Cheap Two-Post Lift vS. BendPak
Non-certified bargain brand lift vs. BendPak® XPR-10* series two-post car lifts
*Design features and specifications are subject to change. Please consult Babaco for updates.
After exhaustively reviewing the merits of both BendPak® and a typical non-certified bargain asymmetric two-post lifts, the BendPak® team released the following report. In it, critical design features are compared, evaluated and illustrated in broad detail.
The Truth Behind Cheap Lifts
Established lift manufacturing companies will proudly place their brand name on their product. Unfortunately, many lift “brands” are just labels fabricated by dealers supplying these products as their own. If you find an auto lift that interests you, be sure to search for an informative and detailed manufacturing company website, or at least a brochure. Also check to see if there are multiple dealers offering the same brand for sale. Some dealers may bill themselves as exclusive suppliers, but only for a brand that they created. If you can’t find solid, verifiable information relating to the actual manufacturer of any given automotive lift, or if only a very limited number of dealers even sell the lift, you are probably best off searching for alternative options.
Cheap is Not Value
Value is a word that gets thrown around a lot these days. Everyone is looking for the best value whenever they purchase something. Equipment retailers have latched on to this idea; they try to position themselves as “value leaders” by offering cheap products at low prices.
But when you think about the true meaning of value, two primary things should be considered. (1) How much you’re paying and (2) what you’re getting for that amount. Discount lift retailers want you to forget about the second part of the equation. They claim to provide the best value, but they are only providing you the best price. Business owners know that they need to consider the overall cost of the automotive lift throughout its entire life of service. The checklist is slightly different for home users who don’t plan on earning revenue off of the purchase. For them, saving a couple hundred bucks can still mean the difference between enjoying time in the garage and having a total service nightmare.
While an expensive car lift will not always mean high-quality materials, an exceptionally low-priced automotive lift will almost certainly be cheaply made. That means no engineering to speak of, compromised safety systems and thinner steel. These are the kinds of things that can cost a business owner untold thousands of dollars in damage or downtime.
Make Sure You Get What You Pay For
Car enthusiasts are willing to spend thousands of dollars on their beautiful automobiles, but they senselessly cut corners on the very thing that holds the cars up. There’s nothing wrong with shopping around for a good price, but make sure you are willing to at least pay for the value you hope to get out of your new car lift.
The Purpose Of This Study
At Babco, we believe the customer should always get what he or she wants. The best way to do that is for the customer to have all the information available. However, it’s difficult for the average consumer to do their own lift comparison, particularly when the true manufacturer of many lifts is kept secret by the reseller.
This is Where We Come In
We purchased one of the more popular no-name lifts on the market that are sold on many websites under a variety brand names. There is a very good reason why these lifts are sold for hundreds of dollars less than a BendPak. Check out this side-by-side comparison and determine for yourself which lift is safer and which is really the better value.
Column Front
BendPak single-piece columns are stronger and safer.
Column Side
Side view of column comparison.
Column / Side Bottom
Wider, sturdier baseplates from BendPak.
Column / Rear Bottom
BendPak baseplate comparison.
Certification Label
BendPak ALI Certified label
Warning Label
Warning label on a cheap, uncertified lift.
Column Assembly / BendPak® on Scale
BendPak column weighs in at 542 lbs.
Column Assembly / Other on Scale
Uncertified lift column weighs in at 456 lbs. Where's all the engineering gone?
Carriage / Front
The taller lift carriage is critical for user safety and lift
preservation making the BendPak stand out quite a bit from the competitor.
Carriage / Back
More locking positions on a taller, single-piece carriage.
Lock nubs are welded for permanent hold and true peace-of-mind.
Carriage / Top View
Top view of taller carriage.
Carriage / UHMW Slide Blocks
Beefier slide blocks are zero-maintenance for lifespan of lift.
Carriage / Top Dimensions
Compare carriage top dimensions.
Carriage / Arm Attachment Location
Raised arm attachment location, a better-engineered product.
Carriage / Arm Attachment Holes
Reinforced arm attachment holes.
Carriage / Arm Restraint
BendPak's robust arm restraint is the superior design.
Carriage / BendPak® on Scale
Lift carriage is twice as heavy as uncertified lift's.
Carriage / Other on Scale
Revealed to be much lighter-duty when put on the scale and compared to BendPak.
Arms / Side Detail / Arm Restraint
Large BendPak arm restraint vs. competition and a side view of arm restraints to show BendPak's superiority.
Arms / Reach / Retracted
With lifting arms retracted, lift looks similar.
Arms / Reach / Extended
With arms extended, BendPak is the clear winner.
Arms / Construction / Method
Arm comparison, new angle.
Arms / Construction / Underside
Underside lift arm comparison.
Arms Set / BendPak® on Scale
BendPak arms weigh in at 398 lbs.
Arms Set / Other on Scale
Light-duty, uncertified arms weight is only 266 lbs.
Top Beam / Top View
Top beam offers more security, superior welds and better overall construction.
Hydraulic Cylinder / Rod End
Far more seals on the BendPak cylinder rod end.
Tuxedo and BendPak Comparison
See an Overview of the BendPak vs. Tuxedo two-post lift comparison.
Specs/Features | Tuxedo®TP9KAC | BendPak® XPR-10A | BendPak® Advantage |
---|---|---|---|
Lifting Capacity | 9,000 Pounds (Stated) | 10,000 Pounds (Certified) | |
ETL Certification | No | Yes | |
Asymmetric Configuration | Arms Only - Non-Rotated Columns | True Asymmetric - Arms & Rotated Columns | |
Wide-Narrow Configuration | Fixed Position | Adjustable - Configures Wide or Narrow | |
Lifting Design | Dual Cylinder - Chain Lifting | Dual Cylinder - Direct-Drive | |
Column Construction | Multi-Piece | Single-Piece | |
Carriage Construction | Multi-Piece Formed Steel | Welded Steel Tubing | |
Rubber Bumpers - Reduces Door Damage | None | Carriage Face / Rubber | |
Arm Construction | Welded Tubing | Welded Tubing | |
Top Beam Construction | Boxed Steel - Non Adjustable | Boxed Steel - Adjustable Wide or Narrow | |
Sheave Material | Machine Steel | Machine Steel | |
Sheave Diameter / Upper | 3" | 5" | |
Sheave Diameter / Column | 4" | 5" | |
Equalizer Cable | 3/8" up to 2" Adjustment | 3/8" Up tp 3" Adjustment | |
Integrated Cylinder Throttle Valve | No - Restricted Flow Raise and Descent | Yes - Restricted Flow Descent Only | |
Minimum Pad Height | 4 1/2" | 4" | |
Max Rise - Top of Pads / Less Adapters | 69" | 73" | |
Max Rise - Top of Pads with Adapters | 70-1/2" - 74" - 75-1/2" | 76"-79"-82" | |
Contact Pad Type | Bolt-On Rubber Pad/td> | Slip-Over Rubber Contact Boot | |
Adapter Type (Standard) | Multi-Stackable | Multi-Stackable | |
Arm Restraints - Rack Gear | Replacable Gears | Replacable Gears | |
Arm Restraints-Arm Gear | Welded-On Non-Replaceable | Bolt-On Replaceable Gears | |
Overall Height | 142" | 145" | |
Floor to Overhead Trip | 137" | 140" | |
Overall Width | 134" | 132" or 145" | |
Dimensions - Inside Column | 110" | 99" or 112" | |
Drive Thru Clearance | 101" | 89" or 102" | |
Lift Column Configuration | Non-Rotated Columns | 30-Deg. Rotated Columns | |
Locking Latch Release | Manual Pull Type at Each Column | Single Point Release at Power lift | |
Overhead Stop / Safety-Shutoff | Trip Wire/Pull - No Electric Micro Switch | Padded Stop-Shutoff Bar / Electric Micro Switch | |
Front Arm Reach / Min. | 24" | 23-1/2" | |
Front Arm Reach / Max. | 35" | 45-1/2" | |
Rear Arm Reach / Min. | 39-1/2" | 42-1/2" | |
Rear Arm Reach / Max. | 58-1/2" | 60" | |
Rise Speed | 50 Seconds | 50 Seconds |
Warranty Compare | Tuxedo® (*) | BendPak® (*) | BendPak® Advantage |
---|---|---|---|
Structure | 60-Months | 60-Months | |
Hydraulics | 30-Days / After 30-Days Seals Only | 24-Months / Power Unit & Cylinders | |
Shipping Charges | Purchaser Responsible | Free for 12-Months | |
Labor | Purchaser Responsible to Pay Labor | 12-Months Free On-Site Labor |
*Contact factories for full warranty details.