How to move a 4 post lift that’s assembled

[svtrichie]

Anyone move a 4 post lift from home to home? Found a few for sale already assembled and looking for ideas to move them without hiring a flathead tow truck? Anyone move one on their own with a trailer? Pics would be helpful

 

[Spareparts]

How far and width would be a problem

 

[kbuhagiar]

If you're only moving it locally you have a few options. If you're moving it more than a few miles and need freeway access, your only choice is disassembly.

 

[Higgins]

Anyone move a 4 post lift from home to home? Found a few for sale already assembled and looking for ideas to move them without hiring a flathead tow truck? Anyone move one on their own with a trailer? Pics would be helpful

yup! Twice!!
Rent a low flat bed trailer and back it up and under the lift!
As then as you lower the bed the 4 corners will come up!
Secure with straps and away you go!

The only thing you may have to worry about is the height of the post, along with the cable end coming through the top of the post. I had to lower the cable end to clear the garage door trim

On one of the garages I removed the garage door top trim that gage me sufficient room to back the lift in!


Last move was to remove the two large ramps and put on trailer bed, then we left the vertical posts together with the bottom horizontal member. placed them on top of each other and strapped them down, The motor and oil sump was placed on top and strapped down!


AL

 

[boatshoes]

yup! Twice!!
Rent a low flat bed trailer and back it up and under the lift!
As then as you lower the bed the 4 corners will come up!
Secure with straps and away you go!

I don't understand how your 4 corners magically lift themselves when you lower the lift, but maybe yours is different than mine.
On lifts with wheels, the wheel attachments are designed so that the weight of the platform levers the posts into the air by pushing the wheels into the ground (but the wheels are still on the ground). The posts won't lift themselves.
On mine, I had to strap the posts up and around the crossbars so the posts would lift with the crossbars when I put the floor jack and engine hoist under it. But then again, I wasn't trying to get it on a trailer, this was just to reposition in the garage because I didn't order wheels with mine.

 

[JAB82]

I move one last year it has the removable skates I just used ratchet straps to secure the skates to the cross members rolled it up to the trailer set up a engine hoist inside the lift on the ground picked up the front crossmember pushed it on to trailer then moved hoist to the trailer in front of the lift and lifted it over the wheel wells then moved hoist to behind lift on ground to lift on to the trailer it went real quick this way actually strapped it down good and drove 45 minutes home on the freeway the lift was just as wide as the trailer fenders only thing hanging past it was the hydraulic pump so just be careful with that when driving

 

[fitter30]

Would want to either 2" angle iron or 4x4 bolted to the feet across the both ends help with racking and ratchet straps on the lengths. If the lengths had either angle or 4x4 could use pipe to roll it to move it.

 

[41plym]

I've moved mine twice. Had the local tow company bring a roll back.

 

[grabeb]

Not trying to highjack, but I'm in same boat.
I'm considering moving and if I sell vs rent my current house out, I'm debating do i use lift as bargaining chip and ask more if lift stays or move it. I built current garage around the lift, 12' sidewalls and vaulted ceiling, so could store a car at max height.

Lift posts are a few inches shy of 9' tall. Overhead doors at current and new one are 8'. Ceiling at new is 10', so maxing out wouldn't be possible, unless I could restructure the interior roof line. Hidden by drop ceiling.

I paid $500 to have it delivered and installed. My guess is in could maybe get it torn down for $500 and reinstall for another $500. Unless i do myself. So has me debate selling with house and buying new.

Unless a way to get 9 foot posts under 8' doors. Thoughts?

I don't doubt I could tear it down and put back up, just the time is my question.

 

[Daedalus]

$500 is a bargain. I'm certain that around here at least, at that price it would not be done to my satisfaction.

 

[grabeb]

$500 is a bargain. I'm certain that around here at least, at that price it would not be done to my satisfaction.

Well, one of the top guys for the company lives in town and he installs also. 100% a bargain i believe.

 

[ToolsRCool]

I think a flatbed tow truck would be your lowest cost bet. Just tell them up front what you are doing and that you'll need them to bring 4 skates. Most other means will cost you at least 4x the amount of time, and likely more $ as well, trailer fender damage, etc..... They will usually have a hookup fee and then a per mile ordeal.

Tell the driver he is welcome to use it twice a year, and he may make a lot of that bill disappear.

 

[kngelv]

I'm trying to figure out how to move mine from one garage to another. I just built a new garage behind my house. Should be ready to move stuff in about three weeks. Going from 8.5' to a 12' ceiling. I had a driveway that was 7'3" wide installed alongside the house. Unfortunately there is a chimney about halfway back. That area is only 5'7" wide. The only way to do it assembled is to hover half of it over my neighbors grass. Hoping I can use my engine hoist to assist. I would hate to have to disassemble it. Good times.

James

 

[grabeb]

I think a flatbed tow truck would be your lowest cost bet. Just tell them up front what you are doing and that you'll need them to bring 4 skates. Most other means will cost you at least 4x the amount of time, and likely more $ as well, trailer fender damage, etc..... They will usually have a hookup fee and then a per mile ordeal.

Tell the driver he is welcome to use it twice a year, and he may make a lot of that bill disappear.

But how to get something 9' tall out an 8' opening? I don't think possible to lift and tilt......

Maybe someone has ideas?

 

[kbuhagiar]

But how to get something 9' tall out an 8' opening? I don't think possible to lift and tilt......

Maybe someone has ideas?

This is a longshot, and I expect someone will shoot it down, and is dependent upon having the caster kit and enough ceiling clearance inside the garage, but here goes...

1) Install the casters on the 4-post lift;
2) Lower the lift onto the casters so it is mobile;
3) Lift the end farthest from the door with an engine hoist, high enough to angle down the posts nearest to the garage door, enough so that they will clear under the 8' opening;
4) Carefully roll out the lift until the front posts are past the 8' opening;
5) Repeat on the opposite end to clear the other two posts.

Like I said, there's probably a reason why this won't work, but I didn't take the time to figure that out.

Ready...aim...fire!

 

[Daedalus]

there's probably a reason why this won't work, but I didn't take the time to figure that out.

Ready...aim...fire!

It's not going to tilt much with the runways attached. Removing the runways is much of the battle...go that far and might as well take the whole thing apart. The runways, especially the one with the ram, are the heaviest items of the lift.

 

[Viper98912]

Disassembling the lift is not that bad. You unhook and wrap up the cables under the runway with the cylinder, and unbolt the hydraulic line and pump. You end up with:

1) 2 runways
2) 4 posts
3) 2 cross members
4) Little things like the lock release rods, etc

I moved my lift from one home to another and it honestly wasn't bad at all. There's a lot less pieces compared to buying new because you leave things partially assembled, like the lock plates within the posts, most of the nuts and bolts, etc.

 

[grabeb]

Thanks! That's great news. Wonder if I can watch a tiktok on it.....oh wait!!

I guess if I decide to move I'll get book out and read up. Thanks again!

 

[grabeb]

.............Like I said, there's probably a reason why this won't work, but I didn't take the time to figure that out.

Ready...aim...fire!

I actually contemplated something along that line. Current garage likely has the ceiling height. New garage, maybe not. 10' i think.


Roll it to the side...... yeah, never gong to get back up. If what other poster said works I'll try that.

 

[ToolsRCool]

But how to get something 9' tall out an 8' opening? I don't think possible to lift and tilt......

Maybe someone has ideas?

Missed your situation. Will have to come apart, or at least partially.

 

[sailor_lou]

I moved mine (older BendPak BP-12, 12k lb four post lift) using my 16' car trailer. Since disassembly/reassembly is not that difficult I never consider moving it as one piece.

 

[mike93lx]

This is a longshot, and I expect someone will shoot it down, and is dependent upon having the caster kit and enough ceiling clearance inside the garage, but here goes...

1) Install the casters on the 4-post lift;
2) Lower the lift onto the casters so it is mobile;
3) Lift the end farthest from the door with an engine hoist, high enough to angle down the posts nearest to the garage door, enough so that they will clear under the 8' opening;
4) Carefully roll out the lift until the front posts are past the 8' opening;
5) Repeat on the opposite end to clear the other two posts.

Like I said, there's probably a reason why this won't work, but I didn't take the time to figure that out.

Ready...aim...fire!

If I am doing the math right, assuming a 20' long lift, you'd have to pick one end up by about 3 feet to clear an 8' opening

 

[Bill T]

I disassembled mine to move it. I purchased it used. The lift was in a shop with limited access. I was 65 years old (with a bad back). My son helped me carry the runways through an entrance door (not a OH door). That was the worst part. I used my open 18' trailer to transport the lift home. I assembled the lift alone. I used various lifting devices and carts. I wish I had a video for you.