4 post lift
- Thread starter Stingray70
- Start date
Stingray70
Senior Member
Great ideas guys. Keep them coming.
Looks like I am going to have lots of reading this weekend. Interesting how backyard buddy and advantage are both from the same company. They advertise the "buddy" as made in USA. I don't see that on the advantage line. I wonder if that is the same lift but made overseas?
Looks like I am going to have lots of reading this weekend. Interesting how backyard buddy and advantage are both from the same company. They advertise the "buddy" as made in USA. I don't see that on the advantage line. I wonder if that is the same lift but made overseas?
redmodelt
Well-known member
Having worked around both types, for doing any real work on the car I would go with the 2 post. The 4 post in my OP would be fine for general maintenance and storage but all those post and rails I find to be in the way. I took a look at some of the sites that sell the 4 post, you don't see many touted for working, most every one shows cars being stored. If you want to change tires or do brake work or ?, you then have to buy more "stuff/things" to lift the car up off the rails if it does not come with them. One site I looked at, those jacks run $800 to $1600 more over the cost of the lift. that may be the top end prices, I only check one.
I was just thinking about how nice it would be to have a 2 post lift today before I read this, wishing I had space for one for.
I was just thinking about how nice it would be to have a 2 post lift today before I read this, wishing I had space for one for.
TerryO
Well-known member
The Advantage Lift is built in China (the only thing I don't like about it) but is much heavier than the Backyard Buddy I looked at a few years ago. I made a couple of calls before I bought and asked where it was built. The answer was China but made heavier with thicker steel than the competition. It does have the post completely encased by the beam rather than the slot. It would be nice to be able to check them out in person before purchasing.
TOB
brokenspoke
Senior Member
I'm too old to crawl on the ground to place the arms on a two post lift
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My neighbor had a really nice 2 poster. He died unexpectedly, after some time had passed I approached his widow regarding helping her clean out the shop. Which was full of cars and parts. She was much appreciative. I asked if she would be interested in selling the lift, at which time she said it had already been sold and was waiting for the guy to come get it. Fast forward 3 years, she was moving, I went back over to help with the 'final' cleanout, lift still there. I asked her again, saying it would be cash in her hand by the end of the day, out of the garage the next. Same thing, 'her mechanic' wanted it and was going to pick it up. New people have been in the house for a year and half now, lift is still there!!
I suppose I should have walked over with cash in hand!!!
SwampLedge
Member
Like brokenspoke wrote, because of age, it hurts too much to get down on the floor, position lift arms, and get back up like I’d need to do with a 2 post lift. With the four post, jack positioning can occur at a more comfortable height when wheel removal is necessary. On top of that, nice to be able to observe clearances for exhaust, etc., with the vehicle weight supported by the suspension.
2- versus 4-post arguments will be with us until anti gravity lifts are invented. Everyone needs to decide what works best for their needs.
2- versus 4-post arguments will be with us until anti gravity lifts are invented. Everyone needs to decide what works best for their needs.
harleycontracter
Senior Member
I have 2 Rotary 4 posts lifts. No issues and very safe .
I would say 10’. You want enough height to be able to stand under the car when you are working on it. If you are ok with being bent over while working on it, then you could get by with less height. For storage purposes, you add the height of the top car, the height of the bottom car + approximately 6” and that will tell you the overall height needed.
TerryO
Well-known member
My shop has 12' side walls and 17' in the center. My lift has 6' 10" under the tracks at full height and a truck (F350) is probably another 6-7 ft so I would need a minimum of 12' and someone to watch to make sure I stopped the lift before I reached the top. Of course if you were lifting a car on a standard height lift you probably would be ok with 12'.
TOB
TOB
Chris Haynes
Well-known member
I bought the two post lift. The idea of being able to remove wheels, brakes, suspension, etc. without using jacks is just too good of an idea to me.
https://www.garageappeal.com/dannmar-d2-10a-asymmetric-10-000-lbs-capacity-two-post-lift/
https://www.garageappeal.com/dannmar-d2-10a-asymmetric-10-000-lbs-capacity-two-post-lift/
brokenspoke
Senior Member
How often do you remove the wheel, suspension?
Licensed to kill
Well-known member
ANY lift is better that no lift. Buy what suits your needs. If you want to store cars on it and do general maintenance (grease and oil changes), I would get a 4 post IF you have the room. Of course you can do those things on a 2 post but setting the arms can be a PITA ESPECIALLY on cars low to the ground. I went with a 2 post for a couple of reasons. The 2 main ones were 1-I didn't want to dedicate the floor space for a 4 post and 2-I wanted the ability to lift off car bodies. The 2 biggest advantages of a 4 post IMO, is that you don't have to set the arms and you don't have posts beside the doors. The beauty of that is that when doing under dash wiring you can lift the car to a comfortable level and stand beside it and reach up under the dash rather than being a contortionist all twisted up and upside down in the cab.Of course, on the flip side, to do wheel work you need jacks with a 4 post As far as safety goes, if you question your own ability to set the arms correctly you probably can't set the jacks required for wheel work on a 4 post safely either and maybe working on cars isn't for you. Would I trade my 2 post for a 4 post??. nope. If I had the room would I add a 4 post to the shop?, in a heartbeat.
katy
Well-known member
FWIW, my shop is 32' X 60' w/a 13' ceiling.
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