Why is two post better than four?

[quick60]

I like the idea of the safety of a four post and storing a car on a four post but other than that it are there any other advantages over a two post lift?

Thanks


NEVER MIND I REWORDED MY SEARCH AND FOUND A TOPIC Thanks!!!!!

 

[pattenp]

You can put casters on it and move it around.

 

[Ironhorse]

I like the idea of the safety of a four post and storing a car on a four post but other than that it are there any other advantages over a two post lift?

Thanks


NEVER MIND I REWORDED MY SEARCH AND FOUND A TOPIC Thanks!!!!!

A two post lift is a lot easier to work on a car then a 4 post. The 4 post takes special jacks that roll in the center of it..also it will take up more room then a 2 post...but for storing cars...a 4 post works better...you just have to drive it on and lift it up...vrs having to swing the arms of 2 post in and out...I have had both..and after thinking long and hard this time around ( I wanted to do both ) I bought an open front 4 post....have not got it shipped in yet but pretty gives me the best of both worlds...Able to work on the cars with out the cross bar in the way when taking out motors/trans and can just store my cars when not in use...

 

[Jack Olsen]

Yup. Four-post for storage. Two-post for service. But you will find people determined to prove that each is also great for the other function.

Both are much better than no lift at all.

 

[Jagmandave]

To me the best two post is the one that stores itself in the ground, so you don't have to work around the posts!

 

[Richard D]

That's the kind I want! Any USA made consumer models available?

 

[tomsmith]

I've only ever seen them for commercial use. If anyone knows of one for home use, I would also like to know .. and I hope it's <$5000

 

[houdni]

 

[abstamaria]

Good you found a thread, Quick60. This is one of the most discussed (and debated) subjects here, but all in good humor. Search some more and you will find more threads.

The important thing to bear in mind is that we do different things in our garages. Some just store cars, others service, etc. Our vehicles differ too (some service trucks, others tiny sports cars). These all affect what lift is best. Good luck!

Andy

 

[Jagmandave]

I know they're available, but you do have to do some work to install them, as in dig a big old hole and pour the proper foundation and support for the thing, plus run a trench for the controls and pump.

Is it Rotary that makes the cartridge type of these? They look really slick!

Yes, here you go....

http://www.rotarylift.com/light_inground_smart.aspx?id=456

Link to the PDF brochure

http://www.rotarylift.com/uploadedFiles/Products/Light_Duty_Lifts_-_Under_14,000_lbs/Smart_Lift_Product_Info/SMARTLIFT_Brochure_2011.04.pdf

 

[pattenp]

Check out the Challenger Inground Lift that uses compressed air and water,

http://www.challengerlifts.com/AV1020WV.shtml

 

[Richard D]

Anyone know how much the Challenger and Rotary lifts run?

 

[darkk]

It's an age old question, a matter of preference. It's like asking if fat chicks or skinny chicks are better.

 

[ptschram]

I'm a four-post guy myself.

Had the choice and decided "I" felt safer beneath a four-post lift.

More than five years of daily use and we're both still alive.

 

[ConCretin]

I installed an in-floor 10k Rotary lift. It was about twice the cost of a conventional post style lift. You can see it going in on page 39 of my build thread.

 

[bams50]

Anyone know how much the Challenger and Rotary lifts run?

I'd like to know too, without having to mine around the sites. Wish they'd just put the prices on the webpage

 

[bassman]

I like a 2 post because you can work on the veh. Easier on it. As far as it being safe, it's a freaking lift, it's made to lift veh. For working on! Also can store my car on it. 4 posts have their fans too, good points also, but if you work on cars, you want a 2 post

 

[jwith68]

2 post is better because it can run important structural diagnostics that a 4 post can't.

Credits to Hamar, in the "WTF" thread.

 

[BigGMC]

And that's why there was a huge recall on the toyota trucks........

Funny, you'd think the driveshaft would've held the rear up a bit higher than that

 

[sublimate]

I think that's the driveshaft over there on the floor behind the bumper.

 

[sberry]

The posts on mine fit nicely into the grand scheme, really not in the way, a 4 takes up a lot of room. I am sure they have their place and their fans but for car and light truck I like 2.

 

[c39er]

One of my 4 posts is kinda in the way as for moving cars around. So I bought an extra long high lift. I drive cars under, over and around it. It also has 2 rolling jacks on it for service work.

 

[darkk]

I'm a four-post guy myself. Had the choice and decided "I" felt safer beneath a four-post lift. More than five years of daily use and we're both still alive.

This was my thought...

I like a 2 post because you can work on the veh. Easier on it. As far as it being safe, it's a freaking lift, it's made to lift veh. For working on! Also can store my car on it. 4 posts have their fans too, good points also, but if you work on cars, you want a 2 post

Sooo...what are 4 posters for, motorcycles? It's a matter of preferences. Both have their good and bad points... You can do any thing on both.

The posts on mine fit nicely into the grand scheme, really not in the way, a 4 takes up a lot of room. I am sure they have their place and their fans but for car and light truck I like 2.

The posts are pretty much the same size, just in a different location..

One of my 4 posts is kinda in the way as for moving cars around. So I bought an extra long high lift. I drive cars under, over and around it. It also has 2 rolling jacks on it for service work.

You can also get the caster wheel set and move the entire lift with the vehicle on it it you choose to do so. I like the 4 poster, with the rolling jack and caster kit. Is it better than the 2 post? Probably not, but I like it better and it's no worse than the 2 post. Mine is the extra high, long and wide. It's never in the way and I have done just about every kind of repair that can be done on a lift.

 

[SVIPD]

Its all a matter of opinion and In mine I think a two post is the best if you are adding to an existing garage but if not than a for and aft is the way to go. I can help with schematics if you are interested in going that route. Just be carefull with some of the 2 post lifts coming out of China. We are seeing a common trend of Chineese and Texas lifts that have cylinders failing and equalizing cables that are not spec for the machines thay are on.

 

[mikey531]

I am going to put in my 2 cents. I was looking at a 2 post lift for my garage however being well over the hill.... I was talking to a buddy about lifts. He said at our advanced age getting up and down on our old bad knees with a two post to line up the arms is a lot of work. I am going for the wide long 4 post.

 

[wef]

I am going to put in my 2 cents. I was looking at a 2 post lift for my garage however being well over the hill.... I was talking to a buddy about lifts. He said at our advanced age getting up and down on our old bad knees with a two post to line up the arms is a lot of work. I am going for the wide long 4 post.

The winner!!
My days of crawling around positioning jacks, lift arms or even picking stuff off the floor are all over. There is no doubt the two poster is easier for tire changing and brake jobs but my rolling jacks will get the job done with a little more effort.

 

[porschedude996TT]

It's all about what you need it to do. Four Post if want storage. If you need the wheels off the ground to do a brake job or suspension work and two post is better. You can do it with a four post but you need the jacks that go with the four post to jack the car off the four post runners. I chose an in-ground double platform that has two scissor jacks on each platform. I all depends on how big your shop is and what you are going to do.

http://ever-eternal.com/en/product_info.asp?id=56

 

[cwrandolph]

For long-term storage, I don't like the idea of the suspension hanging down with no load. I'm planning to go with an extended lift 4 post.

 

[beerdog]

You can do many tasks faster on a 2 post. Especially on modern cars. An example is removing engines. Most cars today the easiest way to remove the drive train is to loosen the bolts, lower the car, remove the bolts, then lift the car with the entire drive train remaining on the floor. See the earlier pic. You can't do that on a 4 post. The one thing I think a 4 post provides is you can do diagnostic and final suspension bolt tightening with the car loaded on the wheels. Plus, if you go with a maxjax you can even store your lift in a 2"x2" space when not in use. If storage is a primary concern go with a 4 post....as already stated.

 

[abstamaria]

If you do not have a high ceiling and have a smallish garage like mine, a two-post lift might fit and will also be unobtrusive.

Good luck!

Andy