Hot Tub Forum

Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: hawkman on August 03, 2006, 04:31:52 pm

Title: Which Lifter is best?
Post by: hawkman on August 03, 2006, 04:31:52 pm: I need to get a new lifter.. Which does the group prefer?

Cover Mate (bar across the top of the cover) or Cover Cradle (has two gas shocks)

For a Hot Spring..
Title: Re: Which Lifter is best?
Post by: The_real_Clown_Shoes on August 03, 2006, 04:39:47 pm: Nothing beats the Cover Cradle, but the Covermate is a very serviceable lifter depending on the size of your spa. With how easily spa cover straps break, it amazes me that people use cover lifters that have the bar going across the seam.

Those aluminum channels are a god-send.
Title: Re: Which Lifter is best?
Post by: Vinny on August 03, 2006, 04:46:05 pm: I have a Cover Mate III and it has both the bar across the top of the spa cover and gas shocks. My tub is approx 8'x8' and it works great... My 11 YO can open up the tub and close it without ay problems. As far as cover straps breaking, my cover don't have any straps across the seam.

But if you have a HS, don't they have their own lifting system?
Title: Re: Which Lifter is best?
Post by: hymbaw on August 03, 2006, 05:07:14 pm: I like the Covermate I, but if you have a HS I would go with the lift-n-glide
Title: Re: Which Lifter is best?
Post by: spaman- on August 03, 2006, 05:32:49 pm: Quote
I have a Cover Mate III and it has both the bar across the top of the spa cover and gas shocks. My tub is approx 8'x8' and it works great... My 11 YO can open up the tub and close it without ay problems. As far as cover straps breaking, my cover don't have any straps across the seam.

But if you have a HS, don't they have their own lifting system?

Dont forget the towel hooks on the arm they work great onthe cm III
Title: Re: Which Lifter is best?
Post by: Spatech_tuo on August 03, 2006, 05:49:25 pm: Quote
I like the Covermate I, but if you have a HS I would go with the lift-n-glide

The CM-I is a good striaght forward lifter IMO, but not my favorite on larger spas. I don't like the feel of them with a large cover.
Title: Re: Which Lifter is best?
Post by: Vinny on August 03, 2006, 05:57:46 pm: Quote

Dont forget the towel hooks on the arm they work great onthe cm III

I didn't install it ... But you are right, it is a nice feature.
Title: Re: Which Lifter is best?
Post by: East_TX_Spa on August 03, 2006, 05:59:39 pm: Towel hooks???

Crap, I've been telling folks they were gun racks... :-[

Terminator
Title: Re: Which Lifter is best?
Post by: spaman- on August 03, 2006, 06:28:01 pm: Quote
Towel hooks???

Crap, I've been telling folks they were gun racks... :-[
Terminator

HAHAHAHAHAHA
Title: Re: Which Lifter is best?
Post by: Chas on August 03, 2006, 08:02:22 pm: Quote
Towel hooks???

Crap, I've been telling folks they were gun racks... :-[
Terminator

A guy needs a place to hang his suit once he's in the spa, right?
Title: Re: Which Lifter is best?
Post by: sandiego on August 04, 2006, 01:45:39 am: I prefer the covermate I and III to the cover cradle.
Title: Re: Which Lifter is best?
Post by: cooltoy2000 on August 04, 2006, 04:15:04 am: If you are tight for space, the Upright is great. It only needs seven inches on the backside and only two on each side.
Title: Re: Which Lifter is best?
Post by: drewstar on August 04, 2006, 10:00:54 am: I have the CM 1 on my Tiger River. It works great, but as noted, I could not image it holding up well with a large cover. When I need a new cover,(hoepfully this will be in a few years, not in the imediate future) I've been thinking on upgrading to a thicker cover for better insulation, and wonder if I will have to upgrade my lifter (which would propbably mean having a few holes in my cabinet from the old one).

I would get the lifter that is rated for the heaviest cover. That way, when your cover needs replacing, your'e not limited by the lifter.
Title: Re: Which Lifter is best?
Post by: HotTubMan on August 04, 2006, 10:16:41 am: I also like the Covermate I.

Spa Tech, did you know there is actually a CM-I for larger spas?

I wasnt happy with the was it fit on 8' spas. I called Leisure Concepts and was infromed they have a model for larger tubs.

So, I called our supplier (Hydropool), and they were surprised to hear about the issue and the other lifter. They have yet to order them, so I have yet to see if there is a difference.
Title: Re: Which Lifter is best?
Post by: Spatech_tuo on August 04, 2006, 11:18:55 am: Quote
I also like the Covermate I.

Spa Tech, did you know there is actually a CM-I for larger spas?

Yeah but if all it does is extend the arms for the longer length then it will still have the issue I see which is sturdiness while opening it. Don't get me wrong, on small and mid sized spas I think the CM-I is a good basic lifter, it's just on the bigger spas that I think it gets a bit wimpy. Open a big spa with a CM-I and then open another next to it with a CM-III and it's night and day, the CM-III feels great while the CM-I just seems like it's struggling to support the cover (IMO of course).
Title: Re: Which Lifter is best?
Post by: yt on August 04, 2006, 11:57:43 am: I am a new hot tub owner, D1 Diplomat. My lifter is not a lifter, but the support arms that extend beyond the tub so that you can just fold over the cover and push it onto the support arms. They resemble large shelf brackets. They can be folded against the spa when not used.

I like this lifter because it minimally blocks the view from the spa and there are no moving parts to break.