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Now that we have two ZR1s, the problem of limited storage and garage space comes up. So I have been looking at lifts. The one that keeps going to the front of the line is the Bend Pak units. I like the ability it gives for maintenance and storage and adjustability of heights. We will be adding on to our existing garage in the spring so was wondering what lifts other members have found to be suitable for their needs. Fire away please.
Measure, Measure, Measure.....Got a 9 thousand pound Bend Pac 4 post for my 2 bay garage and 2 C4's. Went with the bigger one, So I could get my 4x4 Chevy truck in the air for service. Now I have 9' 6" from floor to rafters. I use a roller seat to get under, Beats laying on your back on a creeper.I keep 1 up, 1 down for storage. Frees up 2nd bay...Was looking at 2 post, but didn't know how thick concrete of shop floor was.Love the 4 post
If you are adding a garage bay and can possibly get the height...I recommend a 17 foot ceiling. That is what I have in my pic above ^ and I can put just about any car on or under (with lift at full height position) with the hood fully open with plenty of clearance. I don't know, however, if the vette could be on or under with the hood open because it has never been on any of those lifts as I use them mainly for storage and it is always kept by a door as I've been driving it the most of all in the garage.
Measure, measure, measure—and measure everything that might be relevant.
We have two Greg Smith four post lifts and have been very happy with them. I will mention that lifts, though manageable, will likely be one of the most dangerous things you own.
Measure, measure, measure—and measure everything that might be relevant.
We have two Greg Smith four post lifts and have been very happy with them. I will mention that lifts, though manageable, will likely be one of the most dangerous things you own.
Love the post and the education and the photos. I'm cutting two squares in my pad right now for a max Jax. My iPad is between 3 1/2 and 4 inches thick. But I have a Yukon XL and a Big truck. I want to be able to lift them. Without stressing.
I have a question for one of the posters above, why are the vehicles in storage on the lift with the hoods open? is there a reason for that?
Love the post and the education and the photos. I'm cutting two squares in my pad right now for a max Jax. My iPad is between 3 1/2 and 4 inches thick. But I have a Yukon XL and a Big truck. I want to be able to lift them. Without stressing.
I have a question for one of the posters above, why are the vehicles in storage on the lift with the hoods open? is there a reason for that?
Well, yes but no...it is a habit I developed when my storage was in garages less "tight". Mice, as we all know, can be a problem and even though the garage in the photo I built and is pretty well sealed, I always worry that one will get in and make a nest under the hood without my knowledge. This has happened to me more than once so it doesn't hurt.
I agree that lifts are dangerous so I only buy new and have them assembled by qualified people. The 2 post in the rear of my photo is a rotary 12,000 lb. I installed 2 - 2x2x2 foot footing in the floor at the time of pour.
this is the one I've been eyeing ....
BendPak 4-Post Wide/High Lift — 9,000-Lb. Capacity, Model# HD-9XW
I assume the "XW" in the model number means "extra wide". I notice that some of you are talking about full size pickups and SUV's. This is the one mistake I made...I assumed that because I had some very large cars that even light trucks would fit on the lifts...I had measured the largest of them (the red Caprice in the pic) but not that blue chevy van or my 97 1500 2wd pickup...neither of which will fit on those lifts. They are like 2 or 3 inches too wide. It's not the end of the world but it's one of those things that if I could go back in time I would make sure I got extra wide units for more versatility.
I assume the "XW" in the model number means "extra wide". I notice that some of you are talking about full size pickups and SUV's. This is the one mistake I made...I assumed that because I had some very large cars that even light trucks would fit on the lifts...I had measured the largest of them (the red Caprice in the pic) but not that blue chevy van or my 97 1500 2wd pickup...neither of which will fit on those lifts. They are like 2 or 3 inches too wide. It's not the end of the world but it's one of those things that if I could go back in time I would make sure I got extra wide units for more versatility.
Ed is absolutely right—the right lift setup for a specific person's needs is a very precise calculation. In our case, we didn't need a lift for anything wider than our Corvettes or taller than a "normal" passenger car. My calculations included the height of our Corvette's greenhouses, the height of their trunk's (because the garage roof slopes), the distance between the top of the lift posts and the garage doors (when they're up), the maximum width of our daily driver/2003 Corvette, the space needed for useful clearance on the outer sides of the lifts, and the optimal amount of space between the two lifts.
Your mileage will vary.
Last edited by j3studio; Dec 26, 2016 at 01:49 PM.
If you have plenty of overhead space, make sure to get an extended height lift. That puts the rails no lower than 72 inches. Less ducking when walking around the lift.
when I built the garage addition I left a 4' x 14' opening in the floor for the lift when they poured it. then I dug 2' down and under the slab so the lower part of the new lift slab looks like an I, used rebar and 12" j-hooks to mount the legs of the lift. over the lift area the ceiling is 13' tall and I can get our excursion all the way up to work on the underside of it. has been install for 10+ years.
I have a extended height Backyard buddy, Superior Lift, and a Atlas. All 4 post lifts. The BYB is the best made, followed by the superior, then the atlas. I built the garage with scissor truss for the extra clearance Some random pics
I have a extended height Backyard buddy, Superior Lift, and a Atlas. All 4 post lifts. The BYB is the best made, followed by the superior, then the atlas. I built the garage with scissor truss for the extra clearance Some random pics
I bought a 4-post BendPak 7000 lb lift. Even though it requires an air compressor for lowering, I am totally happy with it. I only have a 1 car garage so I had to get the smallest 4-post they made but it is plenty big enough for my 1989 vert. I also had to raise the ceiling 30 inches to get the lift high enough so I could get my 6 foot body under it without ducking. The lift had to be assembled in the garage because the posts are taller than the door opening, but I purchased the optional casters so I can roll the unit around inside the garage (without the car on it) if needed.
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Lifts
