Would I regret a 4 post lift?

[kmacht]

My wife has agreed that it’s time to buy a lift for working on our cars. I’m getting too old to be laying flat on a creeper with the car barely in the air on some jackstands trying to lift things into place or awkwardly reach for them with no room to move.

I would love a two post lift but I’m not sure it will work in my garage. I have cars ranging in size from a mini cooper to a Yukon xl. My garage is a standard 30x32 with 11’ ceilings but has a beam right down the center of it supporting a room overhead. The beam sticks down a good 2’ giving me between 8.5 and 9’ of clearance at the lowest point. The problem I have with a two post is that if I put it where I can lift the mini cooper to full height the Yukon will be bumping the roof on the beam and not be able to be lifted very high at all. It needs to be shifted back for the Yukon but shifted forward for the mini Cooper to get the highest rise possible

I’m not looking to stand up under the lift and would be fine with a rolling chair or sitting creeper. My original plan was a max jack mid rise lift as I can put multiple anchors in the pad to move it wherever I need. That was great until I looked at their latest pricing and it’s almost double what I can buy a 4 post with hard jack trays for and almost triple what I can buy a used one for. A 4 post would allow me to position it where needed for the Yukon and just roll the mini forward or back to work as well.

Am I going to regret buying a 4 post lift? Most of my work is simple brake/oil changes/suspension but every once in a while I do need to pull a transmission or do some heavier engine type work. Other than still needing to use jacks to pull tires on a 4 post lift, what else would I be missing out on that a 2 post would be better suited for?

 

[Mikes61]

I have a 4 post lift that is just used for storage of two low profile cars, because I also have a low ceiling height. The 4 post lifts are really great if you have a high ceiling. You might be able to put one of the cars on backwards to clear your beam, but I don’t think you’ll be able to get the Yukon and the Mini on and under the lift with that low of a ceiling height.

With your low ceiling height you’ll need to buy those sliding jacks, but they are very expensive and you’ll probably need to buy two of them, if you want to remove the wheels for maintenance.

I haven’t done any maintenance on my cars with it on the lift. I suppose I could just lift it 2-3 feet and then use a creeper to get under it. That’s way safer than jackstands.

Have you laid out where the posts will be and if you’ll have enough room to get around it with all your other things? I used blue painters tape on the floor to simulate where the posts go, and it helped me visualize it better.

 

[mikedodge]

If it needs to be shifted back for the Yukon why to put the 2 post there to begin with? If itll clear the big one it should also clear the smaller one there.

I prefer 4 post for most cases because I like how you can drive right on and not have to deal with lifting points and getting on the ground to find them, plus the lift is movable, but the bigger size of it can get in the way for some repairs and also placement in the room. But again movable..

 

[racecougar]

Am I going to regret buying a 4 post lift?

You'll regret not getting one sooner.

 

[firebirdparts]

Nobody ever regretted having a lift. There are certainly some obstacles with a 4 post but I think you'll still like it an awful lot.

 

[Doubled33]

Your height clearance will be better in a 2 post.

You lift from the “frame” or unibody.

4 post you have the height of the drive on part and you lift from the bottom of the tires.

Depending on the vehicle you may get more than 1’ more OH clearance with a 2 post.

 

[dave*99]

This discussion comes up all the time. You will hear equally from 2 post and 4 post fans. I have a Rotary SPOA10RA 2 post. I use it for small cars up to F-250s Works great. I used to track Porsches. Every weekend I pulled wheels, bled brakes etc. I've pulled engines, transmissions, rear axles etc.

Personally I prefer 2 post. 4 post fans will tell you all that stuff can be done on a 4 post. I don't doubt it. But for me, 4 post is for storage and 2 post is for service. Don't store a car on 2 post, the suspension droop is tough on bushings struts and shocks.

Let the games begin!
YMMV.

You can get creative once in a while too....

 

[finn]

I have a two post and a couple of four post lifts.

For me, the four post is preferred simply because I don’t have to get on my knees a minimum of four times each time I want to lift the car, just to position the arms. Then there’s the very real issue of getting the arms positioned exactly in the right place to avoid a catastrophic mistake, and the other issue of a post that limits door opening unless you’re a scarecrow, even with an asymmetric lift.

A four post is a drive on and get out deal, and, though expensive, a pneumatic (or hydraulic) sliding jack works well. Getting all four wheels off at once is no issue using the sliding pneumatic jack on one end and a bottle jack or two with the standard jack tray on the other end.

A four post would reduce lift height by the thickness of the ramps, perhaps (4”?), but remember you lose some effective lift height on either, depending on how the safety locks are designed.

 

[pbon]

I had a 2 post and now have a 4 post. I prefer the 2 post for working on cars. Would an asymmetrical 2 post allow the OP to raise the Yukon high enough? Can he back onto the lift with the Yukon instead of driving forward to gain the clearance?

4 post is OK if that is what works best for the space. My current garage shop is a 150 year old wood floor carriage house and I did not want to fill in the basement and pour a slab because there is swimming pool equipment down there that would be expensive to relocate. I bought a Bendpak HD-9 XW. I raised the ceiling above the lift so I can have a car in it with 7 feet of clearance under it so the lift does not get in the way walking around my garage when a car is stored on it. The 2nd floor lost a lot if space but was just storage and I store stuff on the platform that resulted from the raised ceiling.

 

[Skellyii]

Your concrete might be the deciding factor whether to get a 4 post or a 2 post.

 

[kbuhagiar]

Your height clearance will be better in a 2 post.

You lift from the “frame” or unibody.

4 post you have the height of the drive on part and you lift from the bottom of the tires.

Depending on the vehicle you may get more than 1’ more OH clearance with a 2 post.

What the heck are you talking about?

The only factor which affects height clearance is when top of the car hits the bottom of the ceiling.

How exactly will a two-post lift magically lift the ceiling an additional foot?

 

[ATC]

You can use a standard floor jack on a 4-post runner to lift the vehicle from the rocker on the Mini, just like on the ground. You can also use a bottle jack on the sliding tray underneath for the Yukon to hit the axle and front suspension bits. This can save you from the expensive bridge jacks.

For what I do, I just don't trust not knocking one off a 2-post. I work on trucks, so very front heavy. This also means sometimes yanking on stuck parts or a breaker bar on a rusted bolt torqued to 2-3-400ft-lbs. Dropping the rear axle out...you better have some underlift jackstands under the front...and then you are stuck in that position. I've seen trucks fall off 2-posts just taking the rear tires off.

 

[ATC]

What the heck are you talking about?

The only factor which affects height clearance is when top of the car hits the bottom of the ceiling.

How exactly will a two-post lift magically lift the ceiling an additional foot?

I was scratching my head as well. You gain clearance under the vehicle, but not above it.

 

[Doubled33]

What the heck are you talking about?

The only factor which affects height clearance is when top of the car hits the bottom of the ceiling.

How exactly will a two-post lift magically lift the ceiling an additional foot?

Not raising the ceiling…

I see the confusion

Let me give an example.

The lift arms under the frame on a two post will allow for a higher height off the ground before it hits the ceiling.

Take a truck that is 7’ tall. Drive on a 4 post that is 7” tall and you have a 7’-7” height from floor to ground. If you Have a 9’ ceiling and you only get 1’-5” of lift before you hit the ceiling.

Same 7’ tall truck on a 2 post and the lift and you will have e 2” of lift before you hit the ceiling as you don’t have the ramp height under the tires.

Take into account the 2 post lift arms will engage the frame approximately 1’ off the floor and you don’t have the drive on beam of the 4 post you will have more “free space” to work under the vehicle.

 

[kngelv]

Pictures would help. Is the beam going front to back or side to side from where you enter the garage? The MaxJax is $4500.00 on their website. Where are you finding a 4-post for half that? With jack trays too?

James

 

[ATC]

Not raising the ceiling…

I see the confusion

Let me give an example.

The lift arms under the frame on a two post will allow for a higher height off the ground before it hits the ceiling.

Take a truck that is 7’ tall. Drive on a 4 post that is 7” tall and you have a 7’-7” height from floor to ground. If you Have a 9’ ceiling and you only get 1’-5” of lift before you hit the ceiling.

Same 7’ tall truck on a 2 post and the lift and you will have e 2” of lift before you hit the ceiling as you don’t have the ramp height under the tires.

Take into account the 2 post lift arms will engage the frame approximately 1’ off the floor and you don’t have the drive on beam of the 4 post you will have more “free space” to work under the vehicle.

You still have the same amount of clearance under the vehicle with either lift. Under the lift itself, yeah, a 2-post will win there. Sure, you don't have the runners in the way on a 2-post, however those runners are an awesome bench for tools, parts, pieces, drain pans, etc... when working under there. And when no car is on it, you raise it up and now you have a 15' long workbench for anything.

 

[c39er]

If your older not wanting to crawl on the floor on your knees, quick drive on....no setting up the position of the car or truck and lift arms with pads, safer having vehicle not shift on lifting pads..4 post is probably the best answer.
Some 4 post lifts have wheel kits to easily move them around.
I use 2 and 4 post...4 post for me with two rolling jacks.

 

[AC-WC]

You will need to review advantages and disadvantages to each type and how it would best work in your situation. For me doing repairs I had to do a 2 post.
I also looked at the Max Jack and almost bought one. 1) my ceiling was at max 8' and I could only get the car up 3-4'. 2) thought process was being 'portable' so I could move it out of the way and still be able to park 2 cars in the garage. Then my brain started working and the rabbit hole began...
If I bought the C7000 https://liftswholesale.com/2-post/triumph-c7000-7000-lb-portable-2-post-lift/ even if I still had the 8ft I could get it to lift higher than the Max Jack. Cost was less than Max Jack, stronger and more versatile for me. This sale price is about the same as when I bought 3 yrs ago.
Started with raising the ceiling to a cathedral type with a ridge beam (center is 12 ft), then the concrete, then install the lift, then modify the door tracks and springs. I have more in the building mods then the lift. Still working on insulating and paneling the walls. Other than installing the lift itself I paid crews to come in and do the rest at around $12k.
I have put everything on between a Beetle to a Durango. I haven't put my 3/4 ton Dodge on it because I've never tried to get it in the garage.
If I was in your shoes make the decision between 2 or 4 post and get it. You can do the building mods afterwards. I do NOT regret getting the lift!
One of these days I will get my project in the garage gallery!

 

[TerryH]

I have a 10' ceiling and just got a 4 post last week. So far I love it. I have it positioned so I can back either of our cars on and still clear the garage door and get max height given the ceiling height. I'm 6' and I can stand comfortably under our Mustang. Simple enough to use a bottle jack or air bag jack on the jack tray if you need to get the wheels off etc... As was previously stated in this thread there are strict concrete requirements for a 2 post. A 4 posts works with a pretty standard 4" floor.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I purchased the 4 post at the lake with my wife’s full approval. Now she gets to actually park her vehicle in our home garage.
The lake garage is 28’ deep and ceiling height slopes from 13’ to 10’. I purchased the aluminum inserts to make it a full platform. I’m thinking if the car is elsewhere I can do a project on the lift and simply raise it out of the way when needing the floor space. Or for winter storage of the ice cream car.

 

[Higgins]

I have a 4 post lift that is just used for storage of two low profile cars, because I also have a low ceiling height. The 4 post lifts are really great if you have a high ceiling. You might be able to put one of the cars on backwards to clear your beam, but I don’t think you’ll be able to get the Yukon and the Mini on and under the lift with that low of a ceiling height.

With your low ceiling height you’ll need to buy those sliding jacks, but they are very expensive and you’ll probably need to buy two of them, if you want to remove the wheels for maintenance.

I haven’t done any maintenance on my cars with it on the lift. I suppose I could just lift it 2-3 feet and then use a creeper to get under it. That’s way safer than jackstands.

Have you laid out where the posts will be and if you’ll have enough room to get around it with all your other things? I used blue painters tape on the floor to simulate where the posts go, and it helped me visualize it better.

Also, you need to mark the floor where the lift control and revivor is!! You do not want it on the back wall where you could get trapped, should something fail !!

 

[575cat]

4 post ****

 

[finn]

4 post ****

Two post **** more.

I have both.

 

[66Caprice]

4 post ****

No they really don't. It again all comes down to the user and their situation.....

 

[BobnCO]

I like that my two post doesn’t fill up the bay when not in use. I still believe it comes down if it’s primarilly for working on your cars (not just changing the oil/light maintenance) or primarily for storing more cars (and the light maintenance). (And yes I bought used and installed without the oversight of a structural engineer team.. : )

 

[dave*99]

I like that my two post doesn’t fill up the bay when not in use. I still believe it comes down if it’s primarilly for working on your cars (not just changing the oil/light maintenance) or primarily for storing more cars (and the light maintenance). (And yes I bought used and installed without the oversight of a structural engineer team.. : )

That is exactly my situation. I have considered buying another hobby car. If I do, I will buy a 4 post to store the car and continue my service work on the 2 post. My daily driver now sits in the bay with the 2 post. Easy in and out.

 

[zimman]

Never regret buying a safety item that will save your back and make your life comfortable.
You've earned it, and deserve it.
Zim

 

[u2slow]

4 post took up too much space. I realized that as soon as started to lay it out to put together.

2-post (what I have now) is really nice to lift other things.... Campers, canopies, pickup beds, cabs, etc.

 

[logical]

4 post ****

They have their place, you really can't understand that?

 

[575cat]

Ive spent many o time under them, ****

 

[575cat]

Two post **** more.

I have both.

Ha ha no way

 

[logical]

Ha ha no way

Way

 

[Al G]

I have a 10' ceiling and just got a 4 post last week. So far I love it. I have it positioned so I can back either of our cars on and still clear the garage door and get max height given the ceiling height. I'm 6' and I can stand comfortably under our Mustang. Simple enough to use a bottle jack or air bag jack on the jack tray if you need to get the wheels off etc... As was previously stated in this thread there are strict concrete requirements for a 2 post. A 4 posts works with a pretty standard 4" floor.

I like your car choices.

 

[Byrdnyrd]

3 POST!!,

Solved it!!

 

[TerryH]

I like your car choices.

Thanks! We like to have something a little different.

 

[Skellyii]

3 POST!!,

Solved it!!

Considering how many 2 vs 4 post arguments we have around here, I'm going to nominate you for the Nobel Peace Prize.

 

[Mike in Ohio]

I have a 10' ceiling and just got a 4 post last week. So far I love it. I have it positioned so I can back either of our cars on and still clear the garage door and get max height given the ceiling height. I'm 6' and I can stand comfortably under our Mustang. Simple enough to use a bottle jack or air bag jack on the jack tray if you need to get the wheels off etc... As was previously stated in this thread there are strict concrete requirements for a 2 post. A 4 posts works with a pretty standard 4" floor.

I like your car choices.

Is the blue one a Maverick? What year.

 

[TerryH]

Is the blue one a Maverick? What year.

Yes it is. It's a '70. We love it and have done a ton of mods, Super fun car.

 

[c39er]

With a centraly shop positioned, longer and higher 4 post lift you can drive four ways under it.
Just like a 4 way intersection.
I do that with one of my 4 post lifts.
Betcha ya can't do that with a 2 post!

 

[Junkman]

I considered a 2-post lift but abandoned it because I have a GM X-frame car, and it would be difficult to position the arms so the car would be safely lifted. I also have larger cars that are much easier to put on the 4-post lift. As we get older, the bending and getting up afterwards becomes more difficult. 2-post lifts are for younger people. 4 post lifts are for us old geasers!