Opinions... Best Lift - Price No Consideration!

[georgethedog]

I know there are several lift threads and I have read them. But I am looking for opinions of what the best 4 post lift is regardless of price.

I try to save lots of places. I, like most of us on here, am not made of money; but I won't scrimp on a lift when my wife will be driving under it everyday. Price is not in this equation, period. With that being said, what is the best/safest garage lift??? Thanks.

 

[FLATOUT]

Rotary is at the top of my list. I just purchased a Direct Lift Pro 10 D 2 poster for my garage because price was a little bit of an issue to me.

 

[01sapphirebob]

If price is no issue go with a Back Yard Buddy. Built right here in the U.S.A. and its great quality!!

 

[CEJ]

...go with a Back Yard Buddy...

How tall is your garage ceiling? Did you install your BYB yourself or have it installed? Thanks.

 

[Brian GTS]

I have 2 Rotary (Revolution) lifts. The quality is superb and I have had no issues with them at all. I second that a Backyard Buddy is a great lift, but they were significantly higher in price, and I really couldn't justify the additional cost. They also couldn't get me a lift in less than 3 months at that time. Great lift though.

 

[LifeIsGood]

Rotary Revolution...I've got it's step brother the Direct-Lift.

 

[Matt M PA]

When I went shopping for a lift...while cost was a factor...it was not above safety, either.

I bought a BendPak HD9. ALI rated, duplicate safety locks at each corner, air-locks as opposed to mechanical linkage. Rated for 9000 pounds. Mine arrived in about a week, if memory serves.

I remember that one of the lifts I considered (I think was the Direct Lift, but it's a couple years ago) had the top cable plate at each column "hanging" over the edge of the column. On the BendPak, this plate sits on top of the column...not over the edge. Perhaps it's a non-issue but it seemed to be not as sturdy.

One important thing to remember is that these things when shipped are heavy. Very heavy. You will not be able to remove it from the truck without a forklift or similiar equipment. Mine was shipped to a friend's body shop, then brought on their rollback.

I set mine up myself. Some club members came over and we used an engine hoist for the ramps. I spent the better part of the next day finishing up. I saved alot of money and now know how to adjust, etc, this lift.

Finally, after I bought my lift, I found this. I do realize it is written by BendPak but some good info. A Study in Lift Design by BendPak

 

[georgethedog]

Thanks for the information so far! Keep it coming guys. Thanks a bunch.

 

[past ohio]

Matt M....I felt the same way about the backyard buddy, as you see in the picture from "sapphirebob" the cables hang down the side, I bought a lift from St. Louis years ago that "pulled" down from inside the 12 inch square box, and had very visible locking blocks, if I remember you are instructed to lower and raise the Backyard everytime you use it to restraighten out the posts again, I thought also their prices especially paying Ohio taxes...makes theirs less attractive...many people here only use their lifts several times per year to raise and store a car, if needed to move up and down more often, then definitely go with a revolution brand, they are the best I have ever seen..my $.02

 

[jwolf]

I know there are several lift threads and I have read them. But I am looking for opinions of what the best 4 post lift is regardless of price.

I try to save lots of places. I, like most of us on here, am not made of money; but I won't scrimp on a lift when my wife will be driving under it everyday. Price is not in this equation, period. With that being said, what is the best/safest garage lift??? Thanks.

At the University for student use we have had several brands but now we only use Rotary. They seem to hold up to abuse.

 

[Dom426h]

Four Post AUTOLIFTERS Lift Collapsed - Warnings (IMAGES) - Corvette Forum

Also, Have you watched the video on GregSmiths Website:
What You Need To Know About 2 Post Lifts...
"Complete Testing And Complete Failure
of a 10,000 lb. Two Post Lift"

 

[01sapphirebob]

How tall is your garage ceiling? Did you install your BYB yourself or have it installed? Thanks.

My ceiling is almost 10 feet tall and I had BYB insatll the lift for me.

if I remember you are instructed to lower and raise the Backyard everytime you use it to restraighten out the posts again$.

This would be news to me. All they told me is that I may need to adjust the cables from time to time if they get out of alignment.

 

[georgethedog]

I think I am edging toward a BendPak... I am doing more research now on their website. BendPak seems to be a good lift from what I have read.

 

[fastmd]

If you are really worried get a commercial lift. I have 2 lifts, one residential(Greg smith) and one commercial 2 post (rotary). There is no comparison in build quality. But I trust both my lifts...

 

[Matt M PA]

I read the link on the Corvette forum. In that thread, it was the opinion that had the posts been bolted to the floor, the issue could have been avoided or less severe.

While the instructions for that lift may have required bolting to the floor...at least with the BendPak, it was not. In fact, BendPak offers a kit to put wheels on each column that allow the lift to be rolled...even while loaded. Bolting to the floor is not required with the BendPak....you could do so I'd desired.

 

[SSGSNAKE]

I have two Cytech lifts that I have had for over 10 years with the wheel kit have moved with a car on the lifts around the garge and no problems. They where not cheep. If I was purchasing today would most likely buy the Rotary. Lifts.

 

[eucharistos]

I know there are several lift threads and I have read them. But I am looking for opinions of what the best 4 post lift is regardless of price.
.......

i know you said 4 post, but if price is not a consideration have you considered a single post

http://forums.viperclub.org/general-viper-discussion/618164-car-lift-my-garage-2.html

beg at post #47

(treesnake's garage - very high on the cool factor w/ function)

a buddy of mine also has one, f-car on top, p-car on bottom, it is on my wish list

 

[TrackAire]

I read the link on the Corvette forum. In that thread, it was the opinion that had the posts been bolted to the floor, the issue could have been avoided or less severe.

While the instructions for that lift may have required bolting to the floor...at least with the BendPak, it was not. In fact, BendPak offers a kit to put wheels on each column that allow the lift to be rolled...even while loaded. Bolting to the floor is not required with the BendPak....you could do so I'd desired.

That Corvette link is 5 years old. I do believe that 99% of the lift failures or problems are operator error or lack of maintenance.

I've got a DirectLift 9000 lb unit. Use it to store the Viper but also service an H1 and a diesel Excursion. Once the system is settled back into the locks, I don't see how any quality lift could fail. But, if the cable breaks and the locks don't catch, you could end up with a tweaked lift. At SEMA the DirecLift guys claimed that my lift will hold 3 times its rated weight. I don't think a weight test is the issue....they should test the lifts locking systems with weight on it and have the cable fail. That would really show if the locks will actually catch the load before it crashed down.

That got me thinking, since my lift comes with dollies to lift itself off the groud so it can be moved, why couldn't you build some strap steel connectors that connect the posts in the front, rear and side to side. This might reduce the chance for a leg to kick out under a worst case scenario and still allow the lift to be portable for those like me that do not want to bolt it down. You could use the mounting holes in the posts feet to connect them together and it would be easy to remove if you had to.

There have been a few decent earthquakes in the last 40 years in California...does anybody have pics or reports of cars falling off lifts due to an earthquake (whether at a mechanics shop or home lift)? Haven't ever heard of a mechanic getting killed from a car falling off a lift during a tremor, figured it would definately make the news.

Cheers,
George