Lifelong Dream Realized - 4 Post Lift

Matt B (fs) said:

MaxC said:

Matt B (fs) said:

This thread is timely for me. Seriously considering one of these during the next year if I can get it to fit.  I also have low ceilings so it's helpful to see how you made it all work.

It was a big help to actually map out how it's going to sit in the garage. Like a nerd, I actually surveyed the garage, measured my wife's car, and drew everything to scale. This gave me more confidence in the decision, especially knowing that the lift doesn't have to be anchored and can be shifted around slightly on casters. 

It's nice the casters are included and not an additional few hundred like some models.  As a bonus, your model has a lower height and a wider drive-through width than the Bendpak HD-9 I was looking at.  The Triumph wasn't on my radar until now, so hats off.

As far as measuring to scale, I'm your kind of nerd.

I'm going to need a cut-out or vaulted ceiling to even stack two shorty cars comfortably.

Yes it was the best budget friendly option for sure. Bendpack really nickle and dime's you for the accessories. The aluminum ramps are way way lighter than steel as well. That being said, I'm sure Bendpack makes a higher quality product for the extra money. 

You did a way better drawing than me! 

And if by stacking shorty cars you mean an AW11 and NSX... I'd say that's a great problem to have!

You may be right about the quality difference between the lifts, but since it's a space-limited hobby project the Triumph makes more sense at the moment.

As far as great problems, the NSX is the goal and the AW11 is the current reality.  They both need to fit because the MR2 isn't going anywhere.  A guy has to dream right?

edit - one of those spots is more likely our ratty Lemons E36.

I've had a "Direct" lift and a Bendpak.  The bendpak is noticeably better quality, in all aspects.  It's worth the money, if you have it to spend.

In reply to docwyte :

I'm not familiar with or noticed the "Direct" term.  Are you saying the Triumph lift falls into that category?

Matt B (fs) said:

As far as great problems, the NSX is the goal and the AW11 is the current reality.  They both need to fit because the MR2 isn't going anywhere.  A guy has to dream right?

edit - one of those spots is more likely our ratty Lemons E36.

I resemble these remarks. From the supercar dreams to the cheap 80's realities, and the ratty race car lol!

Looks like Docwyte confirms the bendpack is higher quality. The "Direct" lift is a lift very similar to mine. https://directlift.com/product/pro-park-8s/ Wow, it looks so much line mine, it makes me wonder. In fact, I suspect a lot of these cheaper lifts are all made in the same place, painted different colors and sold as different brands (Direct, tuxedo, triumph, etc.). Some reviews I watched on youtube eluded to this as well. 

If money was less of an issue, I'd probably buy the more expensive one. The reality right now is that money is an issue, and I'd get more use out of a Triumph with all of the options, and maybe even a bridge jack before reaching the price of a comparable Bendpak. 

Update: lighting! Watched a bunch of youtube videos about how guys did lighting different ways. Seems like everyone went to Lowes and bought a bunch of under-cabinet lighting parts, and for about $200 had something like this. I went to CHI-NAH and bought a 30' LED strip kit from Amazon for $26. It's cheap, yes, but I'm not so sure it's any worse.  We'll see! Now that I have light, it's time to pull a transmission. 

In reply to MaxC :

10-4 on the Direct brand.  Wasn't aware of them so thanks for the explanation.  Also good to understand that there are quality differences between the resellers... err, companies.

So jealous.  My ceiling is 14' so enough but the garage width is not going to be conducive to my wife and kids not dinging the crap out of her truck once the lift is in place.  Even the skinner lifts eat up too much space and it's gonna be door crunch hell.  Next house maybe.

84FSP said:

So jealous.  My ceiling is 14' so enough but the garage width is not going to be conducive to my wife and kids not dinging the crap out of her truck once the lift is in place.  Even the skinner lifts eat up too much space and it's gonna be door crunch hell.  Next house maybe.

That's too bad. Not sure how big your garage is... mine is an oversized 2 car, at about 23 feet wide. We have a qx56, and I haven't parked it in the garage with the lift yet. It's in the body shop after being rear ended, and we have a terrible rental Ford fusion. I gotta say after you clear the column, it seems like the lift is very easy to live with. It's not so wide in the door swing areas. We'll see how my wife and 3 kids to once the big car is back... but I'll roll the lift over for more clearance if needed. 

In reply to Matt B (fs) :

Basically all of the cheaper lifts are the same but with different names on them.

rotary and Bendpak are different.  The rest?  Not so much

Op's looks a lot like my Atlas but grey. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/atlas-8000-ext-4-post-lift-adventure.471197/#post-8970490 No complaints but getting a 2post to go with it 

MaxC said:

84FSP said:

So jealous.  My ceiling is 14' so enough but the garage width is not going to be conducive to my wife and kids not dinging the crap out of her truck once the lift is in place.  Even the skinner lifts eat up too much space and it's gonna be door crunch hell.  Next house maybe.

That's too bad. Not sure how big your garage is... mine is an oversized 2 car, at about 23 feet wide. We have a qx56, and I haven't parked it in the garage with the lift yet. It's in the body shop after being rear ended, and we have a terrible rental Ford fusion. I gotta say after you clear the column, it seems like the lift is very easy to live with. It's not so wide in the door swing areas. We'll see how my wife and 3 kids to once the big car is back... but I'll roll the lift over for more clearance if needed. 

I'd love to see a pic and hear your experience as it mirrors what I have in terms of space and vehicles with the QX being similar to the GX460.  My comparison to current is a MK1 Rabbit that gets put pretty close to the outer wall and her GX.

Maybe hard to tell but I can park our 06 Odyssey next to my jetta/corrado on the lift and still have decent room if there isn't a bunch of crap around.

It's 23' wide wall to wall.

Paul_VR6 (Forum Supporter) said:

Op's looks a lot like my Atlas but grey. https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/atlas-8000-ext-4-post-lift-adventure.471197/#post-8970490 No complaints but getting a 2post to go with it 

Hey good thread! It's like re-living exactly what I went through lol. From the 2 post to 4 post debate, fitting the wifes car, and unloading with my daughter.. Your lift looks exactly the same as mine except color. But the old triumphs were black, and they are still black in the instructions. I'm convinced they're all the same. 

84FSP said:

MaxC said:

84FSP said:

So jealous.  My ceiling is 14' so enough but the garage width is not going to be conducive to my wife and kids not dinging the crap out of her truck once the lift is in place.  Even the skinner lifts eat up too much space and it's gonna be door crunch hell.  Next house maybe.

That's too bad. Not sure how big your garage is... mine is an oversized 2 car, at about 23 feet wide. We have a qx56, and I haven't parked it in the garage with the lift yet. It's in the body shop after being rear ended, and we have a terrible rental Ford fusion. I gotta say after you clear the column, it seems like the lift is very easy to live with. It's not so wide in the door swing areas. We'll see how my wife and 3 kids to once the big car is back... but I'll roll the lift over for more clearance if needed. 

I'd love to see a pic and hear your experience as it mirrors what I have in terms of space and vehicles with the QX being similar to the GX460.  My comparison to current is a MK1 Rabbit that gets put pretty close to the outer wall and her GX.

Let me get our QX56 back and I'll park it in the garage, open the doors on the passenger side, take a picture, and show you what kind of room we're dealing with...

84FSP said:

MaxC said:

84FSP said:

So jealous.  My ceiling is 14' so enough but the garage width is not going to be conducive to my wife and kids not dinging the crap out of her truck once the lift is in place.  Even the skinner lifts eat up too much space and it's gonna be door crunch hell.  Next house maybe.

That's too bad. Not sure how big your garage is... mine is an oversized 2 car, at about 23 feet wide. We have a qx56, and I haven't parked it in the garage with the lift yet. It's in the body shop after being rear ended, and we have a terrible rental Ford fusion. I gotta say after you clear the column, it seems like the lift is very easy to live with. It's not so wide in the door swing areas. We'll see how my wife and 3 kids to once the big car is back... but I'll roll the lift over for more clearance if needed. 

I'd love to see a pic and hear your experience as it mirrors what I have in terms of space and vehicles with the QX being similar to the GX460.  My comparison to current is a MK1 Rabbit that gets put pretty close to the outer wall and her GX.

As promised. QX is back from the body shop and was able to park it next to the new lift. The passenger doors can open to the first stop, but not all the way, without touching the lift. 

The drivers side doors can open all the way. The garage is 23' wide. 

Wife is happy, I'm happy.

In reply to MaxC :

How many inches are between the front and rear post?