[ksalih]

Hello - does anybody own a home garage car lift? I am looking to purchase such for my home garage and noticed there are several out there. Post a picture of yours and how you like/dislike it... help me make my choice!... I'll never look at a set of jack stands again...

[SpeedracerIndy]

This is a few years ago before I had my 335. It's a Greg smith equipment 4 post. 10' ceiling in the garage. I have a pneumatic jack that fits between the ramps to lift the cars off of the ramps for maintenance. One of the best tools I have ever bought.

[stashtrey]

That's a man's garage right there! Bravo!!

[SpeedracerIndy]

Originally Posted by stashtrey

That's a man's garage right there! Bravo!!

Thanks. The best part is the wife's car (not pictured) stays parked outside. Not sure how she's aloud me to get away with this hobby for so long.

[drewnel22]

What are you looking out of a lift? Storage mainly? Working on your car? How high is your ceiling and how much room do you have?

[sirdaft1]

Originally Posted by SpeedracerIndy

This is a few years ago before I had my 335. It's a Greg smith equipment 4 post. 10' ceiling in the garage. I have a pneumatic jack that fits between the ramps to lift the cars off of the ramps for maintenance. One of the best tools I have ever bought.

So jealous!

[335commuter]

Love my bendpak 4 post lift. Not the cheapest, but given the stakes, worth the extra 500-1000. Rent an engine hoist if you plan on assembling yourself. It makes life so much easier.

[csu87]

+1 on bendpak. $3k shipped to your house for the XPR-9-LP (2 post low profile)

[335commuter]

Went with the hd-7w. Wanted the extra space between the posts to make parking underneath easier. They make all different sizes to accommodate your needs.

[csu87]

Originally Posted by 335commuter

Went with the hd-7w. Wanted the extra space between the posts to make parking underneath easier. They make all different sizes to accommodate your needs.

how much you end up spending on it and did you get the jacks as well? have debated getting a 4 poster so i can get another car in the garage. I dont like to leave a car up with my 2 poster.

[jwalker87]

The biggest decision point is 2 post vs 4 post. 2 post means you can easily get the car off its wheels, while 4 post is easier to get the car on and off of since it's just drive-on. From there, a bunch of brands were mentioned above.

[335commuter]

It was around 3500 delivered. I assembled it. I did not get the jacks but they are my present to myself this year and will be ordering them soon. I use it primarily for storage although it will make the tranny pan much easier in a few weeks. Wheels off work, even with the jacks, won't be as convenient as a two post, but I don't do a ton of wheels off work anymore anyway.

[335commuter]

Originally Posted by jwalker87

The biggest decision point is 2 post vs 4 post. 2 post means you can easily get the car off its wheels, while 4 post is easier to get the car on and off of since it's just drive-on. From there, a bunch of brands were mentioned above.

Call me paranoid, I just don't trust a two post for long term storage in a residential garage.

[csu87]

Originally Posted by 335commuter

It was around 3500 delivered. I assembled it. I did not get the jacks but they are my present to myself this year and will be ordering them soon. I use it primarily for storage although it will make the tranny pan much easier in a few weeks. Wheels off work, even with the jacks, won't be as convenient as a two post, but I don't do a ton of wheels off work anymore anyway.

yeah thats why i went with the 2 post. id use a 4 post more for storage vs work.

[csu87]

Originally Posted by 335commuter

Call me paranoid, I just don't trust a two post for long term storage in a residential garage.

i wouldnt either. I dont leave anything up in the air unless im working on it. Im sure it is safe, but i dunno.

[jwalker87]

Originally Posted by 335commuter

Call me paranoid, I just don't trust a two post for long term storage in a residential garage.

Definitely true! I guess the real question is; is the lift for storage or performing work?

[ksalih]

Originally Posted by drewnel22

What are you looking out of a lift? Storage mainly? Working on your car? How high is your ceiling and how much room do you have?

The purpose of this lift will be mostly for working on the car(s). A secondary purpose can be for storage. The ceilings are 10' high I believe (new house is in process of being built, and I've forgotten).

That being said, from what I understand, a 2 post lift is for wheel off work, a 4 post is for storage and under carriage work and cannot be used for wheel off work.

Great responses from everybody!

[csu87]

Originally Posted by ksalih

The purpose of this lift will be mostly for working on the car(s). A secondary purpose can be for storage. The ceilings are 10' high I believe (new house is in process of being built, and I've forgotten).

That being said, from what I understand, a 2 post lift is for wheel off work, a 4 post is for storage and under carriage work and cannot be used for wheel off work.

Great responses from everybody!

you can use a 4 post for wheel off work with the jacks that most can come with.

However, the jacks limit your under carriage accessibility.

[ksalih]

For a 2 post, I do not see why the added cost of the XPR-9-LP over the following: http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/...PNYhoC99bw_wcB

[csu87]

Originally Posted by ksalih

For a 2 post, I do not see why the added cost of the XPR-9-LP over the following: http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/...PNYhoC99bw_wcB

well ive never heard of these guys, so theres that....

Do your research before you buy. There are a lot of "Manufacturers" who just slap their sticker on the same mediocre chinese lift that people have issues with. This looks to be the same lift as several other "Manufacturers" so take that as you will. (Sunco uses the same pictures and im sure there are more if you google search the images. http://www.autoequipmentdepot.com/2-...nco-tp9kf.html)

Lots of info out there including customer reviews on forums throughout the internet. I read one guy who compared the chinese lift to harbor freight. At the end of the day, HF tools work pretty well 9/10 times, but they still arent up to the quality standards of reputable tool companies.

[335commuter]

Originally Posted by csu87

well ive never heard of these guys, so theres that....

Do your research before you buy. There are a lot of "Manufacturers" who just slap their sticker on the same mediocre chinese lift that people have issues with. This looks to be the same lift as several other "Manufacturers" so take that as you will. (Sunco uses the same pictures and im sure there are more if you google search the images. http://www.autoequipmentdepot.com/2-...nco-tp9kf.html)

Lots of info out there including customer reviews on forums throughout the internet. I read one guy who compared the chinese lift to harbor freight. At the end of the day, HF tools work pretty well 9/10 times, but they still arent up to the quality standards of reputable tool companies.

Exactly. I looked at this companies 4 post lift. There are about 5 other companies that sell the exact same lift with a different badge. The columns are about half the width of the bendpak. Bendpak also includes more leveling adjustments. Sure it's probably fine, but my health is worth far more than the difference. Plus, the bendpak air locks are worth the difference over the manual ones.

[csu87]

Originally Posted by ksalih

For a 2 post, I do not see why the added cost of the XPR-9-LP over the following: http://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/...PNYhoC99bw_wcB

here is some detailed info on what i was saying about rebranded lifts. It is from the bendpak site, so it is biased towards bendpaks, but it does make you think.

http://www.bendpak.com/a-study-in-li...ft-vs-BendPak/