Which Car Lift To Buy

Building a new garage and want to install a lift. Probably going with a 2 post style. Any thoughts? Symmetrical or asymmetrical ?

 

My highschool auto shop uses a Bendpak

 

uuummmm...just a little jealous over here...

 

We had 5 Rotary lifts in our shop, 2 post.

 

My 2500HD weighs around 7000lbs when I go across the scales, so I was thinking a 9000 lb lift would be good. Yes jack stands are good when you have it in the air. Still up in the air about symmetric or asymmetric.

 

I install lifts for a living. Stay away from chinese junk such as Atlas, bendpak, ben pearson, hydralift and so on. Buy one that is ALI certified, ie gold tag. Challengers are ok, we have problems getting parts for them. It seems they have a model that it out for a few years, then change to a different model and forget which parts go to which lift. Rotary is by far top of the line. Rotary also owns Forward and Revolution, bot are decent brands that cost less than a Rotary.



Asymmetric is good for cars and small trucks. It gets scary with longer vehicles because the center of gravity is so far back. I would not put a crew cab long bed pickup on one. The asymmetric also runs out of reach with the arms. Symmetrical lifts are better for trucks. I don't know what configuration what truck is (cab style and bed length).

Asymmetric SPOA10 | 10,000 lb Two Post Lift | Rotary Lift

Symmetrical SPO10 | 10,000 lb Two Post Lift | Rotary Lift

If you are building new, I would suggest looking at an inground lift. They are fairly easy to install before the floor is poured and you will not have those annoying columns in the way. You don't need to worry about leaks or contamination like in the days of old. They come in a self contained plastic cassette that you run a 2" PVC chase way to for the hydraulic line and air through.

Inground SL210 | Rotary Lift

When I get my own shop, I'm going to get two mobile columns. Expensive, but being able to move where ever I want them is sooooo nice.

MCHF14 | Flex Mobile Column Lift | Rotary Lift

 

One brand that is local to you is Mohawk. Those things are built like tanks. I’ve never seen a new one, but the old ones from the 90s are way over built.

 

Thanks Nate, this is the kind of info I was looking for. My truck is a extended cab short bed so I'm thinking symmetrical?

 

I have a 10,000 Bendpak and I’m completely happy with it. Well built, great warranty, and customer service.

 

Just got a quote from Mohawk....$8300 ouch!

 

Gold Label ALI Certification

 

I can sell you challenger or rotary lifts in Rochester.
They have price line versions as well

Pm me if you want

 

PM sent

 

Nate, that I ground looks nice. What kind of range are they price wise?

 

Don’t do this.

 

HOLY SHI1 BATMAN

 

I always walked the shop before I went home for the night and lowered any/all lifts to just above ground level.
Earthquakes and a vehicle 6 feet up in the air; didn't want a bad experience overnight.

 

When Chuchua's was in Fullerton, they had old twin-post hydraulic hoists in the barn they used as the shop building. The lone mechanic they employed would leave the Jeeps he was working on up on the lifts overnight. One morning he came in to find one of the posts down to the ground and the other up at full height. The Jeep did not fall off, which must have been quite a sight. After that, he'd always lower any Jeeps before leaving them overnight.

 

Our old hoists were twin oil like Tim mentions.
Had one blow out with a vehicle up in the air.
The safety catches kept the car in the air.
We placed tires under the hoist arms and had to drive the pins out to get the vehicle lowered.
Some oil remained and it didn't come down as hard/fast as we thought it would.