Auto Lifts for Garage

[BradVV]

I am looking into buying an auto lift (probably 4 post) for my future garage. I plan on using the lift to store one of my Camaros & also give me the ability to do underbody detailing & some light maintenance to them.

I have done some Internet searching to see what's all out there for auto lifts. And boy, there are quite a few companies & models to choose from.

Any advice (do's, don'ts, recommended brands, etc) & info that anyone on this board can share with me on auto lifts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[kwhizz]

Go with the Backyard Buddy.....most of the rest are all the same Chinese built lifts sold under different names

Ken

[budnate]

I agree Ken but they have really marked them up lately ... in my opinion way to much for a pretty basic hoist

I committed to one of these this weekend.
http://www.directlift.com/propark7.html

if they lock at all 4 corners they are fine, and to be honest I dont care what they say about the feet not spreading on backyard and some other brands including the one I bought....there silly idea of the bar in the tube preventing the legs from going outwards dont look bullet proof to me..that is plenty of load trying to push out with some levarage...I plan to pin my bottom legs with some 2"x2" 1/4 square box tubing couple holes and some grade 8 bolts and she is not going anyware even if we get a little quake they are selling these on special right now with all the extras for 1795.00 plus 325 shipping to Seattle, you might have to go through my local guy to save the other hundo off the listed price on the site, he claimed it was for the swap meet special...yea right ......I looked this one over well and after looking at a few diff brands in person, its as good as any of the others and priced right.

Bud.

[kwhizz]

Be very careful when you lower it all the way......if you let the cables relax, they will come off the rollers (very poor design) and next time you raise it without checking, you will shred the cable and ruin it......Been there......

Ken

[budnate]

thnx for the heads up!!, I recall reading about that last year but forgot about it, I will ask him about that today.

[southernfriedcj]

I've got 3 Backyard Buddy lifts. Great product. I'm a cheap bastid, but if I'm gonna be under a car I don't want to be second guessing the safety factor of my lift. IMHO the BB is well worth the extra $$. I've heard horror stories about the cheap Chinney lifts.

Jim

[SMGCO]

I have two four leg lifts in my garage. Overall I do not recommend them. I have countless dings and scratches due to close clearances with the ceiling, garage doors etc. Also makes it hard to get around in a garage that previously had room to move around in.

[J_D]

Well...........as Brad already knows............I decided to go with a Bend Pak 12,000 lb. four post lift similiar to the one I have at my business. I have four 7000 lb. two post Forward lifts, one 12,000 lb four post lift and one 9,000 lb. Hunter sissor lift at my business.

I have had the Bend Pak four post lift here in my shop at home since March, 2006 and have been happy with it so far.

Again, it is a 12,000 lb lift with two 6,000 lb. rolling jacks so I can pretty much do whatever I want here at home without going to my business (shop) to work on my stuff there.

[Xplantdad]

WOW

Nice Shop you have there, JD! Can I come over and play?

[J_D]

Sure Bruce...........come on over ! ! ! !

Thanks for the compliment.

The shop is a detached from the house...........we built them both at the same time. The shop is 36'X44. My concrete guy wanted to know what kind of airplane I had as my driveway up to the shop from the street is 110'x36' and the approach at the street is 42'.