I might have the option to put a lift into my garage and had a few questions. I am a weekend wrencher and would want the lift more for storing another car underneath. I have a friend with a two post lift and he stores his 55 Chevy on the lift and another underneath. I have heard that you should be concerned with flexing with a two post and you lose the ability to work on the suspension/brakes with a 4 post. All comments are welcome and thanks for the help. Also brand recommendations...
Car Lift question..2 or 4 post lift?
- Thread starter 68 sat
- Start date
txvwnut
Well-known member
For storage purposes I would go with a 4 post and you can always get the center jack option which will allow you to do brake and suspension work.
evanbaker08
Well-known member
You don't want to store car with the suspension unloaded. It will cause damage to the suspension. Go with a four post if you are using it mainly for storage.
James-W
Well-known member
I have used both types and quite frankly, I prefer the 4 post lift. Others may have a different opinion and that's fine, but a 4 post is MY preference. But the thing is, if the lift is mainly for storage then I would think the 4 post lift is a no-brainer.
joel
Well-known member
I agree 4-post is the way to go for storage.
Rolling jacks are readily available to lift the tires off the runways. Jacking trays are a less costly approach. (I went nuts and bought 2 air over hydraulic rolling jacks (Bendpack RJ-45) to use on my Bendpack 4-post lift and love them!
Rolling jacks are readily available to lift the tires off the runways. Jacking trays are a less costly approach. (I went nuts and bought 2 air over hydraulic rolling jacks (Bendpack RJ-45) to use on my Bendpack 4-post lift and love them!
evanbaker08
Well-known member
Bendpack is what most people use.
pmiranda
Well-known member
For storage, 4 post is easier to deal with, and sometimes (usually?) offer higher lift so you don't have to duck under the tires of the vehicle above.
I just went with a four post from Aresco. Delivered and installed was about the same as online with delivery and I don't have to hassle with figuring out how to get it off the truck. I am using it mainly for winter storage of the convertible.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
ABADWILLYS
Well-known member
Say what?
cajunfirehawk
Well-known member
I agree 4-post (bendpak or other brand) is the way to go for storage.
One other thing I'd consider is, doing brakes is really easy without a lift. But doing a transmission is probably a lot harder without a lift. So if the 4 post lift only prevents you from doing brakes and suspension that stuff isn't too bad to do with jackstands on the ground.
porschedude996TT
Well-known member
No Post is my preference. I installed the EE-6503 some years back and it makes my shop work.
http://www.weiku.com/products/19588667/EE_6503_Full_rise_scissor_lift.html
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
http://www.weiku.com/products/19588667/EE_6503_Full_rise_scissor_lift.html
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
APEowner
Well-known member
You can do suspension and brakes on a four post it it has the sliding jacks. In fact, I prefer it.
junkman104
Well-known member
THIS! Especially when you get older, drive on.... lift..... jack. It has its own work bench also. I make a living and pay my bills on one.
Falcon67
Well-known member
IMHO - If you have a lot of space and are just stacking cars, 4 post. If you are working on things, 2 post is more versatile and less of a space hog.
Autorotica
Well-known member
4 post for me.
No need to lay on the ground to position the arms. I drive right on the lift, put it in park and hop out and hit the button.
I can put the caster kit on the 4 post and relocate it anywhere I want it to be. No special needs on concrete thickness like with a 2 post.
Best of luck with your decision.
Chris
No need to lay on the ground to position the arms. I drive right on the lift, put it in park and hop out and hit the button.
I can put the caster kit on the 4 post and relocate it anywhere I want it to be. No special needs on concrete thickness like with a 2 post.
Best of luck with your decision.
Chris
landlord30
Well-known member
I have a 4 post from Best Buy Auto Equipment. Had it almost 2 years. Only issue I had so far is a cable broke 3 weeks ago. I like it for many reasons. The work bench factor for brakes was mentioned above. I have also used the caster kit to me the lift to the driveway and pressure wash the underside of my 55 Dodge. I bought mine mainly for storage reasons. Have removed a transmission, done brake work, remove a fuel tank and numerous other jobs and never felt the 4 post was a hindrance. I also feel safer under the 4 post too. This is a personal preference but something about four points locked in and not having to worry about mis aligning a car on a 2 post is comforting.
Mine is an Auto-lift car park 8. It's extra tall and extra wide.
I plan on getting a second one late spring or early summer.
Get drips trays with it if you order a four post.
Mine is an Auto-lift car park 8. It's extra tall and extra wide.
I plan on getting a second one late spring or early summer.
Get drips trays with it if you order a four post.
I did the same, and don’t regret it for a second!
32roadster
Well-known member
68 sat
We carry the Challenger / Quality brand, and also carry Bend Pak.
Having been in this business for 20 years, I would strongly suggest the Challenger/Quality lift. Its a heavier, beefier model than the Bend Pak, with thicker materials and large cables. Plus, the Quality brand is more stable than other brands. MUCH more stable.
My 2 cents, but after 20 years, its good advice.
www.kwik-lift.com
We carry the Challenger / Quality brand, and also carry Bend Pak.
Having been in this business for 20 years, I would strongly suggest the Challenger/Quality lift. Its a heavier, beefier model than the Bend Pak, with thicker materials and large cables. Plus, the Quality brand is more stable than other brands. MUCH more stable.
My 2 cents, but after 20 years, its good advice.
www.kwik-lift.com
tfalk
Well-known member
If more for storage, 4 post all the way. If more for every day work, 2 post.
Keep in mind, the 2 post takes up a lot wider area than the 4 post.
Keep in mind, the 2 post takes up a lot wider area than the 4 post.
jnyost
Well-known member
4 post waste a lot of real estate though.
dlcwent
Member Emeritus
Lot of opinions here and they're good ones. I am lucky enough to have both 2 and 4 post lifts. And I can tell you that they both have good and bad attributes. As said before, a 4 post does take up a lot of real estate. But if you're working on anything with a little weight, you'll fell more comfortable with a 4 post. When you're wrenching on a vehicle and it's rocking, you'll know what I mean.
DonPowers
Well-known member
Bend Pak HG 9XW four post here with wheel kit. I move it between bays for winter storage. For the rest of the year it sits in front of one of the garage doors for maintenance purposes. Got the extra wide and tall model so there is a bit more room between the post and more headroom when the lift is all the way up with nothing on it.
Also, if I need more room for a project, its easy to move around.
View media item 45844
Also, if I need more room for a project, its easy to move around.
View media item 45844
lakeroadster
Well-known member
At my last place I had a 2 post (Rotary) and a 4 post (Chinaman Knock Off).
If you want the best lift for working on a vehicle, go with a 2 post.
If you are storing a car, go with a 4 post.
That being said the 4 post takes a up a lot of space. What I did before I bought the 4 post was to layout the floor with black duct tape where the posts would be, and then used the garage as I normally would. I learned real quick that the 4 post really limited the space on that side of my garage.
I'd recommend the caster option for the 4 post too. It's nice to be able to roll the lift around the shop, and outside the shop.
If you want the best lift for working on a vehicle, go with a 2 post.
If you are storing a car, go with a 4 post.
That being said the 4 post takes a up a lot of space. What I did before I bought the 4 post was to layout the floor with black duct tape where the posts would be, and then used the garage as I normally would. I learned real quick that the 4 post really limited the space on that side of my garage.
I'd recommend the caster option for the 4 post too. It's nice to be able to roll the lift around the shop, and outside the shop.
scootermcrad
Well-known member
Great thread. I've had similar questions.
Is it typical that most 4-post lifts don't need anything more than a standard 4" slab? If I were doing concrete work, would it be recommended to put in some specific thicker pads, or just really not needed? I'll never be lifting anything bigger than a mid-50's GM car.
Is it typical that most 4-post lifts don't need anything more than a standard 4" slab? If I were doing concrete work, would it be recommended to put in some specific thicker pads, or just really not needed? I'll never be lifting anything bigger than a mid-50's GM car.
lakeroadster
Well-known member
It varies with the manufacture. Rotary specifies the use of 4-1/4" thick 3,000 psi concrete for their std 2 or 4 post lifts: http://www.rotarylift.com/Support/FAQ/
DonPowers
Well-known member
Bend Pak specifies a minimum of 3.5" of 2,500 PSI for their HD-9 series four post lifts with no more than 3 degrees of slope.
You should be able to find concrete requirements on line for all the major brands and types of lifts.
You should be able to find concrete requirements on line for all the major brands and types of lifts.
marksland
Well-known member
I have a BendPak HD9XW four post with caster kit so its portable and a rolling bridge jack for doing brakes, tire rotations, etc.
overkill 19
Well-known member
I'm no expert but I would think the thickness is more about anchor bolt engagement vs. Holding the weight! Look at it this way. If your concrete will hold your truck with the lift in the box... Ur good! If anything I bet your 4 post lift with your truck on it will distribute less PSI on concrete than your truck alone parked in same spot.
Your tires only mark out 12"X 4" per tire. What's a 4 post base plate 12x12? I'm guessing, I don't own one. But I'm sure they are bigger foot print than most tires.
For 2 post I poured a thicker slab.. Just cause I was pouring and it was a cheap price of mind. I went 8" deep for roughly 8 ft X 20 ft where posts sit. Rest of slab is 4-5ish.
Last edited:
69385vette
Well-known member
Autorotica
Well-known member
When I am not using my 4 post I put it up in the air so I can walk "thru" everything but the posts.
Chris
Chris
marty1835
Member
i agree 4 post for storing and 2 post for working. I dread every time i use the 2 post but then i ***** when i try and do suspension or brakes on the 4 post. Its a tough decision. but then the 4 post is probably moved a half dozen times a year in the shop which is nice.
actually i am grateful that i have both and should never complain.
actually i am grateful that i have both and should never complain.