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4 post lift vs. 2 post lift?

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Stinky

Stinky

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I'm in the process of building a 24' x 24' x 12' garage. The plan is to get a lift once all is said and done. For some reason I always figgered on a 2 post lift, but after doing some searching here it seems that most go with a 4 post setup.
What's the reasoning behind this?

I thought a 2 post would make it easier to work on the car,...maybe not?.

Other than being able to create another parking space is there any advantage to the 4 post?

Thanks for any help /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif
 
For me it would be that a 2 post lift requires a rather massive foundation or in other words two huge blocks of concrete and very sturdy bolts, whereas a 4 post really does not have to even be fastened to the floor. 4 post could also be moved in the future to another location in your garage if needed.

Bruce
 
When I built my garage, I knew i'd get a lift sooner or later. When the concrete was put in, I made an area where the concrete was 6" thick plus re-bar. Not a big deal when elsewhere it was 4". In a local free-paper I put in an ad i'm looking for a used above ground lift 'cause i'm tired of laying on the ground (stones) to work on my car. I got a call for a good used one, bought it for $1000 and put it in myself. A week later another call, another $1000, and now I have 2. They're both 2-post lifts. The only downside is that the doors open at the posts, but a small car still has plenty of room. I've worked at a rest. shop for 25 years and my vote would be for a 2-post over a 4-post lift.

Phil W.
 
Well here's an opinion and some advice. Go with the 2 post lift! Look at the 4 post lift as a storage device. I examined both options extensively a couple of years ago. The 4 post units "all" require some sort of slide device to allow you to work on an axle. Yep, if you want to pull a tire, check a brake, grease a bearing, plan on restricting your access to the objects you bought a lift to work on.

In reality, how often are you going to be dropping a transmission? The 4 poster also restricts your ability to work on most exhaust components, (unless they are on the centerline of the vehicle).

So what is the answer? An "offset" 2 post unit. The offset positions the lifting posts at a 45 degree angle from the centerline of the vehicle. What that does, is effectively change the center of gravity lift point toward the front of the car. In easy to understand terms, I pull a car in between the posts, open my door with no interference from a post, position the lift arms, and lift the car.

I bought a 10 ton offset model from an outfit in California, and it was $2,000, delivered to Indiana. I put it up in 2 days. (It took me a while to find a good hammer-driver to set the anchors (all hardware was included)) Also, as you look at the available models,
steer clear of the units with a trough at ground level between the posts. Those are aggravating when you are standing under the vehicle, or rolling an oil collector under the vehicle.

Mine is made by Bend-Pak.

PS...You might be able to convert yours to an offset, check with the manufacturer.

Jim

1977 MGB
1966 GTO
1966 Porsche 912
1967 Porsche 912
1969 Porsche 912
1970 Porsche 911
1986 Alfa Romeo Veloce Spyder
1996 Z-71
 
Make sure you have a floor to ceiling clearance of at least 12'6". Those columns are 12 feet in length!

Jim

1977 MGB
1966 GTO
1966 Porsche 912
1967 Porsche 912
1969 Porsche 912
1970 Porsche 911
1986 Alfa Romeo Veloce Spyder
1996 Z-71
 
For maintenance I agree a 2-post is more convenient. It allows easy access to most of the underbody. A 4-post is much better for storage since you drive onto it rather than driving over the lifting arms and then placing them one at a time under the car, as on a 2-post lift.

I'm in the process of raising my garage roof to accomodate a lift and I decided on this one:
nsxviagra600.jpeg


Edit: Hmmm... quick tags aren't working. Try this link if you don't see an image: https://www.bendpak.com/images/bendpak_photo_album/nsx_prime/nsxviagra600.jpeg
 
A lot depends on what you are planning to do and with what cars. A two poster is cheaper, though the floor has to be a little thicker. It also gives you more freedom to work. Dropping or installing exhaust components is a lot easier with a two poster. You can still store cars underneath a two poster.

A four poster has only three advantages that I know of. 1. The right one can handle a heavier load. For example, you can get a small 4 poster that can handle 12,000 pounds, useful if you plan on raising fully loaded pickups or other trucks. 2. It will accept turntables for an alignmnet rack. Most of us have no plans for an alignment rack in our garage. 3. If you are going to lift a car with a possible rusted out frame, the four poster is the way to go. Remember that if you are going to do any wheel or axle work, you will need axle jacks that will cost almost as much for the pair as a two post lift.
 
Could you store a car on a two poster for an extended period of time? What would be the longest period of time that you would recommend for storing a car on a 2 post? Would there be any damage done by using a two post for a long time? The reason I am asking is because I think that the only advantage for a 4 post is that they are meant for storing a car but a two post makes more sense to me. Ideally, we should all have one of each! Thanks, James
 
If the car is structurally sound then I don't think there is any problem storing it on a 2-poster. The main problem I have with 2-post lifts is that it takes a lot longer to get a car on and off the thing. If it's just for maintenance I'd go that route but for parkking / storage a 4-post is much better. You can also get in and out of the car on a 4-post lift much more easily.
 
AKAIK you can store a non-rusty car indefinately on a two post liftm though there may be some problems from the suspension hanging. Just make sure that when you store the car, that after you have raised the car, lower the lift to engage the locks. This should be done with four posters as well.
 
One thing to consider might be the type of car you have. Granted it's a small minority but with a car like the TVR's (and maybe Loti) which has a tube chassis there isn't really a place I would trust to put the pads for a 2-post, at least for my 2500M. Look at the frames of the cars you might be raising and see whether a 2-post is even feasible for your cars.
 
The shop I worked at had 3- 2 posters, and 4 post (a big one).

The 4 post was great for quick things like oil changes and lube, but serious work, the 2 post was the way to go.
 
I have had both a two post (past life) and a 4 post (present life), and I find the 4 post a bit more flexible.
The four post allows me to store a car (as everyone has said), and still bring another one in out of the rain (I live in the NW) to work on it in comfort. It is true that you need jacks to take the wheels off etc. but my lift has removable platforms for jack stands so I can have all 4 wheels off and still use the lift n problem.
Really I think it is personal preferance....Hey a lift is great no matter what kind you have!!!

Mikey
 
I'll toss in my $0.02 in favor of 4 post lifts:

1. 2 post lifts may be great for quick service because they give the greatest access to the underside of the vehicle, but are lousy for storage as they leave the suspension fully extended, and lousy if you need to work on a suspension bit when it is compressed - like restoration work;
2. 2 post lifts require more height of your garage ceiling;
3. 2 post lifts require a solid foundation to properly and safely mount the posts;
4. 2 post lifts can not utilize drip trays to keep drips off the car underneath the one on the lift if being stored;
5. 2 post lifts & their load are less stable than 4 post lifts, certainly if the load is not positioned properly or you are rocking a rusted on part, and most times the garage floor does not have the proper foundation, concrete type or mass of concrete to support this type of load;
6. 4 post lifts are more versatile by far, have none of the negative issues of #1 through #5. They can be installed in a low ceiling garage on a standard garage floor, great for Little British Car work. I have a 9' cieling and can store two Stags in one spot. You can work on any part under the car with no interference with the support ramps, open and close doors, jack independant wheels for work, lift only the back, or the front, and still use it for engine removal, etc. Many suppliers include the jacking tray, ramps, drip trays AND castors to move the lift around WITH the car on it. I can also use the ramps to chain up the suspension for anchoring places that need to stay in one spot when I work and jack up another spot. I could use a second jack tray, but with some lengths of 2" I-beam and the problem is solved. On Independant Rear Suspension, I can remove the differential while still leaving and changing the load on the supension, changes suspension bushings and tighten the suspension with the full car load on the components as required, something that a 2 post lift can not do without extra high lift jacking stands that cost $200-$300 each. These stands put a 2 post lift load in an unstable position. Using the jacking tray and drip trays on a 4 post lift, I can do oil changs in a snap, 2 post needs a long neck funnel and tank, another $300 accessory.
After a long search and evaluation, I bought a four post lift with all the accessories included in the base price, never looked back.
 
Glenn,

You've certainly made the case for a four post lift versus a two post unit! Do you have any recommendations? No intent here of lifting anything larger than an MG MIdget so I'm not looking for any of the monster lifts!

Many thanks!

Tim
 
we have 2 4's and one 2. Who's on 1st.......no,no,no another brain freeze. We use the 4 for Maggie because the two uses the car frame (or under carriage) to actually lift the car. If you have any structurial defects(even if you don't actually realize you have them) it can lead to a passal of miseries- my husband mumbles about breaking her in half (if it's the only one free). One 4 has the traveling transmission jack that can lift either end & still leave 2 wheels on terrafirma-way more stable. It also has a visable LOCK which makes "what goes up must come down" less of a possiblity of becoming a surprise! We had our 56 Willy Jeep on the center post(4) during hurricane Lili & when our brand new building started to fall it landed on the Willy and it held the entire building up,saved 17 cars and our old shop which was attached. Establishing a firm foundation is an absolute must. I tried to send a picture but it is in the wrong format-maybe Zack can post a couple with an attachment.
 
Steve,

Nice hoist (and garage). It looks like a one post lift, is that right. I tied to find out about it from the link provided but they seem to only have 2 and 4 post lifts. The one post would solve a problem I have as well, so could you give me some details (or a place I could find some) about this hoist (model etc.)

[ QUOTE ]
I'm in the process of raising my garage roof to accomodate a lift and I decided on this one:
nsxviagra600.jpeg




[/ QUOTE ]
 
That isn't my garage, just a photo of the lift I want. Bend-Pak sells single-post lifts as does American Custom Lifts.

I spoke with the guy at ACL and he says the single post lift is by far the most stable lift he sells. Still, I plan to anchor it to the garage structure with a steel wire, leaving a small amount of slack to allow movement during an earthquake.
 
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