Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: pantherkat on November 26, 2004, 10:36:52 pm
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Just took delivery of our new Caldera Niagara ( so exciting!!) ;D Still waiting on the electric connection, so we are high and dry for now :'( In the mean time, we are trying to choose which cover lifter is best and easiest to use - e.g. EZ Lift & Glide or Cover Cradle, etc. Any recommendations or warnings against a particular product would be most appreciated -Thanks!
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Cover Cradle is the way to go. It fastens into the metal plates which are designed into your cover, and doesn't hang the cover by it's hinge.
It has a single air spring which helps to move the cover as well as slowing it's motion down if you let go of the cover.
It's made of aluminum, and is powder coated.
It comes in any color you want. As long as you want black.
;)
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Sorry I dont know what cover lifter is best....I will leave that to the experts on this site.....but I see you went with the Caldera Niagra !!!!
What was your final deciding factor ?
Fellow Caldera owner !!! Well almost...its not here yet :'(
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I'll going to get the Covermate III when I get the tub. It has gas pistons on each side and it was really easy to "lift" the cover off the spa in the showroom. It also has a locking mechanism on the side to keep it from falling on you if there's windy conditions.
It too is black powder coated aluminum but it does hang from the cover's hinge.
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I'll going to get the Covermate III when I get the tub. It has gas pistons on each side and it was really easy to "lift" the cover off the spa in the showroom. It also has a locking mechanism on the side to keep it from falling on you if there's windy conditions.
It too is black powder coated aluminum but it does hang from the cover's hinge.
If you want that type of lift, I would go for the "Cover Upright" from Watkins. It also connects to the metal side plates, as does the Cover Cradle. But it has twin air springs and a latch just like the CMIII.
See it here: (http://www.hotspring.com/Spa_Showroom_Hot_Tub/gifs/uprite.gif) (http://www.hotspring.com/Spa_Showroom_Hot_Tub/jpgs/uprite.jpg)
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Chas,
If that info was directed at me, my local HS dealer should wither up and close!
Or if you want to open a East Coast branch of your stores, maybe you can facilitate that closing! ;D
It looked like the HS lifter was designed to be installed on the side of the cover - do all covers have this ability or is this unique to HS or maybe all Watkins tubs?
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Can't find anything on the "Cover Cradle" - picture or link?
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It looked like the HS lifter was designed to be installed on the side of the cover - do all covers have this ability or is this unique to HS or maybe all Watkins tubs?
I'm not sure - I'll gladly check this out. I think that Caldera tubs use the same lifters as HotSpring and Tiger River tubs - the covers are made in the same plant, but I don't see anything about cover lifts on the Caldera site - other than the mention of a couple of lifts in the Pre-delivery Instruction book. One of those is "ProLiff Cover Lifter."
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Chas,
The same lifters are offered and recommended by watkins for use on their Caldera Spas. They are a nice lift, however we currently don't sell them. We sell the cover mates with our Caldera Spas, and the EZ-Lifter with all of the other brands we carry.
Jason,
Store Manager for a D-1 & Caldera Dealer
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Chas,
The same lifters are offered and recommended by watkins for use on their Caldera Spas. They are a nice lift, however we currently don't sell them. We sell the cover mates with our Caldera Spas, and the EZ-Lifter with all of the other brands we carry.
I'm curious - why don't you sell the Watkins product?
For Dr. Eclat:go to this page to see the whole range of lifters available for HotSpring, Tiger River and Caldera.
http://www.hotspring.com/Spa_Showroom_Hot_Tub/accessor_covers.html
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Sorry, I meant to do this:
HS Cover Removal Systems (http://www.hotspring.com/Spa_Showroom_Hot_Tub/accessor_covers.html)
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Our owner chooses not to sell their cover lifters, most likely due to cost.
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That's odd. When I checked against the other brands of lifters, HS came in pretty close. I buy them in larger quantities to drop the price, and the the free freight (shipped with spas at no extra cost to me) almost made them the same, actually less than some.
But I like the fact that they don't hang the covers by the hinges - so that won out.
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Chas,
The HS dealer here "sells" the HS cover lift for around $450 (price in the book) and I was able to buy the Covermate for about 1/2 that.
The only cover that I ever saw with a "connection" on the side for the cover lift was the HS. Sundance uses their own version of the Covermate and most other dealers were selling the tub with a "deluxe" cover lifter. All of them supported the cover by the hinge.
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The new CM3's have towel hooks!
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... most other dealers were selling the tub with a "deluxe" cover lifter. All of them supported the cover by the hinge.
If everybody jumped off the bridge, would YOU jump off the bridge??
;)
I still don't like hanging the cover by the hinge. It's just ...
... wrong.
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Well I couldn't justify that Hot Spring dealer's rip off of $450, heck for less money I could buy a extreme cover from Doc and still have enough money for a year of chems! ;D
And then again if Watkins is doing it and sells another 600,00 tubs maybe the rest will follow.
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Chas,
The HS dealer here "sells" the HS cover lift for around $450 (price in the book) and I was able to buy the Covermate for about 1/2 that.
Hmm. I wouldn't have to charge sales tax on that, now would I? I'm not saying I would, but it is an interesting thought.....
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I can see it now - 2" square holes on the side of the cover, wisps of fabric being held by the lifter attachment mechanism and me saying "maybe this wasn't a smart move on my part".
Seriously though, I didn't examine the cover too closely, Watkins has to have some type of reinforced side to use those lifters. I couldn't see vinyl taking that type of stress.
But as I read in another post, if you really are that bored you can open up a cover, all you need is a single edge razor, a steady hand ...
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Seriously though, I didn't examine the cover too closely, Watkins has to have some type of reinforced side to use those lifters. I couldn't see vinyl taking that type of stress.
That's the whole point. There are four metal anchors designed into the cover, in addition to the metal reinforcements under the hinges.
Actually, it works quite well, and doesn't suspend the cover by the hinge.
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If everybody jumped off the bridge, would YOU jump off the bridge?? ;)
Did I miss something? Was there a bridge jumping party?
I still don't like hanging the cover by the hinge. It's just ...
... wrong.
2 words
Cover Saver.....
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2 words
Cover Saver.....
If everyone else got a cover saver, would you get a cover saver?
Actually, four out of five spa dealers recommend the Cover Saver for their patients who hang the cover by the hinge..
;)
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I got a cover lifter included in the package, and was afraid it was too much stress on the hinge, so I did get the cover saver. It is easy to see how it transfers the load. A simple device that seems to work well. :)
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All the new cover mates now have towel hooks built into them.
One of those very cool, simple ideas, that no one else though of.......... give it 6 months, EVERYONE will have them ;D
The Hot Springs lift is a pretty cool simple idea too. It's just some metal angle thats imbedded into the foam..... Held in place simple with TAPE. The lifter screws into it. The things WORK (we offer it on replacement covers)!
Hanging by the hinge........ When the cover is new and light it normally isn't a problem.... Though it depends a little on the design of the cover. As the cover ages, and starts taking on water it "may" damage the cover...... BUT, by that time it might be time for a new cover ANYWAY. As a cover starts taking on moisture, it loses insulation value. So by the time a cover lifter causes problems it may very well be time to replace the cover anyways.
By the way, we put 6" of nylon webbing at the edges of the covers hinge for added strenth..........
Any one else get the free bottle of wine that the Cover Mate people were giving away at tyhe Aqua show (I got a few bottles)? It ain't great, but I'm almost out :) ;) :D ;D >:( :( :o 8) ??? ::) :P :-[ :-X :-/ :-* :'(
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The Hot Springs lift is a pretty cool simple idea too. It's just some metal angle thats imbedded into the foam..... Held in place simple with TAPE. The lifter screws into it. The things WORK (we offer it on replacement covers)!
There is actually some double-back tape first, then the stickiest substance known to mankind: Duct tape. Or a heavy cloth tape very similar to duct tape anyway. I'm not sure if the Duct Tape is there to hold the plate in place or to keep the layers from chafing - most likely both.
Then the vapor barrier, then the vinyl. When you fasten the side arms in place, the stainless steel screws sandwich the vaious layers. The system works.
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Sorry I dont know what cover lifter is best....I will leave that to the experts on this site.....but I see you went with the Caldera Niagra !!!!
What was your final deciding factor ?
Fellow Caldera owner !!! Well almost...its not here yet :'(
The deciding factor for the Niagara was a combination of value for the money, comfort, and performance. We find the layout to be perfect, seats 4 very comfortably and up to 7. The champagne opal color threw me over the top! Hang in there, I know it's tough waiting for the spa - we should be bubbling in 2 days..... Which Caldera did you acquire?
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The deciding factor for the Niagara was a combination of value for the money, comfort, and performance. We find the layout to be perfect, seats 4 very comfortably and up to 7. The champagne opal color threw me over the top! Hang in there, I know it's tough waiting for the spa - we should be bubbling in 2 days..... Which Caldera did you acquire?
We went with the Geneva in the Pearl color - When wet testing....I really liked the lounger and my wife loved the Ecsta seat....so we went with the Geneva as opposed to the Niagra. - We should be in 'Utopia' within the next two weeks.