I'm considering a 4 post lift for various reasons and I'd like to hear from members here who rotate their tires on a 4 post lift. Without the expensive hydraulic bridge jacks, how would I do it? Right now I lift one whole side up and rotate front to rear then do the other side. I've never used a lift before but I do alot of my own work and getting tired of working on the floor! Thanks
Rotating tires on a 4 post lift?
- Thread starter jimchevy
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dlcwent
Member Emeritus
Owning both a two and four post lift, I can tell you a two post is much easier to do work on. The ramps on a four post are usually in the way and you are further away from your work so you're always reaching over the ramps. Plus the four post puts the vehicle higher in the air nor allowing you east access to the engine compartment without a step stool. I choose to do most jobs on the two post but that's JMO. Without the bridge jacks I don't know how easy it'd be to do much of anything on a four post.
gdocktor3
Well-known member
Wouldn't it just be easier to do it on the ground vs a 4 post?
bcradio
Well-known member
I would purchase a 2-post myself for basically the same reasons dlcwent listed.
mbshop
Well-known member
Had a four post lift but eventually sold it. Not that usefull and has a big footprint. Get a quality two poster and be done with it.
The reason I wanted a 4 post was to store my GTO above my truck most of the time but have the lift for doing doing general maintenance on all my vehicles and tractor when necessary. The other reason is when my garage was built 2 years ago I had to have alot of fill dirt brought in to make a level pad to build on because my property is sloped. My floor is 4000 psi fiber enforced concrete but I'm a little nervous because my garage was not built on virgin ground, maybe I'm just over-thinking it. I figured 4 post would be twice as safe if the floor ever cracked
I realize a 2 post is easier for wheel work but not advised for long term storage of a car. I'm not worried about the footprint of the 4 post.
I realize a 2 post is easier for wheel work but not advised for long term storage of a car. I'm not worried about the footprint of the 4 post.Burl
Well-known member
Put these where needed, drop the lift.
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-capacity-underhoist-safety-stand-60759.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-capacity-underhoist-safety-stand-60759.html
T_Roze
Well-known member
A bottle jack would work, or a small scissor jack. I use both a 4 post and a "1" post. With out a bridge jack, our 4 post becomes almost useless. Many cars and smaller suv's have a narrow stance, and without a bridge jack you may not be able to get on a decent jacking point if you are relying on lifting from the ramps. I really dislike jacking on the rocker panels, as these tend to deform even though this is often a factory lift point.
I love our 4 post for suspension work and oil changes when properly set up. But it has a lot of draw backs.
I am not familiar with proper install of two post posts, but is it possible to install a steel plate between the posts and the floor, to add a bit more strength, and spread out the force?
Your point about stacking your two vehicles on top of each other is something a two post can't do as well as a 4 post.. If you really are wanting a 4 post, the scissor jack (just 1 would be fine), really is a must have. IMOP.
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I love our 4 post for suspension work and oil changes when properly set up. But it has a lot of draw backs.
I am not familiar with proper install of two post posts, but is it possible to install a steel plate between the posts and the floor, to add a bit more strength, and spread out the force?
Your point about stacking your two vehicles on top of each other is something a two post can't do as well as a 4 post.. If you really are wanting a 4 post, the scissor jack (just 1 would be fine), really is a must have. IMOP.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited:
ptgarcia
Well-known member
I have a 4-post at my office we use to maintain company vehicles. When we need to remove tires we lift the vehicle, position jack stands where needed then lower the vehicle onto the stands. It actually works quite well.
59 wagon man
Well-known member
harbor freight air/hydraulic bottle jack one in front lifts the hole front set it on jackstands and then move the jack to the rear been doing it that way since I sold my 2 post. `not as convienant as my 2 post was but mine is mainly for storage
hootywampus
New member
Our four post lifts come with a jack tray, it's a heavy metal tray to hold a bottle jack in between the rails of the four post. So you could lift the vehicle in the front and block it, move the tray to the back and then jack it up, perform the rotation and then reverse the process.
jakemac
Well-known member
My uncle (great-uncle) was a mechanic with his own gas station/garage for nearly 50yrs. The only lift he had was a 4-post. He did almost all of his underneath work down in the grease-pit when it wasn't flooded. I never saw him use the lift to change/rotate tires, it was done on the ground with a jack.
After he retired, he moved the lift to his house and used it as vertical storage for his old Nash and would work on cars under it.
After he retired, he moved the lift to his house and used it as vertical storage for his old Nash and would work on cars under it.
The only way I see rotating tires on a 4 post being worth it would be front to back.
Even then you are going to be lifting at least one of the wheels off of the lift rolling it along the ground to the back and lifting it back up to the vehicle.
Even using a two post to just rotate tires you arent going to lift the vehicle very high - just high enough to get the wheels off the ground.
Even then you are going to be lifting at least one of the wheels off of the lift rolling it along the ground to the back and lifting it back up to the vehicle.
Even using a two post to just rotate tires you arent going to lift the vehicle very high - just high enough to get the wheels off the ground.
4 post are best for parking double, one over another, drive on, drive off.
2 post is cheaper and much more practical.
Midrise is the king of tire and suspension work.
Floor jack and lift bars (jack in the middle each in with a mount to the lift points) is still maybe the best for tire rotations and quick jobs.
2 post is cheaper and much more practical.
Midrise is the king of tire and suspension work.
Floor jack and lift bars (jack in the middle each in with a mount to the lift points) is still maybe the best for tire rotations and quick jobs.
JJThrasher
Well-known member
Bridge jacks are the way to go or get a twin post.
2mJps
Well-known member
How do you guys rotate tires with a lift? I work in a shop with a 2post so 2guys pull one tire of each and switch places while the car is lifted up but this isnt easy with a pickup because of how heavy and big there tires are now. So do most let it back down and roll the tires around?
WhiffySpark
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2009
- Messages
- 6,252
There's no reason you can't keep a car on a 2 post. You don't always have room to get jacks on the runway either. I know 95% of the cars I pick you wouldn't be able to. We have a rotary 12k with hydraulic jacks
thickhead
Well-known member
Pick up 4 scissor jacks that came with Crown Vics and Town Cars off of eBay. I use them with my cordless impact to lift all four wheels off the ground (or my 4-post) in about 2 minutes.
They were designed for a heavy car, so 4 of them are pretty solid and stable.
The big thing is that they have a hex head to spin them. Great for brake work too.
They were designed for a heavy car, so 4 of them are pretty solid and stable.
The big thing is that they have a hex head to spin them. Great for brake work too.
wornoutoldman
Well-known member
SILVERPLATE
Well-known member
Using these stands would require lifting the tires very high. Four post lift and I have the movable Jack. Put it under rear of the vehicle first then using regular Jack stands, move Jack to front. Raise or lower to height desired, very quick and easy.