Help with four post lifts

[Jason Upshaw]

Hi everyone,

I know that this is a little off the beaten path, but I am about to buy a four post lift for my garage and was wondering if anyone had any input as to the best brand for the money?

Thanks,
Jason U
1960 245HP,PG

[Dave S.]

Re: Help with four post lifts

Jason,

Check the archives as there is considerable discussion on this item. I personally have an Eagle Equipment 4 post lift and have been very happy with it, but others like Backyard Buddy are excellent as well. A lot depends on the delivery and installation requirements you have. Once you get one you will wonder how you lived without it.

[Tom G.]

Re: Help with four post lifts

I have a Superior lift. They used to offer a discount of 10% to NCRS members - as we jused to have them supply lifts to the National events to do Bowtie judging. Had it fvor two years - no problems.

Tom

[Craig S.]

Re: Help with four post lifts

I have had no problems and really like the Autolifters brand, the Backyard Buddy is a copy of the original M6 design from Autolifters. They now have the M80 which I also picked up as it handles wider and longer vehicles easier such as my truck, and they have ball bearing pulleys now....Here is their website......Craig




Autolifters Lifts

[Harmon C.]

Re: Help with four post lifts

Jason I have looked at all of them at the big shows and have 3 stingers , now stinger by axe. I have used mine up and down doing restoration work sometimes fifty times a day. I had to reshim the collums and buy bushings and install some of them in the pulleys. Parts cost less than $50.00. Used just for storage and a little work now and then they will not wear out any parts in a lifetime.

I was told that the dimond plate rails that you drive on are made overseas. This part appears to me as being made by the same company and used by many different brands of lifts. Buy what you like for the best price as they all have some little safety differances.

If you buy wheels make sure that with the lift in the down position and ready to move around that the turning area of the wheels is parallel with the ground. I had to rework the wheels frame and shim the wheels and now it pushes twice as easy. Lyle

[Patrick H.]

Re: Help with four post lifts

John Hinckley and I each have the DoublePark brand of lift. He has one, I have two. I was impressed by the workmanship, the powder coating and the casters to help move it.

Patrick

[Chuck G.]

Re: Help with four post lifts

I have a Superior 4 poster. Just installed it about a month ago. NICE. Love it so far, no problems. Chuck

[Dick C.]

Re: Help with four post lifts

I have a Superior 4 post for over a year and no problems. Maintaining it and always paying attention when going up and down are important. When I put one cars up I always walk around the lift to check the locks before I go under.

[Jim T.]

Re: Help with four post lifts

Have two M6 Autolifters. Used mainly for their lifting ability to get four cars in a two car garage. Easy to install by one person. Recommend you pick up at the dock from the shipping company on a flatbed type trailor and bring home.

[Jason Upshaw]

Re: Help with four post lifts

Thanks for the information everyone. I like the looks of the Superior and the Backyard Buddy, so those are the two I have narrowed it down to.
Thanks again,

Jason

[Eugene B.]

Re: Headroom?

Gents,
I think I see one of these in my somewhat distant future.

Question: To have a Corvette in the fully raised and locked position, what ceiling height in the garage in required or recommended?

Thanks,
Gene

[Dick C.]

Re: Headroom?

At least 10', I have 9'2" and a Superior Lift. Have a C-2 and C5 and I am 5'7 and don't have any problems.

[Gary Bishop]

Re: Headroom?

To get another 2 feet of head room to make it 12' 6" I framedand drywalled a box cut into the attic for the passenger area to go up into.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Headroom?

Gene Just for storage I have a friend who has two 73's in a 8' 6'' ceiling. It takes the height of the two cars plus 4'' the deck and 2" more to relase the locks. I think he put 3/4" plywood under the posts to get the stop in the right position. For working under the lift I have 11' and the standard lift and would have 12' if I was building a new shop. This would be enough room for I beams and a trolley as I have now. Lyle

[John M.]

Re: Headroom?

Gene,
I have 10'6 in one garage and do not have enough room to get to the top notch on the lift. The other has 11" even and it has enough. The 10'6" garage makes me duck slightly as I move under the ramps while I can walk upright under the ramps in the 11' ceiling garage. I am 6' tall.
More important than the ceiling height is the door clearance. If you have a fairly shallow garage (less than 24'), you will have a problem storing a car up high and being able to open the overhead door with out having a High lift door kit put on your door. Additionally, most of the lifts out there will not roll out through a 7' high door. This is not a problem if you have an 8' high door or are never going to move the lift out on to the driveway, but just an FYI.

Regards, John McGraw