Buying a 4 Post Lift advice

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Mike69cuda

Mike69cuda

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I’m planning on buying a 4 post lift, mostly for storage. I will likely go with Bendpak. The availability is good on them & seems like a good brand. I am planning on putting it in my third car garage space to be out of the way some. This space is also fairly short at about 18’3” to a single garage door. One side of the garage is also very close to a wall, so I will have limited space on the passenger side. It has about a 10’ 6” ceiling, so I have limitations there too.

I am looking at an HD-9 ( was considering a HD- 9ST which is narrower, but seems to narrow at about 77 inches).

I am going to off center it in the door so I can get some more room an the passenger side. May get about 3 ft from runway to wall.

Any advise on lifts or my install? Never owner one and only ever used one a couple times.
 
How thick is your concrete? It should be at least 6" where the posts will mount and probably needs to be more like 8". Any less thick and I would be busting up concrete where the posts will mount and digging footers. I've seen one of those type lifts collapse and fall because the concrete pad was only 4".
 
The Bendpak website says 4 1/4 inch concrete required. Thicker would of course be better, but trying to keep the cost reasonable
 
Bendpak is a good brand and a 9k should handle any car you could put on it. Probably handle a Suburban but I wouldn't do it. How is the existing floor? What does Bendpak say about floor requirements? Anyway a Bendpak is a good choice. How much are they these days?.
 
Mike69cuda said:
The Bendpak website says 4 1/4 inch concrete required. Thicker would of course be better, but trying to keep the cost reasonable
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I wouldn't trust that much depth with a ten foot pole, much less my life, your life, your wife's life, children.....pets....

How much do you think it will cost extra to mark where the posts will be and bust the concrete up and pour footers in four places? You got an air chisel and post hole diggers? You can do all the labor yourself. I'd go 8" down as a minimum.

That's my opinion and you did ask.
 
Bendpak HD-9 is about $5k ish. Bendpak website wants 4 1/4 inches of concrete.
 
Mike69cuda said:
I’m planning on buying a 4 post lift, mostly for storage. I will likely go with Bendpak. The availability is good on them & seems like a good brand. I am planning on putting it in my third car garage space to be out of the way some. This space is also fairly short at about 18’3” to a single garage door. One side of the garage is also very close to a wall, so I will have limited space on the passenger side. It has about a 10’ 6” ceiling, so I have limitations there too.

I am looking at an HD-9 ( was considering a HD- 9ST which is narrower, but seems to narrow at about 77 inches).

I am going to off center it in the door so I can get some more room an the passenger side. May get about 3 ft from runway to wall.

Any advise on lifts or my install? Never owner one and only ever used one a couple times.
Click to expand...
I bought a Rotary 4 post 5 years ago and never looked back.
Buy ameican stay away from the off shore lifts it will just bite you in the *** sooner or later.
What ever one you pick make sure it has a great warranty and is serviced locally.
Edit: My lift is bolted into 4 inches of concrete, no cracks no problems.
 
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RustyRatRod said:
I'm talking about a four post lift.
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Okay, but the only way an approximately 70 square inch post base that is supporting 2250 lbs (9000/4) is going though a 4" (typically 3000psi compression strength) slab is if the base material under the slab has settled away from the concrete and the slab is hung up on the foundation wall or similar creating a void under the slab.
 
I have a relatively narrow space so I pushed the hoist up against the right wall. This gives me space to walk along the left side past the posts. I line the tires up right on the left edge of the ramp so that gives me room to work around the passenger side. I also have about 10 foot 8 inches ceiling height. I have plenty of room to walk under the car.

IMG_20201128_162156.jpg


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IMG_20201109_152312.jpg
 
The last picture actually shows it centered up before I shifted it to the right.
 
I have the extra wide and tall BendPak. Nothing not to love, and I move it all over, including outside if need be.
 
Ya Rotary is a great one also. Mohawk is #1 but costly.
 
Mines the extra wide x extra long 9F certified from Direct Lift, owned by Rotary Lift. Clear spans my 9' door. Ceiling is 10'3" and note it works perfect for stacking A and B's. Lift stops are 6" apart... so you're limited by that as well. As shown there is 3" above the Bee, so if you have a 10'6" ceiling you may sneak yours up one more latch.
4postliftbeebirdstacked 074.JPG

139968110_442785043524193_8992402786914714756_o.jpg

139989127_442785140190850_3966333632907007147_o.jpg
 
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If you can ignore all of the junk, this is my space. The lift will go where the barracuda is. I figure most of the shelving & the garage door opener will have to go. May have to get me one of those side openers for the door. I have the high tracks & a 9 ft wide door, so I am hoping it works out good. I am going to check on building code here & see how thick the floor is required to be.

32B2C584-999F-4575-AE50-933E2F7FC2EE.jpeg
 
Lefty71 said:
I have the extra wide and tall BendPak. Nothing not to love, and I move it all over, including outside if need be.
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So, does yours have the wheel kit? How is the stability if it is not bolted down?
 
Mike69cuda said:
So, does yours have the wheel kit? How is the stability if it is not bolted down?
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Yes, it has a wheel kit....big wheels, the weight of the unit picks itself off the ground and onto the wheels like a cantilever....one person easily rolls the behemoth around the barn.

Stability seems a little weird on imperfect concrete when unladen, but with weight on and up off the ground, it puts the weight down on the corners quite well, no anchors used.
 
I have the bendpak 9w. Just raised my 2013 Ram pick up to do the exhaust no problem. Runs on 120v, move it if I need to. I had the company assemble it, worth it for me cause they do it all day every day.
 
I have the Direct Pro Park 9 plus. Love it. Looks like @dadsbee . Paid $4844 with a $892 jack 2.5 years ago. Installed
 
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