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I've read this thread before and just went back through it, almost bought a 4 post last week, was going to get on the the basic "parking" lifts shown here under various names (all the exact same 8k lift for around $2,100 OTD pricing (I'd pick it up locally.
The weather here delayed me getting it and hauling it up North on my trailer, having to move cars and stuff outside in the rain.
After sleeping on it over the weekend, I've decided to go for the Bend Pack HD9, It will cost about 1/3 more but IMO the Cert and the less finicky Lock Adjustments are a Big positives.
Side note: we have both at our local Shark Tank, the BP-9HD is far superior/sturdier to the standard 8k units out there.
However for just a parking lift and low duty cycles the 8k units look to be OK, just pay close attention when lowering them that all four corners are released.
I agree with Otto, I have the one sliding jack tray and 1 bridge jack that works fine. I think two hydraulic bridge jacks would take to much undercarriage real estate, and those things are very heavy you need a hoist to install and remove them. Just my two cents. Good luck with the purchase.
I'll add to Por917's comment; there's nothing to stop you from putting all 4 feet in the air with a pair of hydraulic jack stands on the lift runners. Just think of those lift runners as the ground, you can use hydraulic jack stands on them the same way you would with a car on the ground, then lift the whole shootin' match over your head.
Works great, costs about $50 delivered from Amazon.
Last edited by Otto Mechanic; 10-17-2017 at 09:26 PM.
Hey guys, I'm looking to install a 4 post car stacking solution in my garage. I noticed a few of you are using them for 928's. Just wondering the specs of your garage and the cars you're using on the lift?
Thanks,
Rich
Here's a post I made in another thread, which may be helpful to those looking at the "4 Post Lift" thread.
Here's one of the garages on our property:
Regarding the door openers, I plan to convert mine (10 ft ceiling) to lift master torsion shaft drive motors. This, when combined with raising the tracks 12-14", will net me another two notches on the lifts. Right now, on one car, I have 1" clearance under the lift. Enough, but I'd like more.
Regarding the Race Ramps: They are AMAZING! I skipped the factory ramps altogether and took the nominal credit. Bought the 48" race ramps, which allow for less "angle" on approach. Check out the clearance to the front air dam on the 928
I can lift the Race Ramps with my little finger, they are that lightweight. Best thing I've bought for use in the garage since, well, the lifts...
This may be too late in this blog but I have a great American Custom lift in my 3 car garage and I recommend it highly. I believe it handles over 12klbs (claimed tested at twice that weight) and never had any problems since I bought it over ten years ago. I have had several cars of different weights, lengths and types including a 2011 Porsche Turbo S; a real heavy 1936 Resto Rod 3 Window Ford that was the heaviest on this lift; a 2012 McLaren 12C and a small 1969 Porsche 912 on it. It came with a easy handling all aluminum platforms to roll the car on the lift plus 4 mobile wheel attachments for each post to move the entire lift with or without a car on it within the garage. The 4 posts design themselves are the largest I've personally ever seen at 10 inches in diameter and round in appearance. This model also came with a heavy steel slide between the runners to use as a jack stand. I bought the floor model right off the display at a California car show. Got a great deal because the manufacturer don't want to ship it back home. He shipped it to an installer I hired home in Florida. The local installer (specialist) received the lift from the manufacturer directly and trucked it to y home for installation. A turn key event without any problems. The height of my garage wasn't an issue in that the garage was designed to receive a lift like this at the time. I believe the height of the garage is at least 18 feet. To operate it properly the lift has to be raised above the last stanchion (welded steel bars that holds the car on the lift in place while stationary) to allow for a release of the loading system. to drop the car slowly within less than a minute.
I am down to my final selections, after much pain and grief. I do like the bendpak, but since I am wanting something beefier, I am either going with the Dannmar D-12 or the Eagle FP-12L.
The Dannmar is ALI certified, but the Eagle is not. That said, Eagle is based about an hour from my home, so I am going to their plant next week to check them out. Almost all the garages around me are equipped with Eagle lifts.
Are those ramps removable? The photo shows them attached with the lift in the air? That could bang your head big time.
Seems a bit pricey, DirectLift (ProPark 9+) also has a N.C. warehouse and the price difference will buy you a sliding jack if you pick it up in N.C. It's also certified so it will be easier to sell if you ever need to.
Yup, ramps are removable. I am a very “stubby” fellow, and hit my head on nothing....
I looked at direct lift, but the difference from them and Eagle is that Eagle actually manufactures and services lifts in NC, just imports the “hobbyist” line, so my thoughts were more towards “service after the sale”.
Also want a little beefier than 9k pounds.....I was even looking at 14k chain drive lifts....but that’s a whole new can of worms.
I’ll look back into direct lifts again later today. Thanks for the input.
Also want a little beefier than 9k pounds.....I was even looking at 14k chain drive lifts....but that’s a whole new can of worms.
I sized mine for the largest vehicle I own, a 2005 Chevy K3500 Dually Crew Cab, and I've put that truck up on the lift with know problems. I also wanted a lift that was wide enough for me to park the Dually under it, and the 9+ fit the bill (barely. I have to be real careful).
Good luck with your search. Local service would be nice. I've had no luck at all getting DirectLift out to fix mine.
Well, my trip to Eagle was amazing. They have a great little showroom in the back of their facility. I ended up looking at their 8000# lift. It was built like a brick sh*thouse.
The sheer size of this thing was wicked. It is huge. The steel is thick, the lock ladders are stamped 1/4” steel plate, and the welding was a work of art. I looked at a friends bargain lift last week, and I will say, Eagle lifts are nothing like the other lifts in this price point.
The sales guy was down to earth, and listened to my concerns and answered my questions. He did not try to talk me in or out of anything, in the end, the lift sells itself.
I will place my order later this week, but I am 99.99% going with this one:
Comes with: lift, 3 drip trays, 1jack tray, 4 wheel stops, and lightweight aluminum ramps, which are removable, and casters, as well as leveling shims and install hardware if you want to bolt it down.
The bridge jacks are also artwork, manual pump, but each weighing in at 300#!
Total out the door with 2 bridge jacks and tax is just over 3k. I am picking it up myself, so no shipping.
What you guys think? I am pretty stoked, as I was planning on spending about 1200$ more because I didn’t think an 8000# lift would be beefy enough.
Pictures from a catalog or online just don’t do it justice.
Looks like you're checking all the right boxes. You have to see it up close and meet the people who make it. Looks a lot like mine at a great price / value. Mine was heavier and carried more weight but the price was higher as well. Suggestion: make sure you have someone professionally install it. I had American Custom Lifts ship the unit directly to my installer (his specialty) in another city who loaded it on his truck and came to my home for installation. Glad I did it. The cost to install was worth the effort.
Hauled and Installed with my son our HD-9 this past weekend, wow some heavy lifting there, beer helped getting local farm hands to help unload the runways
Took some time making room and an inside space to work as heavy rain was in the forecast, had it up on Saturday, Sunday ran the cables and Air, all tested good. Phone went dead on Monday so no final install pics
Thanks to all for the info and suggestions here on what to buy.
Great installation. The platforms are extremely heavy. to move much less get off the truck. Can't be handled by any one person. Several helpers are even better. I just had someone else install it for me as I'm not as young as I once was. I believe it cost me an added $500-$600? Don't remember it was about 9 years ago.
Beer and grilled steaks is all I needed to offer up. About 5 of us dumb old AC guys should be able to assemble the beast on a Saturday. Going to order in the morning, hopefully go pick it up in a week or so. Gotta get the 82 out of the bay and start cleaning/organizing.
10-16-2017, 02:20 PM
