It’s surprising to learn how many golf course maintenance facilities still haven’t experienced the speed and efficiency of a turf lift. Turf lifts are specially engineered to aid in the repair, service and maintenance of grounds maintenance utility vehicles like mowers, sand groomers and fertilizer sprayers, as well as carts. Though the concept is hardly a new one, it’s only with the recent advancements in course maintenance technology that a turf lift has become an absolute necessity for any golf course or resort maintenance team that wishes to have their grounds remain in a constant state of manicured perfection. Turf lifts are extremely useful for everything from performing bed knife adjustments to whole machine rebuilding projects. With better visibility, safety and speed, turf lifts have become the essential cornerstone of a well-run shop. Improvements in productivity, performance and down-time allow reasonably priced turf lifts to pay for themselves in less than a year, while simultaneously reducing stress, strain and precious wasted time. The more the turf lift is used, the more benefit the operator gains from it and the quicker it pays for itself. Turf lifts give you peace of mind in knowing that your mowing equipment receives the best care available and that your grass has never looked so good.
Below are a few frequently asked questions about turf lifts.
Q: I’ve been doing fine so far without a turf lift, why should I get one now?
A: Remember that before 1970, golf course and ground maintenance was mostly accomplished with the aid of many, many hands performing manual labor. With the evolution of golf course equipment in the ‘70s and ‘80s, the tools became much more sophisticated. Today, a full 18-hole golf course can be run by around a dozen people—and golf courses are looking better than ever. The same can be said for turf lifts. You can either have all the inefficiency of a large manual workforce or you can upgrade to a quick, lean operation with a new turf lift. Many shops have discovered that with the proper turf lifting equipment, they only require one full-time mechanic to service their mowers, sprayers and carts.
Q: How will a BendPak turf lift benefit my golf course?
A: Cut and height uniformity is directly affected by the quality of the repair. The quality of the repair is directly affected by the tools and equipment you use. When it is quick and easy to properly perform maintenance on your turf machinery with a turf lift, it makes more sense to immediately fix the problem instead of adding it to a “to do” list. Equipment runs better longer when worn components and loose bolts are discovered early and repaired quickly. Only the convenience of a turf lift allows you to identify the problem and work on it without obstruction or hindrance.
Q: What’s wrong with the “If it ain’t broken it, don’t fix it” policy?
A: Quite simply, when you wait for the equipment to break, you’ve suddenly got broken equipment to contend with. However, we’re finding more and more the cost of maintenance and repair is far less than the price of fixing a broken piece of turf maintenance machinery. Owning an efficient turf lift gives you the power to predict possible future problems and catch them before they begin to affect your day to day operations. A high performance specialty turf lift only takes a few moments to load and raise for easy service and examination. Your equipment receives more accurate adjustments to improve performance and critical inspections take less time, so you are never down for long.
Q: What makes BendPak turf lifts better than any other option on the market?
A: BendPak turf lifts are built on the same award-winning platform as the XPR-10CX. So not only do you get a premier turf lift, but you also get the flexibility of an automobile two-post lift as well. That means that you get the most versatile lawn maintenance and utility vehicle lift ever built, backed by BendPak’s 45 years of lifting know-how and fantastic support program. Our super-industrial strength turf lifts have it all: leading edge technology, top of the line materials, design that’s ahead of its time and a 7,000-lb. lifting capacity. If your shop has a ceiling higher than 12’, you’ll get everything you need out of this lift.
Q: Doesn’t the overhead beam interfere with normal turf lifting functions?
A: It’s extremely unlikely that you employ any turf maintenance equipment that would be in danger of coming into contact with the overhead beam. However, in the event that you do, BendPak also offers a floorplate turf lift. No matter what you’re working on, BendPak always has the right tool for the job.
Q: What about claims that car lifts and maintenance equipment do not mix?
A: This is largely a myth spread by turf lift companies that, more or less, only manufacture and sell turf lifts. Generally, they assume that a turf lift manufactured by a company that also designs and manufactures automotive lifts will be using the same swing-arm assemblies on every lift. They also argue that improper use of these arm assemblies violate OSHA by presenting an unguarded pinch point for feet. While that might be true of other turf lift manufacturers, BendPak turf lifts use a specialized lifting deck that cradles the wheels—not nonexistent lifting points. The lifting deck is designed to lift ONLY mowers, carts, sprayers and similar equipment, but the lift itself can easily be adapted to lift automotive vehicles as well. The best part is that you don’t need any strange specialized tools to accomplish the task. We don’t understand how anyone would paint this incredible versatility as a potential flaw.
The bottom line is that BendPak turf lifts are powerful and secure, and they greatly increase the speed of maintenance repair work on all popular sizes of turf maintenance equipment. Their wheel pans and fork assemblies fit an incredible array of wheel arrangements for open access to the gear box, blades, reels and other components for increased shop efficiency. With a 7,000-lb. maximum capacity, easy-to-use dual-synchro equalization system and user-friendly controls, BendPak turf lifts are the most versatile lawn maintenance and utility vehicle lifts in existence. Make sure the grass is always greener on YOUR side of the fence.
Click here for more information on the BendPak XPR-7TRF Lawn Maintenance Turf Lift.
