Alexander Posted February 17, 2007 Report Share Posted February 17, 2007 I have been Looking for a car lift all over the internet and cant find one for less then $1600. Any chance someone know where I can find one for about $1000? used would be fine. Looking for something like this. Thanks Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted February 17, 2007 Report Share Posted February 17, 2007 I am thinking that the one from direct Lift is the most affordable unit on the market today..I have one as does Dennis on this forum..I am extremely happy with mine and don't know yet to this day why I waited so long to get one. The price for mine was 2100 delivered to my door. I don't think there are any cheaper nor any on the market that is a better made unit for the money. I have a 13 foot ceiling and find it just right for putting my mini van to the top latching notch while doing oil an filter/lube jobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted February 17, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2007 Tim thanks for the feedback. I contacted directlifts. its true, they do have great prices. they wanted $1850 delivered to my door. I guess thats not too bad, however its a little more than i want to spend at the moment. I was hoping to maybe find a cheaper one. Did you buy the rolling jack too? Yours 220 or 110? how hard was it to install (2 man job)? did you have to shim the colums? Thanks Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm's Coupe Posted February 17, 2007 Report Share Posted February 17, 2007 Alex, I don't own a lift myself. Have no place to put it if I did own one. However, that is one piece of equipment I wouldn't skimp on, if I were to buy one. I can't think of a worse place to be than under a car on a cheap jack, jack stand or lift like you are looking for. I would rather spend the extra $1,000 than have a car come down on me while under it. So, I'd go for the best one made if it were me. Just like my jack. Car is under 2 tons, jack is rated at 3 tons. My jack stands are rated at 6 tons. Sure, I could go for cheaper jack and stands, but my life is worth more than any savings I may have gotten. So, if your going to buy one of those lifts, buy a good one. Don't want to lose you because a cheap one collapsed on top of you and made you a pancake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_amos Posted February 17, 2007 Report Share Posted February 17, 2007 Those are good prices. I have 2 lifts at my shop and they were around $2100 and $2300 on sale. Cost of installation was $350 each less electrical. I recommend that you pay the price for the installation. One because it is a tough job and secondly for the safety factor. If you buy new the seller can set you up with an installer. You might want to check out a dealership or auto repair shop that might be going out of business though. I've been offered hoists as low as $700. But I needed to pick them up. An auto shop would be better than a dealership as the owner of the auto shop was probably a bit more attentive to upkeep. Dealers tend to install and forget them. They do need upkeep and periodical re-torquing of the mounting bolts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted February 17, 2007 Report Share Posted February 17, 2007 I have the three drip trays, jack tray and yes the roll away wheels. The assembly was a pice of cake. Recommend you have one bud to help..simple assembly. I got the heavier steel ramps...I highly recommend Direct Lift and delivered for that price..how can you go wrong. Be sure to properly level the ramps on assembly..this will prevent latch/unlatch problems. Never but never go under the lift until it has been lowered and latched into the safety catch on all four posts. The unit IS NOT designed for keeping the vehicle hoisted with pressure in the hydraulic hose...used with you wits about you this is a very safe useful tool. My unit is stationary but not bolted to the floor have never rolled it on its wheels. They are stored in the overhead above..I have been know to have my another car under one hoisted and worked on it without any problems..you just need an extra drop light on the average. I am very happy with mine..time to re-lube mine other than that no prob. I have mine on 110 operation..takes just under two minutes to hoist my 41 Dodge to the top safety latch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Hemingway Posted February 18, 2007 Report Share Posted February 18, 2007 I have the same unit that Tim has and I love it. It took us 3 hours from unloading it from the trailer to lifting the 56 Chevy in the air. Dennis:D http://rides.webshots.com/album/105638282NVYYSY http://www.directlift.com/default.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted February 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2007 Dennis Thank you for pictures. It was very interesting to see what was involved in set one up. I guess i should just bite the billet and get one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_amos Posted February 18, 2007 Report Share Posted February 18, 2007 We've never done the movable wheel thing but plan to in the future. If it is to be a permenent mount the safest way to go is a professional doing the job. I have seen a number of hoists, bot twin post as well as 4 post develope unsafe problems due to a faulty installation. I would think that the movable wheel thing would be much easier... And, a better move too as you wouldn't be ctuck in one place...makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jtw3749c Posted February 18, 2007 Report Share Posted February 18, 2007 Okay, I own a Backyard Buddy and have for about 6 or 7 years. Have had a bunch of cars and trucks on it. Done many many different jobs from this hoist. Yep, it cost more then the others. But then having a hoist is great, but having one that isn't safe ( and they are out there) is not my idea of fun. The locks on my Backyard Buddy are fail safe. They have had no accidents ever, with there hoist. Others have! Not a pretty sight! I have one of the older models and they have made some good changes in their newer ones. It's now Powder Coated and not painted, like mine. The roll around wheels are much easier to put on and move it to where you want it. I have had a car on mine and moved it around. Go to their web site and check out the video. www.backyardbuddy.com It's a bit out of date, because it shows the older style with the older wheels and jack try (like mine ), but the whole story is there. 5 year warranty on it. I wouldn't have any other brand. Wish I got paid for this. Maybe I need to talk to them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted February 18, 2007 Report Share Posted February 18, 2007 I did a search and found OSHA's page on lift accidents, being one post models of the old style, roatry, 2 post and 4 post lifts..twenty incidents on the page I veiewed, of that 19 were pure human error and failure to comply with saftey..the one was from a lift with NO safety latch incorporated in its design..there are no statistic of other lift failures listed where there was any latch failure..only human error...for any that works under a lift, have reason to inspect a car that is on the lift, ensure it is properly positioned and lift latch is in place and hydraulic pressure released..if the hoist is raised say a few inches above the latch and pressurized and the seal blow, the mass weight on the lift combined with the amount of freefall is enough to shear even the best of latches..even the slotted models have pivot latch for locks..the key here is safety. On the 4 post lift of mine I made one modification to mine that I think is safety related..that was to protect the fitting where the line had a through connector for the ram. I built a stainless steel protector that bolts to the rail and protects the hose fitting from failure should a item fall it will glance off and not shear, crack or otherwise damage the connector. Also protects from big fat feet stepping on it. Inspect your lift often..looks for indication of ram seal leak, frayed cables or pulley mounted at an angle, indication of pivot post failure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis Hemingway Posted February 18, 2007 Report Share Posted February 18, 2007 I have had my wife's Yukon to our grandaughters BMW to my Kubota Tractor up on my lift with no problems, the only vehicle I could not get on the lift was our son's 1 ton dulley crew cab as it was too wide and too long. Yes you can spend more money on another lift, but then you have less money to spend on your car. Dennis:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted February 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2007 Thank you for for your informative feedback. I think I will go with directlift. they seem to be very safe, and are priced well. cant wait to get it!! Thanks Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48Dodger Posted February 18, 2007 Report Share Posted February 18, 2007 Skimping on safety is also human error. Never put a price on it. I have a BackYard Buddy. You'll totally dig lifting stuff Alex......good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacTexas Posted February 19, 2007 Report Share Posted February 19, 2007 I like my Eagle lift. It lifts my Desoto with no problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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