I have a BendPak HD-9 with an RJ-45 (4,500 lb) rolling air jack and also a rolling jacking tray (which can be used to place jack stands on or used as a sliding table to hold drain pans, tools, lights, etc.).
2 Post lifts (Known as great service lifts but here's the drawbacks I see)
- Might not be able to fully open doors while working on cars.
- Take up more than one bay in a garage (your two car garage may become a one car)
- Do not allow for long-term car storage.
- Don't offer any place to put down tools/parts (you'll need a tool cart or use the floor)
- Will require the use of additional jack stands or the floor if you ever need to raise anything up, like a suspension.
- Will require use of a rolling drain pan unless YOU want to be on the floor using a regular non-rolling drain pan.
- Can't be used to set front/rear vehicle height on adjustable height vehicles (think torsion bar or adjustable spring perch suspensions) since the suspension is always hanging down.
- Can't be used to perform home alignment of track vehicles
- Not portable (unless it's a BendPak MaxJax)
- Placement of lift within your garage may limit the vehicles and/or service performed.
4 Post (No drawbacks at all - Yes, I'm partial to the 4 post lifts)
- Even without a rolling air jack or jack tray, you can still lower a whole vehicle onto 4 jack stands, and quickly get all four tires off the ramps.
- Can be moved to the center of the shop with the use of a castor kit. This is great if you need extra space for pulling axle splines from a Jeep or truck.
- Can be used for snow mobile or winter storage of bikes, mowers.
- Can be used to lift rider mowers to perform blade changes or sharpening of blades.
- Allows for opening of doors at any height. Makes it very easy to work under the dash.
- Can be used as a platform for working on garage ceilings or lifting things into the garage attic.
- BendPak HD-9 and HD-9XW have ramps that adjust from 37-44" wide so you can drop engines and ******'s down between the ramps.
This is how I get all four wheels off my 4 post lift.
With the use of the RJ-45 I can easily raise the front/rear as needed and lock the air jack at 3 predetermined heights with ease. I just drive on the ramps, set the car in Park, raise the car to a comfortable working height and slide the rolling air jack into position, extend the sides of the RJ-45 and hit the up/down lever until the wheels are off the ramps and the RJ-45 reaches a locking position. Very easy!
If I need all four wheels off the ground I raise the front wheels with the RJ-45, slightly behind the front end, and then slide the jacking tray over to the exact spot where I can put jackstands under the front end, and then lower the vehicle on to the front jack stands. I then slide the RJ-45 to the rear and lift the vehicle to one of the locking points. Done!
