4Post vs 2post lift for storage

[Pucman1]

So the dilemma I have is my Garage addition is rather small(zoning issues). I need to store one car in the air and height is not the issue but length is. Most 4 post lifts are around 14 to 15 feet deep which is not optimal is my space. It would leave me no working space at my bench. It is also my exit way to the side garage door. Total length of the finished space is right at 17'6" Thankfully I have the door swinging out by design.
My question is that the car I am needing to hold up is only about 2300 lbs soaking wet. What kind of issues would there be if I wanted to fit a two post in and store the LBC(little British Car) in the air....would that be OK? I wish someone made a slightly smaller lift to fit the footprint I needed but no one does.

Thanks,
JP

 

[Heel2toe]

If length is the issue than I think a 4 post cannot be in the picture. At least with a 2 post it doesnt take up nearly as much space. If youre only planning on using it for car storage then it doesnt really matter if the work bench is right ontop of where the vehicle would be.

4 post is easier from a storage perspective since you can just drive right on it. But no reason you cant leverage a 2 post as well.

 

[James-W]

I don't think a two post lift was ever meant to store a vehicle on for long periods of time. I could be wrong on this but I don't think it is advisable to let a vehicle's suspension "hang" for long periods of time. I am sure one of the mechanics will chime in and answer the "hanging suspension" part.

 

[sleek98]

Its no the best to let the suspension hang but if your that worried you can grab a few screw jacks and load the suspension a little. Buddy of mine puts his hellcat challenger on his 2 post for the winter and there have been no problems so far. He takes the wheels and tires off so there is not an extra 60 pounds hanging on each corner.

 

[JKady]

If you were to strap the suspension at right height you could store on a 2 post lift, and it actually would be ideal that way since the tires aren't sitting on anything. Leaving the suspension hanging is far from ideal for very long periods of time. Taking the tires off might help, but I can't imagine they weigh much on a small British classic. That would net you a little more walking room under the car though.

 

[Heel2toe]

A 2 post is certainly not meant for storage but I don't see why it can't be used as such.

I never understood the hanging argument...what is so bad about things hanging? Is it binding of CV joints? Springs being stretched? Just seems like everyone says its not good to let a car hang but why? Im not saying it is or is isn't I've just never heard an explanation that actually is backed up with facts...storing a car on its tires can cause flat spots. What's the lesser of the 2 evils?

 

[Stuart in MN]

Most 4 post lifts are around 14 to 15 feet deep which is not optimal is my space. It would leave me no working space at my bench. It is also my exit way to the side garage door.

If a four post lift is up in the air, the only things you need to worry about are the posts themselves - the ramps are out of the way.

 

[drg5490]

Maybe this?

 

[the GOAT]

What about a one post lift?

http://www.teclifts.com/storage_parking_lifts_7000SP.htm

 

[mmb617]

I stored my Mustang in the air on my 2 post last winter and plan to do the same this year. If it hurt anything I haven't noticed. When I say for the winter I'm talking about December through Early March.

 

[XS29L9B]

So the dilemma I have is my Garage addition is rather small(zoning issues). I need to store one car in the air and height is not the issue but length is. Most 4 post lifts are around 14 to 15 feet deep which is not optimal is my space. It would leave me no working space at my bench. It is also my exit way to the side garage door. Total length of the finished space is right at 17'6" Thankfully I have the door swinging out by design.
My question is that the car I am needing to hold up is only about 2300 lbs soaking wet. What kind of issues would there be if I wanted to fit a two post in and store the LBC(little British Car) in the air....would that be OK? I wish someone made a slightly smaller lift to fit the footprint I needed but no one does.

Thanks,
JP

There's a backyard buddy which is 13 1/2 ft deep.
http://www.backyardbuddy.com/compare-backyard-buddy-lifts.html

I have 3 of these lifts (the larger XL versions, actually) and they are great for storing cars!!

 

[A747]

Four post lifts have mechanical locks to keep the runways up for long term storage, at least mine does. Do two posts have the same feature? If not you are depending on the seals of the HPU to keep the car up with just hydraulic pressure.

With regards to leaving the suspension hanging on a two post list, the manual on my little British car requires that the car be settled on it's tires on the ground before torqueing the nuts for the front A arms. I'm assuming this is to eliminate any twist of the rubber bushing in it's neutral position. Any up and down movement of the wheel assembly will cause a twist of the bushing?

Jt

 

[Heel2toe]

^Most if not all 2 post lifts have safety locks as well. As to whether the operator uses these locks probably is up to the desecration of the user. I know whenever I am using my lift I set the weight down on the safety locks first and foremost for the safety aspect but its also better for the lift.

In regards to what your manual states torquing suspension components that is pretty standard but is totally unrelated. Its more a means to standardize conditions. In that logic given that bushings shouldnt be twisted any bump the vehicle is subjected to would pose issues.

 

[JohnnyK81]

A 2 post is certainly not meant for storage but I don't see why it can't be used as such.

I never understood the hanging argument...what is so bad about things hanging? Is it binding of CV joints? Springs being stretched? Just seems like everyone says its not good to let a car hang but why? Im not saying it is or is isn't I've just never heard an explanation that actually is backed up with facts...storing a car on its tires can cause flat spots. What's the lesser of the 2 evils?

I think it's another one of those Perpetual internet myths. The shocks will prevent the suspension from drooping too much. I suppose there may be some binding of the bushings, but I would not worry about it

 

[Heel2toe]

Yes my thoughts exactly. No reason a wheel shouldnt be allowed to go through its entire stroke or full droop in this case. When a wrangler is 4 wheeling is it a problem when the axle articulates? Of course not.

As you said the shocks will prevent the spring from falling out of its perch by limiting travel. On some older cars they used straps instead as to not damage the seals in the dampers. But same difference. So once again I've never heard a real arguement on why long term storage on a 2 post isn't advised.

Now Im not arguing that a 2 post is better than a 4 post for storage because it just isnt. A 4 post lift is more stable by nature given that it has 4 columns hence half the load on each column relative to a 2 post. Not to mention you dont need to made sure the center of gravity is proper. But how is it that vehicles are shifting when up on a 2 post lift? Seems like the arms were properly positioned in the first place...

 

[Falcon67]

I would not have any problem storing one of the race cars on a two post. All 3 posts I've looked at have locks, some more than others. You'd run the car up, let it down to the appropriate lock to relieve hydraulic pressure and done.

 

[Heel2toe]

Exactly I plan to store my race car on my 2 post once I buy my truck to free up space. Would rather do that then take up floor space. And Im **** about always leaving the lift on the locks; raise it up over and lower down. That's what they're there for. Good for my life as well as the life of the lift. Its the same concept of not leaving a car up in the air with a floor jack as seals can blow but its far more rare for jack stands to fail assuming theyre positioned properly and aren't overloaded.

 

[nehog]

I've been hanging cars for years over the winter on my two post. Never any problems. Suspensions have stops to prevent damage from this, but there are ways to keep the suspension loaded if you wanted. A benefit is that the springs are uncompressed and tend to not sag out as quickly.

 

[onewheat]

A 2 post is certainly not meant for storage but I don't see why it can't be used as such.

I never understood the hanging argument...what is so bad about things hanging? Is it binding of CV joints? Springs being stretched? Just seems like everyone says its not good to let a car hang but why? Im not saying it is or is isn't I've just never heard an explanation that actually is backed up with facts...storing a car on its tires can cause flat spots. What's the lesser of the 2 evils?

II have been thinking this exact same thing and was just going to start a post about it. I can not think of a single reason why it would be bad - other than more exposed shock/strut rods - rubber bushings don't know if they are compressed up or down, springs are relaxed and tires are unloaded. I can't think of a negative.

 

[Pucman1]

Thanks for all the great feedback, I just want to be safe about it!

So here is my next ah ha moment, with a two post lift how thick does the concrete need to be? I am not to sure that I can support a two post without cutting and repouring a portion of the floor?

JP

 

[RVDan]

Thanks for all the great feedback, I just want to be safe about it!

So here is my next ah ha moment, with a two post lift how thick does the concrete need to be? I am not to sure that I can support a two post without cutting and repouring a portion of the floor?

JP

The lift manufacturer will have specifications for you.

 

[onewheat]

a Bendpak XPR-10A (for example) requires 4".

 

[wildstyle]

I do it all the time in my garage

 

[fireball05]

Does anyone make a 2 post lift with extended height? I have a small garage and looking to add a 2 post lift, store the sports car up top in the winter but allow my wife to park her SUV under it.

Need 80-84" of clearance. Some searching didn't bring up anything that will lift near that high. Am I out of luck?

 

[fordcragar]

I have two Rotary 2 post lifts in my garage; which usually have Model A's on them. One I haven't driven or has been down off the lift for a couple of years.