Unless wear of major components is an issue, age is usually not a factor for replacement. There are hundreds of lifts older than this still operating; Doppelmayr also fully supports these lifts so parts are readily available.
Only real problem this lift has is the major icing of the bottom tension carriage thanks to snowmelt off the roof, it’s an extremely solid & reliable machine, plus it’s only busy from 8:45 to 9:15 as it opens 15 mins before Ram, Swifty, & Explorer to get guests staying in that area to the main base lifts. I’d be surprised if more than 30 people a day ride it from that point onward, these parts as noted above are still supported and readily available, not to mention Doppelmayr lifts of this vintage are quite easy to find & source used/rebuildable parts for.
Lift is no longer supported by the manufacturer (or the manufacturer has gone out of business), leading to problems getting replacement parts or service and support.
Structural deterioration (corrosion inside tower tubes or terminal support members).
Lift is no longer ‘grandfathered’ under local authority having jurisdiction (which is, yes, age-related; but this scenario has happened to lifts only five to ten years old).
Lift has safety issues that can’t readily be corrected by a modification of the existing equipment (which has, again, happened to very young lifts).
Age on its own doesn’t really tell you whether the lift needs replacement. If it’s in good mechanical shape, doesn’t cause the maintenance or operations staff headaches, and does what it needs to do (namely, get people up the hill efficiently) then there’s no reason to replace it. To use our Mountain Chief (chair 6) for an example, it’s a 1977 fixed-grip double chair. It’s been moved once and had its gearbox and bullwheel replaced, but it’s fundamentally the same lift as when it was J-lift on the front side of our mountain. It may be forty-seven years old but it’s still perfectly serviceable, and as it does its job there’s no need to replace it.
it was made in 1982 at conquistador ski area. most lifts have some form of rust on them it can be a pain to remove sometimes (with exception of more recent lifts). but even at deer valley some of their high speed lifts have some rust nut its mainly surface
What is the opening date of White Otter 2 lift for 2022? We will need to take it to reach the base area from our house we are renting. Dec 13 will be our first ski day.
Lift Blog 
What hours do you run daily, On a pow day, how early do you have to be on this lift to get up fast.
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Where was this lift relocated from?
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Conquistador, Colorado.
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This lift should be replaced purely for age reasons.
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It’s not that old. But I do find it kind of funny that you think this lift is old! It looks well taken care of.
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Unless wear of major components is an issue, age is usually not a factor for replacement. There are hundreds of lifts older than this still operating; Doppelmayr also fully supports these lifts so parts are readily available.
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Only real problem this lift has is the major icing of the bottom tension carriage thanks to snowmelt off the roof, it’s an extremely solid & reliable machine, plus it’s only busy from 8:45 to 9:15 as it opens 15 mins before Ram, Swifty, & Explorer to get guests staying in that area to the main base lifts. I’d be surprised if more than 30 people a day ride it from that point onward, these parts as noted above are still supported and readily available, not to mention Doppelmayr lifts of this vintage are quite easy to find & source used/rebuildable parts for.
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After looking at the photo again I can see why. The roof profile practically dumps water on the carriage rails.
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Oh really? Then what is a factor for when a lift has to be replaced other than age?
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Oh really? Then what is a factor in Lift replacement other than age?
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Oh really? Then what is a factor in Lift replacement other than age?
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A need for more capacity.
Lift is no longer supported by the manufacturer (or the manufacturer has gone out of business), leading to problems getting replacement parts or service and support.
Structural deterioration (corrosion inside tower tubes or terminal support members).
Lift is no longer ‘grandfathered’ under local authority having jurisdiction (which is, yes, age-related; but this scenario has happened to lifts only five to ten years old).
Lift has safety issues that can’t readily be corrected by a modification of the existing equipment (which has, again, happened to very young lifts).
Age on its own doesn’t really tell you whether the lift needs replacement. If it’s in good mechanical shape, doesn’t cause the maintenance or operations staff headaches, and does what it needs to do (namely, get people up the hill efficiently) then there’s no reason to replace it. To use our Mountain Chief (chair 6) for an example, it’s a 1977 fixed-grip double chair. It’s been moved once and had its gearbox and bullwheel replaced, but it’s fundamentally the same lift as when it was J-lift on the front side of our mountain. It may be forty-seven years old but it’s still perfectly serviceable, and as it does its job there’s no need to replace it.
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Never mind. It just looks kind of rusty. When was this lift originally built?
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it was made in 1982 at conquistador ski area. most lifts have some form of rust on them it can be a pain to remove sometimes (with exception of more recent lifts). but even at deer valley some of their high speed lifts have some rust nut its mainly surface
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What is the opening date of White Otter 2 lift for 2022? We will need to take it to reach the base area from our house we are renting. Dec 13 will be our first ski day.
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In my opinion it is hugely wasteful to build lifts like Jayhawk as triples. The Cascade triple feeds the White Otter double!
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They relocated the lift, it’s even more wasteful to fabricate new carriers.
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