2 post lift or finished floor

[buddha2364]

Opinions of what would you do if you could only do one? Love the idea of having a lift for mainenance type things, but at the end of the day, I've gotten by with a floor jack and stands for 30 years and not sure I want the inner post smack in the middle of my 30x40. A nice floor with Racedeck or epoxy would be cool as well, really giving my garage that finished look.

 

[jack stand]

I've built 3 good sized shops over the past 30+ years always telling myself that I be walking AROUND the lift more than I'd be UNDER it. Then I ran into a $1000 deal on a rotary 2 post and also came to the conclusion that the 10' door bay wasn't really working out the way I thought it would.....
You'll be amazed how many times and "other" things that you'll use it for.
Of course flooring to me and my use is a complete waste and I have no delusions of a "calendar" photo taken of my shop either.

 

[buddha2364]

Ya, you've pretty much summed up what's been swirling around in my head for a while now!

 

[jack stand]

There have been many "tools" that I've bought for something special or it was a little "spendy" that once I had it, it turned out that I'll use the he!! out of it and wonder how I ever got along without it. The lift for me certainly was one of those tools.
I'm still waiting for that magic moment for my mill and lathe . Although the mill does make a nice drill press.

 

[infinkc]

Lift now, can always do the floor later. Even the kits at hardware stores work very well and are inexpensive.

 

[finn]

Lift. Floors are for walking on, not looking at.

If you’ve been doing this for thirty years, I suggest a four post. You don’t have that many good years left in your knees, although you probably don’t realize it yet.

 

[Yankeefarmer]

What @finn wrote. I was going to pick the 2 post lift over the floor because the day has come for me where a creeper and jackstands is too uncomfortable. Then I realized I have a 4 post because kneeling or laying to place 2 post arms wouldn’t work for me. So I didn’t vote.

And I was in my early to mid 60’s when I realized that.

 

[buddha2364]

Lift. Floors are for walking on, not looking at.

If you’ve been doing this for thirty years, I suggest a four post. You don’t have that many good years left in your knees, although you probably don’t realize it yet.

It's been an easy 30 years from a hobbyiest standpoint, but I get where your coming from.

Trying to get a damn jack under one of my cars today reminded me why I've had one on my list for some time. The cars are so low to the ground, and to make matters worse, the newer stuff has very few solid lift points or places to put a jack. It's damn near pinch welds or nothing.

 

[mepstein]

Get the lift. It’s a life changer. You can then add the racedeck or whatever, any time.

 

[racecougar]

I'll third the recommendation of a 4-post over a 2-post, and I'll fourteenth the recommendation of a lift over floor finish.

 

[CraigStu]

Go for a lift. A 2 post lift. You can do everything to a car or truck on a 2 post but are limited on a 4 post. Yeah, some will say get a bridge jack. Well, look at the price for a 2 post vs a 4 post AND a bridge jack. And even then, w/ one bridge jack, you can't move a tire from the front to the rear w/o using a bottle jack or similar on one end. I was a dealer tech for 25 years and had to work on the alignment rack some times when we were real busy and a car had to go. The first time you smash your arm into the edge of the steel track while removing or reinstalling a tire you will not be happy. I am 73 and getting down to place a lift arm isn't as easy as it used to be. But if you have a knee pad

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Knee-Pads/1003095610

hanging on each lift post with one of these

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Command-6-Pack-White-Adhesive-Hook/1000028607

now it is not so bad.

 

[scofo]

Im with CraigStu. If you have the ceiling heighth a quality 9klb or 10klb 2 post lift without a doubt. Those few moments setting the legs under the vehicle will be long forgotten as you easily access so much more of the vehicle. I dont know your hobbies or skill level on vehicle maintenance or repair but 2 post lifts open up many possibilities, to include loading/unloading heavy loads from trailers and pickup beds. Also a lift will allow one more car/Cuv inside, whereas a fancy floor will not.

Good luck

 

[ZX3ST]

I'll echo pretty much everything above. After owning a 2-post lift, I'll never use jack stands again. And mine isn't even a full size lift (maxjax). Life-changing experience, in a good way.

 

[mike93lx]

I don't have a lift beyond quick Jacks and would absolutely get the lift over making the floor pretty

 

[tom86951]

I went with a 4 post, but either way: 1) a lift is an absolute game-changer if you work on cars, and 2) you can have a lift and a cool floor.

 

[mike93lx]

I went with a 4 post, but either way: 1) a lift is an absolute game-changer if you work on cars, and 2) you can have a lift and a cool floor.

Based on the cars in that pic, you can have both, no question

 

[finn]

I have both. Actually one two post and two four posts.

I never use the two post after I got the four posts.

 

[Finally]

I am fairly new to car restoration, but not new to working on cars. After only 3 months into my first big project, I bought the lift. I knew immediately I had no desire to try and do all this work on jack stands. (Especially with a low Profile car) I am 48, but like another poster said, it is just a matter of time before the joints get Tired. Extend your hobbying Life style, get the lift.

An inexpensive epoxy from Home Depot can still give you nice floors.

 

[dagofast]

Yes, get the lift. It IS life changing. (for the better) Whether 2 or 4 post is a personal decision and up to no one but you.

I went with a 4 post because A.) I'm already old. B.) My knees were already shot and C.) Arthritis makes all of my other joints hurt too so I hate to come in to contact with concrete because it activates my allergy to pain. D.) While nothing is idiot proof and without risk, a 4 post seemed the far safer of the two types. Pictures of vehicles that have fallen off 2 post lifts are ubiquitous, even in professional shops. No so many pics for 4 post lifts. E.) If you go with a 4 post, yes, you probably should get at least one bridge jack and if possible, 2 of them. Buy once, cry once and all that. F.) I'm old, retired and slow already & certainly not trying to beat book times so if something like a brake job or rotating tires takes a bit longer on my 4 post, I don't care. F.) (for finally!) I store my old truck up on my lift and if there is one area a 4 post lift kicks a 2 post lifts ***, it is certainly for storage.

I will concede I did strongly consider a 2 post lift. They have their advantages. And a few disadvantages. Just like my achy old body was the deciding factor in buying a lift in the first place, it was the deciding factor in what type of lift I ended up with.

 

[SlotlessMan]

If I had to make just one choice, i'd buy the lift as it can be a time and back saver. However, I would really try and budget both.

Epoxy is not that expensive if done yourself. My epoxy is the generic Rustoleum from Menards, applied 16 years ago. Proper prep with an acid wash, 2 coats and a clear coat finish. Still looks great, no peeling but does have slight yellowing for a foot or 2 by the garage door where the sun got to it. Total cost for 1200sf was like $600. No regrets.

Also, other's argument against the epoxy being only for show or decorative is absurd. Here is a simple test...
Take a quart of oil and pour it onto an epoxy floor and then one onto bare concrete. Compare your clean up times.

 

[firebirdparts]

How can you even ask?

 

[buddha2364]

How can you even ask?

Ha, it is sort of a no-brainer, but I just like a gut check from those that have been there, done that.

 

[buddha2364]

Thanks for all the reponses guys, much appreciated. At the end of the day, I just try to be sensible about the whole thing. I look at the cost and think of all the other cool/fun stuff I could buy with it. On the flip side, to maximize the use of it, may as well get one now, really doubt I'll be doing much wrenching under a car at age 90.

What really bubbled this to the top for me is cost. Steel prices drove these things through the roof, pre-inflation BS, etc. What used to be a $3200 lift is now like $5100. Bendpak has a refurb program, looking at one of those 2 post now. The way my garage is configured, it just makes the most sense.

 

[firebirdparts]

It'll make you feel like a millionaire. Or, with inflation, a billionaire.

 

[dagofast]

On the flip side, to maximize the use of it, may as well get one now, really doubt I'll be doing much wrenching under a car at age 90.

Very true.

But what you (and most whippersnappers) never realize is, you're gonna get old A LOT faster than you think. Then you'll just start using words like whippersnapper like its the most natural thing in the world...

 

[blwn31]

Get a new used 2 post, don't need to pay the high upfront cost of new, these things are for sale all over the place, just gotta look. I love mine and wished I had done it long ago.

Keith

 

[buddha2364]

I don't consider myself even close to being old, but admit I've used the term whippersnappers more than once!

 

[buddha2364]

Get a new used 2 post, don't need to pay the high upfront cost of new, these things are for sale all over the place, just gotta look. I love mine and wished I had done it long ago.

Keith

I'll all about used stuff, so long as it was taken care of. That last part is usually the tricky part. I've looked, not much around, and what is, is junk missing only God knows what.

 

[buddha2364]

Also, other's argument against the epoxy being only for show or decorative is absurd. Here is a simple test...
Take a quart of oil and pour it onto an epoxy floor and then one onto bare concrete. Compare your clean up times.

I'm with you on that one. Few of my vehicles are leakers, drives me nuts cleaning up the oil, let's just say my 6 year old garage floor is well seasoned at this point. Far cry from being virgin.

 

[blwn31]

I wasn't really looking to buy mine at the time when it showed up on FB Marketplace, but it was the model I wanted and the price was right. Needed a little TLC (i.e. cleaning) but otherwise like new. Good luck!

Keith

 

[Blackbyrd]

Had a lift in previous garage, don't have height in current garage for a lift but did race deck flooring....... my floor looks really nice, but I've got three cars I work on and I miss my lift. Going back to jack stands and working of the ground kind of *****...... but when I do lay down it's nice and clean.... at first.

 

[Skyking1992]

I have a two post lift and a pretty nice epoxy floor. If I had to make a choice between the two - I'll take the lift every time!

I've had the lift for almost 20 years. I'm 70 years old - yes I don't bend like I used to, but come on, bending over to place the arms is just not that difficult. I still autocross a lot (20 weekends a year) and I use the lift every week to rotate tires and bleed brakes.

If I were starting from scratch today at my age, I'd do it all again.

 

[finn]

I have a two post lift and a pretty nice epoxy floor. If I had to make a choice between the two - I'll take the lift every time!

I've had the lift for almost 20 years. I'm 70 years old - yes I don't bend like I used to, but come on, bending over to place the arms is just not that difficult. I still autocross a lot (20 weekends a year) and I use the lift every week to rotate tires and bleed brakes.

If I were starting from scratch today at my age, I'd do it all again.

It’s the knees. Glad yours are still healthy.

 

[beemerphile]

It’s the knees. Glad yours are still healthy.

I am having the 2-post vs 4-post argument with myself almost daily. Luckily I have time to argue with myself until I finish with the current house build and see how much money is left. I am reduced to wearing Blaklader kneepad pants routinely instead of jeans. In a day's work I find myself "taking a knee" about as often as Colin Kaepernick.

​

 

[vavet]

If you can only do one, I’d say lift.
before a lift, I’d say heat /air conditioning. That’s been a real game changer in my shop.

 

[Yankeefarmer]

It’s the knees. Glad yours are still healthy.

For me, it’s the shoulders. Exerting pressure with the shoulders in certain positions is either impossible or hurts badly. With the 4 post lift, I can position my body where I can get the job done. But positioning lift arms under a vehicle would hurt. I have pain just pulling ashes from the wood stove if I‘m not careful how I do it.

 

[Skyking1992]

I have three vehicles that I put on my lift on a somewhat regular basis, my wife's car, my truck, and our Corvette. I placed a few pieces of color coded tape on the floor for accurate parking, and some colored markings on the lift arms. I have a large mirror in the front of my shop. I can pull any of those three vehicles in, push the arms in with my foot, and never put a knee on the ground. In fact, for the car and truck, I don't even have to bend over. I can have those two vehicles in the air in a matter of a couple minutes. The corvette takes a little more work because it is so low. I'm still working on a solution for that.

 

[buddha2364]

I have three vehicles that I put on my lift on a somewhat regular basis, my wife's car, my truck, and our Corvette. I placed a few pieces of color coded tape on the floor for accurate parking, and some colored markings on the lift arms. I have a large mirror in the front of my shop. I can pull any of those three vehicles in, push the arms in with my foot, and never put a knee on the ground. In fact, for the car and truck, I don't even have to bend over. I can have those two vehicles in the air in a matter of a couple minutes. The corvette takes a little more work because it is so low. I'm still working on a solution for that.

It's where I'll be living, with 5 vehicles, 2 of them being play toys.

Curious, how low is your Vette to the ground? One of my Mustangs is right around 4 1/2 inches. It's low enough that even to get a jack under the front of the car, I drive it up boards to give me the extra clearance.

 

[Skyking1992]

Buddha,

My Corvette (C5 Z06) sits pretty low. I bought a low profile jack and still head to remove the saddle from the jack to get under the frame rails from the side. To get the car on the lift I have to pull in, jack one side up, place front arm under the frame, place a piece of wood under the back tire, remove jack, place rear arm. Copy and repeat for the other side.

I'll figure something out that's easier!

 

[Walkers]

Anybody that has had a lift will say the lift is the priority. It is a real game changer for maintenance. I won’t argue 2 post vs 4 post, but feel very confident the OP should put in a lift over flooring.