need lift advice...

This is a little OT, but I need a some advice. I need to buy some
two post lifts for a shop I'm putting together, but I have read
some horror stories out there from other people who have been ripped off. Any ideas on a reputable company sells a quality hoist?

 

We use rotary lift 2 post lifts. They seem to work just fine. I lift 1 ton trucks all day with them and not a single problem. As far as a dealer in your area I"m no help on that but as far as lifts go Rotary lift are alright in my book.

 

I have a rotary mid rise and an eagle mid rise..

in a two car suburban garage..

I like both.. alot..

I would stay far away from anything without a brand name..

I also wouldnt ever buy them NEW..
I have had the oppertunity to buy no fewer than 10 lifts in the last 2 years..
my neighbor just recently bought 5 0r 6 for his business..all used.. all in good condition.

sawzall

 

Go with in ground if you will be using them all day, all the time. Above grounders get in the way to often! Just an opinion!

 

www.garagejournal.com

use the search feature... more info than you can possibly absorb...

 

I went with in-ground air, single cylinder. Put 2 in my new shop, bought them well used but not much can ever go wrong. True, trans service is an issue but there are many positives: if you're not using them they don't take up floor space; easy to do body work at any elevation you need; make great welding platforms; remove the rotation stops and you can swivel them 360*; un-plug the air and they won't fall at mach 3; did I mention they are cheap?

 

bend pak, no issues ever.

 

Try Backyard Buddy from Warren Ohio .Don't know there address but real quality piece. Might be backyardbuddy.com. Good luck

 

Rotary Lift - made in U.S.A.!

 

I have a ammco unit trouble free for 14 plus years. the best investment I have ever made in shop tools equipment..

 

I've used Bendpak and Challenger lifts at work, and never had a problem with them.

 

Rotary

you can find them used pretty easy. the best there is.

 

I bought a used 9000 lb capacity Weaver about 10 years ago. Paid $1800.00 for it. EZ to take apart and re-set. The main columns are about 1/4 material. This thing is a tank and will be going happily up and down years after I've ***umed room temerature...

 

ezi Backyardbuddy.com located in Warren Ohio The owners name Is Larry Gross His cell phone number is 330 540 2952 Good guy loves hotrods and has quality lifts

 

Thanks alot, I wish I could find a couple of used ones, but it may
be difficult around these parts. If I still lived in Arizona, it would
be no problem, But since I moved to Idaho, it's gunna be rough.
I will have to order them from some one on line I suppose. any
suggestions on that?

 

I bought my 9,000 lb. Autolifters two post clear floor model 10 years ago, and I have never had a single issue with it. I have a few buddies who bought Bend Pac, Backyard Buddy and Eagles at about the same time, and they have all had problems with theirs. (leaking cylinders, problems with cables and locks etc. My buddy that bought the Bend Pac had the locks fail, and he dropped a Tahoe all the way to the floor and it was totaled, luckily he was no where near when it happened. I use mine every day and it has to be the best lift made.

 

I had some Autolifter hoists, and they we're great, unfortunately, they
are out of business.

 

Call around to some auction houses and ask if they are selling off any shops that have gone belly up recently. I'll bet I've seen a dozen or more lifts in auctions in the last couple years. They go fairly cheap too cause not too many people want to fool with them heavy sum*****es.

 

Rotary or Bendpak. I installed lifts for a living for years. Those are the only ones we ever sold, and Rotary is what we used in our shop. I like the Asymmetrical style.

 

I have bend pac 10,000# now 5 years old and no problems at all. I had a big dodge truck on it in pretty good earthquack shook real good. but no damage.

 

6 of one, half a dozen of the other.

disclaimer: we run a full time repair shop. cars going up and down all day.

we just bought a challenger 10k# with versametric arms. i freaking LOVE IT. we can lift virtually anything on this pig. real wide body.

our other 2 lifts are bend paks. they were nice the first 2/3 of their life (probably about 15 years old total). now they are all stretched out and sag REAL bad to one side. would cost as much to replace as to fix. truth is...all above grounders do this.

if you can get into it, a REAL nice 10 or 12k# cartridge in ground is the stuff. but come at 10 or 12k installed.

challenger is nice in that they still have a NARROW 9k above ground available.