2 Post lifting height

[Tscott]

When you guys lift a taller vehicle like a pick up truck, do you have to crouch to get under the car? I am tall and want to make sure the lift I get will allow me to walk under it without crouching when I have our Ford F250 truck on it. I do not want a lift with a floor plate, so I am concerned the bar over the top will limit my lifting height with taller vehicles.

Ceiling height is not an issue, my shop has 14' eaves and more in the middle where the lift will be. I know the Mohawk system 1 lift only has hydraulic tubes over head and they can be raised, but I was hoping to go a little cheaper if possible. I am considering Mohawk, bendpack and rotary all in the 10k lb range.

Tom

 

[pattenp]

I have a Challenger two post and the lifting height is 74" and the clearance to the limit bar at the full lifting height is around 60 - 62 inches. I've lifted full size PUs to the max height and the cab roof was just at the limit bar. I'm 6'1" and just have to watch whacking my head on the lift arms and hanging suspension when walking around.

 

[wsettle]

I'm trying to decide on which lift I'm going to get as well. I'm 6'-5" and looking at the Rotary A10i-EH1 or EH2. It appears to have the highest rise height at the lift pads and the EH2 option should clear a full size PU with ladder racks.

 

[JSK]

Tom,

Rotary, Challenger, Mohawk (and of course BendPak) are all great choices. Do pay careful attention to the specs however. What you really want to know is how much the lift moves upwards. What stroke is the cylinder?

Specs from lift companies vary – they may illustrate to the bottom of the arms (rise), to the top of the lift pads with no adapters, (lifting height), then to the top of the high adapter, (max lifting height). Pay careful attention. It sounds like you need every inch. And knowing very well how much it hurts to bang your head, an inch is like a mile.

Mohawk does not have an overhead cross bar so no worries there. Rotary, Challenger and BendPak do offer extended height models with the top bar raised. BendPak offers two-post 10K models with the cross bar as high as 14’.

Don’t always assume that just because the lift is an “extended height” configuration, it raises higher. Most all extended high two-posts simply have the cross bar raised without making changes to the cylinder stroke.

 

[rtremaine]

here's 14' bendpak 10000k.

 

[George185]

Tom,

I have a Rotary SPOA10 and can lift my F350 up high enough easily work under it. I stoop just a bit to get under the frame rails and then can stand up. I'm 5'11". I have 12' ceilings, if you have taller than you definitly won't have issues with an EH1 or 2.

 

[SteveU]

My buddy is 6'3 or 4 and has worked under his Suburban while it was on my lift no problem. I have the System 1 with the standard height lines.

 

[ScaldedDog]

Tom, in addition to what the others have mentioned above, you might want to consider whether you'll have vertical extenders on the arms. (I'm sure they have better names...) I've got a Rotary SL210i in-ground lift with the RA arms, and I need the extensions to keep the arms off my Excursion's step bars. With those on there, I can get the vehicle uncomfortably high. (I'm 5'10".)

The ones I use are on this page. Look for FJ7880. I use those and the truck adapters below them to lift my trucks, and take both off and use the RA pads to lift fairly low unibody cars.

Mark

 

[chevelle64]

My garage has a 14' ceiling and I also have the Rotary SPOA10 with the 2' extentions, so the cross bar is right up at the ceiling. I can lift my Silverado up all the way with plenty of room to spare. I think one aspect often overlooked is the use of adapter extensions. I purchased the 5" and 3.5" extensions when I bought my hoist. So for trucks and vans you can raise the starting point of the pad adapter before the hoist arm is actually raised. Without the extensions, the hoist arms would have to travel several inches to contact the truck frame. So you lose that much travel at the peak height. I hope that makes sense. I included a picture that shows the extensions, which are stored on a bracket bolted to the hoist. I also included a picture that shows an extension in use, sort of. Please don't focus on the Michigan rust .

EDIT: I kind of said the same thing that Mark just said, it just took me longer.

 

[nehog]

My garage has a 14' ceiling and I also have the Rotary SPOA10 with the 2' extentions, ...

How much did you pay for the 2' extensions? I'm thinking of retrofitting my Rotary because my Dodge (with a big light bar) and one Hummer (roof rack) don't get me quite enough room under. Don't need to lift higher, just need to lift higher vehicles!

 

[chevelle64]

How much did you pay for the 2' extensions? I'm thinking of retrofitting my Rotary because my Dodge (with a big light bar) and one Hummer (roof rack) don't get me quite enough room under. Don't need to lift higher, just need to lift higher vehicles!

It was $410 for me. That was on a brand new purchase and install. It might be more with an existing hoist because you'll need longer cables. I was wondering if the longer cables came as a package deal with a new hoist. Like they give you the long ones and just keep the shorter ones for another install. I'm guessing.