I need a simple recommendation for 2 post lifts. Symetrical or asymetrical?

Pro/cons

It will be used to lift YJ, TJ, 48 Chevy Fleetmaster Coupe

Thanks

Stay away from Greg Smith Equipment. They will shine you on until you make a purchase, then there is no customer service and their policy is that the customer is NOT always right.

I was really disappointed to find how little after-sale support they gave me after spending several thousand dollars with them.

I bought a used challenger lift (10k capacity) and started putting it up last night and it is a good solid lift. I went asymetrical because it was the first one I found in my price range and because I have 40 foot deep bays so I wanted to be able to pull into the lift forwards or backwards. Also since I work on rigs with wide tracs (not just road vehicles) I wanted to have it as wide as possible.

Most symetrical lifts have both arms swing back and that takes up room between the main beams, limiting to what you can pull between them... most asymetrical have the rear arms swing rear and the front arms swing front freeing up space between the beams...

Just some food for thought...

Oh and I also like Asymetrical lifts because sometimes when a rig like ours is broke you dont have a choice what direction one will drive... I have broken a many rear pinions when i wheeled LC axles and when the pinion is broke you cant drive forward, only backwards...:D

JOSH

Are you in the automotive industry? If not go to your local dealership or shop and ask them who services the lifts in our area. THose guys usually slap a sticker with all thier contact info on the lift somewhere. Call them and ask if they have any used lifts. I got mine for a VERY cheap price and it was only used for 1 year at most...

New lifts are expensive, they drop in value quick!

JOSH

Sweet! Thanks for all the advise!!!

I did a LOT of research on this before buying my lift. It came down to a choice between Rotary and Bendpak. Regardless of what you get, make sure it is ALI certified for your own safety.

At the end of the day I went with a Rotary SPOA10 (asymmetric 10K lift) because it has the best reputation for quality I could find, I felt I can get the best service out of it locally, and the local dealer made me a decent deal with installation.

I haven't used it extensively (yet), but thus far I am extremely happy with my choice.

I did a LOT of research on this before buying my lift. It came down to a choice between Rotary and Bendpak. Regardless of what you get, make sure it is ALI certified for your own safety.

At the end of the day I went with a Rotary SPOA10 (asymmetric 10K lift) because it has the best reputation for quality I could find, I felt I can get the best service out of it locally, and the local dealer made me a decent deal with installation.

I haven't used it extensively (yet), but thus far I am extremely happy with my choice.
Sounds almost EXACTLY like my review. I have the same model and enjoy it tremendously.

I chose an asymetrical lift as I am fat, and want to minimize door dings. I park a car between my lift posts.

I have spend many years working under hoists at Chevy dealers. The brand I liked the most was Forward.
http://www.adgforward.com/forward-2postlifts.htm
If I was buying one tomorrow it would be their I10 model. It has the weight rating, room on the side to get in and out of a full size truck, and a tall guy like me can stand under it. The dual symmetrical design makes it very friendly to work on car or truck. I know I sound like a sales man know. But no matter what you buy make sure it has the width (some hoists get narrower as the weight rating goes up), has the cable or chain across the top so you aren't tripping over it, and the top bar as high as possible. Oh one more thing flip up high mounts are not as stable as a hoist with adapters for the pads.

I bought this lift about 1 1/2 years ago

http://www.bendpak.com/cart_product_detail.php?prod_id=214&cat_id=46

it is asymmetric

I love the lift it has picked up everything i have needed to work on from loaded 2500's to trailers. It is used everyday and I have not had any problems.

I did buy the widest version and the only vehicle that is hard to get on it is a extended cab ranger :confused: I have to stretch the arms all the way and it still only grabs the frame by about half the pad. I have had alot of little cars and all makes of trucks on it. But for some reason the rangers turn into a bitch getting it centered perfect.

I bought it from these people
www.asedeals.com
They had good customer service and free shipping

The best things i have bought to use with the lift has been
http://www.asedeals.com/high_jack_stands.html
The high jack stands make the turcks very stable if you are doing something that requires alot of force.

I also bought a Air Evacuation oil drain pan and it helps to keep the oil from going everywhere. I found mine on ebay for less than $150 for a metal one. The first one I bought was from asedeals and it was plastic but after 2 months the wheels pulled out the bottom from rolling it around and it leaked all over the floor.

http://completehydraulic.com/cl10000bp.html these look nice

The Complete hoist runs its cables or chains across the bottom. I have worked under them and it is know fun doing a tranny.

I think they do it both ways

I always like forward engineering ones. They're a lot smaller in size it seems, and more well thought out. I'd really stay away from the kind with those flip up pads, those things can be pretty unforgiving if you make a mistake with them. I saw a jeep and a s-10 take a nose dive off a lift once because the tech put a little too much trust into those damn flip up things. Those stacking extensions work a lot better, some companies even make a pad that just screws up or down to lower or raise it, those work ok but it's gets to be a pain after a while.

Personally i prefer assymetrical legs to symetrical ones, they seem to work out a lot better if you're lifting a big truck or suv or something.

I always like forward engineering ones. They're a lot smaller in size it seems, and more well thought out. I'd really stay away from the kind with those flip up pads, those things can be pretty unforgiving if you make a mistake with them. I saw a jeep and a s-10 take a nose dive off a lift once because the tech put a little too much trust into those damn flip up things. Those stacking extensions work a lot better, some companies even make a pad that just screws up or down to lower or raise it, those work ok but it's gets to be a pain after a while.

Personally i prefer assymetrical legs to symetrical ones, they seem to work out a lot better if you're lifting a big truck or suv or something.
You'd have to be pretty dumb to screw up using the flip up pads. :laughing:

The Complete hoist runs its cables or chains across the bottom. I have worked under them and it is know fun doing a tranny.

I have used the type that have the cables on the bottom across the floor and you are right... Tranny work is unsafe trying to roll your jack over the cable tunnel when you have a heavy load on top but around here I have found them for 500 to 800 and for a guy that dont use one much it might be the ticket...

JOSH