Car lift/Hoist

[Alsv8vair]

So I have just started to look at hoists , two and four post. that is one or the other. I am trying to decide on which.
Originally I was going to get a four post as once a hoist is installed in my garage I will have to store a car on top and the other under it. The garage is only 22 x 24. but I was thinking that the 4 post will not give me as much access to the underside of our cars.

Odd question but, is a four post safe to store a car below it while one is on it.

Thanks

Al

 

[A747]

I don't see why not. I've been using mine exclusively for storage for the last four or five years. As long as you use the mechanical locks and not the rely on the hydraulics, should be not problem. I have to admit though, we haven't had a decent earthquake big enough to shake the lift to see how my car on top will survive.

JT

 

[landlord30]

It is fine. Order drip trays to protect the car underneath from any leakers you may park on top. All cars will eventually leak something.

 

[coljar]

So I have just started to look at hoists , two and four post. that is one or the other. I am trying to decide on which.
Originally I was going to get a four post as once a hoist is installed in my garage I will have to store a car on top and the other under it. The garage is only 22 x 24. but I was thinking that the 4 post will not give me as much access to the underside of our cars.

Odd question but, is a four post safe to store a car below it while one is on it. Thanks

Al

Yeah, safer than a two post, but I have a two post and I like it. As stated in the above post, drip pans to protect the bottom car.

 

[Dakota00]

A 4 post lift is mainly intended for storing a vehicle. With that said there's still plenty of access underneath to work on your vehicle.

 

[garagelogician]

A 4 post lift is mainly intended for storing a vehicle. With that said there's still plenty of access underneath to work on your vehicle.

I would argue that with the addition of rolling bridge jack(s) and/or jacking trays, that a 4 post lift is every bit as useful as a 2 post for service work. And if you're doing suspension work it has a huge advantage over a 2 post lift when it comes to putting everything back together. Many vehicles need to have weight on the suspension when tightening everything down, especially when replacing bushings.

4 post lifts are service lifts that just happen to be better for long-term storage as well.

 

[ronr80]

I have a 4 post hoist and love it , you can do has much work on a 4 post than a 2 post , it's just takes getting used to it , make sure you get a bridge jack to go with it .
I agree with post # 6

 

[MarlynOC]

Saw a condo unit in Sea Isle City NJ where there were lifts from Atlas for all cars. pull one in and then raise it and park other under it. Parking is a real premium in SIC to say the least for a beach community.

 

[Falcon67]

I have a two post and would not hesitate to park another car under one on the lift.

 

[chammyman]

I usually have 2 parked under the 2 post, one up, the first car up to the middle bump, other car up to the first, done it for years.

Working on a 4 post is terrible compared to a 2 post. Of course the home tinkerer may be willing to work around the inconvenience but if you spanner for a living its no use.

 

[Scud67]

Love my two post and always have a car up and one under, unless I am working on it.

 

[DerStig]

I would prefer 4 post lift for the following reasons:

- You can use it for storage.
- Getting a car on the lift is much easier than it is on a 2 post lift. With a 2 post lift, you need to move the arms and get on your knees and you have to do this 4 times. The other problem is, when you are raising the car, its possible that the opposite side might slip or might have structural damage on the lift which may not notice until its too late (simply because you cannot see that side and you most likely wont pausing the lifting motion to go check).
- 2 post lift requires you to drill your concrete and have a very strong concrete.
- Managing a sloped floor is much easier with a 4 post lift due to adjust-ability of the cables and ladders.
- Once you get a rolling jack, you can do pretty much anything and some more that you cannot do easily on a 4 post lift. A rolling jack is always on the 4 post lift, no reason to move it around and can be used to lower transmission, exhaust, differential, driveshaft and other heavy drive terrain components.

 

[Alsv8vair]

So I am finally shopping for a hoist. Had some family matters to take care of.

I looked at Direct Lift in Vaughn Ontario. Also a friend had a Revolution 4 post lift. it was very nice . He has had it for 16 years.
I called GS Garage supply today, they are sending me information on some Challenger lifts .
Also waiting to here back from a sales Rep for Rotary.

For those from Ontario here where did you get your lifts from.

Thanks

 

[Dakota00]

Me and my buddies got our lifts from the headquarters of Direct Lift in Concord.

 

[brownbagg]

on a 22x24 garage, i woulld get a four post on caster, that way if you need the shop you could pull the lift out into the driveway, oh and i have a two post

 

[APEowner]

Ah, the old two vs. four post lift conundrum. You can store a car on either but a four post is more convenient for that. Which one is better for working on cars depends on what kind of work you're doing and what you're doing it on.

 

[jfitz]

Got a Bendpak HD9XW 4 post through Babco.ca. Also got the RJ45 rolling jack, drip trays and castors. My garage is 26 x 26 and the castors make it handy to move the lift especially when winter comes as I move the lift to the far corner of the garage to put my car up on. I drive my Equinox underneath all winter long. Makes my big 2 car garage a 3 car for winter. Got it 2 yrs ago, should have got it 10 yrs ago!!

 

[Skyking1992]

I have a two post lift and use it a lot. I would love a four post (or two) for storage as well. Maybe someday! I have a Corvette that the wife and I autocross pretty much every weekend. Every week I lift the car and rotate tires, check brake pads, and bleed clutch and/or brakes. The two post is great for this and I even use it if I want to wax the car. Loading is easy and I never get down on my hands and knees to place the arms. I have a mark on the floor where the car goes, I have marked how long to extend the arms, and I can push the arms in with my foot and have the car in the air in a matter of minutes.

I have done several clutch and transmission jobs for myself and friends. The entire rear drivetrain (from just behind the bellhousing) comes down in one piece. I don't doubt it could be done on a four post - but I bet it would not be as easy. I have also removed the entire drive train (engine, drive shaft, transmisssion, rear end, and all suspension) in one piece several times. Get everything loose, lower car to ground, remove final four nuts, and lift body. Again, you may be able to do that with a four post, but it sure is easy with a two post.

A two post may not be for everyone, but for service I wouldn't want anything else.

 

[scottmoyer]

If you are looking at a 4 post, please do yourself a favor and look at the Advantage Lifts. For the same $3000 that BendPak wants, you get a 9k pound lift, 4500 pound jacking tray, the 4 casters and 4 drip trays. The ramps are aluminum, so they are lighter to move around than the other company's steel ramps. The post base plates are 5/8" steel and are 12"x12". My lift has almost no side to side movement at all with a car on it. It barely shows movement of any type. www.advantagelifts.us

 

[rburke65]

Just looked at the link but I don't see that $3,000 offer......

 

[AngryBeaver]

lol at the you can do as much under a 4 post as a 2 post...

you can store a car under both

you cannot drop subframes out on a 4 post

you cannot drop an entire rear end assy out on a 4post, easily.

you won't see 4 posts in any real service garage unless its for an alignment rack.

2 posts are more versatile if you are doing things other than cars, such as trailers, tractors, etc.

get a good two post, get some support stands and learn how to properly use it. 2 posts are also generally cheaper as there is less material in the costs.

 

[c39er]

So Funny!

 

[scottmoyer]

https://advantagelifts.us/4-post-lifts/SS-9000-Four-Post-Lift

 

[lat905]

https://advantagelifts.us/4-post-lifts/SS-9000-Four-Post-Lift

I just got my advantage lift a few weeks ago. Only really used it twice so far but very happy with it.

 

[Jazzman442]

I have a 4 post lift. I grew up with a in ground lift in s service station our family owned. I can do the same om the 4 Post and I can with a in ground. I bought the 2 sliding lifts for my 4 post and now I can do anything that a 2 post can. My garage is a 4 car and only 20' deep. it works great. I have a Direct lift 9K. I use it for all of my cars including the largest a Suburban. I like the fact that My son can use it and I dont have to worry about him getting the car on the lift just right on a 2 post.

 

[garagelogician]

you cannot drop subframes out on a 4 post

you cannot drop an entire rear end assy out on a 4post, easily.

you won't see 4 posts in any real service garage unless its for an alignment rack.

Sure you can, you just have to be a little creative. I've done both.

Most of us here aren't running a "real service garage," we're running a DIY/hobby garage and sometimes compromises have to be made for a variety of reasons. I'd love to have a big shop with dedicated lift bay where I could have a nice Mohawk 2 post lift. Maybe someday I will. For now I have a 19.5'x27' attached garage. A BendPak HD-7 4 post beats the hell out of jack stands.

 

[lakeroadster]

I've owned both a 4 post and a 2 post, at the same time.

They are both great.. way better than floor jacks and jack stands.

I just rotated the tires on my Tacoma today using my Rotary 2 post.

• Locate the vehicle and swing arms into position.
  
• Lift the vehicle to the lowest lock position. Remove lug nuts and all wheels/tires
  
• Install all four wheels/tires and replace lug nuts.
  
• Lower the vehicle.

Done. Easy and simple 4 step operation.

Lets see the steps to do this same simple tire rotation on a 4 post lift using a rolling jack and lifting the vehicle at the manufacturers specified lift points. Not nearly as easy.

Yes, either lift will accomplish the function.

Focus on the normal things you will do to maintain a vehicle.

How about lubricating a chassis?

• A 4 post is a pain due to the ramps and cross supports. They are in the way when greasing upper and lower ball joints. A 2 post allows unobstructed access. Try rotating the drive shaft to get to the U-joint grease fittings. On a 4 post you have to lift the drive axle(s), on a 2 post that's not necessary.

A 2 post lift is the obvious choice for vehicle maintenance. That's why you see them pretty much exclusively in maintenance shops.

 

[Ign]

Good luck doing this on a 4 post.

 

[DerStig]

Getting the car on a 4 post lift is much easier than a 2 post lift where on a 2 post lift visually its difficult to confirm the other side of the car. Usually in actual shops there is another person around but in your garage you have to make 2 trips to check the pads and make sure car is level

 

[brownbagg]

i hate my two post because i got to crawl under it to position the arms, my knees hurt

 

[lakeroadster]

Getting the car on a 4 post lift is much easier than a 2 post lift where on a 2 post lift visually its difficult to confirm the other side of the car. Usually in actual shops there is another person around but in your garage you have to make 2 trips to check the pads and make sure car is level

Not difficult at all. You ever use a 2 post lift?

 

[R. Deschain]

Go with a 4 post. full access under and safer in a shake than a 2-post. I am saying that as a happy owner of a two post lift.

Do a little research, but all the guys in so-cal I knew with 4-post models did not bolt their's down so that it would "float" in a quake. Ask the manufacturer about that though. You can get Bridge Jacks for a 4-post in case you want to pull the wheels. Drip trays are a must and install lighting under the ramps/bridging.