Two lifts - 2 post and 4 post Locations?

[bagsanthony]

After going back and forth, I've decided to possibly fork my money over to my (3) unfinished bay spaces rather than dump more money into my current partition side of the shop. The existing "finished" side is 27 ft x 34 ft and holds all my tools and two post 10,000 lb Forward lift. I found out the hard way that the walls are currently only drywalled and have no insulation. I'm leaning towards utilizing the other partition side of my shop which is three bays to give me more room and the ability to install two lifts - rather than the hassle of ripping down the drywall, insulating and recovering the walls.... I would like to install a 4-post in addition to relocating my two post. I'm leaning towards putting the four post on the wall opposite the man door in the pic and the two post in the center bay. My thought is to avoid having a clunky 4 post in the middle and it being a constant barrier/ trip hazard. Feedback appreciated. thanks

 

[Yankeefarmer]

Keep in mind that I’ve never had a two post lift, but to me, a two post is much more of a trip hazard than a 4 post. When a 2 post is unloaded, you have trip hazards at the floor. When a 4 post is unloaded, raise it all the way up and there’s nothing to trip over.

If I had a shop like that, I’d put the two post either next to the man door or along the far wall. With the 4 post, make sure you have casters, and you can move it between the other two bays depending on how you set up other equipment in that side. With the 2 post in the middle, you may have to take it outside to move it around the 2 post, and it ain’t gonna wanna roll in the dirt outside.

 

[mikedodge]

Keep in mind that I’ve never had a two post lift, but to me, a two post is much more of a trip hazard than a 4 post. When a 2 post is unloaded, you have trip hazards at the floor. When a 4 post is unloaded, raise it all the way up and there’s nothing to trip over.

If I had a shop like that, I’d put the two post either next to the man door or along the far wall. With the 4 post, make sure you have casters, and you can move it between the other two bays depending on how you set up other equipment in that side. With the 2 post in the middle, you may have to take it outside to move it around the 2 post, and it ain’t gonna wanna roll in the dirt outside.

Then you have to put the 4 post up all the time and still have the ramps either hanging down or have to take them off, A 2 post can also be put up to get it out of the way and it has 2 less posts to work around.

I'd probably put the 2 post in the spot farthest away from the man door. In the middle it could end up being in the way of all 3 bays. If you get a 4 post that's movable you can at least move it around to where it's not in the way.

 

[bagsanthony]

Thanks guys. I should of clarified, this is an auto repair shop and would be a 12-14,000 lb cap. Unit bolted to the floor heavy duty four post lift. We’re not talking a hobbyist one on casters

 

[AC-WC]

I would think the lifts should be next to each other. That way the tool box can stay in between them and save time getting tools. I know my 2 post basically takes 1 1/2 bays so the 4 post should only take 1 bay.

 

[mikedodge]

Thanks guys. I should of clarified, this is an auto repair shop and would be a 12-14,000 lb cap. Unit bolted to the floor heavy duty four post lift. We’re not talking a hobbyist one on casters

So your original plan was to put the 4 post farthest away from the door in the pic to the other side and the 2 post in the middle? That makes sense. If the 4 post is at the far end it's least in the way there. There's less to maneuver around with a 2 post.

On the other hand you might want to mock it up first because those bays look pretty tight. The two lifts side by side might be a bit awkward to use and get around being so close to eachother so if that far door has a bit of space beside it it might work better to put the 4 post in the middle and the 2 post at the far end if you can angle it towards the side wall a bit to make more space between the bays.

Seems like you'll probably have to figure out what works the best for you and your intended use.