Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

SShink · 3K+ Club

Looking for 4 post lift recommendations

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Here is a great addition for a four post lift. Can be had for about $500.

www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200715981_200715981%20%3E%20Automotive%20Lifts&utm_campaign=Tuxedo&utm_content=71522&gclid=Cj0KCQjws536BRDTARIsANeUZ58BNQjbmZe1jJ42tGjo01Cw9qrRTxBFd7dHu1REu5APPZEPsG0qfJwaAqgZEALw_wcB

hkgmillette · President

I really like my Advantage Lift (www.advantagelifts.com/). They are out of Elk River. I would encourage you to get the pneumatic lift that goes between the ramps. WildFire also makes a lift, www.wildfirelifts.com/. They appear to be a knock-off of Advantage. They are out of Minneapolis. Do not know much about them. Things to check on are how many splash pans you get, cost of shipping and installation, if the edge of the aluminum ramps have a cover or guard to them to protect your floor. Also keep in mind the height of the posts. I have the 9000 XLT from Advantage. The posts are taller than the 9000 HD lift. The height on the HD are 93”, the XLT’s are 105” and do not fit under an 8 foot door.

If you talk to either one, check to see if they have any demo models or Scratch -n- Dent models. Mine was one and I got a deal on it.

SShink · 3K+ Club

Thanks Hank. I really like your lift, but those are $1000 more than my budget. I will call and see if they have any scratch and dent sales.

I might be able to save some money by having a lift assembly party tech session. Lol

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

I have two different styles of 4 post from Direct Lift.
Sold by Benco Equipment.

Pro Park and Propark plus.

They are OK for Stack and Store.
They are fine for that use.
NOT Commercial grade.
Up and down is slow, cables hang all over the place.

If I need one to actually work under, I would save up until I could afford a heavier duty unit.

I bought the Taller/Longer Pro Park Plus lifts in June of 2015.
Mitch has been kind enough to move them twice for me!
They are fine, just not the commercial (ROTARY) grade product.

Whatever you do, sure beats floor jacks and stands.

Karl

Lost in the 60s · President

I have only used my 4 post for actual work twice and it is a pain for anything other than transmission swapping.
A 2 post works for storage just as well as the 4 post without the ramps in the way for brake and suspension work. Yes, you can do those on the ramps with the under side lift, but you are still leaning over and working around the ramp. Other considerations are, you can't get an engine lift under the car on a 4 post, like you will with a 2 post and when all the way down, the car is not at floor level, you have the added height of the lift to contend with for any under hood work. You do so much work on cars that involve engine/trans R&R and brake, suspension swapping that I believe you would be MUCH happier with a 2 post.

Save up, be a little patient and watch for "fall" and "end of season" clearance specials on lifts for a good price.

Derek69SS · Founding Member

I agree with Mitch.
2-post is far superior if you plan to do work on it.

Derek69SS · Founding Member

One more benefit of the 2-post is that you can find used ones a LOT easier than 4-post.

I paid $1000 for mine used... good quality used American made, for half the cost of a new Chinese one. :)

BLyke · 1K+ Club

Derek69SS wrote:
One more benefit of the 2-post is that you can find used ones a LOT easier than 4-post.

I paid $1000 for mine used... good quality used American made, for half the cost of a new Chinese one. :)

Well played!

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Ive always preferred a two post when I was working in the field. Whats nice about 4 posts is they can be moved if necessary for cleaning or to rearrange things around. With a two post, you need to consider where is the best place for it & those posts do take up space.

SShink · 3K+ Club

Thanks for all the feedback everyone!

While not to debate the 2 vs. 4 post topic again, I stayed convinced a 4 post is the best solution for my needs since I'm most interested in safety for the types of things I do on cars, and the benefits of the storage aspect, and it can be moved around the garage easily.

So I pulled the trigger yesterday on the Wildfire Standard 9000 lb 4 post lift versus the Advantage one like Hank has. They are both almost identical in construction with minor differences and fall in the 'Best' category IMO, and both are built like tanks. They both have 5" square posts with a slider mechanism that has a double lock design. The Wildfire guys are a father and son combo in the metro that have 3 warehouses across the country. The decision between the two brands really came down to the customer service focus and direct line of contact with the Wildfire guys vs. working with the local Advantage guy from a company owned on the east coast.

Yes, both are China built, but after looking at Hank's lift and having been in China as a sourcing and quality professional, these lifts are made of quality material and processes.

If I hadn't considered these two, I would have gone with DMS based out of Missouri as their 'Good' lift installed is about $1000 less than the Wildfire or Advantage lifts.

I didn't buy the bridge jack system as that added another $1000, but I am going to buy an air jack that I'll use to lift each side of the car one at a time then put a jack stand underneath and remove the air jack. Has anyone used one of these? This one is $100

5500LBS Double Bag Air Pneumatic Jack Lift Compressed Air 2.5 Ton

So by now you're wondering how much? Here's the breakdown:

'Car Show Special' Price $3395

Sales Tax $265

Installation $700 (I watched a ton of Wildfire's video's and I'm sure I could do this with the help of a buddy or two, but with my healing shoulder, the money is worth paying someone else to deliver and install it on site)

Here's the Link to Wildfire Lifts.

Here's the Link to the one I bought-LINK

ebb39d_73ef6c13ef0c4c5c8cd8b16c6188419e.

This is one of those kinds of purchases that I don't want look back and say 'I wish I would have...' so more money than originally planned, but feel safer about it. Yes, I could have bought parts for the Chevelle with this money, but I'm really looking forward to not lying on the ground anymore.

hkgmillette · President

That is AWESOME Stan. I also looked at Wildfire and was close to purchasing one and then Advantage offered me a deal on a 'scratch n dent' lift they had. Regardless of what style of lift you ended up purchasing, you will really like having one to work on your car or even to 'get it out of the way'. Do you know when it is going to be installed? I would love to come see it.

Jon H · 1K+ Club

Stan, you put a lot of thought and research into the purchase so I am sure you bought what you need. Congratulations!
Sure will be nice to have another one in the neighborhood.

more ambition than brains · 1K+ Club

We use the Air bag jacks regularly on the frame rack, lifting only, replace with blocks.
They work well.
Assembly and installation: sometimes it is best to just "write the check"

With your tendency to "rotate" inventory I am sure this lift will become intimate with multiple vehicles.

Congratulations!
Karl

69SSConv · Active Member

I have one of the air bag jacks, just like one shown on my advantage lift, works well, but can tilt forward or back on you if not centered, or the lifting surface is not level. I did end up purchasing the bridge jack system, and don't regret it.

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Very nice lift, excellent choice. I’ll second Lorens suggestion, the bridge jack system is far superior and safer than bottle jacks or airbags and adds so much versatility to the lift.

Lost in the 60s · President

69SSConv wrote:
I have one of the air bag jacks, just like one shown on my advantage lift, works well, but can tilt forward or back on you if not centered, or the lifting surface is not level. I did end up purchasing the bridge jack system, and don't regret it.

Yes, they use the bag lift at Centerline all the time, but you will need the other wheels well choked to prevent any roll while on the bag. NEVER lift one entire end of the vehicle with it.

Should work for now, with care, and consider the bridge jack for a future upgrade.

SShink · 3K+ Club

It's not too late to add the bridge jack to the order...

Lost in the 60s · President

SShink wrote:
It's not too late to add the bridge jack to the order...

Well, there you go !! All you need to do is sneak the purchase order past accounting...

SShink · 3K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
SShink wrote:
It's not too late to add the bridge jack to the order...
Well, there you go !! All you need to do is sneak the purchase order past accounting...

The bridge jack has been added to the order.

Accounting had previously approved it. It was just the Purchasing team trying to save money to look good, just like in my real job. Lol

dashboard · 2K+ Club

You are going to be so happy. You now have a hybrid 4 post that will allow you to do 2 post functions.

SShink · 3K+ Club

Got a nice surprise late Friday afternoon when the Wildfire Lift guys called and said they had an install cancellation, and wondered if I'd be open to having them install mine Sat. morning, so of course I said YES!

After a 2 hour install, the lift is in place and operational. I'd probably still be working on it Sun. morning if I had tried it myself. They had definitely done this a few times, and knew all the tricks.

I'm really happy with the car on the lift and seeing how much access I'll have to the underside, and with the bridge jack it should be very functional. Now to get the shoulder healed so that I can start using it!

SShink · 3K+ Club

Already found a way to Stanitize it!

Jon H · 1K+ Club

Very nice addition Stan!

Lost in the 60s · President

Yep, very nice.
And thanks for the link to their products.
Now I want the trailer lift so I can park another car under/over that...

dashboard · 2K+ Club

Stan, don’t leave her up there to long, after a while the excitement wears of and they can get...well you know.

SShink · 3K+ Club

dashboard wrote:
Stan, don’t leave her up there to long, after a while the excitement wears of and they can get...well you know.

Lost in the 60s · President

dashboard wrote:
Stan, don’t leave her up there to long, after a while the excitement wears of and they can get...well you know.

Cranky ???

Time to change that avatar, Kevin. It isn't a primer queen anymore...