i just bought a 4 poster! i'm looking to find any ideas to make using it easier or more efficient. what type of jacks, stands etc. basically anything you have learned when using yours. this is not a debate over 2 vs 4 posts or which brand is better. just trying to gain knowledge and share it with others. by the way i'm a hobbiest hot rodder not a commercial shop.
tips and tricks for using a 4 post lift?
- Thread starter scotty t
- Start date
Seen a couple pretty cool videos lately where they used their 4 poster to raise the roof of their garages and held it there while they built new taller walls and even one where it lifted the roof of their car port while working in their car. During slow times you could rent it out for that. 
Been going back and forth between which would work better in my shop, both have good and bad and be interesting to see what others come up with for ideas. Sometimes the creativity some come up with for various uses of a tool just amazes me.
Not sure if my Hotrod would clear the sides of the 4 poster ramps unless I put down a 2x12 to hold the car up a bit higher and think I might just have enough room to get the arms of a 2 poster under the chassis.
Enjoy your new lift, keep us posted on what new uses you come up with for it.
Topstrap
Been going back and forth between which would work better in my shop, both have good and bad and be interesting to see what others come up with for ideas. Sometimes the creativity some come up with for various uses of a tool just amazes me.
Not sure if my Hotrod would clear the sides of the 4 poster ramps unless I put down a 2x12 to hold the car up a bit higher and think I might just have enough room to get the arms of a 2 poster under the chassis.
Enjoy your new lift, keep us posted on what new uses you come up with for it.
Topstrap
LX-Markham
Well-known member
^^^there, lengthened ramps, that will be my contribution to this thread
christopizza
Well-known member
I really like the sliding jack tray on my 4 post lift - I was quite limited in what I could do on the lift without it.
I intend to make another - so i can put the entire car on jack stands while it is lifted......
I intend to make another - so i can put the entire car on jack stands while it is lifted......
^^^there, lengthened ramps, that will be my contribution to this thread :d
nice!
buzz4041
Well-known member
I put a 2x12 on each runway just about full length because my crossmember wouldn't clear my rolling jacks. My 40 is low. Get a set of rolling scissor jacks it let's you do a lot. I put a beam across the runway's and used at a lifting hoist while working on my 40 pickup. I have draped tarps over it when up to use as a primitive paint booth for shooting some parts.
Aquaticbob
Well-known member
I'm gonna go ahead and second the rolling jacks notion. I have 2 4500 capacity RJs on my 4 posters. Depending on how low the vehicle is longer approach ramps are useful. I had flat shop floors to bring cars onto the lift and was able to get some pretty low cars on there with the standard ramps. Extended ramps however are not a bad choice if you are wanting to be low vehicle friendly
BuickFarmer
Well-known member
Stupid question probably but could a steel beam and chain hoist be mounted on a two post lift? safely? or for that matter unsafely?
motofool33
Well-known member
get the jack tray, they make air and ones you use bottle jacks with. get the drip tray also incase u store something above your other car
Aquaticbob
Well-known member
If the weight was in the middle and spread out I'm sure it would be alright to do that. I wouldn't recommend doing it, I think there might even be something about doing that in the safety packet (I didn't read it cause who needs that). I would only do it with 3 beams formed like an H with the chain on the middle beam.
If you were stuck in a bind I'm sure it would be more than OK to do it
EDIT: Small loads would be more than fine on an I beam
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rburke65
Well-known member
I am looking for a steel I beam to this very thing. The 2 post lift will support my Impala, so I don't see where the problem would be for the posts to support an "I" beam, trolley and an air hoist to lift a 1/2 to 3/4 ton load.
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Phaedrus29
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- Jan 14, 2014
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- 16
I've read that you can get away with only one RJ maybe paired with a jack tray. Can someone explain how that works exactly? For example, can you put the jack tray right next to the RJ at the front of the car, jack up the car with the RJ and then put jack stands on the jack tray, then slide the RJ to the rear of the car and lift that end, to get the whole car lifted evenly? Would that work?
bhays
Well-known member
I used mine to lift the body off my corvette.
Hpozzuoli
Well-known member
Unfortunately I didn't have the room in my garage for the 4 poster so it went to my dad's garage. I use it mainly for storage of my Vette in the winter. Small scissor jacks or bottle jacks to lift a vehicle once it's up there fore tire removal. Make sure you have long enough ramps so you don't bottom out getting on it. Most of all enjoy it.
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Hpozzuoli
Well-known member
I used mine to lift the body off my corvette.
i'll be doing that this spring with my old plymouth.
gsport
Well-known member
put a couple of mirrors on your wall to guide you on the ramps.. perfect alignment every time..
Ross/Kzoo
Well-known member
That's an excellent idea! Thanks.
Aquaticbob
Well-known member
put a couple of mirrors on your wall to guide you on the ramps.. perfect alignment every time..
This is genius. I'm going to have to do this when I put a lift in my personal garage
Lil Toe
Well-known member
Could, but it would be a PITA. I have two standard RJ's for mine. As said, longer ramps (I got the Race Rack ones) and I'm gonna have to steal the mirror idea. The 2x12 trick is pretty smart, luckily my Mustang doesn't sit quite that low, but I still have to remove the rubber pads from the jacks when I pull it on/off.
Also, some cheap HF hangers on the columns help hang cords/drop lights/air hoses.
I set my Jeep cage on it both right side up and upside down and raised it up/down to do the finish welding on it.
My brother and I also built some faux wrought iron fence on it after putting a couple of pieces of plywood down first. Up/down to assemble, weld.
We also have a set of small side ramps and two pieces of Microlam that sit on the jack tray slots so we can drive our ZTR on it sideways to change the blades (deck is over the opening, front wheels on one runway, rears on the other, slide the microlams out of the way for access.)
rburke65
Well-known member
Excellent idea on the mirrors! Thanks. Keep them coming.
MScott
Well-known member
Think I'll use the mirror trick for my 2 poster.
glider
Well-known member
Yes the mirror trick is a winner. I would suggest a good jack if you didn't get one with it.
gsport
Well-known member
Another trick I use is, when I want to lift the tires off the runners. I'll raise the lift with the car on it about a foot high and place a couple of jack stands under the car, then lower the lift back down, letting the car rest on the stands
Jazzman442
Well-known member
What Happened no more tricks?
How many tricks do you need?
I use my 4-poster to lift my pickup so the bed is level with the my storage loft (about 9' up) to easily load and unload things into storage.
Best tip, get a 2 post lift to work on cars 4 post to store them... lol, jk
My buddy has a 4 post, he does everything with that thing, one trick I seen him use is, 4 jack stands and drop the lift, so he lifts the vehicle then puts the jack stands under it{he has nice ones, I have cheap sunex ones} then he lowers the lift so its on the jack stands, so he can do brakes, tires, etc.. He doesnt drop it all the way out, just enough and then he uses the lift as a work tray, its pretty nice setup... BUT not as easy as mine, I swing the legs under, lift it up and rip the tires off... Although he can change oil much faster than me, lol...
My buddy has a 4 post, he does everything with that thing, one trick I seen him use is, 4 jack stands and drop the lift, so he lifts the vehicle then puts the jack stands under it{he has nice ones, I have cheap sunex ones} then he lowers the lift so its on the jack stands, so he can do brakes, tires, etc.. He doesnt drop it all the way out, just enough and then he uses the lift as a work tray, its pretty nice setup... BUT not as easy as mine, I swing the legs under, lift it up and rip the tires off... Although he can change oil much faster than me, lol...
Jazzman442
Well-known member
jon I wish I could get a 2 post. I grew up with my Family owning a Gas station with service bays. Had several single post in ground lifts.
Since I will be using this for car storage as well as working on cars the 4 post is my best bet. Great Idea on the jack stands which one does he have? What makes yours not as good as his.
Thank you for the Tips
davidlee
Well-known member
I used my 4 post to finish the inside of the shop. I put 4x8 sheets of plywood across the platforms and used it as a rolling scaffold when I painted and also when I mounted my light fixtures.
tfalk
Well-known member
If the lift has an option for plastic or metal drip pans, get the plastic. You don't want to see what happens when one of the metal drip pans lands on the hood of the car underneath... ouch....
That mirror idea is pure genius...
The other thing I occasionally use the lift for is removing the hard lid on my F250... back the truck under the lift, strap from the lift under the lid, then raise the lift... instant 1 man lid removal.
That mirror idea is pure genius...
The other thing I occasionally use the lift for is removing the hard lid on my F250... back the truck under the lift, strap from the lift under the lid, then raise the lift... instant 1 man lid removal.
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i forgot about this thread. i've had my lift in service for a while now and love it! i've found that a couple different size bottle jacks work for getting the tires up off the the runners. i made panels from left over lumber to go between the runners to make a work platform. it makes a great scaffold. you can hang things from it for painting. i roll it outside to power wash the bottom of my cars/trucks. i've even used as a work bench/saw horse.
Seen a couple pretty cool videos lately where they used their 4 poster to raise the roof of their garages and held it there while they built new taller walls and even one where it lifted the roof of their car port while working in their car. During slow times you could rent it out for that.
i just helped a buddy set one up,he's planning on raising his roof with it too.
LX-Markham
Well-known member
another vote for the mirror idea, brilliant!
Have had my lift now for a while. My favorite lift gadget is the oil drain pan. Makes oil changes so easy, and I haven't spilled a drop.
Have had my lift now for a while. My favorite lift gadget is the oil drain pan. Makes oil changes so easy, and I haven't spilled a drop.
Mine or the $80 sunex ones and I only have 2 of them, he has 4 of them and I think they are OTC? mine has a simple round base about 8"s wide and pins together, his has a 4 post base, fits together mmuch better, and has a foot pedal, just a much better unit..
His look like this except have a foot pedal too http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XSJK7S/?tag=atomicindus08-20 I still like mine because they are easy to store, light and easy to move around, BUT no doubt his are more stable...
With his stands I seen him lift a dc tudra up set the 4 stands and drop the lift to the floor, I also seen him {well i arrived after it was done but seen it sitting there} drop the cradle out of a caddy and the car was still in the air with the 4 stands under it, he does everything with that 4 post, motors, trannies, rear ends, he actually did the gas tank in utility body with it last year..
BUT I do love my 2 post clear floor lift, granted everyone can't fit them or doesnt like them, but I am so used to using them, its just second nature...
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Jazzman442
Well-known member
Thank you I am looking for a good set now close to me. Also trying to find a good oil drain. Not many equipment stores around here.
I’m a big fan of the rolling jack.
I also bought plastic drip trays to protect my lower vehicle from oil dripping from the upper vehicle.
Lastly, my lift is not bolted to the floor and use of it, over time, will cause the whole thing to move ever so slightly from where it was installed. So I bought casters to put it back into place occasionally.
I also bought plastic drip trays to protect my lower vehicle from oil dripping from the upper vehicle.
Lastly, my lift is not bolted to the floor and use of it, over time, will cause the whole thing to move ever so slightly from where it was installed. So I bought casters to put it back into place occasionally.
Burl
Well-known member
I don't have this much of an empty wall in my garage.
Jazzman442
Well-known member
^^^there, lengthened ramps, that will be my contribution to this thread
How did you make them? That is a great idea.
JDMopar
Well-known member
I used my 4 post lift to pick my jet skis up off the trailer, so I could replace the wooden runners and carpet. Backed the trailer under the raised up lift, ran ropes under the skis and tied them to the runners on the lift. Raised the lift up a few more notches and then pulled the trailer out from underneath the skis. Fixed the trailer, and then set the skis back down on it.