Buying new twin post lift for shop!

[JPS]

Would sure like to have a hoist in shop. Brand name Rotary seems to popular,maybe a little spendy. Any one seen those that are on e-bay? Open to any ideas! Thanks JPS

 

[illflem]

I bought one of the old style ram coming out the floor types for $300 from a service station that was being torn down. Had to make a 8' deep hole though the shop concrete to install it but still came out ahead. There are companies in the larger cities that specialize in salvaging demolished gas station equipment, give them a try if interested. Also traded a case of beer for a heavy duty self retracting air/water hose setup at the same torn down station.

 

[JPS]

Good Trader!

Sounds to me like you made a pretty good trade! Did you get to help drink the beer!! Have I friend who has a hoist like the in-ground stlye you talk about. Not sure what the story is on it is. Those hoist that are always on e-bay do sound interesting. Wish I knew more about their quality. Maybe some one on TDR site will come thru!!! Thanks for the reply!!!!!

 

[LarryB]

Bill, that's what I was thinking of doing. I have a 16' ceiling in part of my shop, I could even get the motorhome up enough to walk under it. I'm gonna start looking. How complicated does the hole in the ground need to be? Concrete lined?

 

[Snow man]

Guys,I dont know about where you live,but it is illegal to install in ground lifts here,the DEC doesnt approve of them anymore. I personally wouldnt put one in my shop,they are nice,and if an older shop had one in it, i would use it,but to dig the floor up,and go thru all that ,and possibly get fined by the DEC? Id just drop the 2500-3000 and put a 9000 lber up. Northern tool has them for that price,

 

[bigkid59]

Back in the late 50's and early 60's I had a friend who was an engineer at the Rotary Lift plant in Memphis. They had a concrete pad next to a shop building that had a concrete lined pit that had a framework in it to hold the cylinder. This was built this way so that they could install test units for evaluation and testing and then remove them without digging them up.



The employees were free to use this in the evenings or on the weekends for working on their own vehicles. This was very popular on the weekends for oil changes, brake jobs, and most any other repairs.



I once had a chance to get one of the lifts just for hauling it off when they were scrapping out a lot of material as they were moving to another site. I had no way of using it at the time, but sure wish I had it now.



Here it is 40 years later and I live almost in the shadow of the test tower for what was Dover Elevator, a company that Rotary Lift was associated with at one time. Now Dover has moved production away and recently announced that the headquarters is also being relocated.



Sure wish I had that lift!

 

[Briar Hopper]

Try looking at www.grayusa.com or give Smith Equipment a call to get a free catalog 1-800-262-1950

I'm in the market for an affordable lift, myself.

 

[illflem]

Originally posted by LarryB

Bill, that's what I was thinking of doing. I have a 16' ceiling in part of my shop, I could even get the motorhome up enough to walk under it. I'm gonna start looking. How complicated does the hole in the ground need to be? Concrete lined?

Larry, the hole should be concrete lined just to keep it from caving in. The support comes from a 4'x4' frame embedded in the 12" thick concrete floor that attaches to the upper rim of the lift cylinder. Cost me one Mexican jack hammering and digging for a day, half day of forming and rebar and 4 yards of concrete. Best way to come up with a lift is if you see a station being demoed, something that was going on a lot when I scored mine but you don't see much anymore.



If I had to do it over I would probably just dig and concrete in a service pit (probably illegal also) so that I could cover it with a steel plate when not in use. The in the floor lift created a forklift barrier that made it impossible to use the bay for anything else except for parking a tractor on. This was when I lived in WA, at my place in MT I just use a 16,000 lb forklift. Makes it easy to move a dead rig wherever I want and will lift my Ram 12' if needed. I do use safety supports with it.



I did a search for-- used "service station" equipment -- looking for the name of the outfit that was doing the salvage I bought my lift from, didn't find it, but there were many others. http://www.benfordfueling.com/class1.html was the first hit and had the following, there were many more used station equipment dealers...



One two post side by side in ground lift. EPA acceptable,fiber glas coated. Rotary Model # DTO28H Mark IV. Capacity 8,000 lbs. $1000. 00

David Yates -- email address removed --

 

[Tim1]

when I put in my Rotary 8,000 lb single post lift in my shop, I paid 500. 00 for it ,but didn't get the sliders for the 4 fingers as I call them. Found some for 250. 00 and the lifts works grest. Takes 3 gulps of air to get the truck up though! I rented a concrete cutter and a small trackhoe that digs 8 feet and put the dirt next to the hole. I recessed the top of the hole for a peice of 3\4 plywood to cover the hoist when not in use. I set and plumbed (with special heavy pipe) the unit with my overhead hoist and poured about 3\4 yard around the bottom. Ishoveled the dirt in and tamped very well and then poured the top with two separate pours with a small mixer. The control valves can still be had as can the other parts. Downside... ... can't pull transmissons. Upside..... out of site and frees up bay. Here in Portland they run about 1000. 00 complete and if you have a high shop and can rent some equipment, not a bad job, most important thing is plumb and level, check,check,and double check. A friend I worked with installed these for a living and I followed his instructions and it has worked great for 6 years now. By recessing the fingers below the floor. you lose about 5 ins in height, but clear up the floor. Bill, you must have a massive shop to use that forklift! Tim

 

[emarsh]

I researched the heck out of buying one for our shop. When I was looking, the Benwill was the sturdiest and had the best pump motor after procrastinating for two years and going to 2 SEMA (trade) shows. We have had it for going on 5 years now, really pleased with it. About 2 years ago I finally bought the truck adapters, makes it easier to put my early bronco on the lift. All I can say is take the time to actually look at them, it is a longtime investment, spending a little more to get quality is the way to go in the long haul. These are made in Carson, Calif. so its close to me to get parts if I ever need them. Ed

 

[Briar Hopper]

Anybody know if the Bend-Pak brand of lifts is good quality? They look like it, but pictures just don't tell enough.

Rotary and Gray may be the best, but... ... $$$$$$

 

[JPS]

Texas built hoists?

Any one from Tex. know anything about the hoists made at Ft. Worth? Maybe they don't get to the "other" post list. Lets hear it guys!!!

 

[CPH]

lift

JPS

I was doing a lot of looking for a two post lift for my garage. If money is no object Mohawk is THE lift. I looked at Rotary, Bend Pak and Eagle. I am getting an Eagle lift. They will make you a great deal. I got a price on a 10k lb lift with truck attachments, and them installing it (this is a big issue, these things are not lite) for a little over $3000. 00. Keep in mind I am not a comercial garage. If I was a business and lifting all day I would spend the 6k on a Mohawk. For my anticipated use the Eagle is great. A lot comercial garages use Eagle lifts so they are good, I just liked the Mohawk for out lasting me.



cph