Autostacker Garage Lift - Initial Impressions
#106
I see you are in Norcal - I had the Autostacker when I lived in San Diego and it was 3-4 years ago so I don't remember who did the install anyway.
Here in NorCal I have a four post challenger lift because my garage is too small for an autostacker. The guy who installed my lift up here is Jim Erwin at JCP Lifts. I don't know if he does Bendpak/Autostacker but he was very prompt to schedule and had the lift I needed in stock so he had me set up in just a couple of days instead of waiting 4-6 weeks for one delivered from the factory.
Here in NorCal I have a four post challenger lift because my garage is too small for an autostacker. The guy who installed my lift up here is Jim Erwin at JCP Lifts. I don't know if he does Bendpak/Autostacker but he was very prompt to schedule and had the lift I needed in stock so he had me set up in just a couple of days instead of waiting 4-6 weeks for one delivered from the factory.
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tourenwagen (09-28-2024)
#109
Hi guys...any new input on the Autostacker? Anyone else with any orders of this? Trying to compare this one for years to the 4 posts. Curious if anyone has other input of why this or the 4 post are better at this point?
Outside of cost of Autostacker, is there any other concern? Anyone have just the 110V one? I like the lack of volume (posts) when not up so has cleaner profile.
Outside of cost of Autostacker, is there any other concern? Anyone have just the 110V one? I like the lack of volume (posts) when not up so has cleaner profile.
#110
I have had both - Autostacker in our house in San Diego (see pics above) and 4 post at our house here in NorCal.
Here are my quick summaries:
Autostacker advantages:
Here are my quick summaries:
Autostacker advantages:
- Much easier to drive on/off since you don't need to mess with ramps. This reduces the time and effort and you use the lift more frequently meaning the upper car doesn't languish for weeks because of laziness of swapping cars
- Easy controls for up/down and locks are automatic
- Rock solid stability (but you do have to bolt it to the floor - and it is HEAVY)
- The whole deck has a bit of a slope to it which can help a bit with door/ceiling clearance as the car is at a slight angle
- No need to be very precise on car placement as it is a full drive on platform
- Control console can be placed wherever you want
- If you are not using the lift for a while (e.g., one of the cars is in the shop for a while), you leave the lift down and just use the spot as a regular parking spot with no tradeoffs. With a 4 post, you are better off leaving the lift up (with no car on it) and parking the remaining car underneath and you still have to deal with ducking your head when getting in and out.
- Cheaper
- You can find smaller footprint 4 posts making it easier to fit in a tight garage
- No scissor mechanism in the way of the lower car's door opening which makes getting in and out easier
- Most can work on 110V (or 220V)
- Can be used as a light duty working lift for things that don't require wheel removal (eg oil changes) and you can get a jack on there if needed. But for a real working lift you want a 2 post anyway
Last edited by RudyP; 05-07-2023 at 08:54 AM.
#111
I have had both - Autostacker in our house in San Diego (see pics above) and 4 post at our house here in NorCal.
Here are my quick summaries:
Autostacker advantages:
Here are my quick summaries:
Autostacker advantages:
- Much easier to drive on/off since you don't need to mess with ramps. This reduces the time and effort and you use the lift more frequently meaning the upper car doesn't languish for weeks because of laziness of swapping cars
- Easy controls for up/down and locks are automatic
- Rock solid stability (but you do have to bolt it to the floor - and it is HEAVY)
- The whole deck has a bit of a slope to it which can help a bit with door/ceiling clearance as the car is at a slight angle
- No need to be very precise on car placement as it is a full drive on platform
- Control console can be placed wherever you want
- If you are not using the lift for a while (e.g., one of the cars is in the shop for a while), you leave the lift down and just use the spot as a regular parking spot with no tradeoffs. With a 4 post, you are better off leaving the lift up (with no car on it) and parking the remaining car underneath and you still have to deal with ducking your head when getting in and out.
- Cheaper
- You can find smaller footprint 4 posts making it easier to fit in a tight garage
- No scissor mechanism in the way of the lower car's door opening which makes getting in and out easier
- Most can work on 110V (or 220V)
- Can be used as a light duty working lift for things that don't require wheel removal (eg oil changes) and you can get a jack on there if needed. But for a real working lift you want a 2 post anyway
I really appreciate your response!
#112
I have had both - Autostacker in our house in San Diego (see pics above) and 4 post at our house here in NorCal.
Here are my quick summaries:
Autostacker advantages:
Here are my quick summaries:
Autostacker advantages:
- Much easier to drive on/off since you don't need to mess with ramps. This reduces the time and effort and you use the lift more frequently meaning the upper car doesn't languish for weeks because of laziness of swapping cars
- Easy controls for up/down and locks are automatic
- Rock solid stability (but you do have to bolt it to the floor - and it is HEAVY)
- The whole deck has a bit of a slope to it which can help a bit with door/ceiling clearance as the car is at a slight angle
- No need to be very precise on car placement as it is a full drive on platform
- Control console can be placed wherever you want
- If you are not using the lift for a while (e.g., one of the cars is in the shop for a while), you leave the lift down and just use the spot as a regular parking spot with no tradeoffs. With a 4 post, you are better off leaving the lift up (with no car on it) and parking the remaining car underneath and you still have to deal with ducking your head when getting in and out.
- Cheaper
- You can find smaller footprint 4 posts making it easier to fit in a tight garage
- No scissor mechanism in the way of the lower car's door opening which makes getting in and out easier
- Most can work on 110V (or 220V)
- Can be used as a light duty working lift for things that don't require wheel removal (eg oil changes) and you can get a jack on there if needed. But for a real working lift you want a 2 post anyway
#114
#115
That said I could see the advantage of not having columns to work around on the garage door side of the lifts.
#116
The beauty of having the pool is that the building work would be limited (in my non-builder mind) to opening up de roof of the basement.
No need to dig deeper for the lift, actually there would be less sand required to fill up the pool (lift needs 82cm deep hole to be installed)
Need drainage created where the liftopening would be.
Pool has separate fuse box etc so less work to upgrade electrics.
I made a quick call to a company that sells and installs lifts and was pretty shocked about the price for lift (75k USD). The guy suggested two lifts instead of one wider as that is more reliable and easier in operating. It would be a telescopic set up goor for 6tons. The price indicated would kill the idea for me as I find it disproportionate compared to other work we also need to do to the house.
I am keen to hear if anyone has experience with such a set-up and get a feel for options and pricing.
Thanks!
#117
It is a Challenger CL4P7 - basically the smallest footprint 4 post I could find. I have very limited space in my garages.
Very good point. I do not have enough room for that (see above) but for those who do, that is a significant convenience advantage.
Not recommending one or the other but on my bendpak four post, I have enough garage length that the ramps are always in the down (ready to drive on) position. I have these C clamps that bendpak sells, but which i had remade slightly thicker, that hold the ramp flat so that at 6'2" I can walk upright under them. I don't have to touch the ramps for driving on or off.
That said I could see the advantage of not having columns to work around on the garage door side of the lifts.
That said I could see the advantage of not having columns to work around on the garage door side of the lifts.
Last edited by RudyP; 11-08-2023 at 10:46 PM.
#118
Do you track the Caymen, what track purpose mods did you do?
Curious as I'm at crossroads for a track car. I've tracked 981, 718 GT4 and 991.2 GT3. Sold my 718 GT4 this year. Thinking to build a Cayman track car (not race car) or get a 991.2 GT3RS should prices come off their inflated level.
Curious as I'm at crossroads for a track car. I've tracked 981, 718 GT4 and 991.2 GT3. Sold my 718 GT4 this year. Thinking to build a Cayman track car (not race car) or get a 991.2 GT3RS should prices come off their inflated level.
#119
I love my autostacker. I got the wider model. It has worked great for me through many cars over the years. With the GT3 FAL is needed to not scrub or you can use some boards. I had to use these with my GT4. Definitely leave some room in the back for the overhang of the rear bumper and wing.
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Chris M. (11-18-2023)
#120
I love my autostacker. I got the wider model. It has worked great for me through many cars over the years. With the GT3 FAL is needed to not scrub or you can use some boards. I had to use these with my GT4. Definitely leave some room in the back for the overhang of the rear bumper and wing.