I picked this up awhile back, It is a bend-pak MD-6XP portable mid-rise lift. I find it to be great for fluid changes,brake and susp work, tire rotations, etc. It included 3 sets of risers for different heights.

 

I purchased mine from http://www.gesusa.com/product_info.isg?products_id=165
I paid $1,435.00 shipped from CA. to MI.
It does list the weight of 1198lbs but It feels lighter than that to me. I find it to be real easy to move around, the power unit stand acts like a dolly so it spends nice days outside and nasty ones inside. I find that I use for alot more things than ever thought I would, I am 6'2" and washing/waxing is alot easier with the car at chest height, I wash the roof and then up in the air she goes to complete the job, wheels are so much easier to clean than before, and while it is up there an underbody flush with the powerwasher is no problem.

I built a set of wooden ramps while I was waiting for my lift to arrive, my thinking was I might not have the clearance needed for my STi to drive over the top, I was wrong! however it is tight and if you want to use the risers to get that extra 6 inches out of the lift you will need some ramps. I was not using my head when I did this because I already had 4 rhino ramps which I could of used, the only problem with this is you have to raise it up, slide the ramps under the tires, lower it, change to the taller risers and lift it up again, and repeat the process on the way back down, however it takes less than five minutes to do the said process and if you put a mark on the arms of the lift you will not have to try and realign the pads. I only use the risers when changing my oil, and want that extra 6".

I would also recommend that you either build a stand for your oil collection container or you purchase one of these, http://www.automotivetools.com/cgi-l...382+1100969043 make sure if you do buy one that you pay close attention to the height of the unit, this one seems to fit the bill.

I would also recommend when changing your oil that you position you car as such that you use the open end of the lift, opposite of the hydraulic cylinders, you will find more room to work with. I always back my car over the lift anyway so I can pin it as tight against the wall as possible to avoid my wife slamming her door into my baby. I justified my purchase in a couple of ways, I have always done my own maintenance on my cars, and have saved alot of money over the years by doing so. I think all of us can relate to the fact that most mechanics could care less about how they treat your car, and you are left always wondering if they did the job correctly. I tend to rotate my tires alot trying to get the most out of them because frankly they are not cheap, and for those that have done this in the past you know where I am coming from, it is no fun trying to do this with jacks and jack stands. It takes me about ten minutes now, and I know that my lugnuts are not being over torqued. I also feel that the longevity any vehicle is determined by how often routine maintenance performed, with the cost of cars these days you had best try and make them last for as long as possible.

I was going to purchase a 2 post lift until I started doing a little research, you can pick one up for around the same price, however there are some things I soon realized.
1. You need alot of overhead clearance in your garage, I would of had to rip out my ceiling and re-structured my rafters. = $$$$
2. Most 2 post lifts require 4" thick concrete minimum, I have 3 1/2" = $$$$
3. I would of had to raise my garage door up to accommodate for the 2 post =$$$
4. I was willing, and so was my wife,in divorce court. lol

I built my house 4 years ago, and if I had it to do over again I would have made the proper modifications needed to accommodate a 2 post lift, they have advantages over the mid-rise lift that I purchased, I think that is a no-brainer as to what the advantages are. I am completely happy with my purchase,and I do like the fact that it is portable, it was the best solution for me at the time and I have no regrets. If any of you are looking to buy/build a house in the future you might want to consider doing a few modifications that I mentioned, it is alot cheaper to do it right the first time around than to make these changes later.

 

wow, very cool....I like.