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Car lift tips or tricks?

BigCountryMopar

BigCountryMopar

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Hey y’all we’ve got a new lift ordered for the shop. We’ve never installed one so I was just curious if there are any tips to smooth the installation process. It’s a Bendpak XPR-10S. My dad and I are pretty excited. Oughta make things real easy. Thanks for any advice.
 
Get a professional lift installer- about $300 Canadian here (Canada, obviously!). Takes the volatility out.
 
BigCountryMopar said:
Hey y’all we’ve got a new lift ordered for the shop. We’ve never installed one so I was just curious if there are any tips to smooth the installation process. It’s a Bendpak XPR-10S. My dad and I are pretty excited. Oughta make things real easy. Thanks for any advice.
Click to expand...
Are you replacing a lift, adding a lift, or is this your first lift? Make sure you follow the mfrs directions for anchor placement and embedment. Safety is no accident.
 
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Fork lift ! Will never offer to help unless one is used. Something goes bad on a lift those posts can do damage.
 
A lift will make your life easier. I put one in about seven years ago and was well worth it. Make sure you have a capable hammer drill. The anchors we had to put in were 3/4 of an inch. My Dad and I installed it in about four hours. Measure out the floor plan twice so you don't make a mistake. My garage is only 24 feet deep and I wished I would have installed it about eight inches further in. I didn't take into account how long my extended cab pickup is. With my truck on the lift I cannot close my garage door. You will see with the instructions it pretty straight forward. Good luck.
 
It is a 2 post lift. And this is our first lift and first time installing one. I don’t have a fork lift but I do have a tractor with a front end loader. Also thought about maybe using a mini excavator. But didn’t want to over complicate it. It’s going in a 40x50 shop.
 
Charger Dana said:
Get a professional lift installer- about $300 Canadian here (Canada, obviously!). Takes the volatility out.
Click to expand...
We talked about that. But the closest installer I found was Arkansas and they don’t come this far south. Maybe I’m looking in the wrong place.
 
BigCountryMopar said:
We talked about that. But the closest installer I found was Arkansas and they don’t come this far south. Maybe I’m looking in the wrong place.
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Email this guy, Johnny Swink. He is in Texas, but can maybe give you a recommendation. I am discussing putting in a Challenger lift in our shop with him.

[email protected]
 
BigCountryMopar said:
It is a 2 post lift. And this is our first lift and first time installing one. I don’t have a fork lift but I do have a tractor with a front end loader. Also thought about maybe using a mini excavator. But didn’t want to over complicate it. It’s going in a 40x50 shop.
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I see complications ahead for you. That need to be eliminated/delt with.
#1--the proper foundation for a two post lift is a much bigger deal with a two post lift vs a four post lift.
#2--you are asking about handling equipment that will only be needed to connect the pieces.

My craft is machinery installation and I have been doing it for 40 years.
The key to lasting success is the base being sound for the intent. Now is the time to get it right.

As for assembling the lift with friends and various power means??--It's not a party its a mission.--Be safe-
 
2 questions
What does a decent one cost?
How can I convince my crazy Norwegian wife that is necessary?
My boss picked one up in Indiana for @2200 if I remember right. It lifts his sons powerwagon no problem. Is that price about right? Sorry about the hijack
 
Guess I'm a bit different because I say don't pay for something you can do yourself. I was a first time installer last year and completely installed mine not only without any equipment but completely by myself... a Worth lift dwarfs a Bendpak too. I poured a 6" thick floor and added 1/2" rebar which is what really counts because it ties the concrete all together. I took the 3/4" wedge anchor bolts they sent with it and chucked them, ordered grade 5 3/4" studs and epoxied them into the concrete after setting the lift in a bed of epoxy grout. The grout ensures there's no rock and allows you to perfectly level it without any voids underneath. I've used every kind of anchoring method over the years of installing equipment and nothing compares to anchoring epoxy, it doesn't let go it brings the floor with it!

If you have a floor that's questionable there's other options like mounting large heavy plates to the floor first increasing the footprint which I'd do anyways with a Benpak. Depending on your ceiling you can build a bracket that would limit any movement as well for a fail safe.

Bottom line, use your head and don't just wing it.:thumbsup:
 
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ESOXER said:
2 questions
What does a decent one cost?
How can I convince my crazy Norwegian wife that is necessary?
My boss picked one up in Indiana for @2200 if I remember right. It lifts his sons powerwagon no problem. Is that price about right? Sorry about the hijack
Click to expand...
Don't buy the cheap ones like say under $2,500, look up failed lifts on YouTube. From what I've seen expect to pay around $2,800-5,000 for a nice one, mine was $3,500 New. As for convincing her:screwy:, I know mine has made me hate working on our daily drivers a lot less??
 
I built mine about 17 years ago. A 4-post and it's not secured to the floor. It ended up costing me about 2500 bucks to build it back then, can buy them for about that now.

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IMG_1130.JPG
 
My next door neighbor built his too, he has a 37 international truck with a built 350 and dual quads he lifts on his and it freestands with a frame, hes a retired air force engineer, maybe I'll get a quote from him
 
The biggest problem you'll have is that most garage slabs are only 4" thick. With a 2 post you'll have to pour cement for a much deeper base. 4 post lifts can get by with the 4" base.
 
Tomorrow 9:30 am velocity channel talks about 2 post lifts. Whether it'll help?
 
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