Seeking advice on 4 post lift

[ANGRYBEARD]

So Im looking for opinions to mull over on a 4 Post lift.
Open front or closed front is the dilemma here. I have found a 4 Post lift that is more than adequate at a price I like. However its a closed front. The open front lift I would go to will cost me 2500 dollars more. Is it worth it. Will I regret saving the 2500 bucks and buying the closed front lift. Or am I over thinking this. Thoughts please.
Regards

 

[ekimneirbo]

Get a two post lift.......

I had a four post lift a while back. One thing you have to watch is how far apart the posts are (width) on the less expensive lifts. Makes driving on and off the lift difficult if they are too close, and most inexpensive lifts are narrower than the real professional lifts. The two posts give a lot more access to everything underneath.

My four post proudly claimed "made in America"....but when it came time to replace the pulleys and bearings, they were Asian. Sold it and got a two post.

 

[ANGRYBEARD]

Yea My buddy chris asked me why a 4 post lift. I think he thinks I should get a 2 post lift as well. I have to admit, I am reconsidering the 4 post. They take up less room and and I dont have to think about open front or closed front concept. How is a 2 post installed. There is no special steel I beam under my concrete. concrete is 5 to 6 inches thick. I have a dually that itll have to be able to handle. I guess my 4 post open or closed front thread has quickly evolved into a general { what kind of lift }should I get thread. lol But thats ok, need to get it right the first time.

 

[dagofast]

It really depends on you, as in what kind of work you want to do and what kind of shape you're in.

I thought I wanted a 2 post lift and was this close to buying one. A couple of guys in the hood had 2 post lifts. Then I stumbled across a neighbor having his second 4 post lift installed. The installer let me ask him a bunch of questions. The he asked me a couple of important questions while he showed me the features of their lifts. (Advantage SS9000XLT)

It caused me to re-think a few things. If I was still young, a 2 post would be fine. But I'm old and the point of getting a lift in the first place is because my old body has developed an "allergy" to concrete. It hurts to kneel, crawl or lay down on it. And it's getting harder to pop back up off the floor. With a 2 post lift, you're still going to have to get down on the floor to position all 4 arms. Maybe multiple times. And I ain't getting any younger.

With the 4 post I drive on until the front tire touches the forward tire chock, get out and toss another chock behind the front tire and push the button to raise the vehicle. Easy peasy. With a rolling jack, I've done brakes, shocks and wheel bearings. Admittedly, some suspension/steering isn't quite as accessible as a 2 post lift would be but I actually prefer it to a 2 post because I don't have to lift the tires up and down. I just pop them off the lugs and roll them down the runway a couple of feet and lay them down under the car. My back isn't young anymore either.

Also, I store my old pickup up on the lift. And a 4 post is hands down much better for vehicle storage. Finally, it doesn't need to be bolted down. So, god forbid, I ever move it can go with me. One of the guys with a 2 post has already moved and decided to leave his lift behind. According to him, too much expense to take it down, move it and have it put back up. He's just going to buy another lift.

Good luck with whatever brand or type lift you end up with. The one thing I can attest to 100% is that having any lift sure beats the hell out of not having one.

 

[ANGRYBEARD]

Dago and I have one thing in common. Thats a concrete allergy. The whole reason i built the shop was because i am done creeping and crawling around on the concrete working on ****. If you click on the link in my signature thats to my you tube channel. I was chronicling the shop build and I mentioned it a few times i think about how im done with the getting up and down.
Regardless.
This thread is complete for me. After making the thread I came to realize a 2 post lift will serve me better. I don t look forward to getting on the ground and putting the arms in place. But. They take up less room, they make the actual working easier because everything is accessible and at the end of the day its a tad bit cheaper. I think it'll all be just fine . Its getting installed tomorrow. Thanks to everyone for your time and input.

 

[Jbullfrog]

The biggest problem with a 4 post is it quickly becomes a shelf, with storage underneath. This makes it a pain to actually use, as you have to find someplace for all the stuff to go. From a using it stand point, hands down easier. pull vehicle on, push the button and you are working. Unless you are pulling engines weekly, just get a closed front. I have a Rotary 12,000lb with a set of rolling jacks.

 

[pbon]

I had a 2 post and really liked it due to the under car access. I now have a 4 post because I cannot easily put a 2 post in my current garage. It cost more, especially with the 2 bridge jacks, but should be able to do what I need. I chose one with just over 41” between runners to give me more under-car access. After a year, I would still say I prefer the 2 post.

 

[JerryTX]

Who did you go with? I'm in the Dallas area and been looking for a 2-post but I haven't seen anyone advertising they'd do the install; just sell the lift.

 

[c39er]

I couldn't decide either on a open or closed 4 post... so I bought both and both 2 rolling jacks for one lift.
I'm older and hate laying on the floor moving 2 post arms and the car wobbling on the 2 post when removing front and rear axles.

 

[ekimneirbo]

One more thing.....We bought some tall jackstands to use when my son puts his Supercab Dodge Diesel on his "no name" lift. He bought a house and the garage had a 2 post lift in it that the "divorcing" couple left behind. I have a Rotary that rated for 10,000 lbs.
You can get stands that have holes and pins rather than an adjustable screw. We have two of those that we drilled new holes in that fit his vehicle when raised. On the other end we used two adjustable ones to take up the slack. Makes a really stable situation when you are doing something really heavy.
https://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-capacity-underhoist-safety-stand-61600.html

Failure Video:

 

[ANGRYBEARD]

Ok. So I did make a decision and here is the video of the install with me talking. I went with a kinda no name 2 post. It's a DMS 11000A and it was 3500 installed. Thanks for all the interest and insight.