Hoist/Lift Selection

[DM69SS]

I am going to be purchasing a hoist/lift this spring and I am trying to decide between a drive on or one with arms. I would do some mechanical work with it, but the bulk of the use would be storing an extra vehicle and swapping rims/tires. I like the ease of a drive on lift, but it seems it would be easier to swap rims and tires with a lift that uses the arms. I am also assuming it would be better to store the car with the weight unsprung.

I know there are several people on this site that have lifts and I was hoping to get some real world feedback on which type, what some good brands are, etc.??

TIA

[wheelhop]

A four post "drive on" lift would be best if you were just using it to store a car.

[Charley Lillard]

Get a 4 post with the sliding jack. You can change tires etc easily. When these things came out it really advanced 4 posts http://www.yenko.net/attachments/444546-tn_004.JPG

[Charley Lillard]

. http://www.yenko.net/attachments/444547-tn_005.JPG

[Mr70]

How much extra is it with the jack app?

[black69]

I can say only but great things for the new red/white/blue backyard buddy, and you can get the slider jack option for it like charlie shows in the pics. none of the purchase price goes to china either.

[Charley Lillard]

The sliding jacks are right at 500.00 and work great. They are on Ebay.. The width is adjustable for different size lifts.

[bulletpruf]

I have a Direct Lift that I installed in my shop - has the arms. Works great, good price (little less than $2k). Bought from Greg Smith Equipment; got mine in DE, but Greg Smith has a few different outlets. Money well spent.

FYI - pretty sure all are made in China. Assembly instructions were a joke; I've seen more detailed instructions on assembling a 3 legged stool. Direct Lift and other other brand (forget which one) are the best bang for the buck.

Scott

[TDW]

http://www.backyardbuddy.com/

Made in ths USA.

[tjs44]

I have a pair of backyard budddies.They have been in use for almost 6 years with not one issue.Tom

[chads454Ls6]

[ QUOTE ]
Get a 4 post with the sliding jack. You can change tires etc easily. When these things came out it really advanced 4 posts http://www.yenko.net/attachments/444546-tn_004.JPG

[/ QUOTE ]
Charley,is that jack hydralic or a hand jack?

[Charley Lillard]

It is hydraulic that you hand pump. Basically it is a porta power pump hooked to a scissor jack. They also sell ones that are air over hydraulic that you hook a air hose to that uses a butterfly valve. They work great. The lifting arms slide in and out for width and they have extensions that space the pads up.

[edcar70]

I own an automotive repair shop and the best lift I have found to work on cars is a Rotary 2-post 9000# lift. the 4-post lifts require a lot more room. the two posts require a small foot print and make it alot easier to work under the car. The only reason I have a drive on is to do alignments. The rotary lifts are easy to install and cost around 3500 to 4000. just my opinion. ed

[chads454Ls6]

[ QUOTE ]
It is hydraulic that you hand pump. Basically it is a porta power pump hooked to a scissor jack. They also sell ones that are air over hydraulic that you hook a air hose to that uses a butterfly valve. They work great. The lifting arms slide in and out for width and they have extensions that space the pads up.

[/ QUOTE ]

I purchased the backyard buddy with the jack that hooks to the hydralics of the lift and it was 1700 bucks! I would have purchased the hand pump one if they had it. I do not know if they sell the handpump one anymore

[Charley Lillard]

http://www.directlift.com/Four-Post-Lift-Accessories-C18.aspx

[chads454Ls6]

That is a good deal

[TORONADOXS]

I gotta agree with Ed. Iv'e been a wrench for almost 30 years and worked on a lot of lifts. I work on a Rotary 9000# now and it's great. Rotarys are more money, but are definatly worth it. Very easy to set up.

[lzdick]

If you should go with the Rotary lift, I strongly recommend an assymetrical unit.

[Charley Lillard]

I had this discussion on another site. For a two post you need to be sure your slab is probably at least 6" thick. For the average home use i still like the 4 post. harder to make mistakes with a 4 post.

[Mr70]

..is that a dare. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[ORIGLS6]

[ QUOTE ]
For the average home use I still like the 4 post. Harder to make mistakes with a 4 post.

[/ QUOTE ]


Wise words.

[PxTx]

You don't see this too often, but here's a 2 post with a drive on ramp set-up. This was done for a customer who wanted it this way. Ramps were custom made by a fab shop, on a popular lift I sell.

This install is only with 4" of 3500 psi concrete, per the manufacturer's recommendaton. Been up for about 5 years now.

http://home.comcast.net/~pxtx/2postramps.jpg

[rubbinisracing]

I have both, and I like to use the 4 post when the wheels don't come off. It's much quicker to just drive on and off, especially if you work primarily by yourself. The scissor jacks work great but they can get in the way, depending on the service your doing. The 2 post is handy when you need unimpeded access to the underside. The 2 post are also easier to to get around when lowered, they come in handy when lifting the body off and depending on access are much easier to make to approach from a 90 degree turn. If you have a straight shot to drive on the 4 post your good, but if you have to make a 90 deg turn you need much more space.

Ditto on the assymetrical 2 post if you go that way.

Rotary also makes an excellent 4 post lift for hobbyist called the "Revolution".

I have some 4 post lifts that have the caster option and they come in handy when I want to pressure wash the underside; I push it outside and then drive the car on and put it up and your good to go. Reverse the process and take it back inside.

[69 Post Sedan]

Just be sure that everything is safe. I'm not sure what happened here but this Camaro got really messed up.


http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn2/brkyard/Parts/camaro5.jpg

[PxTx]

Looks like an add for Back Yard Buddy. Failure must have occured because it wasn't a BYB.