Car lifts

The Direct Lift dudes told me it is probably best not to bolt it down here in earthquake country. They also said once you bolt it down, it most likely becomes an attached structural piece of material in the garage, requireing a permit. Maybe Consumer Reports has done something in the past on lifts? That would be interesting to see. My insurance company never heard of any lift failing in all their years, and they cover damage if it did, so that made me feel better when I was checking all this out.

Anyone found a secret for backing a Pantera onto the lift (maybe some type of side guides)? It is pretty nerve shattering, especially for a wide body, even with the wife directing it from behind hacking from the hydrocarbons.

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Anyone found a secret for backing a Pantera onto the lift

Need power mirrors so you can tilt them at an angle that let's you see where you're going.

My wife and I discovered that it is easier for her to guide me from up front. I can see her better and she doesn't have to eat carbon dioxide. The Mangusta is a bear to back on the ramp, you can't see anything!

Anybody have some close-ups of the direct lift (post and locking, maybe cabling) I am having a hard time locating one locally to look at (dealer or showroom) Thanks

http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Articles.asp?ID=135
http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/ProductDetails.asp?Pr...PARK7&Show=TechSpecs

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Originally posted by ShotgunGrooms:
Anybody have some close-ups of the direct lift (post and locking, maybe cabling) I am having a hard time locating one locally to look at (dealer or showroom) Thanks

If you want specific pictures of a PP7, send me your email address (dyogi@hawaii.rr.com) and I'll take and send you photos of mine.

Thanks Dennis

Sent you a PM

I just recently put up my Superlift. We have been offered a group discount but it is more than the other lifts mentioned in earlier posts. Fully loaded it was about $3500. I went to the factory in Aurora,MO and picked it up. I saw the raw materials and they looked tough to me. The U.S. built 4 post takes 3 big guys to lift the big pieces. The rest of it can be built with just one person. It took me about 2 evenings to put it together. The China lift is much lighter, more than a $1000 cheaper, and powder coat not as tough. Salesman talked me into the U.S. built unit. Just my 2 cents. Use my name and say that Keith gave the ok for the Pantera Group discount. Good luck, Mike Grillot, Missouri

I finally got around to ordering a lift and I decided on a Direct Lift Pro-Park 7. What I received was more like a PP7.5 since it has just been upgraded in some very nice ways to be more like the PP8 but at the same price as the PP7. Now the ramps can be levelled and the safety mechanism is much better than before. The only down-side is that the columns are now 87" tall making them just tall enough to NOT fit through a standard 7' (tall) door opening — should you ever want to move the unit out of a 7' opening.

I also got the accessory jacks that span the ramps and allow you to raise the car off its wheels for service. I've only had it for about 6 hours but I am (so far) completely satisfied and can't see any reason to spend a huge amount more money than I did. If you do order one, make SURE that you're getting one of the new ones with the upgrades.

Cna you post some pictures of the upgrades? I'd like to see what they improved. Boy that column is close! Thanks

There seems to be some concerns about safety latches, etc. Has anyone ever heard of a lift failing or seen something on the web reported? My insurance company has not heard of any in their life time, so I was just curious.

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Originally posted by 4NFORD:
Can you post some pictures of the upgrades? I'd like to see what they improved. Boy that column is close! Thanks

Yup. There's about a 1/2 inch gap between the column and door. It'll be OK when the new door goes in (much higher). Here's some detail shots. From what I was told, the key new features are the ability to level the ramps when at rest on the safety stops. There are larger pins that settle into cut-outs (B) on adjustable (A) hanging 1/4" plate safety-stop ladders that sit inside the columns (C) — which I'm told are heavier gauge now.

Dennis is right about the assembly. I had DirectLift do it (call me lazy-ass) and it took them about 2.5 hours (2 guys). I could have done it, but I would have futzed around a lot, hurt my back more and taken 6 hours IF I had a friend helping out. I've had it over 24 hours now and so far it hasn't collapsed.

and

and last:

Nice lift, dude. Looks like it'll even hold up my XXL frame. Maybe we'll drop in and sit up there drinking beer while you clean up all the stuff you moved out of the way. Nice work. Let me know when the new door is coming. I will be glad to direct.

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Originally posted by Mark Charlton:

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Originally posted by 4NFORD:
Can you post some pictures of the upgrades? I'd like to see what they improved. Boy that column is close! Thanks

Yup. There's about a 1/2 inch gap between the column and door. It'll be OK when the new door goes in (much higher). Here's some detail shots. From what I was told, the key new features are the ability to level the ramps when at rest on the safety stops. There are larger pins that settle into cut-outs (B) on adjustable (A) hanging 1/4" plate safety-stop ladders that sit inside the columns (C) — which I'm told are heavier gauge now.

Dennis is right about the assembly. I had DirectLift do it (call me lazy-ass) and it took them about 2.5 hours (2 guys). I could have done it, but I would have futzed around a lot, hurt my back more and taken 6 hours IF I had a friend helping out. I've had it over 24 hours now and so far it hasn't collapsed.

OK, I feel better, mine looks like yours, I guess I got the modern version too! I had my door lifted closer to the ceiling and gained about a foot. Several companies told me that I had to put in a new door as the angles were too much of a change. One company told me that the others were full of it and it was as simple as adding new tracks to extend the height and raising the existing brackets. They did the job and it hasn't given me a problem since.

Did the cable drums and spring assembly have to be raised too?

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Originally posted by JOHNEYE:
Did the cable drums and spring assembly have to be raised too?

I haven't done it yet, but in my case, yes, they will. My new door will go vertical to the ceiling before turning horizontal.

Well, as it turns out, I didn't need to change anything, but if my cars were any taller...

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Originally posted by JOHNEYE:
Did the cable drums and spring assembly have to be raised too?

I had them raised and gained about an extra foot of space.