TOOL REVI EW
Tri Springs
Tool Door Guards
These door guards harness the power
of industrial-strength magnets to help protect
vehicle doors from unwanted dents and dings.
by Sara Scullin, Managing Editor
PRODUCT
DESCRIPTION:
The Tri Springs Tool Automotive Door Guards are
designed to be placed on square-post hoists to prevent
chips to paint and door dents. The use of industrialstrength
magnets offer ease of installation and mobility.
The NAN-67 weighs 0.5 lbs, is flexible, 18.5” long with
a 5/8” rise, fits 0 to beyond 90 degrees, and is compatible
with most hoists. These door guards are available
in black. The NAN-47 consists of metal with the protection
tube, weighs 1.75 lbs., is 18.5” long with a 1-3/4”
rise. This guard is designed for use on Rotary Lift lifts.
The Automotive Door Guards are made in the U.S.A.
Additional lengths and colors are available with special
orders and pricing.
Circle 205 on card, or enter at “e-inquiry”
on VehicleServicePros.com
Nothing devalues a shop’s work
and reputation faster than a
vehicle that suffers damage
while being serviced. That’s why it’s
important for shop owners to enlist the
help of products aimed at preventing
chips and dents — such as automotive
door guards — so the real work can
shine through.
Lou Fort, the Lead Tech at K.A.R.S.
Inc. in Huntington, Ind., reports they
have a set of Tri Spring door guards,
models NAN-67 and NAN-47, installed
on their 10-ton and 6-ton two-post lifts in
the shop. Upon reviewing the guards, he
was first pleased to note their fairly painless
setup. “Once they are installed, you
don’t need or have to do anything else,”
says Fort, though he adds setup time will
vary depending on which model of the
door guard shops use, and how they will
be attached to the lift.
“The 67s would work on either the
10-ton or 6-ton Rotary two-post lift,
whereas the 47s only fit our 10-ton,” says
Fort. The technicians at K.A.R.S. had
never used aftermarket door guards on
their lifts in the past, as they’d always
relied on what came with the lift. Because
the Tri Springs door guards are magnetic,
and because they are designed
in a way that allows them to be permanently
attached, Fort maintains this
puts them “a step above what the hoist
builders provided.”
“What I found most to my liking was
how the guards could be placed on the lift
arm posts so they raise and lower with
the vehicle, unlike what the OE guards
do,” says Fort. “The magnetic strips on
the NAN-67 are strong enough to keep
them in place without having
to screw them down.”
He adds, the NAN-67 is
also flexible, as it allows
for a wider range of applications
than the NAN-47.
“The NAN-47 also stays in
place without being screwed
down, but it is easy to knock off
when not screwed down. The NAN-
47 guards can have the rubber bumpers
replaced should they become damaged.”
Based on his experience, Fort wonders
whether a modified bumper shape might
improve the product’s protection in future
iterations. “I am thinking of a bumper
more in the shape of a mushroom head
or modified triangle,” he says. Fort added,
he also wouldn’t mind seeing “touched up
paperwork” with more extensive product
information. (The door guards currently
come with a few sheets on product placement
and a page that details screw placement
recommendations).
Overall, Fort was very satisfied with
the quality and performance of the NAN-
47 and NAN-67 door guards.
“Both of the Tri Springs Tool, LLC
door guards are quality built and provide
an added level of protection to vehicles
being serviced when attached and used
as intended,” says Fort.
80 PTEN OCTOBER 2017 www.VehicleServicePros.com
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