Did a search on this and didn't find anything, so sorry if it's been covered. This isn't about what brand is better/worse, but what's a better design for 4 post lifts. Some manufacturers like Advantage and Wildfire sleeve/box the vertical posts with the lifting arms/mechanisms; the vertical posts are a truly boxed on all 4 sides with the safety catches cut into them. A majority of the other 4 posts like Rotary, DL, etc. have made the vertical posts in basically a "C" where the lifting arms/mechanisms ride within this "C". To me the totally boxed design looks stronger, but I'm no structural engineer!
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4 Post Lift Designs
- Thread starter bfr57
- Start date
The downside to the fully boxed in setup is that your lock positions are absolute and fixed relative to the floor. If you have a sloped floor, your lift will be sloped at rest. The ladder-style lets you compensate for that
racecougar
Well-known member
Agreed. The ladder-style also allows the lift cables to be contained within the legs, with the sheaves centered in the legs, eliminating side loading/moment as you raise and lower the car.
The shape of the legs isn't everything. Wall thickness plays a big role in strength/rigidity here.
The shape of the legs isn't everything. Wall thickness plays a big role in strength/rigidity here.
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Yankeefarmer
Well-known member
This is no different than the old Ford/Chevy arguments. Different ways of skinning the cat, both work. Ever hear of lifts failing because the posts failed?
tdkkart
Well-known member
The box post design is intriguing at first, but as others have said, it's usefulness is questionable.
How much strength is really left after you take away a huge portion of the 4th side by cutting the holes out of it?
And yes, adjusting for level while lifted and hanging on the cables or setting on the stops is indeed a "thing". You don't want sloped ramps when you take a driveshaft off.
My Direct lift has open sided posts with the adjustable ladders and the cables inside the posts. I like it, it works, and I've had zero issues with it.
How much strength is really left after you take away a huge portion of the 4th side by cutting the holes out of it?
And yes, adjusting for level while lifted and hanging on the cables or setting on the stops is indeed a "thing". You don't want sloped ramps when you take a driveshaft off.
My Direct lift has open sided posts with the adjustable ladders and the cables inside the posts. I like it, it works, and I've had zero issues with it.
finn
Well-known member
Boxed seems inherently more stable.
The windows in the post don’t significantly reduce strength, either, as a finite element analysis would show that most of the load is carried vertically through the 90 degree corners. Total cross section web area is greater with the box section design than the folded metal design.
Leveling isn’t a problem, either. A square plate or piece of ply takes care of any slope quite nicely.
The windows in the post don’t significantly reduce strength, either, as a finite element analysis would show that most of the load is carried vertically through the 90 degree corners. Total cross section web area is greater with the box section design than the folded metal design.
Leveling isn’t a problem, either. A square plate or piece of ply takes care of any slope quite nicely.
BORING HOP YARD
Well-known member
I just went through this and placed an order Tuesday for a BenPak, wont be here until Nov.
I was leaning towards the Wildfire/ backyard Buddy but wanted a certified lift.
Finding a Made in the USA certified lift is not an easy task.
I had to settle for a lift manufactured in China to BenPak standards, this will mainly used for storage.
I have a 2 post lift that sees about 90% of the work in my shop.
I was leaning towards the Wildfire/ backyard Buddy but wanted a certified lift.
Finding a Made in the USA certified lift is not an easy task.
I had to settle for a lift manufactured in China to BenPak standards, this will mainly used for storage.
I have a 2 post lift that sees about 90% of the work in my shop.
finn
Well-known member
Advantage is certified. At least the 9000 lb four poster xlt is.I just went through this and placed an order Tuesday for a BenPak, wont be here until Nov.
I was leaning towards the Wildfire/ backyard Buddy but wanted a certified lift.
Finding a Made in the USA certified lift is not an easy task.
I had to settle for a lift manufactured in China to BenPak standards, this will mainly used for storage.
I have a 2 post lift that sees about 90% of the work in my shop.
Justintime2
Well-known member
I have a wildfire lift and can only comment on it as I haven't owned another. It is rock solid in both form and function and looks clean as well. There is zero concern about the lock stops being milled out of the steel posts, when you look at them it's obvious how strong the design is. I deliberately chose the fully boxed sliders and did not like the C channel ones I saw in person. But my guess is they're all quite strong and to the prior mentioned point you don't read of them failing, so...
I've had my Wildfire XLT lift now for 9 months. It has worked fine over that time except the runways have a slight horizontal bow of about 1/2in over the near 20ft. length. This only shows up when moving the rolling jack tray when the rollers are locked. So its a simple matter to move the jack tray unlocked and besides 1/2in over that span seems reasonable.
thirdgoat
Active member
I just went through this and placed an order Tuesday for a BenPak, wont be here until Nov.
I was leaning towards the Wildfire/ backyard Buddy but wanted a certified lift.
Finding a Made in the USA certified lift is not an easy task.
I had to settle for a lift manufactured in China to BenPak standards, this will mainly used for storage.
I have a 2 post lift that sees about 90% of the work in my shop.
thirdgoat
Active member
I have an Advantage DX 9000 XLT that I purchased a little over 2 years ago, they received ALI certification either late 2020 or early 2021. I inquired regarding mine, they said it is the exact same lift that received the certification.
finn
Well-known member
The slots for the locks are really no different than the holes in the web of an airplane wing spar. That not the portion of the box beam that carries the load.
Leveling isn’t an issue either. I have a piece of half inch plywood under one post that sits near a floor grate. Lift sits level and functions perfectly.
Leveling isn’t an issue either. I have a piece of half inch plywood under one post that sits near a floor grate. Lift sits level and functions perfectly.
86turbodsl
Well-known member
The c style has to be bolted down to floor because the cross beam can pivot around the bearing the chain or wire runs on. The fully enclosed style is safe to leave unbolted.
No they don't have to be. Read the installation manualsThe c style has to be bolted down to floor because the cross beam can pivot around the bearing the chain or wire runs on. The fully enclosed style is safe to leave unbolted.
86turbodsl
Well-known member
I have read them. I'm speaking from my mechanical / structural engineering perspective.
Find me ONE lift with the pivot style open c channel with a single longitudinal cross bar on one side with hydraulic cylinder mounted above, with chain or cable that runs in a z-shape from top of opposing post to lift end of lateral cross post that specifically states the lift need not be bolted to concrete (and there are a ton of these style in different brands) and i will apologize to you and offer an engineering analysis of why it doesn't need it. I have 2 of these in different brands. There's NO way i get under one of those not bolted down.
Find me ONE lift with the pivot style open c channel with a single longitudinal cross bar on one side with hydraulic cylinder mounted above, with chain or cable that runs in a z-shape from top of opposing post to lift end of lateral cross post that specifically states the lift need not be bolted to concrete (and there are a ton of these style in different brands) and i will apologize to you and offer an engineering analysis of why it doesn't need it. I have 2 of these in different brands. There's NO way i get under one of those not bolted down.
racecougar
Well-known member
I think you may be the only one on this thread speaking of that design when mentioning "C-channel" type. Are any lift manufacturers even producing that design nowadays?I have read them. I'm speaking from my mechanical / structural engineering perspective.
Find me ONE lift with the pivot style open c channel with a single longitudinal cross bar on one side with hydraulic cylinder mounted above, with chain or cable that runs in a z-shape from top of opposing post to lift end of lateral cross post that specifically states the lift need not be bolted to concrete (and there are a ton of these style in different brands) and i will apologize to you and offer an engineering analysis of why it doesn't need it. I have 2 of these in different brands. There's NO way i get under one of those not bolted down.
finn
Well-known member
Right or wrong, in common parlance, a C channel lift has the same general layout as the box channel design of Advantage, Wildfire, and others, except instead of vertical box beams with slots cut for lock dogs to engage, the vertical post is metal folded into a C section, and a separate, loose ladder is added for the lock dogs to engage.I think you may be the only one on this thread speaking of that design when mentioning "C-channel" type. Are any lift manufacturers even producing that design nowadays?
Both designs have thick steel rectangular bases welded to the uprights that are pierced for anchors, should the owner choose to bolt the lift down, but bolting is optional on all the homeowner lifts, of both designs, I am familiar with.
All offer wheel kits, either standard or as an option.
Heavier, industrial and commercial four post service lifts are normally bolted down. They often have approach ramps of heavy steel, that aren’t removable, and limited under lift clearance, making them unsuitable for storage in the raised position, hence the service lift, rather than storage lift nomenclature.
86turbodsl
Well-known member
Good explanation finn. i have the commercial style metal ramp lifts, one a ben pearson, one a challenger. I believe they were copies of the "worth" style lifts that were common years ago. I was told by the gentleman selling the first one a challenger 12K lift that he was told by his lift guy that that style had to be bolted down. No option. I beleive Worth still sells it, and perhaps a number of others do as well.