Mounting a 4 post lift

[87bob]

In my barn I have a 4 post lift. It has not been mounted to the floor. The foot plates have some rather large holes in them for mounting. Off the top of my head I’d say they are 3/4 of an inch in dia.. My floor was design to be a minimum of 4 inches thick. As of now I have not been able to find a concrete anchor that goes that big for that floor thickness. l suppose I could use a smaller diameter anchor and use a fender style washer. Anyone have any other ideas? Thanks in advance for other ideas.

 

[drmarkr]

Why are you going to mount it? Do you not have a set of casters for it? One of the advantages to a 4 post lift is it can be moved.

 

[Favguy]

To bolt down or not entirely depends on the type and design of the lift. A lot of professional grade, 4 post lifts absolutely have to be aligned and bolted down properly.

The lower cost Chinese lifts tend to be designed to be mobile, but even then, if your floor isn't level and even under the post plates you need to be careful when not bolting down.

The larger holes are normal and to allow tolerance to accurately set up and align the posts when setting up the lift after drilling the concrete. Just use heavy plate washers with the mountings. Here in the UK, you'd be looking at anchors with a 10mm or 12mm Metric bolt size, I suppose yours would be 3/8" to 1/2"

 

[logical]

In my barn I have a 4 post lift. It has not been mounted to the floor. The foot plates have some rather large holes in them for mounting. Off the top of my head I’d say they are 3/4 of an inch in dia.. My floor was design to be a minimum of 4 inches thick. As of now I have not been able to find a concrete anchor that goes that big for that floor thickness. l suppose I could use a smaller diameter anchor and use a fender style washer. Anyone have any other ideas? Thanks in advance for other ideas.

Search ebay for 3/4 Hilti anchors. If you have 3/4 + holes you locate the lift and drill thru the plate for 3/4 anchors. If you just want 2 per corner I have 8 for sale in the classifieds.

Sent from my garage.

 

[Dakota00]

I used Simpson Titen HD 3/4" Screw Anchors to mount my lift.

View media item 44179

 

[marsh1]

Can't help with the anchors but do you need to bolt it down? One of my 4 posts has the holes but never needed to bolt it down. Check with your mfg. It is usually not required. My newer made in USA lift does not even have the holes. Both are on free flow tiles, sloped floor and don't move.

 

[87bob]

Why are you going to mount it? Do you not have a set of casters for it? One of the advantages to a 4 post lift is it can be moved.

I have moved once only since I have had it. That was over ten years ago.

 

[87bob]

I used Simpson Titen HD 3/4" Screw Anchors to mount my lift.

View media item 44179

I like the looks of those anchors!

 

[87bob]

Can't help with the anchors but do you need to bolt it down? One of my 4 posts has the holes but never needed to bolt it down. Check with your mfg. It is usually not required. My newer made in USA lift does not even have the holes. Both are on free flow tiles, sloped floor and don't move.

I don't need to bolt it down I would just feel better if it were

 

[wssix99]

You may have to special order them from your local store, or you can get them online in many different materials:

https://www.menards.com/main/hardwa...ion-anchor-10-count/07851/p-1444439686979.htm

 

[slackjaw]

I don't need to bolt it down I would just feel better if it were

I have a BendPak HD-9, and a 4" cement floor. I used the shortest Hilti 3/4 anchors which needed to be ~3-1/2 deep, which was enough.

The anchors were marked as optional in the instruction manual, but as with you, I felt better about knowing it was bolted down.

 

[glentre]

I have two four post lifts, neither of which are bolted down. I use them for lifting light cars like our Model A Ford to our heavy Yukon SUV with no problems. With the wheels, I have moved them several times for painting the floor to just relocating them for better use. My friend did not bolt his four posters either but ran a brace from the top of the posts to the walls because he also felt uncomfortable with not bolting to the floor. He can still detach the braces to move the lifts if he wants. Best of both worlds.

Glen

 

[LX-Markham]

I would rather bolt the base plates than brace the top of the posts.

 

[T VETTE]

I had a 4 post lift from Direct and never bolted it down. I had my 56' Chevy on it and wondered how stable it was so I started shaking it a bit. No problem and all was good.

Just moved and the buyer of the house was glad to see no holes!! One of the first questions when he went into the shop. If you don't live in earthquake county then why bother, I even live about 75 miles from the San Andreas fault and had a couple small wiggles.

 

[wssix99]

If you don't live in earthquake county then why bother

The first time a post lock fails or sticks, (the lift twits and bends like a balook animal...) the answer to this question becomes totally obvious.

 

[boatshoes]

I used these, DeWalt Screwbolt +. It made a huge difference in the stability of the lift and my confidence in using it. Rock-solid now and worth every penny, greatly preferable to wedge or epoxy anchors because no studs sticking out if I need to remove them.

 

[BrokeEF]

I don't currently have my 4 post mounted at all, but I did get some drop in anchors for it. I wanted to wait until my garage door got done (high lift) to see if I needed to move the lift at all. Now that its done, I need to grab an SDS from work so I can put in the anchors. I figured that they are better than having nothing, and I can still move it if I need to.

Only real downside is having some holes in the floor. I don't see moving it often though so I can deal with that. It should be a lot more stable feeling with the columns bolted down.


Sean

 

[wssix99]

The screw bolts don't have as much resistance to pull-out forces as a traditional wedge anchor, but they should be close and on a 4 post lift - it shouldn't matter. (For a 2 post lift, this would not work well.)

 

[59 wagon man]

drill the holes completely through the slab in case you want to move the lift you just drive the anchors down through the floor

 

[Specracer]

We have 6 four posts, none are anchored. One building where 3 are have radiant floor heat, complicating things (because of this is why have not upgraded to the Bendpak triples, as I was told by them they must be anchored)

 

[animex]

I used Simpson Titen HD 3/4" Screw Anchors to mount my lift.

View media item 44179

Are these screw anchors removable? I like the idea of having 2 anchor bolts like this in each post and if I ever want to move the hoist, I can just undo them.

 

[mike93lx]

Are these screw anchors removable? I like the idea of having 2 anchor bolts like this in each post and if I ever want to move the hoist, I can just undo them.

Sure, you can pull them but you won't be able to reinstall reliably.

If you need to make them removable and reinstallable, you should install threaded anchors and use bolts

 

[animex]

Sure, you can pull them but you won't be able to reinstall reliably.

If you need to make them removable and reinstallable, you should install threaded anchors and use bolts

That's the plan, flush anchor to the floor and use bolts. I found this, not sure if good enough.

 

[mike93lx]

That's the plan, flush anchor to the floor and use bolts. I found this, not sure if good enough.

Plenty

Personally, I'd do something with epoxy, but those will work

 

[racecougar]

I used two of these in each post. The lift can still be easily unbolted from the floor, moved around, and bolted back down in the same location later if needed. Two anchors per post made a significant difference in the "wiggleability" of the lift when really wrenching on a vehicle in the air.

Red Head 1/2 in. x 2 in. Zinc-Plated Steel Concrete Drop-In Anchor (1-Pack) 50126 - The Home Depot

Get the Red Head 1/2 in. x 5/8 in. Steel Concrete Drop-In Anchor 50126, metal anchor is crafted with steel for strength and can be installed below concrete surfaces at The Home Depot

www.homedepot.com

 

[finn]

drill the holes completely through the slab in case you want to move the lift you just drive the anchors down through the floor

Bendpak’s two post installation manual tells you to NOT drill all the way through the concrete. I don’t recall this warning when I installed mine maybe five years ago.

Neither my Advantage 8000 nor the 11000 lb lift is fastened down. Both are stable. I don’t frequently move them, but have done it on occasion, plus, I don’t want to deal with the tubes in the heated floor.

 

[c39er]

***Earthquakes around here....don't want the lift walking.
***Also have a mirror smooth slab...my 20' long HD14 has skidded a couple inches driving a 1 ton up on the ramps. Not good.
***As mentioned.... if a safety latch were to fail....have seen pictures of that ugliness.
I want the posts bolted to the slab just like the pro shops.
Makes me feel good.

 

[lynnbilodeau]

I have had two four post lifts in my garage to over 8 years now. I have never moved either of them. I COULD bolt them down; just don't see any need to do so.

 

[SILVERPLATE]

Ten years, no bolts, no issues.

 

[Eric S.]

McMaster-CARR has 5/8 Female concrete anchors. Not going anywhere 1,860lbs pull out strength (4000psi concrete) per.

Minimum install Depth 2 1/2"

 

[Restomod68]

Have an Advantage 4 post shipping this week and will not be bolted down, my 2 post Mohawk of course was bolted down.

 

[86turbodsl]

100% depends on the design of the lift. I have 2 4 post lifts that MUST be bolted down if i want them to not fall over.

 

[mike93lx]

100% depends on the design of the lift. I have 2 4 post lifts that MUST be bolted down if i want them to not fall over.

That's really interesting. What are those lifts?

 

[86turbodsl]

They are the type with the huge cylinder that runs along one side. They have to be bolted down because the cross beams have no direct connection to the uprights. They use chains over rollers from one post to the opposite post. It's a hinge point.