Automobile Lifts

PaulProe

PaulProe

TREASURER & Web Administrator, Member # 019
Staff member
Paid Member
Location
Manchester
First Name
Paul
Last Name
Proefrock
A couple of guys have asked about lifts for their shop. I've spent a lifetime in the industry and thought I would share some insights. What was to be a quick post turned into a full-blown article. Automobile Lifts

Hope this helps someone, read it through, I'll be happy to sit down with anyone to discuss. I still have a few contacts in the industry that might be useful to you

Paul
 
Paul,

That was very helpful and timely as I'm about to buy a lift for my new shop. In my old shop, I had a BendPak asymmetric two-post lift that had a 10,000lb. capacity. Although it worked for my needs, I hated getting my car on it and simply wouldn't if I could use a jack to do what I needed. That really defeats the whole idea of having a lift to begin with. For my new shop, I want to go with a four-post for a couple of reasons:
1. Ease of getting the car on the lift
2. Ability to keep the lift portable so I can move it around or even in and out of the shop
3. Ability to store the Cobra on the lift in the winter and free up floor space for other things that don't get used much in the winter, like my mower
So, I think I've done the analysis and have settled on the fundamentals, now for the details. What capacity lift should I buy? Right now, I think an 8,000lb. will do, but should I bite the bullet and go with a 9,000lb.? The reasoning is that my truck weighs over 5,500lbs. and I want to feel comfortable that my lift can handle it without any concern. If the one sales guy I spoke with is right, an 8,000lb ALI certified lift has to be able to hold 12,000lbs. at each locking level for some specified period of time. My other concern is delivery and setup. I would prefer that whatever I buy, the guy selling it is also the guy delivering and setting it up. My last lift, I had shipped to a lift installer, and they brought it out and set it up. Those that I've spoken with about this in Missouri have said they only deliver their own products, so that's why I'm not looking at buying a BendPak this round for example.

What is your opinion of the Quatro branded lifts sold by the Lift Super Store? The main corporation is in Canada, but the lifts are ALI certified and the hydraulic pumps are US-made by Bucher. I was quoted just under $5,000 for the lift with installation not included. They also offer long aluminum ramps for around $800 that I'm not sure if I'll need for the Cobra or not.
 

Attachments

I am going to head down and check them out in the next couple of days. Just down in Cattawissa.
 
itzdapig said:
I am going to head down and check them out in the next couple of days. Just down in Cattawissa.
Click to expand...
I haven't found time to make it down to their show room but would make that trip as well before I commit.
 
I am unfamiliar with Quatro. They do have the ALI membership which is good, but beyond that. I can't say. As far as capacity, you likely could get by with an 8,000 lb lift but most are 9,000 or 12,000. The 8 is just a downgrade to get a lower price point, since most sales are driven by the price rather than by the need/application.

I am not a big fan of the 'portable' four post. I've seen too many vehicles dropped because one post was unstable. Look at the 56 Chevy that got dropped at Barret Jackson this year. You can stand under it if you want, I prefer the post be permanently anchored. In my mind, the portability is a gimmick and an accident looking for a place to happen.

David, where you're located, no one really serves that area. Too remote and too small a market. I know there are guys who will travel to Mexico, MO from Saint Louis or Des Moines, but its a pretty good drive and they tend to concentrate on more populous areas. I am unfamiliar with the guy in Catawissa, he came to be just as I retired. Looks like he concentrates on the homeowner market, we never ran into him in the tire stores, independent service facility or car dealer markets.

Don't be afraid to install it yourself. If you are mechanically minded and know how to read a set of instructions, it's really not a big deal. The secret is an installer knows what goes where so he can do it in a few hours where it may take you a couple hours longer. The big issue is being able to handle the ramps. They are big and heavy. Most installers show up with a lift truck so they can move them around. Really cuts down on the install time.
 
PaulProe said:
I am not a big fan of the 'portable' four post. I've seen too many vehicles dropped because one post was unstable. Look at the 56 Chevy that got dropped at Barret Jackson this year. You can stand under it if you want, I prefer the post be permanently anchored. In my mind, the portability is a gimmick and an accident looking for a place to happen.
Click to expand...
Good info from BendPak on securing their lifts vs not:

Q: Does the Lift have to be anchored in place?
A: Yes, BendPak strongly recommends that you anchor the Lift; it may be less stable if you do not anchor the Bases, and you could possibly void ALI certification. If you plan to use the optional Rolling Bridge Jack, the Lift must be anchored.
 
I reached out to BendPak for information on installers in Missouri. They use a third party to coordinate delivery and installation. I was contacted promptly and provided a quote for a BendPak HD9 lift as well as delivery and installation. It looks like this is the route I'll be going, and I'll bolt it to the concrete and skip the castors.

Thanks for the help!

Dave
 
David,
BendPak is a good choice. Not as good as a Rotary or Forward or Direct Lift, but I am a little biased.

I am confident you'll get a good item. Who did they recommend for install?
 
Paul, can you talk a little about cracks in the floor. I was once guaranteed two things by a concrete contractor:

1-nobody will steal it.
2-it WILL crack.

Thanks, Steve
 
Smiles said:
Paul, can you talk a little about cracks in the floor. I was once guaranteed two things by a concrete contractor:

1-nobody will steal it.
2-it WILL crack.

Thanks, Steve
Click to expand...
I was told something similar by a concrete contractor:

There are two types of concrete; cracked concrete, and concrete that will crack.
 
PaulProe said:
David,
BendPak is a good choice. Not as good as a Rotary or Forward or Direct Lift, but I am a little biased.

I am confident you'll get a good item. Who did they recommend for install?
Click to expand...
The name of the installer is Paul Pridgen, and it looks like he is in St. James.
 
"There are two types of concrete; cracked concrete, and concrete that will crack."
That is a thing of the past, there is no reason a new pour should crack. If your concrete guy doesn't know about adding fiber to the mix, find someone different. My driveway and both the shop floors at my place have NO cracks except at the intended expansion joints.
Steve, I would bet your floor is at least 6" thick?
 
Lift manufacturers recommend installing any anchor at least 12" away from any expansion joint. They are vague on cracks, saying 'do not installed over cracked concrete' . They also recommend 4" thick, 3,000psi concrete.

I recommended just to stay away from any cracks and if the slab you intend to install it on and the cracks are near the lift, then it's a new slab.

You DO NOT need big footers under the lift platform whether two post or four post. Quite the contrary, they recommend drilling thru the concrete so if you want to move the lift, you can drive the wedge anchors thru the slab and out of the way.

The load on a two post lift transfers into the concrete to where the area most affected is the part between the two posts. If a lift column collapses due to overload or failed concrete it will typically tilt to the middle. When a slab needed to be replaced, we recommended a minimum 6' fore/aft and the full width of the bay, typically 12' in that direction. Again, 4" thick, 3000psi concrete.

The load on four posts is almost 100% straight down. Some slight amount to the middle but mostly a compressive load. If a slab under a four post column required replacement, I seem to recall it being a 48" square but would have to go back into the books to confirm that.

Concrete usually cracks because the subfloor is not compacted enough and the load into the concrete is not uniform. The slab is only as good as the sub-base it is poured on
 
My slab was poured in September. It's 5" thick, 3,000psi with rebar grid at 2' spacing. The slab sits on top of 4-10" of compacted stone base (4" at the front of the building and deeper as you go toward the rear of the building due to the slope of the site the building sits on). The slab has a cut down the center front-to-back, and two side-to-side. They also put a vapor barrier down for the slab inside the building. All the exterior concrete is similar, but not as much stone and no vapor barrier.
 

Attachments

  • 20241024_171345.jpg
    20241024_171345.jpg
    1.2 MB · Views: 60
  • 20241030_160204.jpg
    20241030_160204.jpg
    1.3 MB · Views: 61
  • 20241030_160210.jpg
    20241030_160210.jpg
    1.5 MB · Views: 65
  • 20240904_064337.jpg
    20240904_064337.jpg
    1.2 MB · Views: 68
I love my lift - had since 2017…professionally installed and delivered…never had an issue - holds the Cobra “Gracie” perfectly, and “Fred” the C8 Vette fits nicely underneath…it’s a 4 Post lift… legs are anchored zero chance of anything “walking”… more info if desired… “Best Buy Automotive” have a look, very reasonable $2,000 in 2017, and $950 for installation and delivery from a Delivery Hub in STL. It all so has lifted the C8 effortlessly, the BMW m6… many many times…Paul helped me in getting the “raised” tracks and side opener installed by “Renner Supply”… great investment…(new subject) just had my Mini-Split 24,000BUT’s installed Tuesday… entire process install, hang Compressor outside wall, hang register inside… inclusive $2,084! Two HVAC guys did it in less than 2 hours…. It’s all remote control. Killer deal.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top