What lift did you buy?

[david h. jarvis]

New lifts are really that expensive.
I have a 7000 lb lift in my garage. Not for the GMC but it's very handy for car stuff.
It was $3000 delivered.

 

[Matt Colie]

> What creative ways have you guys jacked up unit for serious work? I've seen some self made ramps but I'd like to go higher without spending 20k ha
> ha I'm in S.E. Wisconsin (Racine) about 70 miles North Of Chicago, 27 miles south of Milwaukee. Anyone have a used lift they re wiling to sell?

Joe,

Before you get too far, I strongly suggest that you see what Blain Merrel built. I suggest this because he built a big place to lift coaches. If you
can afford such a build, that would be the way to go. If you can only build a big enough barn, plan on having a pit. Anything is better than playing
inchworm.

As for me, I cheat. I have a 7000# Rotary "Rocker Pan" lift that was designed at the beginning of the fast oil change times. It can be arranged to
lift one end of our coach very well. As I have a 9'6" door, I had to trade off to a low profile A/C unit and as the barn is only 10'+ to the
overhead, I can lift one end high enough to work under, but not high enough to get an engine out.

Lift one end?
Yes, then I use a 3 ton floor jack to lift and block the other end if it is needed.

If you have a place to put it, shop for a used lift. They come on the market all the time.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit

 

[les burt]

If you are concerned about quality and safety regarding automotive lifts, make sure to verify if the lift you are considering is ALI certified. In some jurisdictions, an ALI certified lift is required to satisfy commercial insurance requirements.

ALI = Automotive lift institute
https://www.autolift.org/what-to-know-when-purchasing-a-car-lift/before-buying-an-auto-lift/


Les Burt
Montreal
'75 Eleganza 26'

>

>> What creative ways have you guys jacked up unit for serious work? I've seen some self made ramps but I'd like to go higher without spending 20k ha
>> ha I'm in S.E. Wisconsin (Racine) about 70 miles North Of Chicago, 27 miles south of Milwaukee. Anyone have a used lift they re wiling to sell?
>
> Joe,
>
> Before you get too far, I strongly suggest that you see what Blain Merrel built. I suggest this because he built a big place to lift coaches. If you
> can afford such a build, that would be the way to go. If you can only build a big enough barn, plan on having a pit. Anything is better than playing
> inchworm.
>
> As for me, I cheat. I have a 7000# Rotary "Rocker Pan" lift that was designed at the beginning of the fast oil change times. It can be arranged to
> lift one end of our coach very well. As I have a 9'6" door, I had to trade off to a low profile A/C unit and as the barn is only 10'+ to the
> overhead, I can lift one end high enough to work under, but not high enough to get an engine out.
>
> Lift one end?
> Yes, then I use a 3 ton floor jack to lift and block the other end if it is needed.
>
> If you have a place to put it, shop for a used lift. They come on the market all the time.
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
> Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
> OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

 

[terry1]

https://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-414-14-000-LB-4-Post-Lift
https://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com/4-post-car-lift-hds-14-standard-length-14000-lb-p/bendpakhds-14.htm

Check your specs carefully...it's best not to have the runways much longer than needed so the load is close to the posts. All 3 of mine are Bend-Pak,
but the one I use for the GMC is an older model and is just a 12K unit and just a little longer than the wheel base. It has no problem lifting it up,
I just need to put a chock behind the rear wheels, the entrance ramps don't fall because the tires stop them.
--
Terry Kelpien

ASE Master Technician

73 Glacier 260

Smithfield, Va.

 

[Stu Rasmussen]

Having just spent a couple of hours under my coach replacing one short length of fuel hose between the selector valve and the steel feed line that
goes to the fuel pump area my creaky old body is telling me to move 'acquiring a lift' up significantly on the priority list. There are lots of thing
to be attended to on the underside and renting a shop with a lift will easily amount to a good portion of the lift cost. Installing my own, I will
have it when I need it.

The shop building may be 'next year' but if I lay a concrete pad and install a lift my vocabulary exercises will be much pleasanter for the neighbors.
I can place the pad where the lift will eventually live inside the building and get it sooner rather than later, then build the building around it
next year when I can get a building contractor on site.

So - which lift?

My coach is a 23' Birchaven and either the Atlas or Bendpak 14K will work splendidly for its 140" wheelbase (needing approximately 170" of runway from
front to rear tires). But what happens if either a: I acquire a 26' or b: Someone nearby needs a lift to do a repair on their 26'? The 26' coach needs
about 192" for their 160" wheelbase. The standard 14K Bendpak just barely makes it with runway length spec of 199" and the Atlas says 207" available.

Going to the extended version of the Bendpak (14X) gets into a marginal lift capacity of 10,500 pounds for a 140" wheelbase Birchaven, if you believe
the Bendpak derating specification.

So, after all these gyrations: Is the Atlas 414 suitable for both 23' and 26' coaches? Is either brand clearly superior? Is it better to have the
hydraulic unit on the outside of the footprint (Atlas) or inside (Bendpak)?

Enquiring minds and all that -

Thanks,

Stu

--
Stu Rasmussen W7QJ
Silverton, OR
gutted '74 Eleganza II (for sale now)
'77 Birchaven