Which Car Lift To Buy

The sign says it all..

 

There is a used Snap on 9000# lift for sale near me. The Snap on site says the lifts are made by Wheeltronics. Anyone ever used one before?

 

Got my rotary used - LOVE it! 9000lb asymmetrical. I had to take it down, move and install it but Rotary publishes all their stuff so instructions and manuals are easy to obtain.
Wanted a USA lift.... Just because. I followed the instructions and it wasn't bad at all.
My son helped me as these suckers are really heavy. I took the columns off the trailer with engine hoist but couldn't stand them up by myself.

 

I doubt this incident was a failure of the lift. Something suggests it was operator error.
-Donny

 

I got a couple asymmetrical Rotary lifts for my hobby space and I like them well enough, but the posts take up a lot more space than the symmetric lifts I've seen. So if you are tight on space, that might be a consideration (it's amazing how quickly one can fill a 2000sq' garage).

Now I want a lift for the back yard so I can pressure-wash, sandblast, or whatever without making a big mess in the shop. Going 4-post with that so I don't have to tear up the asphalt and pour concrete.
The moral is, if you start getting lazy, it's hard to stop!

 

Ford shop used the old fashion center post but the last place I worked at used an vintage walker 4 post cable hoist. DARN scary unit.

 

I worked at a Lincoln Mercury dealer for a summer about 25 years ago and they had cable driven 2 post lifts (I think they were 2) and the the safety had to be engaged manually. Lots of guys would lift a rig and not always engage the steel safety lock, if that cable ever snapped the man underneath would be flattened. Even if you were not under the lift when the cable snapped that was several feet of very pissed off cable flailing about.

 

I am planning a lift in the shop. After reading through this, I now have too many options in my head.

I know 2 ppl that got the Atlas 9k lb units and seem happy with them. They both use them often.

The 2 post Nate showed early in the thread is interesting.............but why no trans work on yours Termin8ed?

We had a 4 post drive at work for years. Failed a safety inspection several years ago and it went in the dumpster. Seemed sort of awkward for some work but quite handy for other stuff. And always plenty of room to lay your tools and parts down.

I'm leary of any used lift. Just wonder what's worn out that it was replaced. I view it like brakes and steering. It's no place to take chances.

Nate, what does a 2 post in ground cost compared to an above ground 2 post. I kinda like to idea. I still like to old single post hydraulic in ground style but they're no so great for trans work either as I recall. I'm not seeing the same issue with a 2 post but maybe I'm missing something.

 

Spill it! $$?

 

I got a pair for $1200 I think, but I'm ready to be impressed.

 

10K rotarys? 1200 a pair?? wow!

 

Mine were the lightweight model, 7K I think. Since they are overkill for my little toys that all are under 3K and they won't touch my big toys that tend to run about 16K, I'm just fine with that.

 

WOW! New or used?