C7000 7,000 lb. Portable Two Post Auto Lift

IF you are looking for a 2 post for low ceilings this is about your only option in the market. If you have limited space i.e. still need to use the work area for vehicle storage it's the best option for a 2 post lift. I reviewed and almost purchased the alternative (MJ) but luckily found this. It lifts significantly higher ,has multiple lock locations and has a much lower cost by at least $1000. Some minor issues-Instructions do not come with, you must download (no problem). Instructions are still not great. If you have mechanical ability you will figure out 99% of it. I did 2-3 months of web and youtube research of multiple sellers/lifts and learned way more than the instructions indicated. John K is one of the few that has videos and no poster shows a video of prep and install. John also has pictures of the concrete and prep work but not all on the same web page. I do recommend following a different mfg (BP) foundation guidelines using 12" deep and rebar every 12" EXCEPT for the post locations for a retro fit into existing concrete. It's likely overkill but unless you have a known, uniform, single pour, concrete floor now is not the time to be thrifty or cheap. All posters state the same for concrete, better safe than sorry.
Install- I have never done a lift install before. Once you get it disassembled from the shipping frame take the cardboard wrap and outline/trace EACH baseplate AND the holes. Once you get them vertical you do not want to lay them down again to make a drill pattern. I did my unload and install by myself using an engine hoist, two furniture dollys, two 6X6 wood blocks and a floor jack. I made the bad presumption I could trace the holes once the post was in place and then drill the concrete. I was off on 4 of the holes (2 per post) and once you drill you are not able to tweak them. I was only off by 1/4" but was able to open the holes on the posts with a carbide cutter on a die grinder and make them work. Definitely drill 3/8" pilot holes. I ended up buying a rotary hammer. My hammer drill was smoking after drilling three holes at 3/4" and not the 1" as needed. It was just too much for it. I did all the pilot holes with the hammer drill. Rotary hammer made VERY short work of the holes. So if you decide to rent one and you're holes are laid out correctly it only takes 30 minutes to drill all 12 holes with the rotary so plenty of time to rent at a 4 hr time slot. I did use AC 100 adhesive but only on one post. It setup so fast I was not able to squeeze it out of the tube for the 2nd post:( Next issue was the holders for the height adapters both on the RH side of each post covered the holes enough I could install the bolt but not thread all the way as the head of the bolt was stopped by the holder. I had to grind both of them but one more than the other to make room for the socket and the head of the bolt to thread all the way down. Since I had new concrete and it was level I did not anticipate needing to shim but it was necessary. I believe the issue is the hydraulic cylinder is slightly lower than the base plate, it protrudes down, as I could walk the post to it's position fairly easy. You are safe to buy fender shims from Harbor Freight at $10 for a box of them, they work great. Next issue was 1 lock would not activate, Called NAT for assistance, greased up the mechanism and it started to work. It's not easily visible or accessible. I used spray white lithium to grease the mechanism and it was able to reach it. NAT recommended the white lithium and I heartily agree. It makes it so much easier to see you have enough grease and it's being spread by the post shims correctly. Last issue was 1 arm was 1-1 1/2" lower than the others. Called NAT again for advice, they recommended swapping the arms to see if it went away or stayed the same. Swapped arms and it did get better down to 1/2" for the one arm. This is with both posts perfectly plumb. Not sure if swapping the arms was the fix or cycling the lift multiple times. Arms are at the same level in relation to each other regardless if they are on the floor or full height. Used for the 1st time yesterday and what a back saver! I have multiple projects lined up for this and the lift will make them all easier than working on my back like I did when I was much younger.

I hope this helps others for their purchase and install. Absolutely would buy again.

The experiance with NAT as a buyer was smooth and easy. The list itself is exactly what Iwanted and possibly more. I had been considering thecopetitor in "portable lift" but have a son that works with me who is quite tall. With the c7000 we can stand full height under one of the classic ford trucks we typically are modding and have all the confidence in the lift being safe and reliable. Iwould recommend this to anyone.

After installing my lift, which was pretty strait forward.I noticed one side did not go down far enough for the arm restraints to release. I contacted National Auto Tools about this and i am still waiting for a resolution to the issue, its been a month waiting for new chains to arrive. I hope this gets resolved soon.

As you can tell I was very excited about my C7000 in the video linked above. It's coming up on 2 years of use and I still use it every weekend. We have a few projects going and a few that are complete. Only if my technical skills was as reliable as this lift!!!

I recommend this product to any looking for a lift that does not need to work on huge trucks or vans. The flexibility of moving it whenever you need to and the features like ladder locks and 7000 lbs capacity make it the perfect lift for me.