2 Post Lift - Local Recommendations/Availability (1 Viewer)

[frogers935]

Recently remodeled my garage and now have room not only to fit my truck in but to put in a lift (15' ceiling). My ideal plan is to buy a good used lift and install it myself. Looking for suggestions or leads on anything local. Also welcome any insight from anyone who has done this themselves, from how you transported to install.

Depending on my patience I would also consider something new so any local distributors recommendations?

Finally fits inside with room to spare...

 

[Stumpalama]

Recently remodeled my garage and now have room not only to fit my truck in but to put in a lift (15' ceiling). My ideal plan is to buy a good used lift and install it myself. Looking for suggestions or leads on anything local. Also welcome any insight from anyone who has done this themselves, from how you transported to install.

Depending on my patience I would also consider something new so any local distributors recommendations?

Looks good!
@OTRAMM has lots of experience with lifts... new ones don't seem all that expensive either, considering there doesn't seem to be a huge difference in pricing between new and used.

 

[amgraham]

When disassembled a regular car trailer is plenty to haul a 2 post, hammer drill and anchors to install, basic wiring, adjustment. I see them pop up on craigslist or facebook pretty often. Best bet with used is to find a shop going out of business or something so you can see it in operation first rather than just buying it in a pile. Make sure there's no leaks and the cables aren't frayed (or just factor in buying new cables if they are old). Definitely shop new though as well and you may find a good enough deal to not have to mess with used.

 

[Crusha]

Greg Smith Equipment in Delaware. No sales tax.

Website under maintenance

I have one of these , but in the 9K version, and it lifts my built 80 with no issues.

Make sure your floor is thick enough to support/attach a lift.

 

[captainva]

I looked into this. Moving one seems like a massive pain to me since they weigh so much. Also avoid any chinese no name lift unless you get one with at least double the rated capacity they state. There are plenty of videos online where they show the arms of the cheap lifts bending when lifting the rated weight

 

[OTRAMM]

I just put in the 9k platinum from Greg Smith. It blows the pile of junk Bendpak that was here when we moved in away. It's Chinese but ALI certified and very nicely built. I'll likely buy another. Taking down and transporting one would suck. We used a tractor to unload ours from the delivery truck then used the gantry crane to move it inside the shop. The gantry made it fairly easy to get the towers upright as well.

 

[rrc swb]

Check out MaxJack.

 

[matzell]

Get a 10k if you can. Look at the size of the base plate as well. The larger the better. Challenger makes good lifts, Rotary is the top but $$. I have both of those at work. I have a Bendpack at home. The extra wide version. Makes it nice with a large vehicle. Asymetric in my opinion is better than symetric. Look at the lift options, normally cheaper to buy it all together. "truck" adapters to make the pads taller. Typical are 3" and 6" stackable. I would get the flat pads that have the rubber on top and a set of "goal post" style pads that craddle the frame.

 

[ace10]

Bought two 4 post lifts from Advantage last year. Plan to buy two more this Spring.

Real Garage Life - High Quality 2-Post Car Lifts and 4-Post Car Lifts

Discover Real Garage Life, your trusted source for high-quality 2 post and 4 post car lifts. Our lifts are designed for low garage ceilings, car collectors, car restoration specialists, and DIY Automotive Enthusiasts.

www.advantagelifts.com

Good company. Their stuff is all from China, but virtually all brands are imported.

I worked with Stacey Mack. Seemed like a straight shooter. They will offer better pricing if you contact them.

My lifts arrived on a roll back from their location up in PA. The driver put the lift packages right into the garage. They were the XLT models.

 

[frogers935]

Awesome feedback, thanks everyone.

Still some decisions to make but the idea of having the lift shipped to my house as opposed to disassembling and relocating my self is appealing. It seems an ALI certified is the way to go if I am doing a Chinese lift (Atlas or Challenger). I was set on getting an overhead 10k to be on the safe side and take advantage of my 15' ceiling. I still have a month or two before I am ready so keeping an eye out for a used Rotary or Mohawk too.

Now to decide on a floor coating...

 

[ace10]

Regarding the concrete, is it a fresh slab or is the thickness otherwise known?


Regarding ALI-cert, there are probably dozens of discussion over on garagejournal.com regarding the value of it. And an entire sub forum on the topic of floors. I'm doing large format commercial porcelain in my big garage.

To me, following the appropriate safety procedures every time you use the lift, whether 2 or 4 post, far outweighs a certification.

$0.02

 

[Crusha]

Regarding the concrete, is it a fresh slab or is the thickness otherwise known?

My lift ended up costing me twice as much due to thin concrete in my shop. Had to have the old concrete torn out, and a new slab poured. I forget what the actual specs are for recommended thickness.

The last thing you want is your lift post hardware pulling out of the floor!

 

[Stumpalama]

My lift ended up costing me twice as much due to thin concrete in my shop. Had to have the old concrete torn out, and a new slab poured. I forget what the actual specs are for recommended thickness.

The last thing you want is your lift post hardware pulling out of the floor!

Can't you just have appropiate sized squares repoured for the lift uprights?

 

[matzell]

Can't you just have appropiate sized squares repoured for the lift uprights?

Yes. Normally a 4x4 square tied in and under existing floor under each post min 4" thick. I always do 6-8". Drill your holes all the way through the concrete. That way is you take the lift out, you unbolt and knock the bolts below floor level. If not you have to cut them off flush.

 

[frogers935]

Original slab was 4". One side had settled and had a crack. The solution was to dig a center trench to solid soil, use rebar to secure and pour new concrete on top. The center trench is 18" wide and 2' deep, I want one of the lift posts to sit on this (at least 2 bolts). The other side of the lift will be on ~7-8" of combined (new & old) concrete.

 

[ace10]

Advantage is running a special (close-out) on the Challenger E12 model

$3700
Pricing normally runs in the $5K range.

Challenger E12 ALI Heavy-Duty Symmetric 2 Post Lift 12,000lb

Scratch & Dent Special Challenger’s E12 is the perfect economic 2-post lift for servicing trucks and other vehicles up to 12,000 lbs. Heavy-duty 2-stage front and 2-stage rear arms offer symmetric lifting capability. Also, adjustable column height accommodates higher profile vehicles while...

www.advantagelifts.com

No affiliation

 

[logicbyondreaso]

Reviving a 3 year old thread...
@frogers935 what 2 post lift did you settle on? Thoughts?

@OTRAMM - Do you prefer to lift the 80 and 100 symmetrically or asymmetrically? I am looking at an Advantage AL-SC10 and a Challenger CL10V3 as options. Big price gap between them two. The Challenger uses their "versymmetric" system allowing a hybrid of symmetry.

 

[CondeCruiser]

I have the 9k lb from these guys and really like it. If I remember correctly, I paid $3600 installed. Great warranty and North American parts used.

Car Lifts in Virginia | The Lift SuperStore Virginia

Are you looking for a safe, quality car lift in Virginia? The Lift SuperStore Virginia is located in the town of Orange, just outside of Charlottesville.

liftsuperstore.com

 

[OTRAMM]

Our two main lifts are Atlas 9k Platinums with symmetrical arms. They make it a real pain to open the doors on the lift. But for the price difference we just roll forward a few feet for door open work.

 

[frogers935]

Better late than never.... Ended up with this Advantage 10k. Posts up but still some work to do to get it running. Solid construction, install directions suck. Wil post up some more feedback one I run it a bit.