Auto Lifts

[enio45]

I'm shopping for 2 double park type lifts for my new garage...i think there was a thread on this some yrs back but cannot find it. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

Any advise or experience from the members would be appreciated.

[Mr. T]

I have heard nothing but positive things about "Back Yard Buddy" lifts. I am actually looking to buy one myself this winter.

[kwhizz]

I bought a Superior Lift http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bs.gif...........A Piece of Junk.......go with the Backyard Buddy........

Ken http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[KevinW]

Ed, My recommedation is a backyard buddy. I bought one and it is built solid. No problems so far. See my post on TC about installing it.

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=5565&highlight=backyard+buddy

And yes, you will need something like the Kubuto to lift the panels, the one with the ram was the heaviest!

[enio45]

Anyone use the double park brand?

Kevin, good pics and writeup on your purchase and installation...

[JRSully]

Try www.revolutionlifts.com. (http://www.revolutionlifts.com.) I bought one and the quality and performance is great. It is made by Rotary, who make most of the commercial lifts in the US. I was able to make a deal with the marketing/sales person at Rotary/Revolution and saved a lot off the list price, he even threw in a caster/wheel kit for nothing. US made and one of the only units that is independently tested by an outside safety firm, paid $500 to have it professionally installed, well worth it. Check www.garagejunkies.com (http://www.garagejunkies.com) for more info on lifts. Good luck SULLY

[GRB]

kwhizz - what's wrong with your Superior? I've had mine 4 or 5 years with no problem. When I move I am going to have those weak threaded rods on each end replaced with steel rods.

[shor]

<font color="red"> ""what's wrong with your Superior?"" </font>
those weak threaded rods on each end!

[kwhizz]

[ QUOTE ]
kwhizz - what's wrong with your Superior? I've had mine 4 or 5 years with no problem. When I move I am going to have those weak threaded rods on each end replaced with steel rods.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's O.K. ........But the B-B unit is built Much better...When my unit is lowered, and you relax the cables, the cables have tendency to come off the pulleys (Horse S$%t) design.....the first time that happened I had the lift about 4' off the ground and one of the cables had come off the pulley next to the lift post ( where it goes from Horizontal to Vertical) the cable was wedged between the plastic cover and the lock collar that keeps the pulley on the shaft...anyhow, the weight of the car popped the lock collar off the shaft like it was shot out of a gun.....luckily it didn't hit anything and the cable came off the shaft and that end of the lift droppedabout a foot or so....so now the car was teetering back and forth (the Gold 70 in this month's members ride section)....the lift was too high to get a floor jack under it the support it and I was freaking out......at this time because there was no tension on two of the cables, the cables came off the pulleys underneath the unit........I managed to nurse it back down (because it was on an angle, none of the safety locking mechanisms could engage)and in doing so two of the cables shredded and when I finally got it back to the ground there were only a few strands left.......when I called to complain about the "Stupid" design of not having a safety feature to keep the cables correctly positioned on the pulleys..I was politely blown off......but they at least sent me a new set of cables at no charge as they were covered under warranty......Yeah, Right..
I have since made my own guides to correct this issue........I was Lucky.........But we don't want to depend on Luck......Do we

Ken http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[Stefano]

Speaking to light duty storage/work lifts; Look at the shipping weight to provide an idea of the quality of the materials used. There is a big difference between mfgs.

I have used the Perfect Park for over 10 years with only minor issues due to operators fault. I had a cable jump a pulley when untensioned, but I should have had that cable tensioned properly to begin with.

I added 4 more two years ago, again no issues. I use one as a service lift and the others for storage.

I have never bolted any to the ground and are completely stable with no issues,if used properly. You do have to be careful when lowering, so that you have the post locks fully disengaged or one might catch and the car will tilt and may slide off the ramp.

I will be adding two more soon, but want to check out the new style side lifts first.

[enio45]

Is Perfect Park the brand? I could not find it?

[Stefano]

www.liftsunlimited.com/products.html (http://www.liftsunlimited.com/products.html)

[GRB]

kwhizz - that exact thing happened to me but I was able to get it down somehow without damaging anything. Putting those cables back on was a nightmare! I learned not to let the cables fully relax from that ordeal. How did you fix it so that couldn't happen again? I'm having mine moved in a couple weeks and that will be a good time to fix that.

BTW - I've already got a two post frame lift installed at the new house and figure I will use it for service work and the 4 post for storage.

[kwhizz]

I made some guides that trapped the cable in the pulley groove and epoxied them in place......even with that I make sure that I keep a slight weight on the cables so they don't relax enough to cause a problem........The Safety catches were useless when the cable slipped...I'm just overly cautious now......

Ken

[chads454Ls6]

I have a superior lift as well and i think it is a pos to! I have never had the promblem you guys are talking about,but when i get my lift higher than half way,the locks stick out to much and i have to go around and manually knock each one into place. when i called superior they said to make sure it was properly adjusted,which i assured them i had already done that. Then they said they would send me thiner locks,which i thought was ridiculous. They never sent them. Lousy company to deal with.

[BillD]

Ed, I am very happy with the Back Yard Buddy. Dumb name but a good lift. I ordered mine last December and took about 3 months to get it. If you are not in a hurry, wait until the last business day of the year to buy it (no matter which brand you choose)as the sales guys may be desperate to make end of year numbers and will offer discounts or free upgrades to book the business.

[BillD]

Here's some previous discussion:

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat...=true#Post73125 (http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&amp;Board=lounge&amp;Number=73125&amp;Search page=1&amp;Main=73125&amp;Words=+BillD&amp;topic=&amp;Search=true# Post73125)

[enio45]

Thanks for the input so far, I like the backyard buddy lift, design is very solid...what kind of deals have they cut for these....show specials or other?

[Jacsey 70Z]

I bought My Backyard Buddy about a year ago, and the only thing they offered me was the 220 volt model for the same price. I didn't have 220 where the lift was going, not sure of the advantages but I passed. I love the lift and after owning it and looking at others I'm glad I went with the one I did. The one we used for judging at Carlisle was scary (but better then nothing) Be sure to have about four people to help, the ramp with the cylinder is a back breaker!!
You'll wonder why you didn't buy one years ago.
Good Luck

[rubbinisracing]

Some one should call and get a qty. discount. I'd could use 4. Between Team camaro, Nova and Chevelle we should be able to save a little

Anyone with spare time on your hands?

[budnate]

I plan to get a BB this summer...my only problem is I want it about 6" narrower on each side from stock...there still plenty wide to get on...I need to squeak one in the middle stall of 3 car garage..I looked Sam's over pretty close and it looks real easy to lose a little on each side of the cross bar and everything still work as it should... if they wont build one for me I plan to cut one and narrow it.

I am up for one if I can pay for it and lock into a deal and delay shipping until summer.

[enio45]

Sounds good guys, having checked around, BB seems to be a solid choice, although others are equally good, like the rotary lifts. I'll start to socialise this around and see how many people would be seriously interested in for a group buy. Ill start a new thread to get some total counts and arrange for an discussion with BB Company. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Any suggestions are welcomed before i start the process.

[rat tuned]

has anyone used an eagle lift? they sell some 4 post models for under 2K. thanx mike

[Pantera]

Your usage of one is a big factor in the one you should buy. I myself need more than one just to gain storage in my building. If I could afford to get three lifts, I could put that many cars up on a lift and it would open up a great deal of room in my building. I doubt they would be used much and therefor I could get by with a cheaper one as it would not get put up or down much in a years time.

Now one that will be used in a comerical shop or daily, then I feel a person should be sure that he gets a top quality lift.

I appreciate everybodys opinion about the different lifts. When I was doing research on lifts last year the best price was on one I found that I can get out of Texas for $1850. Which one is best? I would not try to say which one is best. There are just too many different ones out there for me to try to say one is so much better than any of the others. Each one seems to work fine when they are set up and adjusted correctly. But, I am sure that some have to be better than others.

So guys keep the info on these coming in. I for one appreciate everybodys opinion.


Pantera

[SMGCO]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm shopping for 2 double park type lifts for my new garage...i think there was a thread on this some yrs back but cannot find it. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

Any advise or experience from the members would be appreciated.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have two Master Lifts in my garage. Purchased through Quality Tool in Temecula, Ca. The lift are good. HAve had some problems with them and working around them can be a big pain. Warranty follow up from Quality tool has been very poor. I'm sure you can do better.

[J_D]

I am negotiating now for the purchase of a "Magnum" 12,000 lb. 4 post lift with (2) 6,000 lb. rolling jacks to put in the new shop I am building along with my new home.

I have looked at several and believe this will serve the purpose I want it to provide.

Obviously it is overkill for the Camaros but if I want to get my truck up on it, I won't encounter any problems. The lift will accomodate a wheel base length of 192" and runs on 220 vs. 110 electric.

This lift is going to run $6,154.00 including sales tax and installation.

The next closet bid to this was $7,040.00