storage lifts

[Benjamin C.]

Everyone says that the lifts made in China are not safe. We have all seen the pictures. Is this true or should I spend an extra $1000 and get a good one made in the USA.

[Marc Wilborn]

Re: storage lifts

I have a backyard buddy and would not have any other. I feel very safe working under it and the quality is superb.

[Russ U.]

Re: storage lifts

Cut corners somewhere else. One of the great things about a car lift is that it allows you to work under the car. You will probably spend a good number of hours under the car. If you buy the cheap lift, you will always have a nagging concern about getting crushed to death while you are under the car. That will kill the joy of being under the car.

I have a Kwiklift. I don't worry at all about being under the car. My wife even lets the kids go under the car.

[Don G.]

Re: storage lifts

I am pleased with the performance of the Backyard Buddy lift. Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten.

[Gary Bishop]

Re: storage lifts

I have a "Superior" lift and I understand it was made in Texas.

[Harmon C.]

Re: storage lifts

I bought Stinger lifts and think they were made in Kansas. I later was wondering if all the companys selling lifts had a press brake large enough to bend up the main diamond plate rails used on almost all lifts but Backyard Buddy. I ask at swap meets and was told all the main diamond plate formed rails are bent up overseas. At that time I think the lifts were welded in Kansas. I do think a poor welder could make a lift that would fail and he could live anywhere in the world. I have only seen pictures of one lift that failed posted on the internet and only cars got hurt. You may have a better chance at hitting the lottery than getting killed under a four post lift. Saftey Check any lift ofter and I think most problems will be found before they cause a complete failure.

Lyle

[John M.]

Re: storage lifts

BJ,

The safety issue is utter nonsense. If you want to buy American, to suport our economy, then do so. I have an offshore lift, and I would guess that over 80% of the lifts being sold today are made somewhere other than the USA, mostly in China. Almost without exception these lifts are of the same external stop block design. This is the type of lift being sold by Stinger, Superior, Eagle, Bend Pak, Direct lift, and many other lift vendors. This design has been sold for many years and has proved to be a safe lift. I have never seen any lift failure of any design that was the fault of the lift. There may be one I am not aware of, but the few failures that I am aware of were operator error. Every time you use the lift, you need to think about what you are doing, and you can not get complacent in their use, no mater which design!
The lifts have to be maintained from time to time, and the locks need to be regularly checked for proper syncronization. The lift failures that I am aware of, were all the result of someone missing or hanging a stop on the way down which twisted the lift and in one instance dumped the car.

I have been to countless NCRS meets where they used external block offshore lifts. I do not think any of these people would get under the car on one if they thought they were not safe. I looked at almost every lift on the market when I bought mine several years ago and I ended up buying a Direct Lift 4 post lift. It has served me well fot years and has made hundreds, if not thousands of trips up and down, and has worked flawlessly. I work on my cars every day, and have never had ny issues with it. I inspect it regularly, and maintain it per the manufacturers reccomendations.

Regards, John McGraw

[Gary C.]

Beveal the Garage Door Opening

John McGraw advises to beveal the garage door opening at 45 degrees to make rolling things in and out of the garage alot easier. Great idea, so you don't have to fight the lip with floor jacks or anything else. Gary....

[John M.]

Re: Beveal the Garage Door Opening

Gary is right. I took a diamond grinder disk on my angle grinder, and put a nice 45 degree on the floor lip. I can now roll the lift in and out of my shops with ease. However, If you do not have an eight foot high garage door, you will not be able to move it outside. Most lifts are a couple of inches too tall to pass out of a 7 foot tall garage door once they are on the casters. I move my lift between shops fairly regularly and sometimes, I just like to work out on the drive when the weather is nice!

Regards, John McGraw

[Juliet P.]

Re: Beveal the Garage Door Opening

We have a Bend-Pak scissors lift. With very limited space (width and ceiling height, and an I-beam across the middle of the garage!) we couldn't fit a 4 post and a second car next to it in our tiny garage. It's been a fabulous lift with no problems whatsoever! Pics (2002 vintage) here: http://corvetteforum.net/classics/gregp/lift/lift.htm

~Juliet