Costco 4-Post Lift

[Evans, Marv]

Just an FYI to those who may be interested in a 4-post lift for you favorite toy. Costco is advertising two models. One for $1,700 and another for $1,900. One is slightly larger than the other, and both have a lift capacity of 7K lb. Can't vouch for much else as I don't know a whole lot of specifics about them. But Costco lists specs on both. Seems like pretty decent prices from what I've seen.

[Danny_Ocean]

I would never stand under a Chinese-made lift.

But that's just me...

[rusnak]

Thanks Marv, I'll go check them out.

[bpp944]

You should be able to get one from here for just about the same price;

http://www.e-autolifts.com/4posttable.html

[Robert Buchanan]

Try these guys.

Cheap and reliable lifts.

911_pilot

[carr914]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

I would never stand under a Chinese-made lift.

But that's just me...

I Agree. I did a lot of research before I bought my Rotary Revolution lift. My Rotary is American-made, warrantied and easy to service if the need ever exists. Rotary's are in most dealerships and repair shops. I paid more, but it included shipping AND installation.

With Chinese lifts (which includes ANY cheap price units), what happens if a hydrolic cylinder or the motor goes out? The parts aren't available (or it takes 2 years to get a part), and nobody will service it for you. With these cheap lifts you have to add in freight charges and then you will have to hire a roll-back wreaker to pick it up at the freight terminal to get it to your house. Then you have to get 4 or 5 friends and a Chinese translator (and many cases of brew) to put it together. then you still have a Chinese POS.

My summary, I paid more up-front, but I believe I will save $'s of the long haul. Heck, after I'm gone to Porsche Heaven, it will be a family heirloom, like my Granddad's Walnut desk.

T.C.

[EarlyPorsche]

Costco usually sells the best stuff and never buys the "cheap chinese" crap. Are we sure its Chinese? And if so are we sure its not made by a company that has overseers in China (way different than handing project over, this was you select materials, and operations so basically only relying on man power). I avoid all things Chinese but the Mac I am writing this on is also the best computer I have ever owned and it was made in China and it was unavoidable to purchase.

[carr914]

There is NO way that a 4 post lift under $2,500 is made in the USA. And there is a Big difference between a computer and something that is supposed to hold your Porsche and leave you a margin of safety working under it. If you have a Porsche, you didn't take the cheap route, why would you do that with your safety?

T.C.

[DW SD]

Marv,
Good info...Does costco sell a 2-post lift, too?


I have a feeling more stuff than we know and specifically items that we consider to be very reliable are made in China.

Are there any reports of any lifts failing? I imagine these things have a factor of safety of 10 to 20 built into the designs. I imagine user error is the biggest cause of injury.

I'm all for personal safety, but also am pragmatic and open to real world data.

Doug

[JmuRiz]

I believe the Costco lift is a Danmar brand lift, at least from the pictures I saw.

[The Curator]

Don't buy Chinese, even if it is well built, their steel is worthless. Costco does carry Chinese junk like all other big boxes (and I like Costco!).

USA made, excellent quality and inexpensive. Worth every penny: see
http://superlifts.com/fourpostlifts/fourpost.html

[The Curator]

Yes, it is Dannmar and it is indeed Chinese! See previous post for a quality lift.

[DW SD]

Originally Posted by The Curator

Don't buy Chinese, even if it is well built, their steel is worthless. Costco does carry Chinese junk like all other big boxes (and I like Costco!).

USA made, excellent quality and inexpensive. Worth every penny: see
http://superlifts.com/fourpostlifts/fourpost.html

Anthony,
Just curious, what is different about their steel? Or what makes it worthless?

Doug

[The Curator]

Originally Posted by DW SD

Anthony,
Just curious, what is different about their steel? Or what makes it worthless?

Doug

I am not a metallurgist or engineer but work in the firearms industry and have witnessed several tests. The issue is the quality of iron stock and heat treatment, Chinese manufacturing is notorious about weak or incorrect heat treatment. To them, looks and product appeal are often more important than functionality or reliability. I certainly would not want to store a car under a Chinese lift or stand under it.

The few $100s saved at purchase do not make up for the frustration and problems that are encountered over the (short) life of Chinese products…

I copied this from a site as it summarizes it better than what I can…

Why Do We Heat Treat Steel?
Steel can be categorized in a variety of manners (See Figure 1). The principle alloying element is carbon, which influences the steel's hardness and its mechanical properties.
It is necessary to apply heat to steel to enable its condition and mechanical properties to be changed to allow the steel to function either during manufacture or its operating life cycle.

[JmuRiz]

Just an FYI even BendPak lifts are made of Chinese Steel.

I'd worry more about being 3rd party certified.

[The Curator]

Originally Posted by EarlyPorsche

Costco usually sells the best stuff and never buys the "cheap chinese" crap. Are we sure its Chinese? And if so are we sure its not made by a company that has overseers in China (way different than handing project over, this was you select materials, and operations so basically only relying on man power). I avoid all things Chinese but the Mac I am writing this on is also the best computer I have ever owned and it was made in China and it was unavoidable to purchase.

Western overseers in China or usually welcome during the initial setup of a product line. In rare occasion a company can have a permanent presence but it costs… there are no foreign owned companies in China, all companies are on lease from the communist government. Even if a U.S. company pays for all the set up, product development, engineering etc. it will have to pay an extra fee to the government to retain exclusivity of its own product. For most companies, this is too expensive. This is why we see the same products marketed under different brand names (like the car lifts) and also why we see a constant struggle to protect patents and copyrights.

The notion of selecting and importing specific raw materials is also stipulated in the lease… that usually is a limited time frame (3 or 5 years) after which only domestic Chinese raw materials can be used. I know of one company that lost millions and had to pull out of China because it was not able to get UV resistant plastic for its manufacture.

[The Curator]

Originally Posted by JmuRiz

Just an FYI even BendPak lifts are made of Chinese Steel.

I'd worry more about being 3rd party certified.

Do you mean having a UL certification?

[EarlyPorsche]

I stand corrected. This would be the first piece at Costco that I would not buy. Believe me everything else is the highest quality on the market. The batteries are CHEAP AND HIGHEST RATED!!!

[dad911]

Originally Posted by carr914

There is NO way that a 4 post lift under $2,500 is made in the USA. And there is a Big difference between a computer and something that is supposed to hold your Porsche and leave you a margin of safety working under it. If you have a Porsche, you didn't take the cheap route, why would you do that with your safety?

T.C.

I've had an Eagle lift, 13+ years now, under $2500, no problems.

[billybek]

Originally Posted by The Curator

Don't buy Chinese, even if it is well built, their steel is worthless. Costco does carry Chinese junk like all other big boxes (and I like Costco!).

USA made, excellent quality and inexpensive. Worth every penny: see
http://superlifts.com/fourpostlifts/fourpost.html

It doesn't appear that the econo version of their product line is made in the U.S.
That being said, their other more expensive line looks very nice for the money....