[968gene]

I have found another couple of sites that sell lifts. I am surprised that the Backyard Buddy has had a price increase since these sites seem to be having sales. http://ww2.collectorcartraderonline.com/services/lifts



The most novel solution to storage seems to be this http://www.aclifts.com/parking/4p-1.asp



I understand the idea of the 4 post seeming safer, but the asymetricals have been used for many years, seem less expensive, and take up less space in the garage.

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[earossi]

Gene,



I need some clarification, please. By "asymetrical", are you referring to lifts that has a post or posts on one side, and the lift arms are then cantilevered? Or, are you referring to the two post lifts that I see from most manufacturers. If it is the latter, I have a concern about my better half "tapping" that single post as she navigates into our garage and then having the 968 roll off onto her car. She is not a very good driver, and more than once, I have had to pull her car in or back it out, because "something" has changed (usually a third car pulled up behind the car that is parked next to hers in the garage). So, I am almost paranoid about the potential for her to contact one or more of the posts as she enters the garage.



Now that you mention it, probably the safest solution would be for me to install one of those cantilevered lifts where my car seperates the single post from my wife's car. However, my guess is that those have to be floor mounted to some sort of foundation. I also don't think I have ever seen one advertised for the hobbiest.



I was also amazed that Backyard Buddy would raise prices. The last time I saw one at a car show was last summer, and it had competition from at least 3 other manufactures. At that time, the BY Buddy had a regular price of $3600. Since then they have increased their pricing 15% to $4200.......and that does NOT include shipping (which most other companies include in their pricing). If you add in shipping, the price would probably approach $5000 which is easilly twice the price of their competition. In my opinion, the BY Buddy seems to be nicely made, but is not worth a 100% upcharge. Go figure.



I would appreciate your comments.



Ernie

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[968gene]

Ernie, My old racin' buddy has used the asyms (you are correct in your description) for years with only one incident. A tech pulled an Acura too far forward and the car fell off the lift. With your comment about your better half's driving, I would be afraid to have the asym in your garage. If the car wasn't balanced (which is easy, don't get me wrong), the slightest bump could cause a big issue. That covered, I would think that the Pace unit http://www.pacetools.com/vss7000spec.php would do the trick. With the optional casters, they say you can roll a car around on the unit (ie get it far away from you know who). I am seriously considering this unit myself. My friend (racin' buddy mentioned above) is currently looking for a good used pro unit for me. If he can't come through, then the $1,999 less 5% (internet coupon) looks like a great deal to me.

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[Etnier]

For errant-spouse issues, why not install a low, parking-lot style wheel barricade?

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[Ryan]

Flash,



Have you looked at the mid-rise lift on the link you posted? The Bend-Pak MD-6XP is on sale for $1410.00 delivered. The thing rolls and will lift to 48" and has a roll over height of on 4.75". It sounds perfect except for those folks looking to double park. Check it out

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[earossi]

[quote name='Etnier' date='Jan 7 2006, 08:42 PM']For errant-spouse issues, why not install a low, parking-lot style wheel barricade?

[right][post="14346"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



John,



I can't visualize the parking barriers you mentioned other than the concrete behamoths to direct traffic. Can you provide more specifics? I really am concerned about my wife running into whatever I put in the garage.





Ernie

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[Ryan]

    I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a mid-lift. Works great. Check it out.

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[Lemming]

[quote name='Ryan' date='Feb 20 2006, 09:33 AM']I went ahead and pulled the trigger on a mid-lift. Works great. Check it out.

[right][post="16254"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



You'll be glad you got it, mine gets used often.

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[flash]

i'm getting closer to doing this after yesterday - it took me half an hour to get the car up in the air and ready to start working



the moto floor, with the pad underneath to quiet it down, flexes - that means that the jack and jack stands punch holes in it - that means i have to put aluminum plates underneath all of those to prevent that



of course porsche put the jack points and the points where you would want jackstands right in line with each other, so i usually miss on 2 out of 4 placements, so i have to move them a couple of times in order to get the plates where i can do both



a real PITA



i just don't want to buy the lift that will work here, which is the shortest one, knowing that i can get a taller one into the next place in 2 years, but this is such a pain....................

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[Ryan]

Flash,



You don't have to go to full height on this lift. You can stop at any of the locking points along the way. This sysem would not work on a moto floor though.

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[flash]

yeah - there is one that will - i am just not sure about the "locking points", and where they are in relation to the height i need to have - low ceiling in this garage - very annoying



it's not something that i need all the time, and frankly is only a dozen times a year at most, but it is danged annoying when i do need it



one of the big problems too is the resting height - my car is too low to go over the lift without little additional "ramps" - that means i don't want to park my car where the lift is all the time - that would be a pain - and you know i can't park, in that spot, the car she drives the most - she'd kill me if i put her through that



looking forward to 3 car garage in next place - then i can have the moto floor in 2 spots, and the lift in another - then i'll just park the denali in that space and not have a problem

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[Harvey]

[quote name='Lemming' date='Feb 20 2006, 08:05 AM']You'll be glad you got it, mine gets used often.

[right][post="16257"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



How safe are these sissor lifts? What's the fail-safe mechanism like? Also, for low garage ceilings are they the best option?



Harvey

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[flash]

another hiccup i just thought of - not sure it would ahve worked yesterday - was installing the exhaust system, and i think it might have gotten in the way



anybody care to take a shot of the underneath with the car on it?

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[Ryan]

The lock is quite secure looking. I would say these are very safe lifts. I don't have high ceilings in my garage and it works well with a low car such as ours. I will have problems with my truck though, but it still beats jack stands.



I will take a shot tonight from the bottom.

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[Lemming]

Flash, there are multiple locking points (5 I think), evenly spaced from 0 to 48". If you look the photo that I posted, I have to drive my car up on 2x12 ramps to clear the lift and that is my parking spot for the track car. Lastly, you are correct, working under the center of the car is not ideal but can be done. I installed a better exhaust hanger (dead center of car) yesterday afternoon with little trouble.



Harvey - the locking mechanism is quite robust, I have no fear when I'm under the car. I used to put a piece of wood from the floor to the middle bar just to be sure, but don't bother with that any more.

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[Ryan]

I do have this shot from below, but from the front. I took these with my TREO.

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[flash]

yeah - probably ok for most stuff - header would have been a problem

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[968bill]

I've been looking at the mid-rise sissor lifts for some time now. I was going to go with the Eagle because the Bend-Pak was much more expensive but after looking at the site Flash provided they've come down quite a bit, even on this site. I think I remember ASE had them for clost to $3k 6 - 9 mos. ago but I could be mistaken. I ordered the MD-6XP yesterday and it should be here in apx. 9 days!



Thanks Flash.

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[flash]

i can't take credit for that - eric pointed me there whe we were talking about lifts and garages and stuff - i'm just passing it along



seems i've been following his lead a lot lately - garage, denali, lift - what's next?



but hey - WAY COOL!!!

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[Lemming]

[quote name='968bill' date='Feb 22 2006, 06:48 PM']I've been looking at the mid-rise sizzor lifts for some time now. I was going to go with the Eagle because the Bend-Pak was much more expensive but after looking at the site Flash provided they've come down quite a bit, even on this site. I think I remember ASE had them for clost to $3k 6 - 9 mos. ago but I could be mistaken. I ordered the MD-6XP yesterday and it should be here in apx. 9 days!



Thanks Flash.

[right][post="16405"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



You will now become one of your car buddies favorite friends. They will lavish you with beer, wine and other intoxicants to get access to your lift. The trick is to find a comfortable chair to sit in and watch them work, instead of actually helping them <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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