Oshin11

I hear bend pak makes the best scissor lift, but at the same time its 1700.00USD. It lifts 4 feet as well. Hanmecson makes a lift that raises to 52 inches and is 1300-1400 dollars but I cant find it anywhere. Harbor freight makes a lift that lifts 39 inches and is only 999.00 dollars. Recommendations? I think bend pak is out of the question for me, too expensive. I am trying to find the hanmecson and its between that one and the harbor freight one. What do you guys think?

Amber Gramps

It all depends on how you do the math on this one. the Bend is $32 per inch of lift. the Harbor is $25 per inch of lift. the differance is 13 inches and $300-$400. Now, would you pay that kind of money to have use of that many inches? What would you do with that many extra inches anyway? Motor drop?

blake

Also look into Greg Smith Equipment (Atlas Pro 6MR =$1299). Many Rennlisters chose that brand as it is cheaper than the BendPak and reputably just as a good. Here is that link: http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Mi...Lifts-s/60.htm

I went with BendPak because I have obsessed over them for years. I bought mine in March from ASEDEALS.COM, and it looks like the price has gone up $150.

Good luck with your purchase. I have never been a fan of Harbor Freight quality, so do be careful...

Oh - one last thing. Make sure that the lift has sturdy locking plates. Last thing you would want is your car to fall down on top of you...

-Blake

Oshin11

I am pretty sure 39 inches is plenty for a motor drop. I wonder how high this greg smith goes since its only 300 more than the Harbor Freight 39 inch lift. Even 1000 dollars is a lot for me but I justify it by safety, I always feel iffy with just jack stands. And I do believe a rennlister had an accident recently where the front end feel on his face/upper chest....to me thats 1300.00 USD WELL SPENT. Plus one clutch swap and you've already made like 800.00 dollars in shop costs back haha.

Oshin11

Hmm Greg Smith has a master scissor lift that lifts 61 inches and is only 1095.00 USD but they only sell it in Delaware How much is shipping on the 1300.00 Greg Smith Pro 6MR? Because Northern Tool offers the bend pak at 1740.00 shipping included. I would think shipping on a 1000 lb lift would be pretty expensive.

Peter Zimmermann

I bought a Bend Pak low rise vehicle lift (6K lb. capacity) in 1999, it is still working perfect with no hydraulic fluid leaks. At the time it was about $1100 (they have one called a "portable" that's a couple hundred dollars more) delivered, and anytime that I need more car height I use wood blocks between the hoist and car. I've built a PCA Club Race car on it (from start to finish), I've used it to do a few engine in & outs, and many services/repairs. My only complaint is that you have to learn how to lift a 911 without damaging the belly of the car (plenty of wood in different sizes!). Harbor Freight? I use a bearing press from them (and I buy my latex gloves there), but I would never work under something that I bought from them!

Oshin11

Hmmm Petes wisdom, I guess its time to bust out the credit card lol.

Peter Zimmermann

Please remember that doing CV joints, throttle linkage, heater and other under-car tasks still requires a creeper, so there is considerable up and down that isn't necessary when using a walk-under style lift. But, in my opinion, it really makes a lot of jobs much easier and safer. Speaking of creepers, get a good one. There is nothing more irritating than rolling over an extension cord, and then while trying to get unstuck have one or two wheels fall off!

Oshin11

I was given a decent creeper for xmas, but I wasn't trying to get away from buying a creeper. I just hate working in such a confined area where the engine is like 6 inches from my face I value my life to much to lose it because 1 out of the 100 times I used jack stands I made a small mistake and the car fell on me or something.

Wannabe

I swapped my old vW bug tranny all by myself just using a jack and jackstands. Not sure a lift is any safer or easier as jackstands . I say just get some good jack stands. The only way they can fail is if you use them improperly or it shears the pin.

blake

Also note that resale value on the Eagle, Bend-Pak and Greg Smith lifts are high.... If you keep it maintained, expect to sell it for over $1000 used....

-Blake

Oshin11

Yea Greg Smith shipping is through the roof, turns out to be more costly then bend pak which ships free. I will look at Bend Pak in the future but for now I got 4 Rhino Ramps (8K lbs cap.) for 60 dollars and 4 12 ton jacks, that should get my car 3 feet off the ground and ill have the ramps as a double-safety. ended up <200USD, good alternative for now.

Amber Gramps

Please post the pictures. This is gonna be good. 36 inches on ramps? What am I missing?

Do the jacks go 36 inches? So you just put one under each corner and jack away?

so it's a big version of the $30 x 12 inch jacks I got at Pep-boys? I get it now.

Oshin11

Dougie boy! More like Dougie old man :P I have 4 of the small 3 ton jacks, but they just dont give enough height, and I hate jacking my car up side to side with the jack pad so I devised a clever idea. Buy 4 Rhino ramps. Drive the front end up onto the first two ramps. Then jack up the rear and get the rear wheels on the other 2 ramps. This should be good for most inspections and small jobs like oil changes. To get up to 30+ inches you would use the 12 ton jacks (lift of 30 inches) and just some lumber underneath if necessary. So while the car is on the ramps, you can now slide a floor jack under the front which is almost impossible when the 911 is on the floor. Jack up the front until you can get the 12 ton jacks under the front of the car. Now do the rear. I find that this step process makes it much easier than going side to side with the 911 jack pad. To lower car, lift and remove rear 12 ton jacks and lower rear onto ramps. Then lower front from 12 ton jacks to ramps. Then lower rear to floor, then drive off the front ramps. I cant wait until all this stuff arrives and I'll take a video or pictures of the process

Edit: 12 ton jack stands from harbor freight (supposedly one of the few good things from that store): 59.99 per pair + tax/ship = 140.00 USD

Rhino ramps: 60.00 USD for four and free shipping from amazon.com.

Total cost 200.00 vs ~1900.00 for a bend pak....I think a decent alternative for someone who cant afford the divine bend pak haha.

Peter Zimmermann

Just be careful how you use all those different lifting/support devices. I've worked on a fairly large number of P-cars on my little hoist (now priced at $1398 delivered), and never once, while I was under a car, did I worry about an EARTHQUAKE! It's always a good idea to stick your floor jack somewhere under the end of the car that you're working on for a little additional safety.