I'm planning to buy a four post car lift to put my Porsche 911 up in the air so I can finally park my C230K inside. I'm looking at the Autolifter and the Backyard Buddy. Both appear to be quite similar in construction. The Backyard Buddy is $3500 and the AutoLifter is $2000. Given the somewhat substantial cost difference, I'd be very interested in experiences or opinions from folks here.

I'm planning to buy a four post car lift to put my Porsche 911 up in the air so I can finally park my C230K inside. I'm looking at the Autolifter and the Backyard Buddy. Both appear to be quite similar in construction. The Backyard Buddy is $3500 and the AutoLifter is $2000. Given the somewhat substantial cost difference, I'd be very interested in experiences or opinions from folks here.

Only thing I would have to add, is to run it by your insurance company (home and auto). I see a possible claims denial in your future if the hydraulics spring a leak and total both of your cars if the ins. cos weren't aware you were storing like that.

Good luck!

Great idea! I always wanted one but never had the ceiling space.

Excuse me, sir, but who or what is a “narwhal”

It's like a uniwhale.

Gosh, thanks. But seriously.....

It looks like ones just cheaper, neither look superior to me. Besides, a 911 isnt real heavy. I dont have any experience with either though, sorry.

Great idea! I always wanted one but never had the ceiling space.

Excuse me, sir, but who or what is a “narwhal”

google.com will give you a biological description, but I tend to prefer 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, in which Nemo's undersea ship, "Nautilus", was thought to be a large narwhal. A tusked Moby Dick.

20K is a wonderful book, a very pessimistic view of man exchanging slavery to the machine age for the fiefdoms of the previous age of man. The mechanical narwhal, "Nautilus", was an instrument of rebellion. This is a good model for a classy lawyer--attacking the oppressive machines of commerce for the good of mankind.

Thank you for the explanation. I haven't seen or thought of 20k leagues since I was a tyke. My vague recollection of the movie (didn’t read the book) is of a kindly older guy with a fancy and futuristic (for the movie’s setting) submarine. Basing a chat name on what the nautilus appeared to be is inspired, at least.

I wonder if cars are more or less oppressive by aid of an in house hoist?

BTW what is PAGL?

I'm going with a model DP10AN from Forward Manfucturing.

www.forwardmfg.com

Check it out

Hi

I live in Florida and have had the drive on AutoLifter for over 3 years and it has unfortunately been assembled as an out doors lift.

When I saw the video they sent of crashing into it with a forklift and a car on it, I was sold.

My only regret was tha t I selected the 120 vac motor instead of the 220 vac.

It works great, but if I have any other power being used at the same time it trips the breaker.
I'll probably be upgrading the breaker.

The lift is well designed and very sturdy.
My only thoughts on improvements is to come up with a better retaining system for the saftey release rod ends that connect to the really strong safety levers that stick through the 4 vertical posts.
They use a press on cap that will work loose.
This does not make it unsafe because when the cap comes off it won't let You release the safety arms until You reconnect the rod ends again.

Will probably drill a small hole in the end of each rod and use cotter pins and washers to solve this.

I do keep a weather proof cover over the motor/pump assembly, but moisture does get everywhere and I have to work on the preasure release valve once in awhile.

Not AutoLifters fault, just the fact that its out in the eliments.