What kinda lift do you have?

[dawg]

I have a bendpak xl9 lift.
I had a 4 poster before but it always seems the lift is always in the way.
Also when working on the car I had to buy the extra stufff like the jacking tray and bottle jacks to work on the front end and still the lift seems to get in the way of where im working.
get a 2 post lift you wont be sorry.

 

[Lloydthumper]

I have read two instances where cars fell off a two post and one from a woman that was an instructor where I went to the gym and her truck fell of a lift at a dealer ship. So I am having the same problem deciding on my lift I actually ordered a two post and canceled it. I will make a decision soon though. I am sort of worried about the floor thickness mine is 4" with 4000psi concrete and alot of the two post lifts say they will work on a min of 4" 3000psi but I am still afraid it will crack or sink under the load over time. I like the two post design for being able to get to everything on the car easy but I also like the storage of a 4 post I know you can store a car with a two post lift but it is sort of hard for a car to fall off of a four post lift unless I drive it off of it.

 

[wilbilt]

it is sort of hard for a car to fall off of a four post lift unless I drive it off of it.

...which can happen. Don't ask me how I know this.

 

[HacksawsGarage]

did i see a Rambler American with crager SS wheels?

 

[Lloydthumper]

http://aolsearcht9.search.aol.com/a...dItemPage=1&clickedItemDescription=WebResults
I found this link during my studies LOL

 

[Danglerb]

4 post you drive on and go right up, no fussing with arms, perfect for double parking.

2 post has the best access and no need to special jacks etc. for suspension work. All the garages I know use them to double park at night, usually just putting a tarp or painters drop cloth over the car below.

Single post is a specialty thing, it works, takes up space only at the wall, maybe its extra sturdy if mounted to a solid wall? Good for parking I guess, but no real idea how its used.

Scissor is for tire and body work, or the space challenged.

Pit with ramps, has its place for light work under the car like fluid changes.

 

[wilbilt]

I have spent a lot of time using center post ingrounds. I like them, but environmental issues (as well as digging a big hole) make them unsuitable these days.
Two post abovegrounds have a lot of access advantages, but are inherently unstable. How much do you trust those anchors?
Four post abovegrounds have a lot going for them. Access for brake and suspension work isn't the best, but there are workarounds.
Pits were the ideal for alignments when cars only needed alignments on the front. A full-length pit with front turnplates and rear floaters would be nice.

Of course, it is possible to drive into a pit, too.

 

[Vicegrip]

They make 2 post ingrounds too. The lift unit is in a big plastic liner for servicing and to catch a leak if one happens. Works like a standard 2 post with arms and all but NO posts.

 

[Danglerb]

The problems I hear about with a two post is twisting torsional movement of the posts, or things related to the carriage not tracking well. Some two posts are much stronger than others.

BTW I notice that nobody has mentioned a Rotisserie restoration thing.

 

[zvezdah1]

Soon to be gracing my garage!

Chris

 

[PxTx]

Looks like a nice Handy lift.

 

[Bull]

I plan on buying a lift for my new barn. My inclination is to go two-post for easy access to the car when working, and for more open floor space. But, the two-posts I looked at are all rather wide, whereas I have found four-posts that are as little as 9' wide. The bay that my lift would go in is 12' wide...do any of you have two-post lifts in a bay of that width? I'm assuming you don't want either of the posts to be right smack up against the wall....

 

[wilbilt]

They make 2 post ingrounds too. The lift unit is in a big plastic liner for servicing and to catch a leak if one happens. Works like a standard 2 post with arms and all but NO posts.

There was one in my high school auto shop. No plastic liner in those days, I'm sure.

It had toothed racks attached to each post and a cross shaft with gears just under the floor plate to keep the posts in sync. One day, the bolts holding the cross shaft fell out, and some guy's car got dumped when one of the posts descended faster than the other.

 

[brownbagg]

I have the bend pak xl9 too. no complaint. mine is outside in the weather too. no problem.

 

[paul29]

I have a Rotary SPOA10 this lift can be set up three different widths ( the upper bar is drilled for all widths and the cables are adjusted with schedule 40 pipe ) . It can be installed as a standard width , a narrow bay setting and as a extra narrow bay setting . I have it set at the standard width and it measures approx 136 inches to the outside of the column base plates , the narrow bay would be 6 inches less and the extra narrow bay would be 14 inches less than standard respectively. Rotary specs out the recomended clearances to adjacent obstructions in their installation instructions . They have a very good help line and I'm sure the other manufacturers do also . These are commerical duty and would be easy to sell down the road if moving etc.

 

[Danglerb]

There was one in my high school auto shop. No plastic liner in those days, I'm sure.

It had toothed racks attached to each post and a cross shaft with gears just under the floor plate to keep the posts in sync. One day, the bolts holding the cross shaft fell out, and some guy's car got dumped when one of the posts descended faster than the other.

Something to consider is how easy is it to inspect all the critical bolts etc. All lifts need regular inspection, seems like more than a few need regular repairs. Many that I see for sale have comments like, seals replaced on hydraulics, motors and pumps replaced.

 

[toms73novass]

Still in the process of installing mine, picked it up last year for $1k.
Have to do a bit of new line fab and bottom plate ramp.

 

[PxTx]

Still in the process of installing mine, picked it up last year for $1k.
Have to do a bit of new line fab and bottom plate ramp.

Which side are you positioning the power unit? It looks like it might be a little tricky to get out of the car if you've got it on the rear side of the driver's side.

 

[AndrewnTX]

4 post lifts are the only way to go. They are movable (with or without a car on them), and don't require a 6" concrete slab (most slabs are 4"). You can do anything with a 4 post that you can with a 2 post and you don't have to worry about banging your doors into the posts. I use these - http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a17/jwd60/2006_0325Image0003.jpg and I can do brake work, rotate tires etc, faster than you can with a 2 post. Another advantage of a 4 post is that you can do suspension work (final tightening)and exhaust work with the weight of the car on the tires. Go to any exhaust/ suspension shop and all you'll see are 4 post lifts. The only disadvantage is that 4 post lifts are more expensive than 2 post lifts.

Good point about having the weight of the car on the tires for exhaust/suspension/clearance work.

 

[TheShrine]

DIRECT 9K 2 Poster

It does everything I need................

 

[e-tek]

Ya can't say one is "all you need", cause guys swear by the one they have! The best you can say is: "The one you have is (hopefully) the best for your application." In the absence of any lift - I'd take either!

 

[sheriisme73]

I just bought my husband a lift for his birthday. Chose one from Greg Smith. Seems that the Bendpak pak lifts have way too many start up problems.
I hope he likes it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sheri

 

[LWW]

I just bought my husband a lift for his birthday. Chose one from Greg Smith. Seems that the Bendpak pak lifts have way too many start up problems.
I hope he likes it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sheri

How much did the shipping cost? I noticed Greg Smith doesn't estimate shipping charges on their website...

 

[jay50]

I just bought my husband a lift for his birthday. Chose one from Greg Smith. Seems that the Bendpak pak lifts have way too many start up problems.
I hope he likes it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sheri

Ok you troll, you've been discovered.
So you think you can make your first post about buying your "husband" a lift and not be discovered?

Would be like a man buying a sewing machine for his wife...

Go F**ck yourself

 

[Matti]

...The only disadvantage is that 4 post lifts are more expensive than 2 post lifts.

Even more so if you add in the sliding bridge jack. The Bendpak unit is $1300 Cdn. I'm still going with the 4 poster.

 

[ket-tek]

It is purely based on what type of work you do the most.

For me I'm getting ready to purchase a 4 post. When I looked at all the lift options I had to figure what I do the most. 50% of my want is for double car parking. The other 50% is for working on my couple trucks that are bagged. As you don't want to lift them and the let suspension hang by the bags. And when working a bagged truck it's nice get under it and cycle the loaded suspension and check clearances and things like that.

Also since most shops around my town are not competent enough to align a bagged or lowered vehicle I've always had to do the best I can on my own at home, and a 4 post will make it much easier.

The only down side is a rotate or brake work, but those two things I've never had much hardships doing on the ground with jackstands.. It's all the other sh*t I really want a lift for.

I also like being able to move the lift around inside the garage to allow for layout changes, or more room to work a project.

I don't have any unibody cars that you can drop the motor out the bottom either, though that is a useful feature of a 2 post..

If I had the space and the money, I would just buy both. No question..

You need to list all the pros and cons pertaining what YOU do the most. Then make a decision.

 

[katit]

I have BendPak SP-7X scissor lift. It's got open center design so I can do any suspension or motor work. I also park on that lift.

In small 2 car garage with low ceiling there is no other options. If I had bigger garage I would think about 2 post. But currently I can't be happier with what I have.

I work on mechanics chair, low ceiling is not a problem for sedans.

 

[texmln]

Carcentric,

I've considered the LR-60 but I've never been able to tell how well those pads match up with various cars... Do many jack points just simply fall outside of the LR-60 footprint? Seems like it has a limited ability to adjust.

 

[sheriisme73]

How much did the shipping cost? I noticed Greg Smith doesn't estimate shipping charges on their website...

$250

It varies depending on how far they have to ship....

 

[sheriisme73]

Ok you troll, you've been discovered.
So you think you can make your first post about buying your "husband" a lift and not be discovered?

Would be like a man buying a sewing machine for his wife...

Go F**ck yourself

Now that's an intelligent response. My husband's friend is a mechanic. He helped me out and also told me to go here and read read and read which I did. Thought I would post my decision. Fortunately I am married to a man who is caring and intelligent. Two qualities that you apparently are lacking (amongst others).

Have a great day!

 

[flesburg]

I have a new 10,000 pound two post Rotary asymmetrical lift. My second lift. Delivered, installed and all just a little over $4K.

I think the Rotary brand lifts are fine. The several Dealers I talked to who sell several brands all recommend Rotary as the most reliable they sell. I only use it for hobby work, but I never had to have anything done to my old one and I had it for 10 years. (Stupid me, but I sold the house and let the buyer talk me into leaving it...oh well it helped sell the house). All of the local new car dealers use Rotary brand lifts.

 

[Nutty 5.0]

I have both a 2 post and 4 post. Had the 2 post for 3+ years and the 4 post for almost a year. Granted the 4 post was more meant for storage, I still prefer the 2 post. I have a Bend Pak 2 post and a Direct lift 8 Pro 4 post.

 

[Notch1988]

Bought mine used from a hoist dealer... it's a Ford Smith, which is out of business. Just hoping I don't have any manufacturer specific issues.
I worked in the shop of a Honda dealer for a number of years and the only four post we had was for oil changes. All mechanics bays had two posts and so that's what I got used to, so I went with a two post.

 

[mustangmike68]

I bought a used rotary sp9 for $1,000. I e-mailed rotary for directions and received them the next day. I love it , has picked up my dually with no problem. Would of rather of had no floor plate but i can't complain.

 

[Ray-CA]

Ok you troll, you've been discovered.
So you think you can make your first post about buying your "husband" a lift and not be discovered?

Would be like a man buying a sewing machine for his wife...

Go F**ck yourself[/QUOTE

This "reply" is completely uncalled for and. in my opinion, extremely rude. If you were going for a laugh, you missed. At the very least you owe Sheri an apology. She did something very nice for her husband and took the time to post it here so we could all see and appreciate it.

Sheri, we don't know each other, but on behalf of men everywhere, I would like to apologize to you for the comments made by Jay50.

Ray

 

[Free Willie]

Rotary SPOA 10. Got it out of a closed Chevy dealership hardly used $1200.
Best buy I've gotten in a while.

 

[brownbagg]

I got the bentpak 9xl which is a two post, and very happy with it, but one thing no body every says about the four post, you dont have to get on your knees to line up the arms with the frame. when one get older that would help. I would like a four post too. just for that reason. Plus you can move a four post

 

[ScaldedDog]

Rotary SL210i 10k in-ground:

Mark

 

[HIRISC]

Rotary SL210i 10k in-ground:

Mark

Wow, I thought having a four post was cool.. in-ground is the ultimate service lift!

 

[westy2005]

I have 2 different lifts in my garage at home. The first is a Benwil TP7 2 post with a Hunter Drive on/alignment adapter (anyone know where to get information on this?!). And the second lift that I have Is a midrise scissor lift. The 2 combined allow me to do alignments, full services, and just about anything else I would like to do.