4 post lift

[Schristo]

Hi -

I found a craigslist posting that DMS equipment is going to be at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale next week. I'm thinking about getting a lift to store the daily driver below the viper. Does anyone have a lift from them and have any feedback? I think the were offering an 4 ton lift installed for 2995 on Craigslist. Any feedback or thoughts on pricing would be appreciated.

Schristo

[BJG32]

I have one. And that's exactly what I paid. Service was perfect and it seems like a nice lift. I've had no issues, but I've only had it for 4 months.

They are based out of Missouri. I am surprised they go out that far to install and at the same price I paid being local.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

[Schristo]

Thanks for the feedback!

I don't really know what to look for as far as what makes a quality lift, so I'm going to do a little research this week on what to look for. From the craigslist add sounds like they were hauling a bunch of lifts up from MO and trying to sell them all during the week.

[Camfab]

Look up Rotary lifts and go from there. Personally I'd get a certified lift, but what do I know. My only bad experience was with mine when it failed to shut down and crushed my Jeep into my roof.

[Schristo]

Wow. That's a bad day., sorry to hear that story. I'll do some research. I think I stunbled on to a site that had good questions about lifts, safety features, braided lines vs rubber, etc. Thanks for the feed back all.

[BJG32]

Look up Rotary lifts and go from there. Personally I'd get a certified lift, but what do I know. My only bad experience was with mine when it failed to shut down and crushed my Jeep into my roof.

Good to know this could happen. The power plug for mine this is right by the button to raise. I'll be ready to pull the plug if needed. I'll have about 7 seconds to react if it gets stuck.

[LifeIsGood]

Look up Rotary lifts and go from there. Personally I'd get a certified lift, but what do I know. My only bad experience was with mine when it failed to shut down and crushed my Jeep into my roof.

Who manufactured the lift that failed?

[Viper vince]

Look at the back yard buddy there is a copy of it called advantage lift I saw one at Mecum auction very well built and a lot cheaper than the back yard buddy. Watch the video on the back yard buddy then watch the video on the advantage lift

[Joel]

+1 on the Rotary lifts. I have 2 Rotary lifts plus a German Nussbaum. The oldest Rotary I bought used - it is at least 45 years old and you can still get parts for it. The other is 25 years old and the only thing I had to replace on it was the motor. Motor worked but the splined drive for the pump broke. Some of the less expensive Rotary lifts are made in China but there are still some made in the US and they are certified lifts so the quality should be good. The Nussbaum is great - it has dual controls so you can operate from either side. Nussbaum is German for nut tree so that tells you how well it is made. Whip Lifts - made in Texas are also excellent lifts. I am sure there are other good lifts our there but, like others have said, buy a good lift that you can get serviced if you need to. Cheap lifts are just that. You might want to visit a few repair shops and ask what they have.

[Camfab]

Who manufactured the lift that failed?

It was manufactured by a now defunct company called "Auto Lifters." It looks exactly like the "Backyard Buddy", infact they are the go to company for replacement parts. I believe the current "Backyard Buddy" is a far superior product than what I have. I basically redesigned the safety locks and welded in tie off points at each corner on my lift. I did this because I live in earthquake country. I literally use riggers slings to four point the car directly to the lift at each corner. It can't fall off.
I've had this lift for nearly twenty years, back when it was a novelty to see one in a house.
If I could do it again, I'd purchase a Rotary or at least a certified lift.

[Camfab]

http://www.autolift.org/auto-lift-in...ation-program/

[COI]

Lots of good threads on 4-post lifts in this forum and other Viper forums over the years (and other car forums). I'd say there are two camps: those guys with enough money to purchase industrial-grade lifts and those guys who are looking for more of a hobbyist lift. The difference in cost can be as much as $2-$4K/lift or more. The first question I would ask is what the lift is for. If you're in need of a lift that you'll raise/lower regularly (daily or more) I'd definitely consider an industrial grade lift. If you're looking for a lift to increase your storage capacity and only plan to raise/lower once/week or even less then you may not need an industrial grade lift unless you're the guy that just wants to have the best. Camfab is right though - be sure to get a lift that has all the appropriate safety certifications.

Another consideration - if you're looking to purchase a hobbyist lift you probably should pay close attention to the lift rating and the weight of the vehicle you plan to store. Just me but for the hobbyist lift I try to ensure the lift is rated at 2-2.5X the weight of the heaviest car I plan to store. For Vipers I purchase the 8000lb lifts at a minimum. Lastly - I also don't raise the lift to maximum height for storage. Once I get the cars in position I lower the lift to the lowest possible point that still provides clearance for the bottom car. This definitely helps with stability.

I've owned four 4-post hobbyist grade lifts for >10 years and have had no problems. The duty cycle is ~2-3 times/month and I follow all recommended safety/maintenance checks and have them inspected every 3 years.