How important is rise height on a 2-post lift?

[maverick302]

I’ve never used a lift in my life. I’m comparing specs of 2-post lifts, and even the extended-height models usually have “rise” dimensions of 73-76”. I’m 78” tall. That means that I’ll have to hunch over to get under a vehicle at full height, right?
I found a challenger lift with an 84” rise and if my above presumption is correct it seems like this is an obvious choice, even though the minimum pad height is higher than most (5”).

 

[willymakeit]

Important to keep from banging head. The riser blocks/pads might give you a couple more inchs

 

[firebirdparts]

I am 6' and I raise mine all the way up most of the time. Once in a while I'll lower it down and get some more beef on something. so evidently, based on my use of it, lift height is very very important if you're tall. If I was 6'3" it would clearly be too low.

That said - having a lift is about a million times better than not having one.

 

[bctexas]

I'm 6'4" and I have a BendPak XPR-10AXLS which apparently is no longer in production. Sitting on the top locks the lift pads, which are screwed out part way, are 79 1/2 inches off the floor. I can walk upright under a car at that height. With a rise of 84" you should be good to go. Overall height of the posts on mine is almost 14 feet, so check your ceiling.

If you can, get a lift. It is a game changer.

Happy Motoring!

 

[finn]

Important to keep from banging head. The riser blocks/pads might give you a couple more inchs

You’re still going to bang your head on the lift arms

If your pad extensions are too long, you can’t reach anything without a stool, unless you’re a knuckle dragger with exceptionally long arms.

The only solution I’ve found personally to protect my head is a soft welder’s beanie. No hard button to drive into your cranium, and the one I use is double layer fabric. You still hit your head in the heat of battle, but it’s a softer blow. Plus, no visor to screen your vision.

 

[TobeyA]

I'm lazy in my old age. I do most of my work sitting on a rolling stool with the lift about halfway up. I occasionally have to raise it all the way to get to something or to get full strength on a wrench. But a good rolling stool fixes a lot.

 

[aggie113]

Also got a BendPak XPR-10AXLS. I'm not that tall, but I have some friends who are.

 

[z28tt]

I'm looking to get a tall two post (I'm 6'3"), but seems like lots of the companies spec max rise using their tallest lift blocks. That's not going to help w/ the low clearance road race car!

Here are the options that I've found for extended rise 2 point lifts:

• Rotary's SPOA10 gets 81.5" with a low 3.375" min clearance, but it's pricey at $8k+.
• Bendpack has the 10APX with a 75.5" rise and 4" min clearance at $6.9k.
• Challenger's CL10AV3 has 74" with a 3.875" min pad height. No idea on price.
• Amgo has the OHX-10X at 78.75" at $4k, and specifies the max locking height is 77.1875".
• And for the budget option, looks like it's APlus HW-10K with a 75" rise for $2100 with dual point unlocking, $2800 single point, and $4100 for ALI certified.

Is the the max locking height typically an inch or two below max rise? How about min rise to hit the first stage of locks?

Amgo seems solid for a Chinese Peak clone - https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/amgo-ohx-10h-lift-review-install.472894/

 

[BlindViper]

I am 6'4" and my Atlas 2 post at full locks is much shorter then me. I normally just use a stool with wheels to move around.

 

[maverick302]

I'm looking to get a tall two post (I'm 6'3"), but seems like lots of the companies spec max rise using their tallest lift blocks. That's not going to help w/ the low clearance road race car!

Here are the options that I've found for extended rise 2 point lifts:

• Rotary's SPOA10 gets 81.5" with a low 3.375" min clearance, but it's pricey at $8k+.
• Bendpack has the 10APX with a 75.5" rise and 4" min clearance at $6.9k.
• Challenger's CL10AV3 has 74" with a 3.875" min pad height. No idea on price.
• Amgo has the OHX-10X at 78.75" at $4k, and specifies the max locking height is 77.1875".
• And for the budget option, looks like it's APlus HW-10K with a 75" rise for $2100 with dual point unlocking, $2800 single point, and $4100 for ALI certified.

Is the the max locking height typically an inch or two below max rise? How about min rise to hit the first stage of locks?

Amgo seems solid for a Chinese Peak clone - https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/amgo-ohx-10h-lift-review-install.472894/

Max lift height takes risers into account, so doesn’t do you much good if you need to lift a car without them. “Rise height” is highest minus lowest height, regardless of pad/riser. So assuming you can get the pads to touch the car while the lift arms are all the way down, that’s the best you’ll do. Riser blocks won’t change this figure, and in reality you’ll lose an inch or a few due to lowering onto locks, lifting the arms a bit before contact with the car, etc…

 

[maverick302]

I am 6'4" and my Atlas 2 post at full locks is much shorter then me. I normally just use a stool with wheels to move around.

Do you wish you had the few extra inches to stand without hunching? Or are you generally fine with just using the stool all the time?

 

[gregs]

I'll chime in for my two cents. The clearance is going to be different between a low car and a tall truck. A low car you will not be able to use spacers so the lifted height will be whatever they list for the top of the arm. A truck or taller vehicle you add the spacers to get the pads closer to the frame, so you "gain" that additional clearance that may be 6+" or more.

It also depends on what type of work you are doing. Wheels and brakes your not raising to the top. Oil changes and service you probably are raising it fully. Other work you will find that you may need to lower it just so you can reach up inside to things. Top engine work sometimes I drop all 4 tires so that I can lower it down as far as it will go. That gives me easier access to the firewall area without having to stand on another platform.

 

[CraigStu]

I spent 25+ years as a dealer tech. I'd get the tallest lift you can find. I like finn's beanie idea. Some of the cars I had to work on were SUVs and sometimes I used the risers to get the vehicle higher because I lost so much height just getting the normal arms up to the frame. But then I would always put a hat on cause those arms are hard.

 

[MileHighRover]

I'm bald so when I bump my head it usually results in bleeding. I got tired of banging my head on nearly everything I worked on so I got a bump cap with micro brim. It's been great.

Bump Cap (Amazon link)

 

[dave*99]

I'm looking to get a tall two post (I'm 6'3"), but seems like lots of the companies spec max rise using their tallest lift blocks. That's not going to help w/ the low clearance road race car!

Here are the options that I've found for extended rise 2 point lifts:

• Rotary's SPOA10 gets 81.5" with a low 3.375" min clearance, but it's pricey at $8k+.
• Bendpack has the 10APX with a 75.5" rise and 4" min clearance at $6.9k.
• Challenger's CL10AV3 has 74" with a 3.875" min pad height. No idea on price.
• Amgo has the OHX-10X at 78.75" at $4k, and specifies the max locking height is 77.1875".
• And for the budget option, looks like it's APlus HW-10K with a 75" rise for $2100 with dual point unlocking, $2800 single point, and $4100 for ALI certified.

Is the the max locking height typically an inch or two below max rise? How about min rise to hit the first stage of locks?

Amgo seems solid for a Chinese Peak clone - https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/amgo-ohx-10h-lift-review-install.472894/

I have the Rotary SPOA10RA. My track car was low and the lift pads barely cleared the frame. I bought that model specifically to clear low cars. It works great.

 

[BlindViper]

Do you wish you had the few extra inches to stand without hunching? Or are you generally fine with just using the stool all the time?

For me I would need 6-8 inches to stand up. But its a false sense of security. As soon as you get comfortable you catch a lift arm or wheel/tire right to the forehead.

 

[BobnCO]

I think it is more than just “bumping your head” it is fatiguing and eventually painful to work in a too low clearance environment bending your neck and the rest of your body all the time. I am 6’-0” with a standard Rotary 9,000# two post and it’s just enough for me; as pointed out I’m still ducking at arms etc.. I can’t imagine working under there at 6’-6” as original poster is. “F’n A get the extended hieght!