2 post or 4 post?

[evanF]

Hi all, I know this had been asked before but I would like to get more peoples advice. the cement had just been poured for my 22x24x10 with 4/12 scissor trusses which will give me 13.5 feet in the center of roof clearance. The cement is 4 inch 4000psi what I want to do with it is manly making a two car garage into a three with storage of underneath. I also like to tinker on vehicles. which is right in your guys opinion??

 

[brownbagg]

most two post need five inches, i have a two post, i would never get rid of it, but if i had to redo, i get a four post, just so I don't have to get on my knees to position the arms. with a four post you can add wheels and push it outside if you need the room

 

[Redhogz]

I have a bend pak 10K two post. Lifts everthing I have including my dooley.
Bend pak says it only needs 4" which I had. Is working great. I use my foot to position the arms and the safety stop is at 12 foot. I am 6'5 and walk under everthing.
My personal opinion is a 4 post is more stable and easier for a storage/parking spot. I'd rather work under a two post.
Also, I recieved a great deal from bend-pak referencing garage journal and calling direct as others suggested here.

 

[ovilla]

I have a BendPak HD9 and with an RJ-45 rolling air jack and a jacking tray, I can do basically anything a two post can. This is a great set up that will also give you the storage that you want too.

 

[ovilla]

I'd get a caster kit too for those times when you have a tall vehicle and want to take advantage of the added ceiling height in the middle of the garage.

 

[excavator]

I have a BendPak HD9 and with an RJ-45 rolling air jack and a jacking tray, I can do basically anything a two post can. This is a great set up that will also give you the storage that you want too.

Same here, HD-9 and rj-45 I can do anything plus the runways make excellent work tables while under car

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

2 post has the flexibility of adjusting for different size vehicles readily. And the wheels can come off a car for service without jacks. But it is usually fixed in place and not mobile (with the exception of the MaxJax).

4 post are more stable, usually can have casters mounted so they can be rolled outside, and can also work as longer storage solutions for cars in a garage if you have the space. But if you want to remove wheels, you still have to get a jack, cross member, jack stands, etc.

Both have their pros and cons. What you plan to use it for will bear heavily in the outcome.

 

[Junkman]

I have the BendPak 4 post lift with the rolling jack, and the only thing that I can't do with it is put one of my cars on the lift and park another under it. My garage has an 11 foot high ceiling, and my cars measures at least 7' high. Can't fault BendPak for my not building with a higher ceiling. I also have an assortment of 2" x 8" blocks that I position under the frame of the car if I want the suspension to hang down when working on the car. They are easy to store, and I have never had to buy one. A few years ago, I changed the differential housing on my 1963 Chrysler on the 4 post lift, and I was able to do it alone with the help of the rolling jack. If I was working in a shop, and time was important, then a 2 post lift would be better for some jobs, but being retired, I work at a pace that doesn't cause me problems.

 

[zkdiesel]

I have a BendPak HD9 and with an RJ-45 rolling air jack and a jacking tray, I can do basically anything a two post can. This is a great set up that will also give you the storage that you want too.

If you are doing serious repair work, the 4 post is not the lift of choice. You can easily lift and store most cars, but for a lot of major fab or repair it is not the lift of choice. I would not ever own one if it was used primarily for vehicle repair vs storage. Look at a car dealership! Only 4 posts they have are quick oil change racks, alignment bay(heck alot of old school places used 2 post with funky 1/2 height adaptors) and for large truck racks (over 14k usually as the 18k+ 2 post lifts are crazy $)

Any repair work I can beat you on time on my 2 post vs any 4