Any recommendations for a car lift?

[newbury]

Along with my the property I'm buying I'm getting about 5,500 of warehouse space.

One shed has a lot of interior space, this is about 1/4 of it.

Another is an RV type shed with a high roof.

I've gotten permission from SWMBO to put a lift in one so I can stand up and work on my vehicles.

I don't really have the tools yet to build one from scratch yet so I've been looking on line for different lifts. most of my vehicles are small cars, with the exception of an E350 and a yet to be purchased 1 ton diesel truck.

So I'm planning on a max curb weight of 8,000 lbs.

It seems there are 2 basic type of lifts for my use - 2 post w/o an overhead bar and 4 posts.

Any recommendations on brand and type? I'm a little over 6' so I wat to be able to stand up.

thanks in advance.

 

[timswi]

I've been lightly looking at them too. Generally you will need 12' of ceiling hight to begin with if you want to walk under the vehicle.

2 post lifts eat up less geography on the floor, but you have to have sufficient concrete to bolt the to...At least 5", more is better. If you don't know, a 4 post might be better.

Most garages use the 2 post lift...The one thing I dont like about those is that you really have to watch banging the doors..but I suppose that is adaptable.

From what I've seen a nice one can be had for less than $2500. You may have to assemble though, and that can be a whole other story...The parts are very heavy. A large FEL or forklift is a big help. I've helped dis-assemble them and re-installed in a friend of mine's shop and it was a little squirrely.

You'll also most likey need 220V to power it.

Nothing like giving up the creeper...

Let me know what you do...Good luck

 

[Bigkrank]

I've got both types and have owned from several different companies.

I would get this for a 4 post:

Car Lifts for home garage - Backyard Buddy 4 Post Free Standing Automotive Lifts-Residential

For a two post, make sure you get at least a 10,000#, they usually have a wider distance between post, and also make sure it's asymmetric so you can open door on your truck, definetly don't buy the cheapest you find, been there, done that.

 

[Car Doc]

I use 9000 lb asymmetric 2 post lifts meaning the car sits back far enough the doors can open in my shop. They go high enough I can park most all cars and some small pickups and even my tractor under a car on the lift I do that all the time.

The brand name is Forward dont know if you can find them or not but I like mine a lot an excellent lift. Fact there is one in my avatar.

found this apparently 10k is the rating now days. http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/forward-lift-2-post-lifts-s/499.htm

 

[flusher]

I've got both types and have owned from several different companies.

I would get this for a 4 post:

Car Lifts for home garage - Backyard Buddy 4 Post Free Standing Automotive Lifts-Residential

For a two post, make sure you get at least a 10,000#, they usually have a wider distance between post, and also make sure it's asymmetric so you can open door on your truck, definetly don't buy the cheapest you find, been there, done that.

That Backyard Buddy is nice looking but maybe a little on the flimsy side IMHO. I checked all over their website and looked at the videos. I couldn't find any info on the wall thickness of those four 4x4 corner posts. From the photos it could be as thin as 1/8". I wouldn't risk my neck under a lift like that unless that wall thickness was 1/4" minimum.

 

[Bigkrank]

FYI the backyard buddy is $*it loads stiffer than one I had that had huge foot square columns, nothing to be afraid of, possibly the safest 4 post I've seen without going mega dollar commercial.

 

[crazyal]

I have a BendPak 10,000 lb 2 post asymmetrical 2 post lift. I look at a lot of them and at the end of the day I just decided that I wanted a name brand. If something breaks then I can get parts for it. Now that I have it I couldn't live without it.

 

[George2615]

I have a twin post made in the USA by Challenger Lifts, 9000 lb rated and certified by ALI (Automotive Lift Institute). Rotary is another brand.
Of course HF and Northern Tool and others also sell lifts. I won't mention the brand or where he bought it but a friend of mine obtained a lift and I had to help him assemble it (his came with no owners manual or directions) He called the place of purchase and they were supposed to send him the paperwork but never did. Upon assembly I noticed a lot of rough and very sharp edges that had to be filed and ground down to prevent future injury. Just my opinion but I was not pleased with the quality of the non USA product compared to the USA brands plus I could not find any ALI certified sticker. Yes, I paid a few hundred more and would do it again.
Also, there are many that say they are made in USA but actually are not. See the link below for an explanation.

gregsmithequipment.com/Articles.asp?ID=148

 

[newbury]

Thanks for the info guys.

The Backyard Buddy looks great to me but the base price plus shipping is about $6,500 for a 9,000 lb lift.

The Bendpack, although more lightly constructed (according to the Backyard Buddy website) is half that. I figure I can put up 4 4x4's under the posts for extra safety on the Bendpack.

I suppose if I was going to be using it everyday to hoist and drop cars I'd get the Backyard Buddy, but my modus operandi will probably get a vehicle up on the lift, remove a part and take a week to replace it. And only do that a dozen times a year at the most.

 

[Car Doc]

Seriously look at the Forward lifts the adapters are the best I ever saw they stack on top of each other. The prices are less than what I see these other lifts go for too.

Makes changing settings from a car to a truck (which they come with the taller truck adapters make sure what you do buy does have them) just as easy as lifting the pad and setting a spacer in very simple and easy.