Opinions on a 4 psot Auto lift ? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

bennett · #1 12-31-2006, 09:32 PM

I am looking to buy a 4 post automotive lift and wondered if there are any real time users or opinions on what to buy??
I am not so sure made in the USA means much anymore and I am sure the Chinese lifts can't be total garbage ... so what to do?
I want the 4 post so I can move it around from garage to side of the house as needed. 2 post won't fly.

all opinions appreciated...

I am looking at this one at the moment.
http://www.pantherlifts.com/9k_service_storage_lift.html

bennett

dkveuro · #2 12-31-2006, 09:43 PM

Product liability means they are safety rated.
I have two twin post chain ( Fork lift style lifting chain.) lifts here...they are 16 and 14 years old....zero down time so far..( no pun intended.

)

Chain lift...not cable...cable lift will need new cable every so often, according to use, weight lifted and enviroment and constant adjustment as cables stretch..

.

#3 12-31-2006, 09:49 PM

They are pretty much all the same design these days. 9000lbs is about the lowest capacity you should look for and get the longest warranty they offer.

It took me and one co-worker about 3 hours to put one together and bleed the hydraulics.

864Lightning · #4 12-31-2006, 10:37 PM

I have been thinking about a Direct lift Pro Park 7.. I think these are made in USA and not much more than the import stuff.

Mustang_man298 · #5 12-31-2006, 10:47 PM

As previously mentioned quality and type of build are indeed factors, and here's another angle to look at. I am in the hobby of restoring vintage autos and custom fabrications. When I looked into a hoist, I knew 4 post was the safest way to go, and also has portability pending build and manufacturer. However I opted to go with a 2 post lift for my needs. Why? The biggest downfall I saw with the 4 posters, was that they were all ramp style lifts, meaning the suspension & body had to be intact to use the lift and could not be serviced on said lift, it would only be good for repairs such as maintenance service and engine/trans repairs. The 2 post uses the arms and pads which come with several adapters and configurations for any need, allowing you to remove body's from frames on frame vehicles, lifting beds & cabs on pickups, & performing suspension or body work on any vehicle. The 2 posts come in clearfloor (no plate across floor but has beam across top) or floorplate (no beam on top and has ramped beam across floor) designs. I got mine from northern tool, decent price, and went with the 10,000lb clearfloor type, as my shop has an 18' ceiling which matched the height of the lift at the top beam, and I felt that to be a more solid design, especially with a thinner floor concrete thickness. I also went with the wide leg profile to allow more versatility of use for larger vehicles (and the tractor). I further reinforced it on the thinner floor by fabricating an extended H-shape foot design that mounted between hoist feet and floor from heavy wall square stock steel, which gives the feet better stability and holding leverage, so as not to need to chisel up my 4" thick floor and pour thicker footings.
-Chris

barry123400 · #6 12-31-2006, 10:48 PM

The service stations especially have been bailing out of service at a rate that makes good originally expensive used lifts cheap and available locally. This may not be so in your area. But if so there are some good buys out there. Just some really good commercial examples cheap.

nazrat · #7 12-31-2006, 11:56 PM

I've looked at several and for my money a 2-post is the way to go. You can do suspension work on them which is one of the primary reasons that I'd want one. Also for my money I'd get a name brand like Bend-Pak. They aren't much (if any) more expensive than the off-brands and you know that it won't be a POS and that parts will be available down the road.

You can get stands to go under the front and back of a vehicle on a 2-post lift for safety.

-Tad

stephenson · #8 01-01-2007, 01:00 AM

Just had 10K assymetric Rotary lift installed - more expensive than Chi products, but at least they are not Chinese built ... I know it sounds too binary, but I would strongly prefer to buy American - and, am willing to pay more to do so, especially when there is a clear quality issue. BTW, portions of the Rotary lift are Euro - but, again, at least they are Communist SOBs ...

Hmmmm ... seems just like yesterday when they knocked down our aircraft (P-3) in international airspace, then held the crew like hostages while they ransacked the aircraft ...

I know we are innocent, but we at least aren't Communist SOBs.

nhdoc · #9 01-01-2007, 07:47 AM

I second the Rotary suggestion. They have a good network of authorized installers and the product itself is very well made. I bought a 2 post 10K lb. asymmentical model a year ago and have been pleased with it so far. The price shouldn't be a factor when it comes to something that you are going to literally put your life under. Spend the extra $1k and get a good one and have it professionally installed by people who only do lifts...that's my advice anyway.

OMEGAMAN · #10 01-01-2007, 10:17 AM

Ditto on the Rotary lift! Owned one and used every day professionally for a few years with NO problems It was a 10,000 lb model and felt stable with a Suburban on it. A hoist isnt much use without the ability to rotate the wheels. And even then the ramps can be in the way.

TimFreeh · #11 01-01-2007, 10:22 AM

I also went with a 2-post lift, when I bought mine. I looked at quite a few manufacturers - IMHO one lift was head and shoulders above anything else I looked at.

http://www.mohawklifts.com/library/brochures/what_makes_a_mohawk.pdf

Of course the downside of a lift built to these standards is that they are about twice as expensive as comparable models from Rotary, Bend-pak (BTW what kind of lift manufacturer would use the word "Bend" as part of the brand name?) or anybody else out there. I was not impressed with plastic slide blocks, overhead cables, sheet metal support columns and manual swing arm locks - I guess this stuff all works OK in the real world but you won't find any of this crap on any Mohawk lift.

engatwork · #12 01-01-2007, 03:56 PM

I've been real please with the 10k pound two post assymetrical lift from Forward Mfg.

http://www.forwardmfg.com

TheDon · #13 01-01-2007, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimFreeh

I also went with a 2-post lift, when I bought mine. I looked at quite a few manufacturers - IMHO one lift was head and shoulders above anything else I looked at.

http://www.mohawklifts.com/library/brochures/what_makes_a_mohawk.pdf

If I was investing in a lift that would be the one for me. Plus they have a W126 on the lift in the brochure

Mustang_man298 · #14 01-01-2007, 10:41 PM

The 2 post I have is a Bend Pak, and one of the features it has is ratcheting safety catches all the way up the posts to prevent a fall in event of the lift failing. It also came with a kit of all of the vehicle adapters for it.
-Chris

Quote:

Originally Posted by nazrat

I've looked at several and for my money a 2-post is the way to go. You can do suspension work on them which is one of the primary reasons that I'd want one. Also for my money I'd get a name brand like Bend-Pak. They aren't much (if any) more expensive than the off-brands and you know that it won't be a POS and that parts will be available down the road.

You can get stands to go under the front and back of a vehicle on a 2-post lift for safety.

-Tad

justinperkins · #15 01-02-2007, 12:51 AM

Why would you want to do a 4-post lift when the 2-post ones are running the same price? Seems like the ramps and stuff would get in the way of a lot of work.