Q: Why are the Hero AutoHoists a little more expensive than some of the others?
A: Heavier-duty, quality construction and attention to detail are the main differences. We’d rather sell a slightly more expensive hoist - and keep away from the cheaper ‘hobby’ lifts... some of which have proven to be dangerous and reflect badly on the whole field...
Realistically, over the lifetime of the hoist, it’s a small factor - and we know you’ll be delighted with the quality, performance and flexibility of a Hero AutoHoist - rather than simply satisfied...
We don’t aim to be the ‘biggest’ - we aim to be the best - and if eventually we do become the biggest - it will be through our reputation for quality - not as heavy discounters of ‘ordinary‘ products...
Q: Come on guys - they’re all made the same way, aren’t they?
A: Definitely NOT – appearances can be VERY deceptive - please go to our ‘Overview Images’ page - there you‘ll see many of the safety features a Hero AutoHoist has as standard...
We’re HAPPY to provide Close-Up pictures for that very reason... how many other manufacturers are so confident? Cheaper lifts use inferior, lighter weight sheet metal and questionable safety systems – and that’s usually reflected in their price...
Safety should be paramount in your decision when purchasing this type of equipment - ask yourself - what’s your life (or the life of a loved-one) worth?
And - how much have you invested already in your prized vehicle/s? Is a cheap, flimsy hoist gonna cut it under your pride and joy?
Bottom-Line: We actually encourage potential customers to view our cheaper competitors’ products - because even a quick visual inspection will satisfy you that a lower-capacity, cheaper hoist is false economy - and as we say elsewhere on this website, quality is remembered long after a small difference in price is forgotten...
An Interesting Quote
"It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money - that is all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot - it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better."
John Ruskin
(1819 - 1900)
Q: But honestly - isn’t most stuff made in China rubbish?
A: Sure, some of our competitor’s hoists are less than we’d be happy to own ourselves... that’s why we don’t sell lower-capacity ‘hobby’ hoists..
Our manufacturers are ISO-9001 (International Quality Controlled and Certified) - so realistically the factories could be located anywhere - Europe, Scandanivia, Australia etc - as the standard is the same - keep in mind many so-called ‘Made in America’ hoists are in fact made in Asia, then ‘assembled’ in order to deliberately mislead the consumer into believing that the units are made locally - we‘re upfront about our product and any shortcomings are quickly addressed - Hero gives feedback from our customers and ourselves to constantly improve the products... and they’re pretty damned good already! For that simple reason we’re more than happy to refer potential customers to happy owners...
Q: Are the Lift King models REALLY safe as afreestanding units?
A: Yes. However if you have a very uneven, or excessively sloping surface, bolts are provided to fix the units permanently...
Keep in mind that the Lift Kings are safe and stable under normal conditions and given a reasonably level surface - in fact they’re even more stable with a vehicle supported...
Q: As a private buyer - do I need to worry about compliance to design rules?
A: No. However... they comply with many overseas standards (for example European CE) – for your peace of mind...
Q: As a general guide, how much height do I need in my garage?
A: If you were going to stack 2 modern sedans - for example 2 x VE Commodores you need about 3.25 metres. If you have sports cars, you need less. If you have a sedan and a 4WD, you need more...
If you have a lower garage, but it’s a double or triple configuration, you can swing the Lift King hoist around after driving on the first vehicle, (because we supply it as standard with a castor kit) - raise that supported vehicle up high enough to only clear the bonnet of your second car - and then park your second vehicle at right angles to it...
Please request our ‘Required Height Calculator’ which we can email or fax to you so you can work out EXACTLY how much height you need for your particular vehicles/boat or other equipment...
Q: Are your Lift King hoists good for working on my cars too?
A: Absolutely - both the Lift King 8 and 8XL are rated at 3,629kgs - more than enough for most vehicles out there - however that really isn’t as important as the quality of the construction - once you get over 3,000 kgs it’s a moot point - what really matters is that the hoists are built to last and not flex or deform in any way…
Both models come with Jack Trays rated at 3,000lbs - and the Lift King 8XL accepts our 6,000lb/2722kg Rolling Air-Assisted Jacking Beam that runs along tracks welded to the inside of the runways - so even though we DO sell to the ‘hobbyist’ market - these hoists are ‘cut above’ the cheaper ‘hobbyist’ hoist out there...
Q: Can I really install it myself?
A: Yes. We provide detailed Assembly and Safety Tips - as well as unlimited phone support - just call us anytime for advice...
If you prefer, we can organise installation for you in the Sydney region - and professional installers are available Australia wide...
Q: Is there a strict Maintenance Shedule I need to perform?
A: No. Simply lubricate all cables occasionally with Dry Lube and WD-40 /Silicon-Based Spray on the rollers...
We provide detailed instructions and guide you as to how and where to maintain the hoist - we also never assume you know what to do - so please ask any questions you like - the only ‘silly’ question is one you haven‘t asked yet - so if we’ve missed anything here in our FAQ’s please just let us know!
:)