You'll get all kinds of guys argiung this topic. 
Lift Comparisons
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 357
Likes: 3
From: Madisonville Kentucky
Lift Comparisons
I am going to be purchasing a car lift and have been looking at a couple of different brands (Direct Lift and Backyard Buddy). Is one better than the other? Which one would you guys suggest? I have heard some good things about the Pro Park 8 from Direct Lift and it is about half the price of the Backyard Buddy. Any other preferred brands ????Any help or suggestions would be great.
thanks
thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,876
Likes: 1
From: Jersey Shore Exit 98
Did a lot of research and talked to a lot of people. Back yard buddy is a very good lift comes in different colors 
however for the money the direct lift which comes in basic black is just as nice & you can put the $$$ you saved into your vette. I guess it depends on your cash flow. I have the direct lift and I'm happy w/it. 
however for the money the direct lift which comes in basic black is just as nice & you can put the $$$ you saved into your vette. I guess it depends on your cash flow. I have the direct lift and I'm happy w/it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 204
From: Lincoln CA
So, I'm seeing some of these four post lifts around $2,000 and some at $3,500. Wattsa diff? I'm looking at lifting height as a key feature. Is there anything else I should be considering? My intended use is for storage of two cars. A 69 Mustang on top and a 69 Corvette below.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 3
From: belle plaine ks
re price difference
could be your life. I don't car who makes the lift, find out as much as you can about it. There are some cheap unsafe lifts on the market. Make sure you get a quality one. Remember at some point you will be standing under the lift.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,821
Likes: 204
From: Lincoln CA
I do appreciate your point, however. Being under a 3,000 lb car when it decides to return to earth could be very unhealthy and if it happened when my 69 BB Vette was underneath, I'd probably kill myself anyway.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,850
Likes: 959
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
My only experience is with my Backyard Buddy lift. I've had it for about ten years, still working fine. Two people can assemble the lift. Works great for me.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 683
Likes: 4
What I considered the most was safety. The locking mechanism is whats most important. The backyard buddy is a great lift but I had an issue with the hydraulic ram leaking while under warranty and they would not fix it. In fact they threatened to sue me saying that I was defaming their company. I believe I should let people know the good and the bad about products. I am beginning to think that this may be the standard when it comes to the ram assembly. All american Lift has the same kind of locking design as the backyard buddy. I would call All American lift and ask them about their warranty on the lift and the ram and who they have in your area that does warranty work. This weekend I took apart the ram to see why it was leaking. It turns out that the main seal had not been installed properly. The ironic part is backyard buddy uses the picture of my cars in their ad.
Good luck with your decision.
Steve
Good luck with your decision.
Steve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 1
From: North Bellmore Ny
St. Jude Donor '09
Should the lift fail save the vette
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,986
Likes: 21
From: Columbus MN
If customer relations isn't a priority for you, then the Backyard Buddy closed post design lifts and accessories are a good choice. For me, I just want the lift to work well for a long time so I don't need to call Customer Service.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 683
Likes: 4
Also I forgot to say to ask about delivery. Many of them will deliver to a central warehouse or trucking company and then it's yours from there on. I had a real circus going on with mine. I had to physically help the guy that delivered mine who was an elderly gentleman. This will usually add to your costs.
Steve
Steve
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 357
Likes: 3
From: Madisonville Kentucky
Hi Fellas,
I decided to go with the Direct Lift Pro Park 8S and ordered it through Greg Smith Equipment Sales. They indicated that it will be shipping out next Monday and heading in my direction. I am having it shipped to a family members business who has a fork truck to unload, so I hope I will be able to avoid some of the shipping nightmares. From a customer service standpoint, everything I have read about Greg Smith Equipment is all positive. They have been very helpful thus far and I have talked with them on several occasions trying to make my purchase decision. Of course the real test will be after the sale, but everyone seems to give them high marks. Hopefully I won't have to find out and won't have any issues with the lift. Can't wait to get it installed. Should make life much easier on oil changes etc., plus I will be able to let my wife have her garage spot back...........I have caught a lot of grief over the past 4 months from her becuase I have our two bay garage packed in wall to wall Vettes...........I just don't see the problem with that. Do you guys? That's the way a garage is supposed to look right? LOL
I decided to go with the Direct Lift Pro Park 8S and ordered it through Greg Smith Equipment Sales. They indicated that it will be shipping out next Monday and heading in my direction. I am having it shipped to a family members business who has a fork truck to unload, so I hope I will be able to avoid some of the shipping nightmares. From a customer service standpoint, everything I have read about Greg Smith Equipment is all positive. They have been very helpful thus far and I have talked with them on several occasions trying to make my purchase decision. Of course the real test will be after the sale, but everyone seems to give them high marks. Hopefully I won't have to find out and won't have any issues with the lift. Can't wait to get it installed. Should make life much easier on oil changes etc., plus I will be able to let my wife have her garage spot back...........I have caught a lot of grief over the past 4 months from her becuase I have our two bay garage packed in wall to wall Vettes...........I just don't see the problem with that. Do you guys? That's the way a garage is supposed to look right? LOL
