4 post lift purchase question(s)

[biggziff]

I"m about ready to order a 4 post lift for the new shop. I've settled on an Atlas 8000 pound unit as they all mostly seem about the same and I'm tired of overthinking this purchase. My question is about height. My ceilings are 13' and I'm not sure if I need or want to buy the extra tall lift or stick with the standard lift height. I'm 6-1 and will be working on my fleet of cars that range from my daughter's Prius to an F350 crew cab. My only concern is that I'll have enough working room under the lift..I suspect I will even with the lower lift height, but thought I'd ask here before I order. Any input?

thanks

 

[sierradmax]

How heavy is your F-350? Consider the garage pro 9000? Will it be used as a storage lift as well and if so, what will be store under. I like my 9000. I can park my skid steer and Jeeps under it no problem. And, at 6'-0", I walk under it without having to duck.

 

[glentre]

Easy issue to resolve using the data from the manufacturer. It will give you the free height under the lift at its highest point plus the height of the entire assembly. I also have 13 ft ceilings and have both a standard and an extra high Mohawk lift. It is a real dream to be able to work under a vehicle without hitting your head but I'm only 5'7" so you would need to calculate using the data if you could walk under it or not. One thing to be careful of, though, is the location of your ceiling lights and the tracks, motor and location of the door when its in the up position and that depends on the type of doors you have. You could have an interference problem when using the maximum height of the lift. Owning both sizes, I would go with the extra tall with its wider and longer tracks and better stability. Will your F350 crew longer wheelbase even fit on the smaller lift?

I get your frustration of overthinking the purchase.....did that myself. But you want to make sure you have thought through all the dimension and installation questions before buying.

Glen

 

[biggziff]

How heavy is your F-350? Consider the garage pro 9000? Will it be used as a storage lift as well and if so, what will be store under. I like my 9000. I can park my skid steer and Jeeps under it no problem. And, at 6'-0", I walk under it without having to duck.

F350 is right around 8K. I'll use the lift for service and storage, but won't be storing the truck on the lift. My plan is to store my summer toys (sidecar, zero turn, etc) on there for winter and use the space under as a work space during the cold months.

So you have the standard height 4 post and it's plenty high for working?

Thanks for the reply.

 

[biggziff]

Easy issue to resolve using the data from the manufacturer. It will give you the free height under the lift at its highest point plus the height of the entire assembly. I also have 13 ft ceilings and have both a standard and an extra high Mohawk lift. It is a real dream to be able to work under a vehicle without hitting your head but I'm only 5'7" so you would need to calculate using the data if you could walk under it or not. One thing to be careful of, though, is the location of your ceiling lights and the tracks, motor and location of the door when its in the up position and that depends on the type of doors you have. You could have an interference problem when using the maximum height of the lift. Owning both sizes, I would go with the extra tall with its wider and longer tracks and better stability. Will your F350 crew longer wheelbase even fit on the smaller lift?

I get your frustration of overthinking the purchase.....did that myself. But you want to make sure you have thought through all the dimension and installation questions before buying.

Glen

According to Ford's website the wheelbase on a 6.5' crewcab is 15" less than the runway length.

 

[Jazzman442]

Narrow it down to the lifts you like. Then call the manufacture and ask for the techs. They will give you really good information about what to get. I did that and I am glad I did.

 

[pbon]

I’d buy the tall lift so you can walk under it when a car is stored on top. I am building my hone shop so I can have 7’ under the lift and a Chevy Suburban on top — just over 13’ ceiling height. I chose the Bendpak HD-9XW, in part because it offers 44” open space between the runners for service work. Most are more like 37” though when you move up to the bigger commercial ones more are also around 44”.

 

[biggziff]

I’d buy the tall lift so you can walk under it when a car is stored on top. I am building my hone shop so I can have 7’ under the lift and a Chevy Suburban on top — just over 13’ ceiling height. I chose the Bendpak HD-9XW, in part because it offers 44” open space between the runners for service work. Most are more like 37” though when you move up to the bigger commercial ones more are also around 44”.

I'm seeing 37-39", but I'm sure others are wider. Question is, they list "width between runway" and "width between runway rails" (lesser measurement) I'm unsure what the difference here is in real world data.

 

[Stuart in MN]

My only concern is that I'll have enough working room under the lift...

Remember that your head doesn't necessarily need to fit under the decks of the lift, you just need to worry about clearance under the vehicle itself. So, if the maximum height of the lift is X feet, add another eight inches (or whatever applies to your vehicles) to that number.

 

[biggziff]

Remember that your head doesn't necessarily need to fit under the decks of the lift, you just need to worry about clearance under the vehicle itself. So, if the maximum height of the lift is X feet, add another eight inches (or whatever applies to your vehicles) to that number.

Yessir. Figured that one out early on! Thanks

 

[Falcon67]

If it's like our F350, it'll be close because the truck is right at 6' tall. Your truck may be newer or diesel - out 7.5L DRW extend cab gas is only 5800 lbs.

 

[biggziff]

If it's like our F350, it'll be close because the truck is right at 6' tall. Your truck may be newer or diesel - out 7.5L DRW extend cab gas is only 5800 lbs.

It is diesel. 6.5 box crew cab. 2012 currently, but we may update it this fall.

 

[sierradmax]

F350 is right around 8K. I'll use the lift for service and storage, but won't be storing the truck on the lift. My plan is to store my summer toys (sidecar, zero turn, etc) on there for winter and use the space under as a work space during the cold months.

So you have the standard height 4 post and it's plenty high for working?

Thanks for the reply.

No, I purchased the garage pro 9000. 6'-8" clearance underneath.

 

[6768rogues]

I have a 14 foot ceiling and a ceiling fan over my lift. I am 6' 2" tall and I have serviced lots of pickup trucks and never had one hit the fan. The only time I have to be careful is if the pickup has a ladder rack on it. I guess if I put a Dodge on it I would have to watch for the s+++ to hit the fan.

 

[Ray916MN]

If all you care about is having enough lift height to work under the lift any standard lift should be fine.

I've got a tall lift (6' 10") because it allows me to park my trucks (F250 Crew 4x4 and Nissan Titan Crew 4x4) under the lift. The lift height also means I can use the space under the lift for party space, when I have gatherings in my shop.

 

[biggziff]

If all you care about is having enough lift height to work under the lift any standard lift should be fine.

I've got a tall lift (6' 10") because it allows me to park my trucks (F250 Crew 4x4 and Nissan Titan Crew 4x4) under the lift. The lift height also means I can use the space under the lift for party space, when I have gatherings in my shop.

Thanks. For the small difference I'm going to order the taller lift.

 

[biggziff]

Just realized the Pro8000 has exposed cables where the Pro9000 has them concealed inside the posts. Not sure I like the exposed cables.... Anyone have any thoughts on that? It's only money, I guess!

 

[sierradmax]

The 9000 still has exposed cables. It's not nearly as susceptible to damage as cables on the 8000. The 9000 is around 14" wider between columns & cables. Something to consider when using it in conjunction with a full size truck... whether on it or below it.

 

[biggziff]

The 9000 still has exposed cables. It's not nearly as susceptible to damage as cables on the 8000. The 9000 is around 14" wider between columns & cables. Something to consider when using it in conjunction with a full size truck... whether on it or below it.

Huh...Atlas (Greg Smith) and an installer who has been doing this 40 years say the 9000 has internal cables on the uprights. The photos I found seem to confirm this, but maybe you can dispute it? I appreciate your input.

 

[pbon]

Maybe they mean visible outside the column versus visible inside the column, though some lifts might have fully boxed columns with no visible cables.

 

[biggziff]

Maybe they mean visible outside the column versus visible inside the column, though some lifts might have fully boxed columns with no visible cables.

I'm wondering the same thing

 

[heloc]

I'm seeing 37-39", but I'm sure others are wider. Question is, they list "width between runway" and "width between runway rails" (lesser measurement) I'm unsure what the difference here is in real world data.

Width between runway is the portion where the tires will sit.
Width between rails is the portion where drip pans or rolling jack platforms reside.

 

[biggziff]

Width between runway is the portion where the tires will sit.
Width between rails is the portion where drip pans or rolling jack platforms reside.

Thank you

 

[sierradmax]

I'm wondering the same thing

If you run a straight edge across the inside face of any column, you'll hit the cable. I'll try to get a picture tonight.

 

[biggziff]

If you run a straight edge across the inside face of any column, you'll hit the cable. I'll try to get a picture tonight.

Thanks much. I've not been able to get to one of their showrooms and as good as their photos are, they don't really show this well. I'm assuming the uprights are "C" channels, open to the inside thus exposing the cable.

 

[sierradmax]

yes, columns are C-channel.
The 2nd picture will show how the cable isn't fully protected by the column(s). Sorry, I snapped a picture with the lift at full height lock. I had too much $hit beneath to move..

 

[biggziff]

yes, columns are C-channel.
The 2nd picture will show how the cable isn't fully protected by the column(s). Sorry, I snapped a picture with the lift at full height lock. I had too much $hit beneath to move..

Thanks for those. That clarifies it very well.

 

[GS-Louie]

Since you are thinking of using the lift with a fairly good sized truck I think you are looking at the wrong dimension. Check the width across the runways against the track width of your truck. I went with the Car-Park 9K because I was looking for the widest drive through width so it would fit my Silverado the best. The first load we put on the lift was my friends F-150. It just fit on the runways edge to edge. My Silverware is the same. I would not like to have part of the tire off the runway, even just a little bit.

I read most of the posts about 4 post lifts here and was convinced to buy a 9,000 lb lift.The reason was that they were bigger and much heavier and were more solid when driving on to the lift and when working on a raised vehicle. I have done some work on my Silverado and observed absolutely no sway of the lift.

I put all the specs of the lifts I was interested in in a spreadsheet so I could easily compare unit versus unit in an organized manner. The thing that surprised me the most was the difference in shipping weight! My FP9K shipped at a little over 2400 lbs.

I also got the 220 V pump and I like the increased lift rate. Pushing and holding the button can get to be a pain on a slow lift.

I was concerned about the lift height also. I am 6'6" tall and wanted to be able to walk under it without ducking. I can do that easily but the bottom of the truck was too far up so I had to drop it down a few notches so I could work on it.

The cables on my lift are protected. The post is a C channel and the cross pieces fit inside the channel. The cable is toward the rear of the channel. The only way to get your hand damaged from the cable is to put your hand inside the channel.

Overall I am quite pleased with my lift. It fit all my requirements and so far has done everything I need it to do in a safe way . I have no qualms working under it. I am also extremely pleased with the service from Best Buy Automotive Equipment.

Good Luck with your decision.

Lou

 

[mgbbob]

I would also check to make sure the manufacture recommends using with that weight truck without bolting down if that is a concern. I know I love my extra tall wide Advantage 9000 but it does have exposed cables so a dually won't fit. You would need to go to a 11,000 or take an outside wheel off.

 

[biggziff]

I would also check to make sure the manufacture recommends using with that weight truck without bolting down if that is a concern. I know I love my extra tall wide Advantage 9000 but it does have exposed cables so a dually won't fit. You would need to go to a 11,000 or take an outside wheel off.

I won't ever buy a dually, but Greg Smith has told me on numerous occasions that one will fit on the 9000 pro.

Thanks for the input.

 

[biggziff]

Thanks, Lou. I"m likely just going to buy the 9000. I may never need the extra, but better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

Since you are thinking of using the lift with a fairly good sized truck I think you are looking at the wrong dimension. Check the width across the runways against the track width of your truck. I went with the Car-Park 9K because I was looking for the widest drive through width so it would fit my Silverado the best. The first load we put on the lift was my friends F-150. It just fit on the runways edge to edge. My Silverware is the same. I would not like to have part of the tire off the runway, even just a little bit.

I read most of the posts about 4 post lifts here and was convinced to buy a 9,000 lb lift.The reason was that they were bigger and much heavier and were more solid when driving on to the lift and when working on a raised vehicle. I have done some work on my Silverado and observed absolutely no sway of the lift.

I put all the specs of the lifts I was interested in in a spreadsheet so I could easily compare unit versus unit in an organized manner. The thing that surprised me the most was the difference in shipping weight! My FP9K shipped at a little over 2400 lbs.

I also got the 220 V pump and I like the increased lift rate. Pushing and holding the button can get to be a pain on a slow lift.

I was concerned about the lift height also. I am 6'6" tall and wanted to be able to walk under it without ducking. I can do that easily but the bottom of the truck was too far up so I had to drop it down a few notches so I could work on it.

The cables on my lift are protected. The post is a C channel and the cross pieces fit inside the channel. The cable is toward the rear of the channel. The only way to get your hand damaged from the cable is to put your hand inside the channel.

Overall I am quite pleased with my lift. It fit all my requirements and so far has done everything I need it to do in a safe way . I have no qualms working under it. I am also extremely pleased with the service from Best Buy Automotive Equipment.

Good Luck with your decision.

Lou