Cover Valet NP509 Spa Cover Lift and Caddy,Black

This thing is amazing, and I say that without hyperbole. Easy enough to install, I used a breaker bar and a paver stone to leverage the tub up, doesn't need much space. The first time you try it, it feels like "no way, it can't be that easy" but it truly is that easy.One piece of advice, before you install take it somewhere you don't care about the ground and give a good helping of WD-40. It worked great for the first couple weeks until the metal on metal of rotating the "hooks" got sticky. Some WD-40 and now it glides like butter.Bottom line, this requires no mounting, no holes, is held in place by weight of the hot tub, and makes removing and replacing the cover a breeze. Absolutely one of the best hot tub accessories I've ever purchased, hands down.

I like that this is installed without having to screw on directly to the hot tub though I did have to make modifications since I didn't want to empty my tub. Also the opening ws was too narrow for my extra thick tapered cover so I needed to bend the top bars to create a wider opening. I tend to leave the arms in place ready to receive the cover. Rather than opening from the side, I have it set up so i can step on to the spa steps, open the cover away from me halfway, enter the hot tub, push the cover back and pivot it down. Closing is similar though I do get out before closing the cover all the way. The pivoting is effortless with the hydrolic arm. In my case the cover lifter is mostly unseen whereas many other cover lifters have parts exposed and imo can detract from the appearance of the hot tub to some degree. I feel i could have paid less from other sellers but was in a rush.

I like this lifter and give it 4 out of 5 stars.Here are the pros:- Slides under hot tub, does not need to be screwed in.- Supports cover from the base (Other lifters support from the seam of the cover, which can tear over time)- Reasonably easy to install, though we had to empty the tub before we could slide this under (no fault of the cover lifter)- One person operation.- Adjustable 'depth' gives some control over how much of the cover sticks up when the cover is open.Here are some cons:- The biggest con for me is that 3rd picture down in the item description - When the cover is being held by the cady, it tends to lean away from the tub which puts a lot of pressure right at the two tips of the metal supports.- The second, but minor con, is that the thing is only maybe 2 feet wide. So you load a 6 foot wide cover on it and it feels like it would be very easy for the cover to 'roll out' of it if you're not careful. It hasn't happened yet, but we've also been careful with it.- the combination of the above two points gives you a feeling of doubt, as if it's just a little under engineered, just a little too small, too frail.- The last minor con is how it opens along with the cover. You first flip the stand up from it's storage position, you then flip your cover open, then you have to slide the cover into the stand, then you have to push the cover up so the back part of the stand falls down under the weight of it. One positive note is that there is a spring/lifter that holds the thing in the up position. during the initial load.Overall I'm torn on this, it's a neat idea, and it's worked, but not quite as well as I had hoped.Draining the hot tub to install was a pain, and we still needed 3 people to lift the tub while a 4th slid this under.Usage of it is easy, but i think the kind where the bar sits across the top would be easier.Also, it's worth saying that the kind that have the bar across the top when closed help prevent the cover from flying off during high winds.So to summarize, It's ok, it does the job.

Did a ton of research on all the options and wasn't too thrilled about having to drill into or otherwise modify my new 5-person Caldera spa, so I took a chance on the Cover Valet. Besides not wanting to struggle taking off and putting on the cover, we wanted to keep it off the ground because everything from leaves to bugs would get on it, then transfer to the spa water! Bottom line, the CV works exactly as advertised - easy on, easy off! My wife and kids can now enjoy the spa without any help. And the price was right too! Couple of tips: I couldn't install it the recommended way - along the long side of the cover as shown - because our spa is butted against our deck. I had to place it so the cover stands upright when it's slid off, but it works just fine this way. Secondly, the instructions tell you to completely empty the water so the spa is light enough to slide the CV under it. I really didn't want to do that, so I carefully hammered two screwdrivers under the base just enough to get about an eighth of an inch clearance to be able to slide the CV under. I did have to carefully tap the bottom of the CV to get it completely under the base, but once it started, it was easy. I did use a block of wood to protect the CV from the hammer. Sounds destructive, but again, if you're careful, it's a piece of cake - took less than 10 minutes! If you're trying to decide if you should invest in a cover lift, you should absolutely do it - your spa experience will be totally enhanced. And you cannot go wrong with the Cover Valet.

I installed the product by cutting a slot in the bottom of the hot tub frame and sliding the spa lift into the slot.I then split a 2x4 and added it vertically to the side of the tub for more support for the lift bracket. The bracket fits tight to the frame and my cover slides easily into the U brackets and with light pressure folds down and away from the tub. Lifting the cover is again light upward pressure on the bracket then simply slide the cover back over the spa.Would certainly recommend the product.