AirtekHVAC

Thanks for the input Pete. I would guess imported steel....

Petza914

Ron,

Here are some pics and info.







http://backyardbuddy.com/side-by-side-comparison.html

curtisr

The Bendpak will do more than you need. The model pictured is 220 volts. Should you prefer, there are similar models that are 120 volts. You'll find these able to support 9000 pounds including a Bendpak.

If you really want to save $, get 110 volts, drip trays, jack support beam AND jack/rollers, get this from Amazon:

jetson8859

Can check these guys out as well. I have seen this lift and very well made. Supposedly the lifts Richard Petty uses, if you believe the marketing.

https://www.eagleequip.com/product/MS-8000.html

AirtekHVAC

Thanks, I'm still open to different models....playing with some stock I have, and I have a target number, which I haven't hit yet...so I have some time. I will be going for a 230v unit.

2002M3Drew

So far, so good with the Bend-Paks. I think a lot of the problems with lifts come from faulty installation, misuse, or both. I always take my time and double check everything before raising or lowering them.

The lifts were especially handy recently when I needed to lift my Cayenne so that I could replace the driveshaft bearing support bracket.

Jay Wellwood

I've been following this thread for a while now.

When the time comes, I'll go with this one - http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/At...e-Pro-8000-EXT

Might not be the cheapest, but then again - is a lift an area you want to be cheap?

RennPartsDirect

+1. This is the one I am going to get one of these days as well. Not sure why they Atlas brand hasn't been part of this thread. They make some nice lifts...

AirtekHVAC

Still shopping. I have the cash, and will order soon. I really want the bridge jacks as well. With the bridge jacks, I am overbudget with a bendpak. I found this one, and the jacks are like $600 each. Shipping should be less than 600$.

Thoughts?

http://www.completehydraulic.com/lif...sl10000cs.html

Petza914

Those look like the same bridge jacks I have, but I have the sliding versions rather than the rolling versions for compatibility with my Backyard Buddy lift. I bought them from a company called Central Hydraulics, which wasn't best experience, but maybe Complete Hydraulics is a different outfit.

My guys shipped me the manual pump versions. I called and said I ordered the pneumatic ones. They sent me pneumatic pumps drop-shipped from Harbor Freight - one of the 2 arrived damaged. They sent me another. No hoses were included to retrofit the pneumatic pumps in place of the hydraulic manual pumps. Called them again. They sent me hoses that had a hodge-podge of adapters installed on them in order to get the right fittings on both ends - ridiculous and no way I was going to lift any car using those hoses with all those potential failure joints. Here's a photo from the instruction sheet:




I found a local hose maker who made me proper high-pressure hoses with the single correct fitting on each end and I installed them with Teflon tape to ensure no leaks. Cost for the pair of proper hoses was $80. I sent a copy of the receipt back to the company and requested a refund of that amount since that's what it took to get a proper and correct setup of the bridge jacks I ordered from them - they said I could've had hoses made for about $10 and they absolutely would not reimburse me for them. That was the last communication I had with them. The jacks with the air pumps work well - it's just the company and their customer service that sucks.

Based on my experience with the bridge jacks from Cental Hydraulics, no way I'd buy an actual lift from them, but as I said, Complete Hydralics may be a different outfit.

A 4-post lift with open post channels still concerns me though.

Here are a couple shots of the bridge jacks in use though.

AirtekHVAC

Thanks for the pics Pete. I received a quote from backyard buddy, and it was way above budget.

I can swing a bendpak hd-9, but not 2 bridge jacks. I haven’t found generic ones yet, and although the air powered ones look great, I’m not opposed to the manual pump ones.

in the link I posted, I could score the lift, and 2 of the air bridge jacks and remain under budget. I do want some quality though, and their lifts don’t look like any of the Chinese ones I have seen, so I am not sure who makes them. I will call them today.

Bulvot

Having used my HD9 a lot over the last 7 years, I wouldn't skimp on the lift just to save some money. There will be times that you will miss the safety catch on one corner due to not going up high enough before letting it back down. The lift will twist until you catch it. Normally that should only be an inch or two, but each time it happens you put a little unusual stress on the lift. It happens. You don't want to worry each time if your lift can handle it. It's very well built, durable, reliable and well thought out. Worth the expense.

95% of the time you only need one bridge jack, so you could just start with one and get a second down the road.

If you're looking to save money, what about one of these:

http://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/accessories/jp-3.aspx

$145 here: http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/...ndpak-jp-3.htm

Or:

http://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/accessories/jp-6.aspx

$330 here: http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/...ndpak-jp-6.htm

AirtekHVAC

That is what I was going to do if I got the bendpak.

The lift, (1) trolley jack, the jack tray, and 2 bottle jacks put me at the top of my budget, with no room for the wiring and air lines. I can do it, but had hoped to use budget dollars only, not bill money.

If one of the generic trolley jacks will work on the bendpak, my problem would be solved.

That said, I have a 7000# suburban and a 6000# Audi. The rest of the vehicles in my herd are less tha 3000#, so a 10000# lift should be adequate.

Otto Mechanic

It's hard to be sure since these retailers often take the same lift and re-brand it to make it hard to compare pricing. If you find a lift with comparable features they'll argue their product is different somehow making it better. Pretty much all of these lifts come from China. Check the certifications though, those are important.

That said, this looks a lot like the ProPark 9+ lift I've had for the past 6 years along with the rolling jack, which really is essential if you're doing any work with the wheels off and for me that's almost everything.

The prices look about the same, I didn't check the exact specs but they look comparable.

Mine works fine, no regrets. The main seal on the hydraulic piston leaks a little and I've never been able to get a response from the warranty or parts department but it's only a nuisance so far and I've got more important things to fix It took about two days to put it together using an engine hoist, if you had a forklift it might go quicker but if you're careful, smart and you have enough flat space in your shop one person can do it alone with a hoist.

I tell folks it's been the smartest tool investment I ever made. I'd never consider doing repair or restoration work without one.

Otto Mechanic

PS: I'd consider 2 rolling jacks a luxury. I have one sliding jack tray and one rolling jack, which works fine for me. In the rare event I need to jack four points at once I use piston jacks in the sliding tray. The last time I used it that way was to support an engine while the front wheels were up and in that case two rolling jacks wouldn't have worked anyway since there isn't enough clearance.