Which Lifter is best?

[hawkman]

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..

[The_real_Clown_Shoes]

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.

[Vinny]

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?

[hymbaw]

I like the Covermate I, but if you have a HS I would go with the lift-n-glide

[spaman-]

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

[Spatech_tuo]

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.

[Vinny]

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.

[East_TX_Spa]

Towel hooks???

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

Terminator

[spaman-]

Towel hooks???

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

HAHAHAHAHAHA

[Chas]

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?

[sandiego]

I prefer the covermate I and III to the cover cradle.

[cooltoy2000]

If you are tight for space, the Upright is great. It only needs seven inches on the backside and only two on each side.

[drewstar]

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.

[HotTubMan]

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.

[Spatech_tuo]

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).