2 post vs 4 post lifts

[garymtx]

Big new shop and trying to decide on a lift. I have room for both types but only want one for now, the other type will follow later. So, which do you have and what made you choose that type? Brand favorites? Thanks in advance!!

 

[GRivera]

I have Derek Weaver W-Pro10 made by Vehicle Service Group (VSG) Dover which includes Rotary, Forward, Direct Lift, others. I chose a 2 post vs 4 post cause I primarily use the lift to work on my cars vs storage. It made the most sense for me at the time and I have no regrets.

The W-Pro10 has been a great addition to the shop and from research I did was the lowest priced ANSI/ALI certified VSG Dover lift with super-symetric arms (can be configured symetric and asymetric). https://www.derekweaver.com/rodders...0-black-label-certified-overhead-2-post-lift/

As I'm sure you know, opinions on lifts are like Coke vs Pepsi and which motor oil is best, etc.

 

[finn]

I have a Bendpac 10 k asymmetrical Lift now. It’s been ok except I did have a motor failure on the power pack.

I have ordered two four post Advantage lifts, a 9k XLT and an 11k. There are two reasons for going with the four posts in my case. First and foremost is that I am loosing a 24x32’ garage when we sell a piece of property, and installing two four post lifts in my shop is a lot cheaper than adding more square footage under roof.

Second is that my F450 is too close to the 10k rating of my Bendpac two post lift. The 11k four post gives me a little margin.

Third, and most important, is that my knees can’t take the kneeling required to position the arms on the two post every time I want to lift a vehicle. This wasn’t a problem five years ago, but things deteriorate over the years. If you are near retirement age, consider this seriously when making your choice. Time marches on, relentlessly.

 

[glentre]

I have two four post lifts, chosen because of my age, (low 80's) the kind of work I do in the garage and the need to get five cars into a three car garage. If I were doing heavy wrenching every day, I likely would have bought one each of a two post and four post, but long term storage of a car on a two post doesn't seem good for the car. What you buy, I feel, depends entirely on what your use of the lift will be. Both types have their advantages.

Glen

 

[SILVERPLATE]

Some great choices here. https://liftsuperstore.com/location/texas/

 

[brownbagg]

i got a two post
I hate it, because getting on your knees to place the arms under the frame, once you get old, its a beech

 

[Donzi camino]

if your looking to work on the car get a 2 and if your looking to store a car get a 4

 

[leog]

What brownbagg said is true but the ramps for the four post have to be installed and removed and stowed also. I am fortunate enough to have both types. Can’t recommend one over the other,they both have their benefits and drawbacks. I guess I like the 2 post better as once you get it up off the ground all the wheels,brakes, suspension are available for service. Weigh all your projects and work you perform. Good shopping!

Leog

 

[gregs]

^^ Agree as well. I have a 2 post and love it because I am constantly working on various cars. Doing everything from brake work to transmission work and everything in between. Recently been looking for a used 4 post just for storage to open up some floor space. Kinda talked myself out of it reasoning that if I have to store it then either I don’t have the time to work on it or the time to drive it depending on which vehicle it is. Either way maybe I should sell it instead of buying a fancy shelf to put it on.

 

[Kaizen]

Went with atlas 10k 2 post.
Never used a lift before. Also four posts with a sliding jack tray were twice what I paid I think.
As said it takes me two rounds on most cars to get the pads where they should be. On my f150 the rear drivers frame is very close to gas tank so have to make sure that is perfect and had to get frame extensions to be safer.
Cars with pinch weld lift points are easy but still takes time.
Just did two rear brake jobs on a Jeep. Used a floor jack.
No perfect solution with either and as said setting up a car on a two post is my only grief


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[road_king]

Have a Mohawk System 1A 2 post lift. Extremely stable lift. Very happy with it.
Purchased the wheel adapters which allow the vehicle to be lifted by the wheels verses the frame.

 

[Sumboodie]

I have a Bendpac 10 k asymmetrical Lift now. It’s been ok except I did have a motor failure on the power pack.

I have ordered two four post Advantage lifts, a 9k XLT and an 11k. There are two reasons for going with the four posts in my case. First and foremost is that I am loosing a 24x32’ garage when we sell a piece of property, and installing two four post lifts in my shop is a lot cheaper than adding more square footage under roof.

Second is that my F450 is too close to the 10k rating of my Bendpac two post lift. The 11k four post gives me a little margin.

Third, and most important, is that my knees can’t take the kneeling required to position the arms on the two post every time I want to lift a vehicle. This wasn’t a problem five years ago, but things deteriorate over the years. If you are near retirement age, consider this seriously when making your choice. Time marches on, relentlessly.

I'm surprised a F450 is in the 10k area unloaded. It a service truck full of tools and gear?

My 5500 is in the 8500lb area

 

[65ranchero]

I have a Mohawk A1 (I think ) used 7k I bought it from a lift dealer/installer and been happy with it.
If you have a tall enough ceiling I suggest a clear floor lift and of course it will be needed for the 4 post. find out depth of floor

Factor in how tall you are, it makes a difference when working with a vehicle on the lift.
Look at the specs for how high it goes. The worse thing in the world is ,having to stoop under the the vehicle and not be able to straighten up. Not good for the back. I know!!
And make sure the car will clear the door when upin the air and door open.

Get a name brand
Chinese junk failure

 

[65ranchero]

double post

 

[finn]

I'm surprised a F450 is in the 10k area unloaded. It a service truck full of tools and gear?

My 5500 is in the 8500lb area

8’ steel dump bed, 4x4, with a setup for a Boss Super Duty snowplow.

It doesn’t weigh 11k, but the scale at the local pit and the transfer station say the tare weight is well over 9k. Too close to 10k, considering it’s probably not evenly distributed, for me to be comfortable putting it on a 10k Lift.

 

[finn]

I have a Mohawk A1 (I think ) used 7k I bought it from a lift dealer/installer and been happy with it.
If you have a tall enough ceiling I suggest a clear floor lift and of course it will be needed for the 4 post. find out depth of floor

Factor in how tall you are, it makes a difference when working with a vehicle on the lift.
Look at the specs for how high it goes. The worse thing in the world is ,having to stoop under the the vehicle and not be able to straighten up. Not good for the back. I know!!
And make sure the car will clear the door when upin the air and door open.

Get a name brand
Chinese junk failure

That bogus YouTube blurb has been on the internet for years. It was published by Greg Smith, who also sells Chinese lifts. The power unit wouldn’t lift 10 k so they jazzed it up with a different power unit, not supplied by the vendor, so it would fail at 15000 lb. if it won’t lift 15k as sold, what difference does it matter if it fails at 15k.

Same as putting 30k on your Mohawk so it fails, even though it’s rated for 10k and the power unit won’t lift 20k.

If you are really worried, get a certified lift. Most major manufacturers offer certificates for at least part of their product line.

Note that at one time, and maybe still now, not all Greg Smith lifts were certified.

The Mohawk is a great lift, but the massive columns steal an awful lot of space in an average home workshop, and the cost is more than double that of a certified import. Certified to the same spec, at that.

 

[HAULNSS]

I have two Advantage 4 posts, one single and one double. Very solid construction and lightweight ramps. After looking at others, the Advantage lifts appear to be much better built than some of the cheaper options.

Randy

 

[Snip]

because getting on your knees to place the arms under the frame, once you get old, its a beech

For this reason I also went with a 4 post. 61 years young but not getting any more flexible. Most of the work I would be doing I can do on a 4 post.

I bought a 9000XLT from Tony at Advantage lifts, couldn't be happier. In a 40x66 shop it it serves many purposes. Being portable I have used it to be a elevating platform to place larger items on the top tier of my shelving rack along with being a gantry (4k sliding tray) to lift my recessed motorcycle lift in and out of the pit it sets in. I think with a little thinking I could even lift a body/cab off of a chassis if I needed to. Let your mind be the tool you use the most.

 

[Chevy-SS]

I have a Challenger 9,000lb 4-poster, extra-tall, with two rolling jacks. I use it to work on vehicles and to store a vehicle. It is fabulous. For the guy that wants only one lift in his garage, this is it IMHO.

Advantages of 4-poster over 2-poster:
1) Easier to drive the car on,
2) No arms to set up,
3) Safer and more secure while lifted,
4) Rolling jacks allow wide options for jacking,
5) Ramps act as workbenches and hold tools/parts,
6) Works perfect for vehicle storage

Probably more reasons, but I'm done typing.....

Of course, a 2-poster has its place too.

 

[65ranchero]

The Mohawk is a great lift, but the massive columns steal an awful lot of space in an average home workshop, and the cost is more than double that of a certified import. Certified to the same spec, at that.

I bought mine used and installed for under 2K

 

[c39er]

If you are older and don't want to get down on your hands and knee's pushing and adjusting the 2 post arms under tha car frame....then raise the lift a couple feet...recheck that the car is safely positioned on the lift...then raise fully.....
Buy a four post with rolling jacks.
I use both.
Now days like the 4 poster bettet...fast and easy with rolling jacks and custom made flip up out of the way ramps.
No crawling around on the shop floor.

 

[gnpenning]

If you will be working on fwd cars and pulling motor/transmission combos get a 2 post.

Everything I have are trucks. I've had 2 back surgeries and hate getting up off the floor multiple times needed to do both sides of a 2 post, I went 4 post having used both types in the past. While sometimes the ramps can be in the way the rest of the time I find them to be a huge advantage.

Pick what type of vehicles you have and what is your reason for getting a hoist, then buy accordingly. No one size fitting all here.

 

[finn]

If you are older and don't want to get down on your hands and knee's pushing and adjusting the 2 post arms under tha car frame....then raise the lift a couple feet...recheck that the car is safely positioned on the lift...then raise fully.....
Buy a four post with rolling jacks.
I use both.
Now days like the 4 poster bettet...fast and easy with rolling jacks and custom made flip up out of the way ramps.
No crawling around on the shop floor.

I don’t see how you raise the lift that initial couple of feet without first getting on your knees to position the arms.

Just doesn’t compute.

 

[Plastikosmd]

Have a Mohawk System 1A 2 post lift. Extremely stable lift. Very happy with it.
Purchased the wheel adapters which allow the vehicle to be lifted by the wheels verses the frame.

Beautiful lift
This was the route I was gonna take but went with mobile column lifts instead

 

[jpaw]

if your looking to work on the car get a 2 and if your looking to store a car get a 4

Agree 100%.
The only things that can be more convenient on a 4 post is some suspension work and brakes. And even then you could use a rolling bench under a 2 post to accomplish the same thing.
As a professional using both every day the main uses for a 4 post are alignments, checking things with the suspension loaded and quick oil changes or inspections.

My thoughts are by lifting anything by the wheels in a home shop it severely impacts the smaller more typical home repairs. And yes I understand that there are jacks for the 4 posts.

 

[firebirdparts]

2 for work, 4 for parking. You can park on the 2 post, but it puts your control arm bushings in an unnatural strain for a long time.

On the 2's, of course, the car may fall off if you don't treat it with some respect and understanding.

4's are designed to stand without being bolted down, with 4 sliding moment connections at the 4 legs. The legs are utterly independent (although anybody could violate that if they wanted to). It's a weak structure fundamentally and it's important to act accordingly.

It doesn't matter what anybody says about dropping the car or collapsing the lift. It matters what you do. At home, there's nobody to be impressed by what a badass you are for dropping a car.

 

[BrianPK]

4 poster with casters, rolling jack plate. 2 post ties you down to one spot.

 

[Plastikosmd]

Everything is a compromise. As you noted, mobility was my number one criteria.
I didn’t want a lift taking up valuable central space. Second, I wanted flexibility to lift cars, trucks, off road equipment, knuckleboom truck, basically everything I own minus the dozer, (the lift easily could but I don’t want to go through the hassle of rolling out conveyor belt on the floor.)

 

[ScaldedDog]

How about a 0-post?

Mark

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[samper]

Some great choices here. https://liftsuperstore.com/location/texas/

thanks for this link.

 

[rburke65]

Road king...can I ask what th wheel adaptors cost?

 

[road_king]

road king...can i ask what th wheel adaptors cost?

$1,600

 

[nealric]

It's totally dependent on your needs and where you are installing the lift. I went back and fourth a long time and just ordered a 4 post (challenger CL4P7) with 2 rolling jacks.

Advantages of a 2 post:
Clear access to underside of the car
Cheaper (if you have good concrete)
Fewer posts to have to take up shop space
Easy to put a non-functional car up

Disadvantages:
Need to worry about concrete quality (may need to pour more concrete)
Physically wider (problem in a narrow bay)
Have to worry about positioning the pads
Not best for storage (damage to car is debatable, but things like drip trays aren't as easy)

4 Post Lift advantages:
Just drive on- no positioning
Can weight and unweight suspension as needed with center jacks
No worry about concrete quality
Can be made moveable
Can install in narrow space
Better for storage

4 Post disadvantages:
More expensive (especially if also getting rolling jacks)
Obstructs underside (can't do things like pull motor from beneath on cars that require it)
Hard to get non-running cars on (need people to push or winch up)
Takes up more shop space
Typically can't be dropped off by liftgate (more shipping $$$)

In my case, I went with 4 post due to width and concrete quality. A 2 post would have taken up most of my walk space on one side and I would have needed to repour concrete (for peace of mind if nothing else). I would also have needed to redo my flooring (plastic tiles) The 4 post was twice as much, but the difference would have been a lot less after paying for concrete work (decided I didn't want to DIY the concrete).

 

[bigdav160]

I've been working with lifts daily (home and work) for 40 years. Two post would be my only choice.

The 4 post at work hardly ever get used. Most techs avoid them.

 

[dave_dj1]

I've been working with lifts daily (home and work) for 40 years. Two post would be my only choice.

The 4 post at work hardly ever get used. Most techs avoid them.

What type of work are these techs doing?

 

[Skyking1992]

I have a forward brand, two post, ALI certified, made in the USA, lift and I love it. I do a fair amount of work that makes the two post ideal (removing engine from below, trans, etc).

As far as bending over to place the arms...If you are doing this for your own vehicles, the answer is pretty simple. Draw or tape some parallel lines on the floor. Pull your vehicle in to a designated stop line. Use a mirror or helper to get the vehicle in the same spot every time. Place the arms where they need to be. Mark the angle and length with a permanent marker on the arms. You can now replicate this forever. I have two daily drivers marked on my lift. Pull up, push the arms in with my foot (don't even have to bend over), raise the lift 2-3 feet, check placement, and raise. I can have my 2 cars in the air in a matter of a couple minutes.

My Corvette is a bit more work. It's so low, I have to pull in, jack each side a couple inches, place one arm, remove jack, place second arm, and repeat for the other side. Some day I'm going to figure out an easier way!

 

[finn]

I have a forward brand, two post, ALI certified, made in the USA, lift and I love it. I do a fair amount of work that makes the two post ideal (removing engine from below, trans, etc).

As far as bending over to place the arms...If you are doing this for your own vehicles, the answer is pretty simple. Draw or tape some parallel lines on the floor. Pull your vehicle in to a designated stop line. Use a mirror or helper to get the vehicle in the same spot every time. Place the arms where they need to be. Mark the angle and length with a permanent marker on the arms. You can now replicate this forever. I have two daily drivers marked on my lift. Pull up, push the arms in with my foot (don't even have to bend over), raise the lift 2-3 feet, check placement, and raise. I can have my 2 cars in the air in a matter of a couple minutes.

My Corvette is a bit more work. It's so low, I have to pull in, jack each side a couple inches, place one arm, remove jack, place second arm, and repeat for the other side. Some day I'm going to figure out an easier way!

Doesn’t work very well when you have four pickups, two cars, and four collector cars.

 

[hilld]

$1,600

Each?


j/k.

I used to own a 10k System 1A, so I know how much the stuff costs. Sold it with my house many years ago.

So if you have to remove the wheels, do you take those adapters off and put the regular pads on?

 

[road_king]

Each?


j/k.

I used to own a 10k System 1A, so I know how much the stuff costs. Sold it with my house many years ago.

So if you have to remove the wheels, do you take those adapters off and put the regular pads on?

That price is for all 4 wheel adapters. Yes they need to be removed to lift via the frame

 

[bigdav160]

What type of work are these techs doing?

All types.