When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Time to add a lift to my shop.
I want a two post maybe 9k lift.
I see prices all over the place for new and used.
I hear some parts depending on the units are not standard and near impossible to replace.
being a safety issue i am hesitant to get a used unit.
I have plenty of height.
A friend swears by Rotary brand lifts.
Thoughts:
Recommendations:
GET a rotary, we have 3 at our shop 25 yrs old, no problems except hydraulic lines blowing every now & then. Just keep the cables adjusted & the cables & rollers lubricated. These lifts are used 5 days a week. Plus I have 2 at my home shop, no problems at all with mine. You being a weekend warrior like me this will last a lifetime.
Last edited by zl1 camaro; Sep 9, 2025 at 07:26 AM.
The brands and costs all depend on how much you will use the lift and what you are willing to spend. Rotary and Bend Pack are great lifts but are considered commercial grade and ones that I used when working at the dealer and for GM. Great lifts, but not needed for the weekender doing car work at home and etc. I have an Atlas that I've had for 12 years now and I use it allot. It's worked great and was 1/2 the cost of a Rotary. Used Rotary and Bend Packs can also be good investments. I've found a few of those on CL for some of my friends. Mine is a10K lb extra wide and extra tall lift so that I can lift one-ton duallies and stand under them as a 6'4" tall guy.
I have had a Revolutionary made by Rotary and Bendpac. Both lifts are very well made and no issues with either. When I moved, I had no problem selling my Rotary lift. I went with Bendpac at my new house because they were on sale at the time. You can't go wrong with either lift.
I have a 9000 lb Rotary SPOA9 two post that I purchased at a Ford dealership auction for $800. They had built a new building next door and sold everything that was used. The only advice I could offer is that if you buy used, purchase one that you can operate before the purchase. Check for leaks and inspect the safety cables as best you can.
The dealership had 7 lifts for sale. I approached the service manager a couple days before the auction and asked him if he'd give me a tour of the old garage space and if he could recommend which of the 7 he would buy. He was happy to do so. The lift I purchased was the last lift auctioned and it was the one the service manager recommended as being the best.
I have a 9000 lb Rotary SPOA9 two post that I purchased at a Ford dealership auction for $800. They had built a new building next door and sold everything that was used. The only advice I could offer is that if you buy used, purchase one that you can operate before the purchase. Check for leaks and inspect the safety cables as best you can.
The dealership had 7 lifts for sale. I approached the service manager a couple days before the auction and asked him if he'd give me a tour of the old garage space and if he could recommend which of the 7 he would buy. He was happy to do so. The lift I purchased was the last lift auctioned and it was the one the service manager recommended as being the best.
You can’t go wrong with Rotary, Challenger or Bend Pac. All three are good quality.
Bendpac is now made in China. Have a friend who has a new one (18 months old) and has nothing but problems. Also the cheaper brands are not ALI or AMSI certified.
Bendpac is now made in China. Have a friend who has a new one (18 months old) and has nothing but problems. Also the cheaper brands are not ALI or AMSI certified.
Well that is a shame. I used plenty of Ben pacs at the Ford dealers I worked at up until 2008 and they were great lifts. Guess it’s a sign of the times.
Mohawk hands down, TEC in Mass. is a dealer and also deals in used. Myself and a bunch of friends all bought used Mohawks from them over the years. Another point to consider is a regular lift (symmetric) or asymmetric is better for you.
This is a local item on marketplace description. Rotary 9k capacity extra height lift for transit style vans. 15’8” height. In good working order,complete and ready to use. The columns can be lowered down for shorter ceiling height. $1500 I can load it onto a trailer.
Am I asking for trouble with a used lift or with Rotary it can be easily fixed?
If you buy a new lift, it becomes a used lift the first time you use it. Back in the 70s when I lived in central MA, there was a wrecking yard whose motto was "Everybody drives on used parts".
This is a local item on marketplace description. Rotary 9k capacity extra height lift for transit style vans. 15’8” height. In good working order,complete and ready to use. The columns can be lowered down for shorter ceiling height. $1500 I can load it onto a trailer.
Am I asking for trouble with a used lift or with Rotary it can be easily fixed?
Parts for Rotary Hoists are readily available
The only issues they really have are leveling cable replacements and hydraulic cylinder replacement/repair. I've never heard of anyone having issues with the pumps but they're easy to service too.
$1500 is about the going rate for a good used one. People ask $2500 but I'm pretty sure no one pays that much. It's a bonus to get one that's set up so you can actually see if it works. I wouldn't pay more than $800 for one that's taken apart
Last edited by allyolds68; Feb 11, 2026 at 06:55 AM.
If you haven't bought one yet try Atlas. High quality builds. I have two buddies that are mechanics and they have them at home for a Pantera and the other has a 68 Mustang 428. Both high dollar cars.
If you haven't bought one yet try Atlas. High quality builds. I have two buddies that are mechanics and they have them at home for a Pantera and the other has a 68 Mustang 428. Both high dollar cars.
I got an Atlas in 2008 and not a single problem with it ever. It is made in China but it is a good one. Has the safety and back up safety. Maybe a double safety is standard or required but I feel totally safe under it.
My only concern now, is todays Atlas as good as 2008 Atlas?
Last edited by jensenracing77; Feb 11, 2026 at 01:37 PM.
I would buy a used Rotary long before I would buy cheap Chinese lift. In fact, that's exactly what I did. I bought my Rotary SPOA7 (7,000 lb.) used from a repair shop that went under back in 2008. At that time I gave it a good cleaning and replaced the hydraulic hose. Has been trouble free for 16 years now.
Time to add a lift to my shop.
I want a two post maybe 9k lift.
I see prices all over the place for new and used.
I hear some parts depending on the units are not standard and near impossible to replace.
being a safety issue i am hesitant to get a used unit.
I have plenty of height.
A friend swears by Rotary brand lifts.
Thoughts:
Recommendations:
I bought a danmarr 10000 lb works great best tool I ever bought probably 10 years ago 2500 dollars new
I bought an Atlas PV10PX 10,000 lb lift capacity in about 2017 and had it installed in my new 24 X 30 garage. It's way overrated for the cars I own. I looked at the actual weight of the lifts and used that to get the heaviest weight lift they offered. That told me the lift wasn't a lightweight construction. It was adjustable height wise and it had I used steeper trusses; I could have gotten 6 to 8 more inches height lifting of vehicles. It works for me though!
Last edited by OLE442; May 3, 2026 at 01:56 PM.
Reason: added text
I bought an Atlas 10,000 lb lift in about 2017 and had it installed in my new 24 X 30 garage. It's way overrated for the cars I own. I looked at the actual weight of the lifts and used that to get the heaviest weight lift they offered. That told me the lift wasn't a lightweight construction. It was adjustable height wise and it had I used steeper trusses, I could have gotten 6 to 8 more inches height lifting of vehicles. It works for me though!
SO I noticed you got the omega tire lift arms on your lift arms, do you like them ? I am thinking of getting a set. I also see you put those way into the lift arms for clearance maybe ??
Last edited by zl1 camaro; May 1, 2026 at 06:17 AM.
SO I noticed you got the omega tire lift arms on your lift arms, do you like them ? I am thinking of getting a set. I also see you put those way into the lift arms for clearance maybe ??
I do not really care for them. The idea is good but IMO, they don't really work out in real life. Not really enough room once you get all 4 tires on them especially truck tires. I never use them. JMHO!! YMMV!
I do not really care for them. The idea is good but IMO, they don't really work out in real life. Not really enough room once you get all 4 tires on them especially truck tires. I never use them. JMHO!! YMMV!
Hey thanks for the info, I really liked the idea, saves on the back , but now I need to rethink
Hey thanks for the info, I really liked the idea, saves on the back , but now I need to rethink
Yes, I'm in my mid 70's and have had back issues for decades. I owned a truck up until a few years ago and those tires weighed a ton so I got these. It just didn't work out. I've never seen a set in a shop so that is probably why! I would sell them but used they wouldn't pull much money so there the stay!
I bought an Atlas 10,000 lb lift in about 2017 and had it installed in my new 24 X 30 garage. It's way overrated for the cars I own. I looked at the actual weight of the lifts and used that to get the heaviest weight lift they offered. That told me the lift wasn't a lightweight construction. It was adjustable height wise and it had I used steeper trusses, I could have gotten 6 to 8 more inches height lifting of vehicles. It works for me though!
I likely have the same Atlas you have. Mine is the 10K model , extra wide, and extra tall. I am a tall guy and can stand under my one ton diesel long bed GMC Sierra. It's a great lift and I've had it for 14 years. It's been up and down thousands of times for my restorations and customer side work. I use it for my alignments too with my stands. Vette 4-wheel alignment Chevelle Restoration
Hey thanks for the info, I really liked the idea, saves on the back , but now I need to rethink
I was just out in the garage and looking at the tire lift arms and was thinking I actually could make them work by moving the arms the opposite way and moving the clamps where they're located to a different spot! BUT THEN, I realized that any car that doesn't have hubcaps would not really work. If the wheels have center caps, you'd have to remove all the center caps to hang the wheels on these and then re-install all of the center-caps on all the wheels. And the kicker is that to put the wheel centers on, you'd need to take them off the holders to re-install the caps so they would need to be picked up again! LOL!
All but one of my 5 cars has wheel cover/hubcaps and only one with center caps is removeable from the front of the wheels (Corvette Rally wheels)!
Last edited by OLE442; May 3, 2026 at 01:52 PM.
Reason: added text
Time to add a lift to my shop.
I want a two post maybe 9k lift.
I see prices all over the place for new and used.
I hear some parts depending on the units are not standard and near impossible to replace.
being a safety issue i am hesitant to get a used unit.
I have plenty of height.
A friend swears by Rotary brand lifts.
Thoughts:
Recommendations:
Challenger and Rotary are the best. I own an auto repair shop and needless to say my lifts go up and down like and escalator. I have 4 and have never had a problem with either brand. I have a 9k, 10k, and 2 12.5k lifts. You cannot go wrong.
I was just out in the garage and looking at the tire lift arms and was thinking I actually could make them work by moving the arms the opposite way and moving the clamps where they're located to a different spot! BUT THEN, I realized that any car that doesn't have hubcaps would not really work. If the wheels have center caps, you'd have to remove all the center caps to hang the wheels on these and then re-install all of the center-caps on all the wheels. And the kicker is that to put the wheel centers on, you'd need to take them off the holders to re-install the caps so they would need to be picked up again! LOL!
All but one of my 5 cars has wheel cover/hubcaps and only one with center caps is removeable from the front of the wheels (Corvette Rally wheels)!
I see what you are saying, however, I have a lot of room in my home shop 60x40 so a tight space will not be a problem. I usually work on cars & not to many trucks TG. You are right about solid wheels with a center caps, that's funny..You could drop the car down when the wheels are off. Remove the center caps & slide the wheels on the bars & then lift the car back up as long as the center caps do not need to be bolted on from the inside of wheel...anything to save the back !!!!
Last edited by zl1 camaro; May 4, 2026 at 04:52 AM.
I see what you are saying, however, I have a lot of room in my home shop 60x40 so a tight space will not be a problem. I usually work on cars & not to many trucks TG. You are right about solid wheels with a center caps, that's funny..You could drop the car down when the wheels are off. Remove the center caps & slide the wheels on the bars & then lift the car back up as long as the center caps do not need to be bolted on from the inside of wheel...anything to save the back !!!!
That is so true but without thetire lift arms we could just undo the lugs on all 4 tires, then lower the car and remove all 4 tires leaving the center caps on, raise the car up and work on it, then lower the car and put the wheels back on and raise it up to install and tighten the lugs! That would save the back as much if not more than using the tire lift arms to hang the tires on! I'm still not impressed with the tire lift arms and wish I'd not have spent the money.
Last edited by OLE442; May 4, 2026 at 09:14 AM.
Reason: added text
That is so true but without thetire lift arms we could just undo the lugs on all 4 tires, then lower the car and remove all 4 tires leaving the center caps on, raise the car up and work on it, then lower the car and put the wheels back on and raise it up to install and tighten the lugs! That would save the back as much if not more than using the tire lift arms to hang the tires on! I'm still not impressed with the tire lift arms and wish I'd not have spent the money.
Hey,, if you hate them that much, you could put them on facebook. I bet they would sell !! good luck & thanks for your input.
