four post storage lifts,who has one and what brand,getting ready to buy one

[69 OUR/TEA]

Hey gang,I am doing the research on all the four post lifts I can find as I am  ready to buy one.I think I have checked just about every brand out there,but the backyard buddy has an interesting video you can watch showing their ,what they describe as better quality of design.Every company is going to say theirs is better so I would like input from members who actually have them and /or who to stay away from.If you have a couple of spare minutes,go to the backyardbuddy web site and watch the video,it is interesting with a good sales pitch.I will also be putting in a two post lift,but as I am finish my addition which is garage and living space above,I still have inspections going on and do not want the town to see the two post(fixed to the ground).
  Both lifts will be used for parking cars under,along with using them for service.The two post is so I can take wheels off,take out trannys,rears,etc.The four post basically for oil changes,and storage.Thanks guys.

[Old Moparz]

I have two of the Bend Pak HD-9 four post lifts, with one having been up since February 2005 with no problems. The price included the freight, & the customer service was oustanding, especially after I had a minor problem during the installation on one that wasn't the fault of the manufacturer.

Here's a link to a topic on this forum about it:
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,22425.0.html

Here's a link to a write up I did on another forum:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=636&highlight=bend+pak

Here's where I bought them from:
http://www.e-autolifts.com/index.html

[resq302]

My father and I have the Perfect Parker 7000.  We use it on average of 2-3 times a week going up and down  probaby at least 5 times a day working on our two vehicles.   This was probably the best tool that we could have ever purchased.  Makes cleaning the under side of the cars a sinch now.  It also comes in really handy for working on your daily drivers if you need to do an exhaust, oil change, or any other type of work.

[High Impact]

Me too.  Perfect Park 7000.  Great hoist.  Never gave me a lick of problems,  Now my Mohawk  2 post,  theres another story!

[69 OUR/TEA]

Thanks guys,I have been doing alot of research of all the four post lifts I can find,and so far the one in choice is All American Lifts M-813.Besides the design of the columns being 4x4 tube w/the lift point being totally around the tube so it can't come off or out,the lock points are bars that stick into the tube,not onto a welded piece of stock on the outside of the column.The runways are 4'' steel c channel with the diamond plate welded on top,versus one piece stamped decks.The biggest factor here is I have a finished ceiling height of 10'-1/2'',all the other lifts I have checked out will not work because of their locked position heights to get the lower car under.I need the locked height of the bottom of the platform to be 56 1/2''-57''.This companys position that is close to what I need is 58'',after speaking with them on this,because they are the ones that build them ,they will custom set the locked height wherever I want it,then it follows the original pattern of 5'' lock increments.So I think this will be the one I go with.They are also the ones that I set my radiant floor tubing by for their 2 post lift that I will get next spring.Check them out.
                               
                     http://www.allamericanlifts.com/

[keepat]

I have a Backyard Buddy lift, and I check all the other lifts before buying one. Great lift! My ceiling hight is 11' and its tight but works! Note the lift has to go past the latch point by as much as 2" then down on the locking pins. If there one bit of advice I would offer, go with the 9' wide and longest model as this will not crowd you when working on your car motor and make sure the lift will go high enough to walk under when there's no car on the lift!
Pat

[moparstuart]

  nice shop man

  wish i had one that nice

[68charger70cuda]

keepat: did you have to alter your door to raise up higher, or was it already that height when up?  i have the same height garage, but my door isnt that high up.

[TripleBlackGator]

Me too.  Perfect Park 7000.  Great hoist.  Never gave me a lick of problems,  Now my Mohawk  2 post,  theres another story!

Perfect Park 7000 is from Lifts Unlimited right? If so, are they still black in color?

[keepat]

keepat: did you have to alter your door to raise up higher, or was it already that height when up?  i have the same height garage, but my door isnt that high up.

When I built the garage I order the garage doors with taller tracks, and one extra panel only viewable from inside the garage to make room for a car lift. Without the taller track and extra panel the door will open into the car on the lift!
Pat

[whitehatspecial]

www.gregsmithequipment.com

[FJMG]

Anybody familiar with the 2-post lifts from gregsmitheequipment? Are they a good product?

[HITMAN 149]

damn pat!!! nice setup you got there!!!!!!!!!! hmmmm did i spy  a sidecar on the dresser up on the lift?!?!?!?

[keepat]

damn pat!!! nice setup you got there!!!!!!!!!! hmmmm did i spy  a sidecar on the dresser up on the lift?!?!?!?

Good eyes! Yes its a Road King with a custom vintage sidecar and its for sale! let me know if you would like some pic!
Pat

[supserdave]

We installed a Bendpak extra wide and tall 9000lb lift in our garage before christmas, the installation was pretty straight forward. Those suckers are heavy, you almost need a tractor or something to lift up the ramp, especially the one with the cylinder under it. Here are a few pics of it in use.

[41husk]

do they make a lift that can be used with a 9' cieling?

[Old Moparz]

do they make a lift that can be used with a 9' cieling?

I would think that just about any lift will fit & work somewhat, but it would really depend on what vehicles you're putting on them. Don't forget where the garage door goes when it's raised as well as an overhead opener, lights & anything else below the ceiling. My lifts are roughly 7 feet tall to the top of the posts. The top of the ramps sit lower than that, so figure on the car height above it, & the minimum height the raised car will have to be to clear the lower car or just be in a workable position.

This page on the website from where I bought mine has all the measurements you need.

http://www.e-autolifts.com/pf/pf.html