Car Rotisserie

Height set on hydraulic jacks: Tuxedo CR-3000, Auto Twirler Pro, Auto Twirler Elite

These three set working height with hydraulic jacks in the end stands. The Auto Twirler Pro and Elite each carry two 3-ton long-ram hydraulic jacks with a 20 in. stroke, and both list an optional upgrade to 5-ton jacks. The Tuxedo CR-3000 carries two jacks rated at 6,000 lb each. You set working height at any point in the jack's travel, rather than from fixed detents. The CR-3000 is the one machine here that publishes both: 12 locking positions on the rotation and two jacks for height.

The Pro adds a sealed ball-bearing pivot with a full 360-degree locking device and two bi-directional balancer kits with acme threaded rod. Its four 16 in. mounting arms have a full-clamp design that closes completely around the tubing they attach to, which the listing says removes the gap that tubing-size variation otherwise leaves. The Elite is the older height-adjustable model in the same family: its balancer is a 3/4 in. Acme rod acting as a screw jack, its base is fully welded, and Auto Twirler specifies A325 structural-grade bolts to keep fasteners from stripping. Auto Twirler states the Elite has served the US Army in Humvee remanufacturing and shops including West Coast Customs, Chip Foose and Ring Brothers.

Height adjusted without a jack set: the Merrick Auto Dolly E-Z Spin models

The Merrick Originals E-Z Spin turns on a spring-loaded locking pin, and the M998080 listing puts 12 multi-angle positioning stops at 30-degree intervals on it. That indexed approach is what Merrick credits for letting one person turn a balanced, secured vehicle without a second set of hands. Both E-Z Spin models roll on 6 in. phenolic heavy-duty swivel casters.

The M998080 is the fully specified listing of the two: 3,000 lb capacity, 600 lb unit weight, 44 in. to 59 in. adjustable work height, 10 in. to 30 in. adjustable center line, powder-coat finish, and no jack set. The m998128 is listed with the jack set, credited on its page with safe and accurate lifting and lowering of the vehicle, but publishes only rotation, casters and that jack set. Ask us for the m998128 spec sheet rather than assuming it carries the M998080 numbers.

Capacity: what the 3,000 lb rating covers

Four of the five rotisseries publish the same figure: up to 3,000 lb. That applies to the Tuxedo CR-3000, the Auto Twirler Pro, the Auto Twirler Elite and the Merrick M998080. Auto Twirler states the Pro rating covers full vehicle frames and unibodies; Merrick states the M998080 capacity is good enough to accommodate a wide range of vehicles. None of these listings publishes how much of the vehicle has to come out before mounting, so weigh your shell as it will actually sit on the arms and call us if you are near the limit.

Two figures here are not vehicle capacities. The CR-3000's two jacks are rated 6,000 lb each; that is jack capacity, and the cart is still a 3,000 lb machine. The I-TBD Truck Bed Dolly carries up to 600 lb, because it holds a bed, a hood or panels, not a shell.

Working height, mounting height and how low the arms go

Mounting height is how high the arms sit before you lift anything, and it decides whether a body cart will slide under the shell. The Auto Twirler Pro lists a 21 in. mounting height, dropping to 14 in. with the casters removed. The Elite lists a 20 in. minimum, also 14 in. without casters, and its jacks will pick a body or frame up from 20 in. off the ground.

The Tuxedo CR-3000 gives a lifting height of 17-3/4 in. to 45-1/4 in., measured from the mounting arms to the floor. The M998080 gives an adjustable work height of 44 in. to 59 in. If you weld and grind standing up, the top of the range matters; if you need the shell low for a transfer, the bottom matters more.

Length, floor space and storage footprint

Length, not weight, usually disqualifies a bay. The Tuxedo CR-3000 extends to an overall length of up to 258-1/4 in., which is the 21 ft. 6 in. of telescoping-bar adjustment its listing quotes, with an overall width of 58-7/8 in. and height of 77-1/8 in. Both Auto Twirlers have a 3-piece telescoping center bar allowing up to 19 ft. of extension. Plan for the extended length, room to walk both ends, and swing clearance as the shell rotates.

Both Auto Twirler spec tables carry two different sizes and neither is labeled as a crate. The Dimensions row reads 63 in. x 58 in. on both; the Storage row reads 72 in. x 32 in. x 58 in. on the Pro and 72 in. x 30 in. x 58 in. on the Elite. Our catalog record carries a third set again on each. Use the Storage row to plan floor space and ask us for the crate dimensions in writing before you measure a doorway.

The M998080 has its own conflict: the features list gives 61 in. wide, 62 in. high and 35 in. long per base stand assembly, while our catalog record for the same SKU carries 48 in. x 48 in. x 69 in. and a 640 lb weight against the 600 lb unit weight in the spec list. Trust the spec list for the machine, and confirm crate size with us before committing to a doorway.

Rolling gear and shop requirements

Both Auto Twirlers ride on six 5 in. poly-on-cast-iron casters rated at 880 lb each, including 4 caster locks, with an optional 8 in. upgrade. The CR-3000 rides on six phenolic resin casters, the two Merrick models on 6 in. phenolic swivel casters. On a rough slab, that 8 in. option is worth asking about: a rotisserie that will not roll straight under load becomes a two-person job.

No listing in this category publishes an electrical, compressed-air, slab or anchoring requirement. On the CR-3000, the Pro and the Elite, working height is set with long-ram hydraulic jacks rather than a powered lift, and the M998080 adjusts work height without a jack set at all. Because nothing about floor thickness, anchoring or clearance envelopes is published on these pages, request the model manual before you commit, especially if an inspector needs it in writing.

Certifications, finish and freight

None of the 7 listings declares an ALI, ETL, ASME or OSHA certification. ALI certification applies to vehicle lifts, and these are body-rotation stands, so its absence is expected rather than a red flag; the ratings above are manufacturer ratings. If a certification is a condition of purchase, ask us in writing before ordering.

Finish is not uniform. The M998080, the CR-3000 and the I-TBD all have a powder-coat finish. Both Auto Twirlers ship bare steel, with powder coating available in red or blue at additional cost, and the Corvette sub-frame ships bare only. Note that the Pro page contradicts itself: its feature list mentions a corrosion-resistant powder coat, while the note at the top of the same page states the Pro ships bare steel and that powder coating is a paid option. The note is the one to go by; confirm the finish with us in writing when you order. Both Auto Twirler rotisseries are manufactured in Utah, USA.

On freight, the CR-3000 listing publishes $335 per unit to any address in the contiguous 48 states. Alaska, Hawaii and remote or limited-access locations are excluded and may incur an additional charge, and for orders of more than 2 units Tuxedo asks that you contact us for a freight quote. That page also notes Tuxedo collects sales tax on orders shipped to California. The one item here flagged for free shipping is the I-TBD.

Model comparison

Auto body rotisserie accessories: Corvette bodies, truck beds, panels

Auto Twirler built the AT-CV-SUB-KIT so a fiberglass Corvette body can go on a rotisserie, in its words, without fear of cracking or misalignment. The kit is 6 side members of approximately 5-1/2 ft. each bolting together with 3/4 in. bolts, plus 2 cross members, 8 mounting posts, and body mounts arranged as 4 for the bird cage, 2 for the radiator core support and 2 at the rear. Auto Twirler states it fits all years of Corvettes. Two limits are printed on that listing: the rotisserie is not included, and the AT-CV-WHEEL-ASSY wheel kit is a separate accessory.

The I-TBD Truck Bed Dolly covers the work a rotisserie does not: Innovative Tools positions it for the collision services and auto body professional, and recommends one Truck Bed Dolly for every 2 active jobs in most collision services shops. It offers 4-way adjustment to fit any size truck bed, holds panels and hoods, carries up to 600 lb, and rides on solid rubber 8 in. total-lock casters that hold with zero movement when locked. It measures 38 in. L x 44 in. W x 15 in. H collapsed, and 38 to 59 in. L x 44 in. W x 26 to 33 in. H opened, folding free-standing.

Frequently asked questions

Which car rotisserie should I choose for one frame-off at a time?

Both mechanisms exist here and one model has both. For indexed rotation stops, the M998080 and m998128 use a spring-loaded locking pin (the M998080 publishes 12 stops at 30-degree intervals) and the CR-3000 publishes 12 locking positions. For continuous height control, the CR-3000, the Pro and the Elite lift on hydraulic jacks; the M998080 ships without a jack set and adjusts between 44 in. and 59 in. of work height. The CR-3000 is the only one here that publishes both indexed stops and jacks. Between the Auto Twirlers, the Pro adds the sealed ball-bearing pivot, the full-clamp mounting arms and two balancer kits.

Can one person rotate the vehicle safely?

That is the design intent on the Merrick E-Z Spin, whose spring-loaded locking pin system is described as letting a single person safely rotate a well-balanced and secured vehicle. Note the condition: well balanced. That is why the Elite carries a 3/4 in. Acme rod acting as a screw jack and the Pro ships two bi-directional balancer kits. Balance the shell before you rotate it, on any model.

How much bay length do I actually need?

Work from the extended figures, not the storage ones. The CR-3000 extends to up to 258-1/4 in. overall, which is the 21 ft. 6 in. its telescoping bar quotes; both Auto Twirlers telescope up to 19 ft. Add walking room at both ends and swing clearance for the body.

Do these need power, air or a special floor?

No listing in this category publishes an electrical, compressed-air, slab or anchoring requirement, and none publishes a clearance envelope. Working height on the CR-3000, the Pro and the Elite comes from long-ram hydraulic jacks rather than a powered lift. Since none of that is written on these pages, request the model manual before you commit, especially if an inspector needs it in writing.

Are these rated for a full car with the drivetrain installed?

The published ratings are up to 3,000 lb on the CR-3000, the Auto Twirler Pro and Elite, and the M998080. Auto Twirler states the Pro rating covers full vehicle frames and unibodies. No listing states a condition about the drivetrain, so tell us the vehicle and what stays in it and we will confirm against the manufacturer before you order.

What is included, and what ships separately?

Jacks are included on the m998128 and both Auto Twirlers, and expressly not included on the M998080. Both Auto Twirlers and the Corvette sub-frame ship bare steel, with powder coat in red or blue at extra cost on the Pro and Elite. The sub-frame includes neither a rotisserie nor the wheel kit, and both Auto Twirlers list optional 8 in. casters and 5-ton jacks. Call or message us with your vehicle, bay length and target working height, and we will confirm the configuration and freight before you order.