Autolifters Inc out-of-business

[Al S.]

Re: Autolifters Inc out-of-business

I have a Double Park by Cytech in Wichita, Ks.
Very happy so far.

http://www.doublepark.net

[Craig S.]

Re: Autolifters Inc out-of-business

Backyard buddy is the same lift, powder coated, and they market heavily at shows, so it costs more. I spoke with the BB guy at Bloomington this year and found out Autolifters had closed (I have two, and M6 and an as of yet unassembled M80.....(need the garage addition first and it is at a storage facility with a bunch of other things ....Craig

[Craig S.]

Re: Sometimes, only the Name is the Same

Woody - I was a big fan too - I have an M6 and M80......they advertised less, and didn't do the show circuits like Backyard Buddy does. I think that would be the only choice with the same design with locked channels and slides. You have to pay more for Backyard Buddy for the marketing and powder coat....but I think they are still US made......at least the guy told me it was.....Craig

[Craig S.]

Re: I don't anticipate having to replace anything

Mike - I think Backyard Buddy just outmarketed them.......and closed their doors. It is the only lift designed similarly (4 post).... I would like to get a two post asym for car work..........thinking of Rotary....Craig

[Craig S.]

Re: I don't anticipate having to replace anything

Rich - I belive they are steel, and least they are on my M6 I bought around 1998. They wore out bushings though.....and the more recent ones (like in my M80) have ball bearings. You can use Backyard Buddy pulleys, and I expect they are ball bearing too.....Craig

[Craig S.]

Re: Autolifters Inc out-of-business

Al - I have two 4 post Autlifters M6 and M80....but plan to get a two poster Rotary for car work. I fell in love with the unit when I saw one at a SW NCRS members house. No doubt Rotary is top notch industrial quality.....Craig

[Richard T.]

Re: I don't anticipate having to replace anything

The original and replacements were heavy vinyl. I asked about steel and they told me that they wore the cables too much. I guess they found out later that wasn't true. Two original pulleys crumbled into hundreds of tiny pieces. I am glad to hear that there are other manufacturers pulleys that will fit. Rich

[Mike McKown]

Re: I don't anticipate having to replace anything

Craig:

The Rotary is made just a few miles up the road from me in Madison, In. It's probably one of the best lifts on the market. Also, very pricey. An idividual working out of his home likely wouldn't wear one out in two lifetimes.

I just thought the Auto-Lifters was a good overall choice between durability, quality, safety and cost.

If the Auto Lifter pulleys start to wear, they can always be re-bushed if you don't wait too long.

[Rob Dame]

Re: I don't anticipate having to replace anything

Rotary leases lifts to many dealerships. For an at home garage I think a rebuilt former leased lift from Rotary would be fine and at a reduced price.

[John H.]

Re: I don't anticipate having to replace anything

I had about twenty Rotary 2-post lifts in the Viper plant, in constant use, and they're as close to indestructible as you can get; we usually installed them in groups, and occasionally relocated them as we revised the layout, and the local Rotary tech rep was always on-site when we needed him or needed individual spare parts. Rotary even made special low-profile lifting pads for all our lifts so they'd fit under the Viper side exhaust covers. Very professional outfit, with the best commercial lifts in the business; they also have a new line of 2-post and 4-post lifts for hobbyist use.

[Terry M.]

Re: I don't anticipate having to replace anything

We have had five Rotary lifts at school – oldest for about ten years. They are in-ground symmetrical twin posts. We don't give them nearly the work-out John did in the Viper plant, but they have been flawless. On the other hand I am sure the students don't pay nearly the attention to proper lifting points nor balance that the plant employees did. The arms are not low-profile, so I doubt they would lift a C5 or a Viper.