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[DieselSlug]

I am starting to research the purchase of a 2 or 4-post lift for my at home pole barn. Does anyone else here have a lift in their garage?

Im looking for something tall as I will have 16-foot ceilings. My BIL has a 10K Halo lift (floor plate style as he has a lower ceiling) that seems to work very well.

Contemplating on going used name brand (rotary, Bendpak, etc.) Or buying a new CKO. Right now the CKO brands that stick out are Halo, Katool, and AMGO. These lifts require 4 to 6-inch thick slabs or footers poured accordingly. It is my understanding that certain lifts have ALI certifications, but there a re quite a few reviews of the non-certified CKOs which are positive.

Im limited on funds for this (~$3K) in my current budget, so new name brands just aren't possible. Minimum 10K rating units I am looking at.

 

[Will L.]

my instinct would be finding a used name brand ones like Bendpak over a cko.
Check the safety latches for wear that could need some weld repair and expect that the hydraulic motor/pump assembly might need rebuilt because that is the most common worn item. Having the frame assembly in good condition is more critical than the hydraulic pump.

My concern is this: imagine you are buying jack stands- you don’t want to spend top dollar but do you really want to trust harbor freight on that? This is way more critical than jack stands. There is a lot more welds that if the guy making them didn’t get proper penetration or jumped a seam - that it could all go bad and there isn’t warning signs before it fails sometimes.

Find out all the tool guys numbers in your area- Mac, Snapon, etc. often they know of used deals on them. The best deals Ive seen came from commercial realtors who knew of small shops that went out of business and need them removed for being turned into different kind of business. More than one person has got them for the price of labor of removing them alone…

 

[DieselSlug]

my instinct would be finding a used name brand ones like Bendpak over a cko.
Check the safety latches for wear that could need some weld repair and expect that the hydraulic motor/pump assembly might need rebuilt because that is the most common worn item. Having the frame assembly in good condition is more critical than the hydraulic pump.

My concern is this: imagine you are buying jack stands- you don’t want to spend top dollar but do you really want to trust harbor freight on that? This is way more critical than jack stands. There is a lot more welds that if the guy making them didn’t get proper penetration or jumped a seam - that it could all go bad and there isn’t warning signs before it fails sometimes.

Find out all the tool guys numbers in your area- Mac, Snapon, etc. often they know of used deals on them. The best deals Ive seen came from commercial realtors who knew of small shops that went out of business and need them removed for being turned into different kind of business. More than one person has got them for the price of labor of removing them alone…

I agree on a name brand, just really worried about its past life. Most require you to take down in their shop, which may help with assembly. Bendpak, even used may be out of my price range. Seeing $4-5K used. Other main brands I see are Forward, Mowhawk, and challenger.

I do see ALI certified Atlas lifts that are mostly catching my eye. I also see a guy named Derek Weaver selling lifts that has very good reviews too. Hopefully by end of summer the barn will have concrete, so thinking an early fall late summer purchase. Not sure if the ALI certification makes one more "safe".

I do see alot of $2K lifts that are rebranded in a multitude of names and numbers. I am definitely not going that route.

 

[DieselSlug]

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[ak diesel driver]

I have a 2 post Weaver. IMO 2 posts are the most versatile. Been times a 4 post would have been nice though.

 

[SnowDrift]

Dad and i are putting a Bendpak 4 post together now. He has another 4 post already by another brand. He has a couple older units in the floor. Bendpak instructions are very thorough. Couple complaints but nothing a call to the company didnt help.

 

[DieselSlug]

I have a 2 post Weaver. IMO 2 posts are the most versatile. Been times a 4 post would have been nice though.

I agree, I think the 2 post is the more economical solution for what you can do with it. I know you can outfit a 4 post with mid jacks, but that all adss up quick. I do like the idea of drive on and go up. But cost, safety features, and quality are what I need to focus on.

Dad and i are putting a Bendpak 4 post together now. He has another 4 post already by another brand. He has a couple older units in the floor. Bendpak instructions are very thorough. Couple complaints but nothing a call to the company didnt help.

My dad actually has an 8K 4 post, that he is threatening to gift me when he is done with it. Waffling if I want versatility of a 2 post and 4 post someday.