What made you decide on either 2 post or 4 post lift?

[unpredictable1]

I'm thinking of getting one in the not too distant future.

Pros and Cons of either? Brands that provide the most benefit....

I know there's tons of you on here that went through this, what pushed you to one side vs the other?

 

[sselander]

There are many threads on this, here are a few:

2 or 4-Post Lifts - Who? What? Pros & Cons?
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=203111

2 post vs. 4 post lifts
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=192121

Lift: 4 post vs 2 post
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=207618

 

[jomobco]

I was going to start with a 2 post but then my shop is filling up with stuff so I'm going 4 post with a sliding jack until I get a 2 post. The 4 post will allow me to stack vehicles.

 

[koditten]

90% of the work I do requires the wheels off the ground. Didn't feel like the extra step of having a jack on the 4 post to do that.

KO

 

[NHBandit]

90% of the work I do requires the wheels off the ground. Didn't feel like the extra step of having a jack on the 4 post to do that.

KO

^^^ This. My shop is a working shop, not a car storage building.

 

[Garage Dog]

I couldn't decide between a 2 post and a 4 post or where to put it in the shop.

So I pulled the trigger on a 6,000 lb mid-rise scissor lift I can move around the shop or outside if I want. I found one that was less than 2 years old for half the price of a new one.

Doesn't work for everything, but it beats the heck out of jack stands.

Eventually I would like to add both a 2 post and a 4 post, I think my next purchase will be whichever I find a killer deal on.

Good Luck!

 

[harleyhouser]

I had a two post Revolution 10,000lb lift installed last week. I really like it, they delivered and installed it for $3200 even.

 

[regguy1]

Repair work: 2 Post / full access to underside of car / easy wheel removal for brakes and suspension.

Storage and body work 4 Post: have access to sides of car / can park another underneath

(you can park underneath a full height 2 post)

 

[unpredictable1]

I thought this one would be great except the fact if you had to get a trans out or a driveshaft - it's braces would be in the way. It would allow you to move it around and tuck it away when not in use.

http://liftking.ca/index.php?page=lk-p-6000-single-post

 

[LuvAZ]

I'm thinking of getting one in the not too distant future.

Pros and Cons of either? Brands that provide the most benefit....

I know there's tons of you on here that went through this, what pushed you to one side vs the other?

Hi Lbrowne,

Which type of lift to buy can be better answered once you've identified what you're looking to do w/it.
Having owned 3 different types of lifts- a 4 post, a mid rise scissor lift, and now a 2 post, I can tell you there's pluses & minuses w/each.

So, the 4 post may be a better choice if you are looking to store a vehicle (I stored a classic car during the winter when I lived in NH. It let me turn a 2 car garage into a 3 car. During the 3 other seasons, it was a service lift & was great for oil changes. Doing brakes & rotating tires (probably the 2nd biggest service use next to oil & filter changes) was another story. You need a sliding bridge jack and even then you're lifting either the front or back, not both (unless you get 2 bridge jack set ups $$)!

I'll move on to the 2 post now as you didn't ask about the mid rise scissor lift.
First off, I no longer need to have any winter storage as i moved back to Scottsdale.
Knowing that my top 3 uses are oil changes, tire rotation, and brake jobs; I opted for the 2 post. This type of lift provides the easiest access to my 'top 3'.
No bridge jack like on the 4 post, so front to back tire rotations are much quicker & easier on the 2 post.

Hopefully that helps you make an educated decision between 2 or 4 post.
As far as brand goes, I've seen a lot of guys here go for brands such as Mohawk, Rotary and Bendpak.
I bought my 4 post Direct lift ProPark 7 and my 2 post Atlas BP8000 from Greg Smith Equipment.
I installed them myself, not too tough. Spent the better part of a day on the installation.

HTH,
Will

 

[unpredictable1]

Hi Lbrowne,

Which type of lift to buy can be better answered once you've identified what you're looking to do w/it.
Having owned 3 different types of lifts- a 4 post, a mid rise scissor lift, and now a 2 post, I can tell you there's pluses & minuses w/each.

So, the 4 post may be a better choice if you are looking to store a vehicle (I stored a classic car during the winter when I lived in NH. It let me turn a 2 car garage into a 3 car. During the 3 other seasons, it was a service lift & was great for oil changes. Doing brakes & rotating tires (probably the 2nd biggest service use next to oil & filter changes) was another story. You need a sliding bridge jack and even then you're lifting either the front or back, not both (unless you get 2 bridge jack set ups $$)!

I'll move on to the 2 post now as you didn't ask about the mid rise scissor lift.
First off, I no longer need to have any winter storage as i moved back to Scottsdale.
Knowing that my top 3 uses are oil changes, tire rotation, and brake jobs; I opted for the 2 post. This type of lift provides the easiest access to my 'top 3'.
No bridge jack like on the 4 post, so front to back tire rotations are much quicker & easier on the 2 post.

Hopefully that helps you make an educated decision between 2 or 4 post.
As far as brand goes, I've seen a lot of guys here go for brands such as Mohawk, Rotary and Bendpak.
I bought my 4 post Direct lift ProPark 7 and my 2 post Atlas BP8000 from Greg Smith Equipment.
I installed them myself, not too tough. Spent the better part of a day on the installation.

HTH,
Will

I'm quickly realizing that 2 post is my answer considering I work a great deal on my own vehicles. Storage would be nice, but that would be a small fraction of it's use.

The last one I posted seems pretty neat in that I would need to have a permanent fixture in my garage as I have ample room to store it on the side. (I have an off set garage door on my 28Wx26D)

A question as to whether how many transmissions/clutch work would I do in the future - but even on a two post I don't have the capacity to raise the car fully in the air and grab the trans out at that height lol

 

[Aberdale]

I decided on a 2 post assymetrical early on. It allows the best access for tire, brake, and driveline work. But the biggest part for me is that it takes up minimal floor space when not in use. It allows me to pull in tractors with narrow front wheels, motorcycles, skid steers, and anything else that doesn't have a standard wheel track.

The 4 post just took up too much floor space when not needed for lifting.

 

[fnieto]

Two posts lift is probably the most Versital.

 

[Chuck Farley]

I chose a BRADBURY 4 - poster, with the "wheels free" design.

It has rails that run front to back, parallel to the wheel runs. The rails can move side to side and can be locked in place as to height. When locked in place, you can lower the wheel runs, allowing the wheels and suspension to dangle free. Around here virtually every muffler shop and brake shop uses these exclusively. I scored a pair of them from a shop that was closing down.

They can also be used as storage hoists - which one of mine does, while the other is my 'work on stuff" hoist.

I have seen too many very high end, very expensive, 2 posters from top professional name brands that have managed to drop a car or a pickup off to the side, break an arm etc. 4 post for me - I will NOT go under a vehicle on a 2 poster.

 

[mds5951]

I have been looking at the same thing. I think I will be going with a 4 post, mainly because I will be using it as a storage lift and I just simply feel safer using it, no need to worry about pad placement, or them slipping off.

Heck whatever I go with I will be happy. Merely since I won't have to roll around on my back anymore

 

[Hardware]

2 post.. so much easier to work around...

 

[chadman]

Like others have said, 2 posts are better for working on cars and 4 posts are better for storing cars. I work on stuff so I bought a two post.

 

[motormitch]

I bought one of each. A new 2 post from Greg Smith and a used 4 post from Craigs list. I use them both for service work and car storage. Contrary to what some of the people say, you can store a car just fine on a 2 post lift. You will hear some say that storing a car on the 2 post lift is bad on the suspension because is you are keeping the suspense uncompressed for a long time and you will hear others say that uncompressed suspension on old cars is good for them. I've done it and it's fine on my 1960s mustangs and Olds Toronados.

I was once told by an amazing mechanic who has passed that if he could only have one lift, he would go with a 4 poster and 2 roller jacks so if space if your issue and you can afford 2 roller jacks, that is what I would do.

 

[sberry]

2 post, easy to work around and isnt in the way when not needed.

 

[kenners]

Same as some previous posts. Mohawk 10K two post lift. When not being used it takes up less floor space and I will eventually fab a table for snowmobiles.

 

[JMURiz]

Extra parking/long term storage lead to my need for a 4-post.
I'll get a bridge jack soon to do wheel/suspension work. It's already been great for a drivetrain drop in one car as-is.

 

[Andybull]

2 post, ten ton Mohawk. I've even used it to remove heavy tools from my truck bed.

 

[OzCop]

I recently built a shop out back, 32x30 and had debated on which to by, 4 post or two. I had a sissors lift in my old garage at my old house and it worked fine for most of the stuff I do, which means mainly working on front wheel drive race cars, etc. However, if one wants to work on exhausts and other componets, I think I'm going with a 2 post. I have friends who have both, and at my age, placing the arms in the correct position is easier than trying to improve entry on ramps to a 4 poster for lowered front wheel drive cars, Hondas, Neons, etc...

 

[brownbagg]

i got a two post, what i really hate the most is having to get on my knees to place the pads.

 

[ptschram]

I have a four post.

Two reasons. I work on a lot of Range Rovers ad their air suspension does not tolerate two-post lifts.

Also, I work almost solely solo and I feel that four-post lifts are safer.

 

[ovilla]

I have a 4 post BendPak (with an RJ-45 and a jacking bridge - the perfect set up for suspension work and getting all four wheels off the ramps) and now another new prototype lift that I'll be telling you guys about shortly on a new thread.

 

[Aahz]

I chose a BRADBURY 4 - poster, with the "wheels free" design.

It has rails that run front to back, parallel to the wheel runs. The rails can move side to side and can be locked in place as to height. When locked in place, you can lower the wheel runs, allowing the wheels and suspension to dangle free. Around here virtually every muffler shop and brake shop uses these exclusively. I scored a pair of them from a shop that was closing down.

They can also be used as storage hoists - which one of mine does, while the other is my 'work on stuff" hoist.

I have seen too many very high end, very expensive, 2 posters from top professional name brands that have managed to drop a car or a pickup off to the side, break an arm etc. 4 post for me - I will NOT go under a vehicle on a 2 poster.

Is Bradbury still in business??? I've seen a few of their lifts in the Northern IL area, but none of them are newer than the 1970's vintage. Any info you have on them would be appreciated!

 

[SteveU]

I went with a 2 post because I use mine for working on vehicles & not for storage. You can remove the engine from a van, transmission & clutch work, exhaust work, run new brake & fuel lines, brake work, replace half shafts, struts & shocks, U-Joints, fluid changes, or about anything else you need to have the vehicle off the ground to do. Have also used it to raise things up to load into my pickup like a lift gate.

 

[Cryptic1911]

We went with a 4 post simply because we didn't want to have to park in exactly the right spot, or get out and push the car around in neutral, then lay on the floor to set the arms before running it up. With an rj-45 bridge jack, there really isn't much of anything that you can't do on a 4 post. Some things may be slightly easier, but you can access all suspension / brake components, get the whole exhaust system, remove transmissions, etc. We've done it all with ours

 

[porschedude996TT]

How about a "NO" Post!

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=35433&highlight=floor

See post number 493 and 494.


I too don't have a lot of room and didn't want an always present lift hogging up space. I use the shop for other functions like Christmas Dinners, etc. (A concession I made with my wife).

Currently I am working on my 1969 Camaro. I am converting from a Automatic Slush-Box to a real Man's Transmission (4-Speed). I have pulled the automatic POS from under the vehicle between the two scissor lift platforms with a transmission jack, I have a tall jack stand holding the engine from tilting too much. And still have plenty of room. I also have the wheels off the ground and there is very little that I can’t access with this lift. Plus when you don’t want it hanging around, it is flush with the floor. It also doubles as a work surface or table.

 

[a40lover]

I chose a 4 post so I don't have to set the arms on a 2 post (bad knees) . Ive done everything I needed to do with it.

 

[6768rogues]

I have a two post so I can have access to everything under a car including wheels and brakes without anything in the way. My only use for a 4 post would be to change oil easily.

 

[JohnnyK8]

Because the wheels come off on almost all of the work I do on my truck

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[Plastikosmd]

I was another (neither) and went with mobile column lifts for:
capacity
mobility
variation in lifting objects or unusual shapes etc
wheel lift vs bumper/frame lift vs hybrid
shop space
lift, place on stands, move lift to lift other vehicles in shop etc or out on driveway
etc

I couldn't be happier

 

[lakeroadster]

How about a "NO" Post!

That's a "16 tube and I still can't access much of anything under the car, and still gotta crawl around on the floor" lift.

• 2 post for service,
• 4 post for storage,
• Scissor lift for Volkswagens... and their clones.

 

[porschedude996TT]

That's a "16 tube and I still can't access much of anything under the car, and still gotta crawl around on the floor" lift.

• 2 post for service,
• 4 post for storage,
• Scissor lift for Volkswagens... and their clones.

My No Post has two scissor platforms that are flush with the floor when retracted. There is about 34" in between the platforms to R&R a transmission, rear axle, VW Aircooled engine, total front end and brakes. The platforms raise to 72 inches.

 

[elliottw]

Worked in a shop with 4 lifts, 3 two posts and one 4 post.. the only thing the 4 got used for was oil changes. It had two jacks on it so you could use it for rotates and brakes etc. But still not fun. I'd go for 2 which it looks like you have decided on.

 

[OldracerJones]

I do not like getting on the floor to align the pads on two post.