Mike67nv

I bought a four post, 9K lb. "Quality Lift" by Challenger this summer. It has all the certifications and some safety and standard features not included with others. They were on display and being sold through Napa Auto during Hot August Nights. Their delivery and installation package is what sold me - it even included an extra year on the warranty. I'm very happy with it.

iamq

My BendPac 9 works great.. no problems.

Frankie the Fink

Now THAT is a tight fit!
How high is your garage ceiling ??

Ron Miller

Nope, there're more out there that feel that way than you might suspect. Scratch me off their list as well. Personally, I like the fact that the DirectLift that I have is certified by the ALI (Automotive Lift Institute).

Here's a little more information regarding certification of automotive lifts, along with an internet link at the end that'll give you a list of all certified lifts. There are a lot of good lifts out there, many are ALI certified as well, including models from BendPak, Rotary Lift, Hunter, Wheeltronic, and numerous others. I don't see Backyard Buddy mentioned, however . . . .
I'm gonna stick with an ALI certified lift . . . .



Does your lift carry the Gold Label?
Be an informed consumer! Read the information below before you buy a vehicle lift that you will be working under or around.

We are proud to announce that Direct-Lift's Pro Park series four-post lifts are now ALI Certified, and have received ALI/ETL approval. To achieve certification, each lift model must meet ANSI standards and be third party tested and validated by an accredited independent testing company.

Not all lifts are the same. It takes a combination of the right design, engineering excellence and quality manufacturing to earn this certification. Every hobbyist should take the time to look for the "Gold ALI/ETL label" on the lift being considered. It is extra assurance for the buyer that the lift meets the highest industry safety and performance standards.

And did you know that there is only ONE current standard in North America that governs the design and construction of automotive lifts? This standard is ANSI/ALI ALCTV - 2006. ALI and its members offer a rigorous testing and certification program for lifts. The program uses an independent third-party testing laboratory called ETL (Intertek).

ETL meets OSHA requirements as one of only twelve nationally recognized testing laboratories in the country. ETL tests the lifts the ensure compliance with the American National Standard ANSI/ALI ALCTV - 2006 and ANSI UL Standard 201 and periodically inspects the factory where the lifts are being made.

Lifts are subjected to thorough safety tests such as a 1.5 rated load test, cable cut tests and deformation tests. If the lift passes the tests and the factory meets the standards, then the lift may carry the gold "ALI Certified/ETL Listed Mark". Each individual lift model must receive its own ALI/ETL certification.



Key certification considerations...

* ETL is the ONLY nationally recognized testing lab (NRTL) that manages the ALI program.
* There are no conditional, temporary or partial certifications. The lift is either certified or not certified.
* No one is authorized to use the ALI/ETL certification label or reference it without all requirements being met.

Gold ALI/ETL Label

To view a list of all certified lifts, visit the ALI website at www.autolift.org.

Bill32

Where was the display, Mike?

MAD IN NC

Bendpack HD-9W... w/ rolling casters. Also have the rolling jack! great for brakes tires etc... FordGt needed the extra width. When the ramps are set wide, the aluminum drip pans fell through, nothing that a piece of particle board would solve.... Have the casters but never used them yet... Also used it for engine pulls......

I'll be adding another one shortly to store five cars in a 3 car garage with the 73 eldo at ~6,000 lb's and will no qualms about parking it on top of the 65 vette. I'll still go for the HD9-W just set the ramps as normal.....

bweaver999

Question for those with lifts, from what I have read, they all want a level floor. My garage floor is slanted about 1/4" per foot so water can run off. Anyone have a 4 post in a similar garage or are all yours flat?

iamq

I designed the garage to fit these two cars. The ceiling is 10'4", the garage door opener is off to one side and the door is pushed to the ceiling. Works fine for me. When I've had my full size Chevy pickup on it I can still work comfortable under it, but I'm only 5'9" might not work if you are over 6". The floor has a 2" in 20' slope but the lift is not bolted to it.

Good luck.

Chuck Gongloff

I have to agree with John about the Direct Lift. I bought one for my Florida house at the NCRS meet in Kissimmee in Jan. of 09.

It's the 7000# model. Works fine. No problems. NOT bolted to the floor. Easy (that's a relative term ) to move with the caster set.

At my house in Maryland, I had a Superior brand lift. It looked identical to the Direct Lift I have now. I had zero problems with the Superior brand.

I personally don't care for the Backyard Buddy design, with the collars that slide up/down the uprights. I like the other design. I too don't care for their "scare tactic" advertising.

Their 5K price tag is a bit salty, IMHO.

Chuck

62rules

Lifts for most of us is a major purchase and most of us are going to defend our purchase. If they dont, then you know there is a problem with that product.
I have a Direct Lift 7, which I dont believe is made anymore due to not having a slack cable lock mechanism. I like mine and it has been trouble free for about 4 years now.



A buddy of mine just purchased the Direct Lift 8 because he liked mine. Hs is definitely better with the slack cable lock.

Im sure Back Yard Buddies are good. Ive looked at them at different events but thought they were pricey.

I think they didnt put bolt holes in the bottom plates due to their design. If they were not perfectly plumb, square, and level to the ground and each other, it appears they would bind due to the cross bars going all the way around the uprights.
Could be wrong but thats what it looks like to me.

RoadVettes

Not a problem. Mine slopes about the same as yours. The only issue you will have (not really an issue) is the car on the lift will still be at the same slope as the floor, so if leaving the car in neutral (brake off) you will have to chock the wheels or the car will roll as if it were on the ground.

Charlie

Ron Miller

The slope can be readily dealt with if you so choose by using a few pieces of 1/4" and 1/2" steel plate cut to fit under the post corners. A local machine shop can fix you up with the properly sized plates fairly reasonably.

OldKarz

Mine has at least that much slope, I used plate, leveled and called it good.

1snake

My floor slopes in all directions towards a center floor drain. I've never used any shims and have never had any problems. Sounds like a waste of time to me.

Jim

70vert

My floor sloops for water drainage (about an inch in the length of my lift and about 1/2" in width). I have a Rotary. One thing that I really like about Rotary is that each corner can be adjusted for level, no need for shims or an out of level deck. I have a 9'3" ceiling, so I can fine tune the lock postions to maximize my clearence. Also, I have an epoxy floor and found it necessary to bolt the lift to the floor so the lift would not slide everytime I climbed the extended Aluminum ramps (recommended). I recommmend 220V also. Rotary cost a little more but worth it IMO.

Mike67nv

Bill:

Napa had a tent set up in the parking lot at the Grand Sierra. Challenger had a salesman and lift set up outside the tent for demonstrations. They were offering a sale price and free castors during HAN. After watching them install it (two guys with a fork lift), I know I couldn't have done it alone.

Mike67nv

Bruce:

My garage floor has a slope similar to yours. The Quality Lift by Challenger has an adjustment and leveling process the installers went through during installation - the run ways level by adjusting the jack plate bolts in the posts. The only issue is that it needs to be re-leveled if you move it, I've done it and it's not that difficult.

Bill32

Thanks, I went there too early, half the displays weren't open yet.

JoesC5

Read this before you do business with Superlifts.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...-of-money.html

ZBRA

Good info!