Any recommendations for a manufacturer of a four post lift for home garage use for working on the car? Not for storage.
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Re: Recommendation for garage 4 post lift
Darwin,
Try these guys http://www.directlift.com/direct_park7.htm
I bought a lift from them last year and could not be more satisfied with the lift or their customer service. I shopped for lifts for over a year and I saw many of the exact same design lifts selling for over $1000 more! If you tell them that you want the show special they will probably throw in the casters and drip trays for free. No matter whose lift you buy, spent the extra money for aluminum ramps or you will cuss the heavy steel ramps for the rest of your life!
Regards, John McGraw -
Re: Recommendation for garage 4 post lift
only my opinion but a four post is not the best working hoist , example great for exhaust but not brakes or tire rotation or on and on , i purchased an excellent rotary hoist , 2 post a oil over hydrolic 1600 used and by the way ROTARY is one of the best available you can find a reasonable buy for 2-2500 from someone going out of business and when your finished sell it for same, they really dont depreciate and these hoists are very safe to work under. hope i was of assist and not an unwarranted opinion.Comment
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Re: Recommendation for garage 4 post lift
I have an M-6 Autolifter and have used it for about four years now. I think it's an excellant value and if you purchase two jack trays you can take all four wheels off the ground at once. It's great for storage and a four post is easily removed to move or sell. Rich #2276Comment
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Re: Recommendation for garage 4 post lift
If your "working on a car" as you described, the ONLY way to go is a two post asymetrical lift.
I also can recommend Rotary for a 2 post lift. They are leaders in the business and in business since 1926. They have "dealers" coast to coast who will sell, "install" and if need be, service your lift. The install is worth the money and was part of the price. I have a 9,000 lb lift that was purchased, delivered and "installed" for $3,050 including tax. Five year product warranty and five year installation warranty from my local "Rotary" dealer.
Challenger is another good brand that is usually locally available from their dealers.
WHY BUY MAILORDER and put it together yourself only to save $100-200 if any money at all?Comment
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Re: Recommendation for garage 4 post lift
I also would recommend a 2 post for maintenance. I paid about $2800 for one installed. In a residence, however, HEADROOM MAY BE AN ISSUE. The two posters typically require 10+'.Comment
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Thanks, is the 4 post safer to use? *NM*
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Re: Thanks, is the 4 post safer to use?
There can be safety issues with any lift. I don't think the 4 posters are inheriently safer. There was a picture on the Corvette Forum a while back of a collapsed 4 post which had dumped one Vette on top of the one next to it. Looked like a real mess.
For a home garage, the 4 post has the advantage of being somewhat portable and in fact can be ordered with casters. I believe it is also a lot less handy for wheel, tire, brake and suspension work. You can jack up the suspension or wheels on a 4 post, but it's an extra step. Headroom may be the biggest issue and may be why the 4 posts are more popular with home garages.Comment
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Re: Thanks, is the 4 post safer to use?
Darwin,
I think so. While I would agree that a 2 post lift is better for some maintenance, I think that not having to bolt the lift down and having it portable if necessary, make a 4 post a better choice for the average home garage.
The ability to store cars double stacked is also a real plus. While you can store cars stacked on a 2 post, I have heard that it is unwise to leave an independant rear suspension hanging for extended periods, and you do not have drip protection. When I build a new shop and have more room, I will add a 2 post lift just for service, but to be real honest, the jack brige makes it very easy to get one or both ends off the lift. Both have advantages and disadvantages, but for me a 4 post lift is more versatile. I can't tell you how many times I have moved mine from one shop to the other as needs have changed for projects, I just pop the casters on it and roll it across the drive! There is not a day that goes by where my lift does not get used and I have never found it to be cumbersome.
Regards, John McgrawComment
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P.S.
Darwin,
One thing to keep in mind about portability however, If you do not have at least an 8 foot high garage door, you cannot roll most of the 4 post lifts out the door! The standard 7 foot high garage door will not allow it to pass by about 5 inches! Both lifts probably need in exces of 10 feet of ceiling height to make them at all usable, because there is nothing more miserable than having to walk around stooped down under your car when working on it. Another real plus is the addition of a high lift kit for the doors so the doors will go all the way up to the celing before turning horizontal. This will allow the door to be raised while the car is on the lift in the full up position. I had a friend relate to me how he forgot about the car being up and opened the door only to badly scrape up the rear deck of his car!
Regards, John McGrawComment
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Re: P.S.
One more thing to think about with a 2 post lift is the thickness of your concrete floor. I have seen 2, 2 post lifts in commercial use pull out of the floor this past month.Comment
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Re: P.S.
Brian,
This however is usually only an issue with asymetrical lifts and not symetrical lifts, as the asymetrical lift puts a pretty good lever to work on the floor!
Regards, John McGrawComment
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Re: P.S.
I do worry a bit about the bolt pull factor on the two post in my shop. Most of the cars we put on it are relatively small, even though the lift is rated at 9000#. I don't worry about it at all when I have a 3000# Corvette on the lift.Comment
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Re: P.S.
Both of the lifts that I mentioned had large vehicles on them, one was an Excursion and one was a full size Ford van.Comment
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Re: P.S.
In the cases you mention, (large, heavy vehicles) they had better be bolted down real well. When using an asymetrical lift, one needs to try to position the car as close to center as possible. There is a lot of user discretion as to where the arms are placed. Also, if the car is backed on to the lift, the heavy end gets the greatest overhang. Sure don't want to do that with a large car.Comment
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