Yet Another 4 Post Lift Thread - Help needed :)

[tunerwithkids]

I bought a Bend-Pak 15yrs ago 9000 lbs model HD-9 works great , but heard lately the company is shipping stuff with scratches and issues with them. made in USA
My celings are 10'7".

I don't think BP makes anything in USA anymore. All their stuff is imported. The quality issues are usually damage finishes during transport or installation. I've also seen poor touchups at the warehouse of thin or scratched powdercoating.

 

[finn]

I don't think BP makes anything in USA anymore. All their stuff is imported. The quality issues are usually damage finishes during transport or installation. I've also seen poor touchups at the warehouse of thin or scratched powdercoating.

Be careful with information like that gleaned off of an internet board.

Last I heard, Bendpac is now using a thin plywood to somewhat protect their lifts from superficial shipping damage, much like some of their competitors use.

My two post BP is a few years old, and arrived without damage. I scratched it more while assembling it than the shipper did. It was shipped before BP reportedly upgraded their packaging. Sorry, but I can’t locate the recent post where a member commented on the new, upgraded packing materials.

That said, the fit and finish on my 18 month old Advantage lifts is superior. (Or maybe I like red and grey better than blue).

 

[CraigStu]

Regarding the power supply if you have a 30A 220V available isn't it possible to tap a 30A 120V off of that? I don't know but I bet someone here will know if that is possible.

 

[scoob8000]

here are a few pics of my mod for small stuff if the hoist has a car on it. it's certified to lift 800lbs but I won't be near that.

I like that. How did you attach the hitch receivers to the cross arm?

 

[Gorill83]

Regarding the power supply if you have a 30A 220V available isn't it possible to tap a 30A 120V off of that? I don't know but I bet someone here will know if that is possible.

You can technically use only one hot leg off the 220V to do that, but since I have my 220V car chargers on that same circuit that wouldn't be a good idea. All good though, after far too much research I'm leaning toward either the Direct Lift PP9, the Advantage 9000XLT, or even the Backyard "Wide" buddy. The headquarters for the Advantage/BYB isn't far from me either, less than 2 hours away.

Highlights/Pros for each - they aren't wildly different in functionality or price from each other, all can lift higher than I need, have similar accessories, work with my existing electrical, and should work well in my garage.

DirectLift PP9 - $5700 picked up + 1600 for flooring inserts: A bit shorter in overall length (pro for me as I won't be loading trucks), shorter overall height of posts (also a pro as I could move between bays without hitting a beam between)

Advantage 9000XLT - $6000 picked up + 1000 for flooring inserts: 5 year warranty, aluminum ramps included standard, more robust 5x5 boxed post design, can be set up for 76" or 79" outside ramp width

Backyard "Wide" Buddy - $7500-ish picked up including flooring inserts: US made!, 5 year warranty, boxed post design, MASSIVE ramp width (86" outside edge to edge) and drive through width

Man, these things have gotten expensive! Just a few years ago I swear I was looking at a 3500-4K budget for the same

 

[racecougar]

I wouldn't define the square post design as "more robust". Keep in mind that that design requires you to shim each leg in order to get the locks level, whereas you make that adjustment via the large nut retaining the lock ladder on the DirectLift (and others of similar design).

What flooring inserts are you talking about?

 

[Gorill83]

I wouldn't define the square post design as "more robust". Keep in mind that that design requires you to shim each leg in order to get the locks level, whereas you make that adjustment via the large nut retaining the lock ladder on the DirectLift (and others of similar design).

What flooring inserts are you talking about?

I actually watched the install video for the "wide buddy" last night and they are adjusting the locks via cables as well -

Here are the flooring inserts I'm looking at - would like to use these for storing items in between projects: https://www.advantagelifts.com/products/set-of-4-46-aluminum-deck-insert

 

[Maxcustody]

I wouldn't define the square post design as "more robust". Keep in mind that that design requires you to shim each leg in order to get the locks level, whereas you make that adjustment via the large nut retaining the lock ladder on the DirectLift (and others of similar design).

What flooring inserts are you talking about?

This may be the case with some, but my Advantage lift no shims are used on the posts.

 

[racecougar]

I actually watched the install video for the "wide buddy" last night and they are adjusting the locks via cables as well -

Here are the flooring inserts I'm looking at - would like to use these for storing items in between projects: https://www.advantagelifts.com/products/set-of-4-46-aluminum-deck-insert

This may be the case with some, but my Advantage lift no shims are used on the posts.

The lack of separate adjustment for the locks means you are reliant on a completely level floor. Dialing in the locks via the cables on a floor that isn't level sets the runways at whatever slope your floor is at. The only way to overcome that is by shimming the posts.

Having the cables hidden within the posts, and the lock rods hidden within the crossbeams, is another benefit to the design that DirectLift, Forward, and others utilize.

 

[Gorill83]

Having the cables hidden within the posts, and the lock rods hidden within the crossbeams, is another benefit to the design that DirectLift, Forward, and others utilize.

This is a good catch....definitely a cleaner look. I feel like I'm putting more thought into this decision than any of my previous cars, ha!

 

[Maxcustody]

Here are the flooring inserts I'm looking at - would like to use these for storing items in between projects: https://www.advantagelifts.com/products/set-of-4-46-aluminum-deck-insert

I have all the inserts, they are great, especially when I park my ATV on there. However, I found out the hard way when I adjusted my runways to the farthest setting, which is nice to have the adjustability. But.................due to the adjusted width the inserts are now too narrow to sit between the runways as designed....................

 

[Gorill83]

I have all the inserts, they are great, especially when I park my ATV on there. However, I found out the hard way when I adjusted my runways to the farthest setting, which is nice to have the adjustability. But.................due to the adjusted width the inserts are now too narrow to sit between the runways as designed....................

Funny I just asked the rep the same question - do the inserts work with the 77" width setting in place, they said no. That will rule out the 9000XLT for me, really leaning toward the Wide buddy now.

PS - I just got a quote for the Direct Lift 9000 - they no longer carry in the PA warehouse (at least not for the next 3-4 months)....the lift w/ flooring inserts shipped to my terminal was nearly 9000 WITHOUT installation...crazy. I can't fathom spending nearly 1k more vs. the US made BYB.

 

[racecougar]

PS - I just got a quote for the Direct Lift 9000 - they no longer carry in the PA warehouse (at least not for the next 3-4 months)....the lift w/ flooring inserts shipped to my terminal was nearly 9000 WITHOUT installation...crazy. I can't fathom spending nearly 1k more vs. the US made BYB.

This is the exact same lift and may open other avenues for purchase. Mine actually arrived with both Forward and DirectLift decals on it. https://www.forwardlift.com/product/efp9/

 

[Maxcustody]

Funny I just asked the rep the same question - do the inserts work with the 77" width setting in place, they said no. That will rule out the 9000XLT for me, really leaning toward the Wide buddy now.

PS - I just got a quote for the Direct Lift 9000 - they no longer carry in the PA warehouse (at least not for the next 3-4 months)....the lift w/ flooring inserts shipped to my terminal was nearly 9000 WITHOUT installation...crazy. I can't fathom spending nearly 1k more vs. the US made BYB.

I am fixing this with the insert by getting a small section welded on.

 

[Gorill83]

This is the exact same lift and may open other avenues for purchase. Mine actually arrived with both Forward and DirectLift decals on it. https://www.forwardlift.com/product/efp9/

Good idea - checking around but best I'm seeing is 7100-ish shipped to my local terminal + tax.

I am fixing this with the insert by getting a small section welded on.

Also a good idea - I would go this route already if I owned the lift already.

 

[boxster99t]

If you're going with DirectLift (I have the Pro Park 8 standard), you will want to buy a set of race ramps to use instead of the steel ones that are standard; the steel ramps weigh a ton and the approach angle is too steep for low profile cars - not sure they'll be usable for a C8 Corvette (my 67 Corvette went up the standard steel ramps just fine, but my 997 is lower in the front). The race ramps are light but you cannot raise the lift with the ramps attached.

I would have liked to had aluminum ramps, in fact Derek Weaver in Fort Worth, TX sold me a set but they were warped/didn't sit square to the lift runways--when I contacted them, they refunded the ramps cost and paid to pick them up. Also told me between the time I ordered mine (August 2021) and got my lift (December 1, 2021) they stopped selling the aluminum ramps for precisely that reason, and the rep at Derek Weaver is the one who said look at race ramps.

I'm happy with my lift after the first 10 months, FWIW other than the heavy standard steel ramps which I kept and sit against one of my garage walls. The prices has gone up quite a bit since I got mine, and the lead time is weeks/months out unless it has gotten better.

Also while many people assemble their own lifts, those things are heavy--an experienced two man crew had mine assembled and in place in about 4 hours. I could not have installed it myself, anyway, so that wasn't an option.

 

[boxster99t]

Add a mirror…….

Ok, I'm a dummy--can you tell me where the mirror is mounted in relation to the 4 post lift? I'd love that with mine--I have no issues driving any of my vehicles onto my DirectLift Standard 8 solo but I'm rarely centered left to right. My depth perception always puts me cheated to the right by an inch or so. I thought about putting a mirror in front of the lift between the posts as a guide.

 

[Maxcustody]

Ok, I'm a dummy--can you tell me where the mirror is mounted in relation to the 4 post lift? I'd love that with mine--I have no issues driving any of my vehicles onto my DirectLift Standard 8 solo but I'm rarely centered left to right. My depth perception always puts me cheated to the right by an inch or so. I thought about putting a mirror in front of the lift between the posts as a guide.

Mounted on the wall in front of the lift. It is not in the center due to the location of the posts. It works great for me. Here is a picture where you can see it in front of the Jeep.

 

[racecougar]

If you're going with DirectLift (I have the Pro Park 8 standard), you will want to buy a set of race ramps to use instead of the steel ones that are standard; the steel ramps weigh a ton and the approach angle is too steep for low profile cars - not sure they'll be usable for a C8 Corvette (my 67 Corvette went up the standard steel ramps just fine, but my 997 is lower in the front). The race ramps are light but you cannot raise the lift with the ramps attached.

The ramps on the PP9 are longer. The Cougar in the photo I posted earlier has 3" of ground clearance, and has no trouble clearing, even when pulling onto the lift quicker than I probably should.

Ok, I'm a dummy--can you tell me where the mirror is mounted in relation to the 4 post lift? I'd love that with mine--I have no issues driving any of my vehicles onto my DirectLift Standard 8 solo but I'm rarely centered left to right. My depth perception always puts me cheated to the right by an inch or so. I thought about putting a mirror in front of the lift between the posts as a guide.

I put my mirror dead center in front of my lift. Posted a photo earlier in this thread.

 

[ronr80]

scoob , A friend of mine is a certified welder, and I got him to weld it on, I have an air line also going through it so we had to be careful. #44