rleete

iTrader: (21)

Heh, just finished reading that. The only mention of a 5k version I could find.

I also wrote a comment on the Bendbac site that I wanted a 5k version, and to contact me when available.

rleete

iTrader: (21)

Contacted Bendpac as I mentioned above. Got a reply from them this morning (via email), and this afternoon a rep at one of their distributors (Workshop Depot) called me.

They also sent an email with a .pdf of the dimensions of the new version. Length closed is 69", going to 57" when raised. Blocks for lifting can be positioned from 35 to 50". There are two height positions with the safety lock bar. Raised height of 14.5"-18" lower, depending on the rubber blocks used. 18.5"-22" in the higher position. I can pass along the .pdf if anyone is interested.

Cost is going to be $1295, shipped. 120v system, and a 12v system is also available. Availability is not until end of April, but she told me more like mid May the way things are going.

hornetball

iTrader: (4)

In for pdf. Can you post, or did they prohibit that?

rleete

iTrader: (21)

Okay, let's see if this works.

rleete

iTrader: (21)

Very concerned that the larger version won't fit under the Miata. Not because of height, but length. Measured my car, and 69" is about the longest that will fit between the tires. Actually, you could get a little more, but I am not sure you'd be able to lift the car without the thing jamming itself between the tires as it goes up.

I may mock up a wood frame to see if I think it will work.

Yeah, $1300 is a lot for a jack, but it's the convenience of a scissors lift combined with portability that I like. Use it in the garage or out in the driveway with no special provisions. 5k capacity means it can lift everything from a 4 wheeler to a full size pickup.

Anyone else interested? The lady told me mid April was the target, but to consider mid May more realistic. I would like to see if they would consider some sort of group buy or special pre-order pricing.

rleete

iTrader: (21)

Okay, here's the deal. I did some rough mockup work last night, based on the dims given in the .pdf above. The good news is, it will fit under the car. My Miata is just a hair over 3.5" from the ground to the pinch welds.

The bad news is, I don't think it will work for lifting the car without some modifications or additional work. The reason being, the lift just fits between the tires, without a lot of room for adjustment. That places the top lifting section further back (or forwards, depending on orientation) than can reach both pinch weld lifing points at the same time. The top lifting section is 51.5", but it's at the extreme end of the lift when folded. The solution would be to make some sort of extension beam that reaches both lifting points on the car at the lowered position. This leaves one end cantilevered off the lift. Not ideal at all. Possibly dangerous if said beam wasn't strong enough. Just not worth the risk.

Of course, you could lift along the whole length of the pinch welds (that the top portion can reach), using some sort of saddle block that distributed the weight evenly. Still not an ideal situation, because you're not lifting in the center, but biased towards the front or back depending on how you position the lift. Unbalanced load means it still is not worth the risk.

I don't believe the lifting pads can be positioned far enough apart (50.5" max.) to accommodate lifting on the reinforced portions which mount the subframes, either.

I think all these points are moot if you're considering the smaller version, because it is enough shorter to be able to position it correctly under the car. Frankly, I haven't checked, because 3500# isn't enough for my other vehicles. If you'd like the larger capacity to be able to lift other vehicles, it looks like you'd need both versions. Kinda puts the price point squarely back into the realm of 2 post lifts, minus the floor prep required.

Bottom line is, I won't be getting this one.

At this price point, I am still considering the Bendpac P6, but that sacrifices portability, even to drag it from the garage to the driveway, as each section is ~350#. And then there's the EZcarlift, which sacrifices power, needing a separate electric drill for lifting. However, the EZcarlift is on backorder sale right now, for 200 bucks off.

shuiend

iTrader: (24)

I ended up calling Worth and talking to them about the 9000FP. There is currently an 8 week lead time on it or so. Total cost would come out to about $3100 shipped to my door. That is more then I can justify spending on a lift.

I did some more searching and found Affordable Auto Lifts which has the TP9KF which comes in at 111" tall. I can have it shipped to my door for about $1750 or $1550 picked up in Atlanta. This one will just barely fit in my garage with about 2 inches to spare. I was told over the phone 7-10 business days for availability, I am not sure if that mean it takes that long to get it to the warehouse and then shipped out, or that long to my door. There is a guy on m.net who has had one of these ones installed in 2009, and he says it still works perfectly. So that definitely makes me feel better about it.

RedCarmel

iTrader: (7)

Anyone ever use a Bendpak SP-7X? They are a spendy unit but nice because has the benefits of a scissors lift in the home garage while lifting higher (68") and having an open center.

http://www.bendpak.com/SP_7X.pdf

rleete

iTrader: (21)

Major thread necro #2

I have gotten permission from the wife to buy the Ranger quickjack. Actually, I just asked if I she thought we could afford it, and she told me to "just get it".

It has been ordered. I will post a couple of photos when it arrives to make you all jealous.

RedCarmel

iTrader: (7)

I eventually found a lightly used Rotary scissors lift via my local Rotary dealer. Guy bought it new and used it for a little work on his old stingray then it sat for while. I like it.

m2cupcar

iTrader: (5)

You can spend all that time you save with the lift working for bank.

I think dealers are a great resource for finding deals. They get them for cheap so the reprice is usually significantly better than new. This is my Rotary 10k 2 post I picked up as a repo from the local dealer/installer. He charged me $2.5k to locate it, inventory it, deliver (from Bham), install it and warranty it for a year.

Erat

iTrader: (5)

I like mine. I've been using it all winter. It gets a ton of use and is EXTREMELY helpful when you are working on your car and testing. Super easy to pull the car in the garage, slide the jacks under and hit the button. I can see how awesome it would be to use at the track, plus save a ton of valuable time.

A couple thoughts.
The locks don't stay up in place. I used a piece of wire to slide over and keep them held up when lowering. The fittings leak when connecting and disconnecting as you've probably read online. I just leave them connected anymore. The air chamber you have to add pressure to just about once or twice a week.

darkcambria

iTrader: (2)

I as well have been using my quick jack often lately. Its been so nice to just get the car up quick, tweak something and put back down. Much nicer than my asphalt garage floor (Thanks previous owners) which required plywood for stands etc.

I had the same issues with the locks not staying in place. I tightened up the top bolt that holds them in place so that they stick much nicer. Now I can move them up parallel so I don't have to hold them up when lower the jack. Made life much easier.

I had the same issues with leaking until I figured out how to disconnect them. I learned to not just let the pressure pop them open when I was releasing. Now I push them together, pull the sleeve and pop apart. I've actually had zero to one drop leakage since doing that. Now, I bought mine at the end of January when Flying Miata started offering them. That also seems to be around the time they changed disconnects to the nicer ones so I likely got the newer style.

rleete

iTrader: (21)

How long did it take you to get yours after ordering? I ordered on the first, and as of today is still isn't here. I had it shipped to my work address (and confirmed via email with FM) so that there were dock facilities and commercial shipping was used. That should have resulted in faster times, or so I would have thought.

I have read about the leaking connectors, and have also read that there are new parts being used on the later units. Very few complaints about leaking these days. I'm hoping it's been fixed.

Schuyler

iTrader: (1)

Having access to a friends lift has all but guaranteed that I am buying one when I have a garage that permits it. His is two post, high enough I can stand completely upright under the car. Oh, and an air-conditioned garage, that's on the list too.

darkcambria

iTrader: (2)

Mine took around 2 weeks to be delivered I believe. I ordered when they first started offering them so some of that may have been demand.

rleete

iTrader: (21)

Took 4 weeks to the day to get it. It's not like the damn things have a growing season. Some indication that it would taken this long would have been nice.

Lots of minor niggles with it, and I haven't even used it. Stuff like the entire power pack and tray being covered in oil. Not just a coating to prevent rust, this was like someone spilled a bucket over it, and they just let most of it drip off before packing. All the electrical strain reliefs were lose, and the one for the pendant was barely hanging on. Had to open up the electrical box to tighten them and wipe off the excess fluid. Pretty **** poor for a $1300 item. I hope this isn't an indication of the quality of the welds.

Got it mostly together, but I pulled a muscle in my back lifting the power pack at an awkward angle. Took that as a sign that I should finish tomorrow.

rleete

iTrader: (21)

It's finally here. It's all set up. It works.



Ramps are kinda heavy at 65# each, but they have wheels on the end so moving them around is no problem. Setup was simple (tape threads, screw on fittings), and instructions are good. Operation is sorta jerky, but I haven't tried with a car on it yet. Takes less than a minute to go up with no load. New flush face quick disconnects do not leak at all. No drips after connecting and disconnecting several times. The springs in them are quite strong, and it takes some effort to get them to click together.

I'm going to make a right angle extension to the handle on the power pack to get it over the center of gravity better. Right now you really need two hands to move it around because it is so off center.

Overall, it's huge improvement over a jack and stands.

darkcambria

iTrader: (2)

Up and down jerkiness will go away when there is a car to lift. Just with no load they do jerk around a bit. I have to say after using mine up and down quite a bit to get the coilovers dialed in, I'm very happy. They certainly take some time and some small issues to setup but its so much nicer than jacking away, especially for a task repeated like that.

triple88a

iTrader: (2)

I dont like em. They look way too chunky making work at the center of the body like tranny/exhaust difficult.