Two post lift researching

[twodko]

I'm just not comforatble with any 2 post lift, call me paranoid. With our quakes here Cali 2 post lifts are just not wise IMO.

I dunno, this one survived a hurricane....the building around it didn't.

Wow! That's one hell of a picture. As the saying goes...Don't mess with Mother Nature!

[69 OUR/TEA]

After much research on 2 post lifts of which one fits my criteria,I ended up going with the Benpak XPR-9FS.Talk about fast shipping,all the way from CA to CT,it left there on Tues,and arrived here on Friday.
Had to wait till Sunday to install it. What a straight forward installation it is with these.More was pre-assembled than the instructions said,so it went alittle quicker than expected.
Everything went together perfectly,my floor was poured in the location of the lifts to be level without pitch,and to my suprise,the power column sat perfectly,both ways,so no shims were needed.The opposite side column was leaning toward the back wall alittle and required me to put in 2 shims on that front edge,and one coming around the side.In and out of the columns were perfect,and once I had the carraiges locked at the 28'' mark,and put on the arms,swung them in to check again for level,it was exactly in the bubble,so the guys that poured my floor did a great job IMO.The floor was poured 7 years ago now,so it had plenty of time to settle out if needed.
Wiring it,I had already left in the ceiling years ago when I built the addition/garage for a two post lift,a 10-3 wire to a 30amp breaker in the panel,so was just a matter of cutting open the ceiling,removing the wire,and patching it back up.I also decided to put in a disconnect box right above the motor to have quick access to kill the power to the lift just in case,NTM,turn it off and lock it out so there is no chance of anyone ever messing with it.
The fluid they recommend was either 10wt Hyd fluid or Dextron III ATF,I went with the 10 wt Hyd fluid,came in 5 gal,and good thing as the instructions say 12 qts.,it took just over 4 gallons and is still alittle lower than the dipstick on the plug .That also went well,so far not a one leak!!I tried it out with my P.O.S Nissan just in case,LOL!
Here are a couple pics

[Steve P.]

Very good!!! What is your ceiling height??

[69 OUR/TEA]

Exactly 10'.Which is pretty much min for doing lifts to store one on top.There is 6'' above the RR,with the Charger underneath,but man does it just miss.Roof of my Charger is 55 1/2'',bottom of crossbar of the four post is 55 3/4''.To go to next lock up,another 4 1/4'' which puts the roof of the car on top real close to the ceiling.Ideal locking height/point would be 57-58'' on a four post(bot of runway).There actually is more room parking under a two post,even with the suspension hanging down,you don't have the cross bar to contend with and ntm the two post locks in 3'' intervals,so you can get it closer to the ceiling.

[472 R/T SE]

Oh how I wish I had a lift.  One consolation is several of my friends have them.

Nice pad 69.

One of said friends has a new shop built after this.  He said if "Challenger" lifts can handle a roof caving in, his new one was gonna be the same brand.

[69 OUR/TEA]

Oh wow!!!Thats not a pretty site!!!!!!

[defiance]

OW, that poor 3rd gen

I'm using a maxjax and I'm really happy with it.  I've got 8ft ceilings, and quite conveniently, the top safety lock point puts the roof about 2" from the celing rafters   Had to switch to recessed lights, though

[Steve P.]

I would ask a this question. If you could get a mediocre paint job for $2000 or a great paint job for $3000 which paint job do you go with? I ask this because I know most of us would hold out for the GREAT paint job. That being said, why not hold out for a great lift. After all, the PAINT is not holding your life or the life of others in their hands. The LIFT IS!!!!


Again this is just my .02 .....