Two post lift: wide or narrow configuration?

[ericm]

I'm planning on a 10k two post overhead lift for my new shop. It will be used to lift vehicles from Miata-sized to water cooled VWs to 3/4 ton diesel truck. The lifts I'm considering (Forward I10, Weaver's version of the I10, Challenger CL10A) can be installed in normal or wide, or narrow, normal and wide configurations. Which would be best for my use? I have 14' wide bays so it's not like I'm trying to fit it in a narrow bay. Wide would be convenient for getting in and out of trucks but I worry that the arms won't reach all the way to the lift points.

 

[ToolsRCool]

One vote for wide here. Fits trailers. Sure, when extending the arms in for narrower vehicles it reduces their lift capacity rating, but things that narrow are going to be lighter anyway.

We have a standard width at work, and there have been zillions of times we now wish it was wider, mostly for trailers and pass-through of larger commercial vehicles.

Correct on your door clearance as well.

 

[gizardlizard]

Absolutely go wide.

 

[jetlag]

It's counter-intuitive, but sometimes a wider lift makes it easier to lift small cars. I have my posts set at 120" (inside to inside), and when I lift my neighbor's Mini, I have to move the car forward to rotate in the front arms to a 90* position, then backwards until the front wheels contact the forward arms, swing in the rear arms, then center the car and set the arms at the lifting position. I don't have cables that connect the two sides, just hydraulic lines, so I could have set the posts pretty much (within reason) where I wanted them. Sometimes I wish I'd have set them 4 or 6 inches wider.

If you have an asymmetrical lift, or 3 stage arms, it's not a problem.

 

[22george]

Absolutely wide - and taller if you can. Much easier to get into and out of vehicle on wider lift.

 

[ericm]

One vote for wide here. Fits trailers. Sure, when extending the arms in for narrower vehicles it reduces their lift capacity rating,

It does? I mean that totally makes sense but I thought that since the listed capacity does not mention arm extension, it's that capacity at full extension. I may be assuming too much.

but things that narrow are going to be lighter anyway.

We have a standard width at work, and there have been zillions of times we now wish it was wider, mostly for trailers and pass-through of larger commercial vehicles.

No pass through in my shop unfortunately (darn terrain!) and probably no commercial vehicles. I think a 3/4 ton truck is going to be the biggest thing I'll lift.

Correct on your door clearance as well.

12' doors, I hope that's enough clearance. I wanted to be able to get 8' wide farm implements in and out.

Just to make sure, I'm going to call some lift manufacturers.

 

[C.L S2000]

I would say to go Wide as well. I have mine set up 120" inside to inside measurement as well but the biggest thing i need to lift is my gf's 2011 prerunner Tacoma which makes getting in and out a bit tight and arm extension just barely enough since the Taco is a double cab, extended bed.

 

[ericm]

I would say to go Wide as well. I have mine set up 120" inside to inside measurement as well but the biggest thing i need to lift is my gf's 2011 prerunner Tacoma which makes getting in and out a bit tight and arm extension just barely enough since the Taco is a double cab, extended bed.

Arm extension is barely enough is what I'm worried about for making it wide. Supposedly a lot of 3/4 tons need the arms extended pretty far to reach the lift points.

 

[C.L S2000]

Arm extension is barely enough is what I'm worried about for making it wide. Supposedly a lot of 3/4 tons need the arms extended pretty far to reach the lift points.

Yea, i hear ya. I did a lot of measuring of all my vehicles that i will be working on before mounting my lift. If you know the make/model 3/4 ton trucks you think you will be working on, and arm extension is your main concern then get the trucks widths and frame lift point measurements. That way you can mount your lift in a "piece of mind" location for arm extension. Just know it will more than likely make getting in and out of the wider trucks a PITA squeeze. And like others said before, any smaller vehicles wont really matter since they will more than likely be shorter and less weight.

 

[CraigStu]

Measuring will get you definite results but I'd look at wide w/ 3 stage arms as the most likely to do it all.

 

[PowerWagonBuilder]

I have a 10k bendpak Asymmetrical set in the wide position. It picks up my 3500 Mega cab just fine and theres a bit of room for misalignment. However, my old Dodge with the narrower frame rails has to be EXACTLY in the right spot, otherwise, no go. I had tape on the floor for where each vehicle needed to park to make it easier but it got worn off and needs to be put back down. The Mega weighs between 8k and 8500, and the old Dodge is 7200 lbs. Ideally I need some arm extensions for the old truck.

 

[gizardlizard]

I swear the three stage rear arms will solve 95% of the issue. Too bad they aren’t standard on lifts. I’m sure they probably are on most higher end models. My Rotary only has three stage fronts and the two stage rears ****.

 

[firebirdparts]

I would agree. Wide with regular symmetric arms might be a problem with the Miata, but hopefully assymetric it's not a problem. I certainly wanted mine wide. I've had a Lotus Elise on it, so I guess it's a success.

 

[ericm]

I swear the three stage rear arms will solve 95% of the issue. Too bad they aren’t standard on lifts. I’m sure they probably are on most higher end models. My Rotary only has three stage fronts and the two stage rears ****.

So far the only lift with three stage rear arms I have found is the Challenger, and it costs about $1.5k more than the Forward. Which is doable, I just want to be sure it's worth it.

The arm reach specs aren't all that different. I don't know if the longer front arms (by a couple inches) on the Forward makes up for the shorter rear arms... I guess it depends on the vehicle CG and exact lift points.

Forward I10:
F 23-44.5"
R 36-58"

Challenger CL10A:
F 20-42"
R 37 5/8-60"

 

[Tizzy]

I have a 10k bendpak Asymmetrical set in the wide position. It picks up my 3500 Mega cab just fine and theres a bit of room for misalignment. However, my old Dodge with the narrower frame rails has to be EXACTLY in the right spot, otherwise, no go. I had tape on the floor for where each vehicle needed to park to make it easier but it got worn off and needs to be put back down. The Mega weighs between 8k and 8500, and the old Dodge is 7200 lbs. Ideally I need some arm extensions for the old truck.

With your Megacab on that lift, how much height is there from floor to the bottom of the frame?

 

[u2slow]

I set mine to allow for my 8' wide roller gantry crane to pass through. That's also appropriate for an 8' deck-over trailer... but as I found out, not for a lowboy carhauler (wheels/fenders stick out).

 

[csp]

Arm extension is barely enough is what I'm worried about for making it wide. Supposedly a lot of 3/4 tons need the arms extended pretty far to reach the lift points.

The arms reaching the lift points have nothing to do with a truck being 3/4 ton. It has to do with the particular year/make of the truck. Most 1/2, 3/4 and 1 ton trucks (except cab & chassis versions) of a given year/make have the same frame rail spacing.

 

[PowerWagonBuilder]

With your Megacab on that lift, how much height is there from floor to the bottom of the frame?

72".

 

[CraigStu]

On an asymmetric lift the front arms typically end up sitting closer to 90deg to the centerline of the car. The rears are closer to 45deg or less. So, to get a lot of width adjustment at the front arms, you telescope the pieces. 3 pieces gives more telescope range. The rear arms generally get swung in and out for width adjustment. All this is why having 3 stage front arms combined w/ 2 stage rear arms works out.

 

[Lardog888]

I recently installed a Challenger CL12A-2 (the "-2" is adjustable to be wider and taller) and had it setup at maximum width and height. I love it. The width makes it easy to exit even my 2500 mega cab, which is the largest vehicle I intend to lift. The height does not affect the travel, but I had no reason not to set it at the max. Lifting a tall roof Sprinter should be no problem.

I considered the CL10A, but wanted a little "headroom" for lifting the 3/4 ton diesels we own (~8500lbs). Also, the lift company/installer reinforced that the CL12A is the most versatile lift available for passenger cars/trucks. I've attached the CL12A arm sweep pattern. I can't imagine what you wouldn't be able to lift; Miata to 3/4 ton truck, to...