Ok, why Bendpak?

[Aurora40]

So it seems like the WAZOO is sponsored by Bendpak! I've been looking into lifts, and am just wondering, why theirs? Not to suggest there is anything wrong, but what were the main deciders for you guys?

I was a little surprised to find they are manufactured in China. What is the selling point over something like a Backyard Buddy that is made here?

As an aside, I think my 9' ceiling is going to be a bit of a limiter. Assuming 8-12" for the garage door once I move it up, that means I can move a 48" 'vette about another 48-52" off the ground. That sorta sucks...

[ZR1Vette]

Not downing BendPak... but I decided on DirectLift Pro8 mainly because of (four post) column height due to garage door clearance. As long as the lift has the newer cert stickers then I see no problem

[Scrrem]

Bob,
I'm in the same boat with my ceiling but I figured its a whole lot better that laying on my back like I did pulling my rear axle.

On the lift, I was going to get the same lift the Direct Lift like Michael has but what swayed me was the pneumatic operated safety's. I just didn't like that long bar that goes the length of the lift releasing the safety's. Seemed like you could have a problem if you hit it by mistake and bend something and get the linkage out of wack. Does it justify the cost...probably not...personal perferance I guess.
Rich

[QB93Z]

Bob,

I chose the BendPak because of: High quality construction, pneumatically operated safety latches, safety "stops" are independent (sort of) from the support column, and the ability to add a rolling hydraulic jack.

The safety stops issue was most important to me. The BendPak's safety pawls are each independently engaged by spring action unless they are pulled out by a air piston. So it is very, very unlikely that even one safety would fail to engage on uncontrolled downward motion. On the lifts that have a lever system to hold the safety pawls disengaged, it appeared to me that a single failure (for example binding in the main lever) would keep ALL the pawls from engaging.

In some lifts, the safety pawls engage with a catch tab welded to the support column. It seemed to me that if the column got twisted (for some very unlikey reason), the engagement of the safety pawl could be compromised. In the BendPack the safety pawls engage with a very heavy duty steel plate with openings (a ladder) that is internal to the support columns, but not welded to the column.

By the way, I just buried a good friend who was working on his car on a jack. The jack apparently slipped out and he was crushed. My recommendation is buy a good lift!!!

Jim

[Aurora40]

Damn Jim, that is terrible! Sorry to hear about your friend.

The backyard buddy seems to have a pretty solid locking mechanism, plus a backup lock if the cables go loose. It also has a hydraulic pressure release limiter in case the line gets cut or something.

http://www.backyard-buddy.com/auto-lift-comparison.html

Thanks guys for the feedback, I don't have much experience with these things, so it's good to hear what went into your decisions.

Rich, how high is your ceiling? How high will you be able to lift your car?

[Scrrem]

Originally Posted by Aurora40

Rich, how high is your ceiling? How high will you be able to lift your car?

I only have a 9' ceiling, so the car will only be abel to get roughly 5 feet off the ground but like I said, it's better that laying on your back.