Hi guys I have a question regarding the price for a car lift that you can park another one underneath. A friends boyfriend is looking to purchase one. Just curious what the average price is for one, what brands to stay away from what brands are good. thanks for the time
The first thing is you have to know how tall the ceiling is in his garage. Then you need to know how heavy the vehicles that may be lifted (both now and later on) will be. Also, does he have a concrete floor in his shop to anchor one? You have to know those three things at a minimum before deciding what a good choice may be. Its also complicated by what may be available in Canada vs Shipping one from the US.
My friend has a sub $2000 no-name chinese lift that he swears by, parks his '72 Bronco under and his '67 Mustang Fastback on top of. My dad has a Wildfire 9000 that is really nice, and he's thrown his Ram 2500 Mega Cab diesel on it.
I would ignore Mohawk. Their lifts are for professional service shops which can write of the cost of the lift as a legitimate business expense. Popular hobbiest four post lifts include BendPac, Advantage / Backyard Buddy, Wildfire, Amgo, Challenger, Forward, and budget brands like Triumph. There are many other brands that people are happy with. I suggest you establish a budget for your boyfriends lift and do a search hot four post lifts. I personally have a Bendpacj two post and two Advantage four post lifts. The Wildfire seems identical to the Advantage. Advantage now owns Backyard buddy and is pushing them, probably because of the tariff uncertainty for imports.
I’ve had a Backyard Buddy that I bought used here on the HAMB fifteen years ago for $1000. That model is now $5000.+ Had to replace the cylinder last year for $700, couldn’t rebuild it, barrel was scored.
I have a direct, I see similar ones for sale occasionally. Look for a lift that is ALI certified. Also, height, capacity, and size varies. Do they want something that can be moved or do they want it anchored? My Direct isn't anchored and I've had no issue.
I have an Atlas Unit….about $3 grand as I remember. Since it is not attached to the floor, it can be moved around on skates that came with the unit
If his cement floor is only 3" thick, which is the norm, he will have to cut out and pour new thicker cement for a 2 post lift. If you get a 4 post drive on lift it doesn't need to be fastened to the floor. I bought an Advantage 4 post drive on and I just love it. I am old so I don't need to crawl around on the floor to set the arms like you need to do on a 2 post lift.
Sounds like a 4 post lift is what she is after. You are going to be looking at $3000 minimum, most closer to $4000 and up for any 4 post lift in Canada right now not including shipping, installation if needed, taxes etc. Most Canadian companies seem to have removed their online pricing when all the tariff nonsense started so she will probably need to call someone. As a start I would get her to call these guys to get a quote on what she is after: They have a location in Ontario. https://babco.ca/?gad_source=1&gad_...IBiUDxDkLoKNS2PwWz4fmGZ4kWsS27PRoC7XAQAvD_BwE
Look in Greg Smith Equipment. I got my 4 post from them, Good safety features and very adjustable. $2250 delivered. About 2009.
I bought several Tuxedo 8k 4 post lifts to add additional storage probably 8yrs ago for like $2600ea, I see now they're $4100+, so it would seem others have taken their place as entry-level affordable offerings. Mine have only been cycled maybe 6 times in their life, since that's where I store the long-term projects or donors, and use the areas underneath for parking more routinely driven vehicles. For working on cars, I still prefer twin-post lifts, but then you're looking at needing significant concrete planning and anchoring.
I got mine from Race Tool Direct, i think they all come down the same ASSY line as they send the brand name decal separately. I paid $3600 shipped. My Benpac lift is a little better lift but cost more now.
Reality is this isn't the place for someone in Canada to ask. Prices, companies being suggested etc are meaningless on this side of the border.
I'm sure happy with my 7000 lb. Bend Pak tall drive on lift. Seems like I'm either using it for storage or working on a hot rod all the time. I bought mine from a company in Omaha and sprung for the installation. When I got done I had about $5000 in it.
Bendpack does have a Canadian outlet https://www.bendpak.ca/ The lift would still be shipped from Alabama or California but you buy though an office in Mississauga (hope I got that right). Plus I would imagine that other popular brands do.
Direct Lift. I believe they use them at Barret Jackson. I bought it after a buddy had a car built and I saw it being used in the shop it was in.
Bendpac has a Canadian distributor Babco. That is who I linked to earlier. Nothing gets shipped out from the US directly to Canadian customers. Babco stocks and supplies from within Canada. Considering most of their hobby lifts are manufactured in China I would guess the ones sold up here never touch US soil. It would kill the pricing. Exchange, duties, brokerage and shipping would make it foolish to try and buy big individual items out of the US unless it is the only source and that is not the case for lifts.
2022 I bought a Backyard Buddy on the recommendation of a friend who has had one for probably 20 years . and also an Advantage classic for my son. They were on sale at Louisville. With shipping , the pair was almost 11 K. He hasn't used his yet; I have used mine a lot, but I can't find a contractor who will raise my ceiling. I guess I got the cart ahead of the horse.
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