Those with garage lifts, need some help deciding...
#1
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Those with garage lifts, need some help deciding...
I tried a search and came up with little info.
Well we are getting settled into the in new house and I'm getting the garage in order. I plan the coat the garage floor myself and next will be the lift. I'm wanting a 4 post for storage and looking at several brands. What I am seeing is the large majority is outsourced to China, big surprise. While I'm not looking for an expensive professional grade lift I want something that is safe (2+ safety locks) and is certified. I will not be lifting anything really heavy so a 7-10K pound lift will suffice.
Couple brands I'm looking at is Benpak and Direct lift.
Any recommendations?
Well we are getting settled into the in new house and I'm getting the garage in order. I plan the coat the garage floor myself and next will be the lift. I'm wanting a 4 post for storage and looking at several brands. What I am seeing is the large majority is outsourced to China, big surprise. While I'm not looking for an expensive professional grade lift I want something that is safe (2+ safety locks) and is certified. I will not be lifting anything really heavy so a 7-10K pound lift will suffice.
Couple brands I'm looking at is Benpak and Direct lift.
Any recommendations?
#2
Race Director
Member Since: Jan 2000
Location: Corsicana, Tx
Posts: 12,626
Received 1,894 Likes
on
923 Posts
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
2017 C2 of Year Finalist
I've had several Direct Lifts...no issues. My buddies all bought them too after playing with mine. The first was a ProPark 8 plus...and the last two have been Pro Park 9's so my F-250 4x4 4 door pickup will fit on it. I sold the last one with my house/shop when I moved....so as soon as new shop was built I ordered another one.
I looked at many of them in person before I bought the first one and at the end of the day the Direct Lift gave the most bang for the buck.
JIM
I looked at many of them in person before I bought the first one and at the end of the day the Direct Lift gave the most bang for the buck.
JIM
#3
Nam Labrat
Member Since: Sep 2013
Location: New Orleans Loo-z-anna
Posts: 33,936
Received 4,201 Likes
on
2,757 Posts
Here's a shortcut link that might help also......
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...t=GARAGE+LIFTS
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...t=GARAGE+LIFTS
#4
Team Owner
Thread Starter
I've had several Direct Lifts...no issues. My buddies all bought them too after playing with mine. The first was a ProPark 8 plus...and the last two have been Pro Park 9's so my F-250 4x4 4 door pickup will fit on it. I sold the last one with my house/shop when I moved....so as soon as new shop was built I ordered another one.
I looked at many of them in person before I bought the first one and at the end of the day the Direct Lift gave the most bang for the buck.
JIM
I looked at many of them in person before I bought the first one and at the end of the day the Direct Lift gave the most bang for the buck.
JIM
Did you get the lift locally, if so whom and did you set it up yourself?
#5
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Here's a shortcut link that might help also......
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...t=GARAGE+LIFTS
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-g...t=GARAGE+LIFTS
#6
Race Director
I bought a 2 post from Greg Smith equipment about 5 years ago. It would not fit in my current garage so I sold it. I now have a 4 post from Greg Smith which is working out just fine also. They are an hour from me so I went down with a car trailer and had them drop the package on the trailer. I disassembled it on the trailer and put it in the garage my self. The next day i set it up myself in about 4 hours. A 4 post is a very easy setup. It weighed in at 2000 lbs and the ramps are quite heavy so my floor jack helped me out a lot. I have world on cars with the Bend Pak and they are a nice lift also.
#7
Team Owner
We just did a two post in my buddies shop. We drilled the cement and installed the threaded achor bolts. He opted to do the epoxy floor later. Which is a smart thing. Between the drilling and the fork lift to raise the beams. Lifting the beams caused them to drag across the cement and up into the upright position. If it was painted you would have had to cover the area with plywoood. It was the big lift because he works on big 3500 4x4 diesel
He had stubbed out the power before the cement pour.
He had stubbed out the power before the cement pour.
#9
Team Owner
Thread Starter
Yeah I just need to get a quote on shipping from Greg Smith, they have the Pro Park 8s in in stock inAustin. It will cost me $200 tax so I'm up to $2400 not including shipping. I can get the Bendpak HD9 for $2835 delivered.
#13
Melting Slicks
When buying a 4 post lift most any of them will lift what ever You are going to Lift. Its what Your going to put under it that matters most. The one I got is extra wide and extra tall. I have a Silverado HD and I still need to fold the Mirrors in to clear. I think You will find many brands that are basically the same thing and made in the same place. If You have a standard 2 car garage You may consider getting the castors so that You can put a car on it turn the lift sideways and up against the back wall then You can drive 2 cars nose in under it just like You did before You had a lift. If Your not going to do this skip the Castors I have had mine 10+ years and have never used mine once. The Bend Paks and some others use can Air to lock the Locks. This may or may not be an advantage, in a pro shop its probably good as they always have air pressure up, at home You may have to wait till your compressor charges. Lots to think about. If it was me, I'd get the biggest tallest one that will fit in your garage.
#14
Team Owner
I got a 4-post from CompleteHydraulic (Indiana) several years ago. Since I only have a 2-1/2 car garage with cabinets taking up space at the back wall, I got a lift that was a little bit lighter duty and a bit shorter than their 'basic' unit. It still has enough capacity for my Saturn van, and presents no problems with a '65 Grand Prix, either.
I do have a 12 foot high ceiling, though. But, 10 foot will allow you to get another car under with the Corvette above.
If you get a 4-post and do not buy a bridge jack, make sure you purchase an extra heavy-duty drip pan that will allow you to set bottle or floor jacks in it for lifting portions of the car.
I do have a 12 foot high ceiling, though. But, 10 foot will allow you to get another car under with the Corvette above.
If you get a 4-post and do not buy a bridge jack, make sure you purchase an extra heavy-duty drip pan that will allow you to set bottle or floor jacks in it for lifting portions of the car.
Last edited by 7T1vette; 02-19-2014 at 10:26 PM.
#15
Race Director
Member Since: Jan 2000
Location: Corsicana, Tx
Posts: 12,626
Received 1,894 Likes
on
923 Posts
2020 C2 of the Year - Modified Winner
2020 Corvette of the Year (performance mods)
C2 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
2017 C2 of Year Finalist
I picked it up and assembled it by myself this time. Well...actually my wife helped swing the platforms into place and flip them over. I left it on the car trailer and just started building it from there. Worked perfect and then pulled trailer out from under it. I used a cherry picker to help position the heavy stuff...but otherwise no drama. If you have a buddy or two to help it can be a fun afternoon project.
Get the jack setup...it's nice. The ProPark's come with a good jack tray for a bottle jack, the casters (real handy) and drip trays.
JIM
#16
Pro
I tried a search and came up with little info.
Well we are getting settled into the in new house and I'm getting the garage in order. I plan the coat the garage floor myself and next will be the lift. I'm wanting a 4 post for storage and looking at several brands. What I am seeing is the large majority is outsourced to China, big surprise. While I'm not looking for an expensive professional grade lift I want something that is safe (2+ safety locks) and is certified. I will not be lifting anything really heavy so a 7-10K pound lift will suffice.
Couple brands I'm looking at is Benpak and Direct lift.
Any recommendations?
Well we are getting settled into the in new house and I'm getting the garage in order. I plan the coat the garage floor myself and next will be the lift. I'm wanting a 4 post for storage and looking at several brands. What I am seeing is the large majority is outsourced to China, big surprise. While I'm not looking for an expensive professional grade lift I want something that is safe (2+ safety locks) and is certified. I will not be lifting anything really heavy so a 7-10K pound lift will suffice.
Couple brands I'm looking at is Benpak and Direct lift.
Any recommendations?