wide cars, but it seems like any car I throw on there will work. I plan to use for storage, not for working on cars much...if at all.

 

[JSK]

Before you toss out any brand based on innuendos, you might want to put things in perspective. Value is defined in many ways.

I think all of us were surprised to find out that this company sells just 350 lifts A YEAR. BendPak, Rotary and other large brands sell that many lifts in a just a few days.

I wonder how a Google educated armchair expert would judge these brands.

 

[JSK]

I want maximum space between runners for working on the car, so the Bendpak HD-7XW looks good. But customer service is terrible. Weeks could go by without a response. Backyard Buddy is much more expensive, but has a tall wide and long 9000 lb lift. Eagle has an inexpensive 8000 lb lift that is short and wide but is currently out of stock. When I checked wildfire, the distance between runners was merely average so it would not be as desirable to me since I may drop a motor occasionally.

"But customer service is terrible. Weeks could go by without a response."

I promise that is not the norm.

 

[pbon]

Jeff, That is reassuring. Hopefully, then, you will be responding soon to the email that I sent you a couple of weeks ago. Philip

Update — I have been in touch with Jeff and spoken to one of his assistants. He has been traveling a lot and my question required some research and warehouse searching, but they got it done and I am very happy with the response and will be ordering the lift and jacks on Monday.

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

Jeff was traveling when I contacted him, but his colleague has been pretty responsive. Waiting for some info back from her again, but it's something that isn't as easy as her replying. The bigger the company, the more emails too, so understand that makes it challenging.

 

[motofool33]

there's alot more 4 post lifts out there why only those 2 choices?
rotary, or revolution lifts,
direct lift,
forward,
challenger,
danmar
Whip
greg smith

and more.

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

I like the specs on the two of them and both versions are the wider, but more importantly taller, than normal lifts.

 

[motofool33]

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-409-HP-9-000-LB-Four-Post-Lift

im not partial to any brand i bought a used 2 post & restored it, just throwing ideas at you

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

That's too wide and not as tall as the other two. I suppose width is less important to me than height. The Bendpak has 82" of clearance under runways and the Wildfire has 84".

 

[pbon]

This Eagle checks all my boxes for 1/3 less than the Bendpak HD-7/9. Even more savings since it comes with aluminum ramps and a caster kit for those who wanted such extras.

https://www.eagleequip.com/product/MS-8000XLT.html

 

[Candoo]

I got that BP and love it. Initially I had the ram weeping a bit, called BP and they sent a new one in days.

 

[Bamafan]

For some reason, the knives really come out when you discuss lifts. So get ready!

I purchased a Wildfire and am very satisfied with it. Wildfire’s boxed pillars, height, and ridiculously high level of customer service sold me.

Here’s a link to my lift build. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=389044

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

For some reason, the knives really come out when you discuss lifts. So get ready!

I purchased a Wildfire and am very satisfied with it. Wildfire’s boxed pillars, height, and ridiculously high level of customer service sold me.

Here’s a link to my lift build. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=389044

I've read through your post. Wish my main garage had taller ceilings so I could have room for eight cars.

 

[Bamafan]

I've read through your post. Wish my main garage had taller ceilings so I could have room for eight cars.

I wish mine was wider so I had room for eight cars!

 

[66Caprice]

Just a few months ago I installed my lift. It was used and had a bad cable. I called BendPac and they had my new cables shipped out within 24 hours. With every company out there. they all have their up's and down's.

 

[cajunfirehawk]

Just a few months ago I installed my lift. It was used and had a bad cable. I called BendPac and they had my new cables shipped out within 24 hours. With every company out there. they all have their up's and down's.

I see what u did there

 

[cajunfirehawk]

Before you toss out any brand based on innuendos, you might want to put things in perspective. Value is defined in many ways.

I think all of us were surprised to find out that this company sells just 350 lifts A YEAR. BendPak, Rotary and other large brands sell that many lifts in a just a few days.

I wonder how a Google educated armchair expert would judge these brands.

Really interested to know how this data became available on the internet, someone tracks lift sales?

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

Ending up pressing go on an Advantage 9000XLT instead. It had some more bells and whistles and was less expensive shipped than the Wildfire.

 

[[email protected]]

I bought the advantage XLT lift. I have had it for about 2 months. I really like the lift. The Wildfire and advantage are almost the identical lift. Can’t say anything about the CS from wildfire but it’s top notch with advantage lifts as well.

My only complaint about the advantage lift is the width between the rails. I have a stock 2015 mustang and it fits but barley. What I would like them to be able to do is to have the option (I believe it would be as simple as adding another 3 holes [one for the linkage and two for the ramp bolts] to be able to have either a normal or wide setting for the ramps.

I also like that advantage lifts comes with aluminum ramps and was about $300 cheaper than the wildfire.

 

[JSK]

Really interested to know how this data became available on the internet, someone tracks lift sales?

JSK is BendPak so factual data. Backyard Buddy is a brand with many years in the market and they published their annual sales. Since Wildfire and Advantage are newcomers to the industry was simply deductive reasoning.

 

[Bamafan]

Ending up pressing go on an Advantage 9000XLT instead. It had some more bells and whistles and was less expensive shipped than the Wildfire.

Congratulations! I really don’t think you can go wrong with either.

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

I bought the advantage XLT lift. I have had it for about 2 months. I really like the lift. The Wildfire and advantage are almost the identical lift. Can’t say anything about the CS from wildfire but it’s top notch with advantage lifts as well.

My only complaint about the advantage lift is the width between the rails. I have a stock 2015 mustang and it fits but barley. What I would like them to be able to do is to have the option (I believe it would be as simple as adding another 3 holes [one for the linkage and two for the ramp bolts] to be able to have either a normal or wide setting for the ramps.

I also like that advantage lifts comes with aluminum ramps and was about $300 cheaper than the wildfire.

Surprised at how narrow that is considering many pictures have a C7 Z06 on top which is several inches wider.

 

[mgbbob]

I went with Advantage 9000 XLT also. Nice lift and great service. Catch them during a auction and ask for the discount. They were within dollars of the Wildfire and had better upgrades. The aluminum ramps are the bomb. I am really glad I have the aluminum and can't imaging lugging the steel around.

 

[Ro_Ja Boy]

I went with Advantage 9000 XLT also. Nice lift and great service. Catch them during a auction and ask for the discount. They were within dollars of the Wildfire and had better upgrades. The aluminum ramps are the bomb. I am really glad I have the aluminum and can't imaging lugging the steel around.

The Advantage is $200 cheaper since they have a warehouse in AZ, so less expensive and a couple of upgrades over the Wildfire.