2 Post Lift vs 4 Post Lift

[Miccara]

Maybe done to death on here somewhere (search didn't come up with anything). I'm struggling with the decision... I really want a 2 post lift but can't imagine letting the suspension hang when I'm storing a car, is very good for it. I just think the 4 post is going to suck when working under the car...

I'm looking at Bend Pak 2 and 4 post lifts

 

[hemi#1]

we have 2 2 post lifts at our shop. 4 post are hard to change tires unless you have the aux jack that slides from front to rear with 2 post you have more access to the bottom of the car we got our lifts off CL for under $ 1000.00 each used 1 was used twice because the business went under.

 

[Seventy]

2 post, rotary or forward brand, you wont be sorry, I had some bad luck with bend pak...

I have 4 post lifts also and they are nice if you dont want to bolt it down, need to move it around, only use it for storage, and wont be working on it much..

They are faster and easier to mount a car on, they are easier to setup, etc. but brake, tire, suspension work can suck...also they take up more room..


If I had to only have 1 lift, it would be a 2 post, and not just any 2 post, it would either be the forward dp10a or the rotary (I love the shockwave system).. I can open the doors, their customer service is perfect, and the stuff is well made...

good luck, pretty much depends on what you are doing with the lift, if its for storage, go 4 post, if you are going to be working on cars on it, go 2 post...

 

[Bb70charger500]

Well if it were me the 2 post Would he the way . The 4 post is nice but kinda a pain to work under kinda defeats the purpose. If your only doing a little job here or there get the 4 post but for full blown restore you'll be happy with the 2 poster .and for storage maybe you can weld a jig together where you can bolt plates on to the arms or something and set the car in the wheels to keep the suspension down at ride hight ? Just thinking out loud as for the brand I can't help you I've always used Ben pac and have never had a problem out of any of them.
Goodb luck in your choice

 

[Richard Cranium]

I have a 4 post lift & working underneath has never been an issue. I also have 2 bridge lifts so that I can raise all 4 wheels off of ramps. It's a lot easier to park a 2nd car underneath a 4 post lift than a two post, plus, a 4 post doesn't take up as much room.

 

[Seventy]

I have a 4 post lift & working underneath has never been an issue. I also have 2 bridge lifts so that I can raise all 4 wheels off of ramps. It's a lot easier to park a 2nd car underneath a 4 post lift than a two post, plus, a 4 post doesn't take up as much room.

RC my 4 posts have bigger foot prints and take up more room, especially when there is not car on the lift... With the 2 post I can still pull an excavator in the garage with the lift empty with the 4 post, that bay is for the lift and nothing else...

I have a stack of bridge lifts in my loft, each one I bought comes with one, I tried using them, it sucks, so you get to lift the tire off the ramp BUT then block the lower part of the car, DONT ever beat your self up trying to do a lift kit on one, sure it was easier than doing it on a creeper, BUT, Ill take the 2 post any day..


I do agree its easier, and easier to park under, easier to move around, and I dont bolt mine down, mine actually have wheels you can roll them where ever you want them, so I roll one to the rear of the garage put a car on it and under it, then roll one in front of it and stack another 2 cars...

 

[2059]

2 post. Asymmetrical.. Advantages and disadvantages to both styles. For storage (car stacking), I'd probably go with the 4 post. It feels safer. For working on the cars, I prefer the 2 post. The asymmetrical style allows me to "tuck" the lift in the corner further freeing up more open floor space.. Let us know what you decide!

http://www.dannmar.com/dannmar-products/two-post-lifts/brigadier-10ACX.asp

 

[flyingfarley]

I have one of each...two post is the best by far for working on the car...four post is a great storage lift. I just use my four post for storage....makes a great extra garage stall. The two post is my work hoist...its a pre-Chinese Bend pack....haven't had to do any repairs to it in almost 15 years...use it everyday....I can't see any drawbacks to a two post for repair work.

 

[Richard Cranium]

RC my 4 posts have bigger foot prints and take up more room, especially when there is not car on the lift... With the 2 post I can still pull an excavator in the garage with the lift empty with the 4 post, that bay is for the lift and nothing else...

I have a stack of bridge lifts in my loft, each one I bought comes with one, I tried using them, it sucks, so you get to lift the tire off the ramp BUT then block the lower part of the car, DONT ever beat your self up trying to do a lift kit on one, sure it was easier than doing it on a creeper, BUT, Ill take the 2 post any day..


I do agree its easier, and easier to park under, easier to move around, and I dont bolt mine down, mine actually have wheels you can roll them where ever you want them, so I roll one to the rear of the garage put a car on it and under it, then roll one in front of it and stack another 2 cars...

I have no need for an excavator, nor am I ever going to ever do a lift kit. For me, the 4 post lift works out fine. I'm even able to drop the body down onto the K-frame & drivetrain.

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I have one of each...two post is the best by far for working on the car...four post is a great storage lift.

I'll agree with you there on the 2 post, but I personally have adapted very well to a 4-post & I have found that there is nothing I can't do with it.

 

[Seventy]

2 post. Asymmetrical.. Advantages and disadvantages to both styles. For storage (car stacking), I'd probably go with the 4 post. It feels safer. For working on the cars, I prefer the 2 post. The asymmetrical style allows me to "tuck" the lift in the corner further freeing up more open floor space.. Let us know what you decide!

http://www.dannmar.com/dannmar-products/two-post-lifts/brigadier-10ACX.asp

How about your garage is like out of a dream, for fucks sake, I want a pillow and silk sheet, I'll sleep on that floor. I am in love.... I cant have anything that nice because I am a pig, Ill turn a track machine around in there and destroy it all, dam it... I want to pour jelly beans on the floor and make snow angels in there...

 

[Hanover Mopar]

4 post with "chirp" strips.

Good for second car and with a jack plate easy to work on anything.

 

[2059]

How about your garage is like out of a dream, for fucks sake, I want a pillow and silk sheet, I'll sleep on that floor. I am in love.... I cant have anything that nice because I am a pig, Ill turn a track machine around in there and destroy it all, dam it... I want to pour jelly beans on the floor and make snow angels in there...

Thanks, it took about a year to get it the way i wanted it... ("pay as you go plan") it is a working shop however. Plenty of scratches on the floor but i can appreciate what you're saying about the track machine. THere's a 30x60 pole bldg behind that big overhead door that isn't heated where i have the mowers, tractor, backhoe, etc...

I literally spend 90% of my free time out here. It helps to have a 30'x40' "apartment" attached. Only time I go in the main house is to sleep and when DW makes dinner.

The last thing to go in was the lift. Best addition to the shop; bar none!

 

[Hemirunner]

2059, Are those Hemi Valve Cover lights?:headbang:

 

[2059]

2059, Are those Hemi Valve Cover lights?:headbang:

Hahahaha!! yup. couple sets of Gen 1 and it hit me one day when I was in the hardware store picking up some temporary porcelain light sockets. The sockets are two piece screw together type. Anyway, I bought a couple old Dist housings from a few guys here and the rest is history....

Start at post #51 then again at post #72 I think...

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?60898-Refresh-the-shop-man-cave/page3

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[super-bee_ski]

we have 2 2 post lifts at our shop. 4 post are hard to change tires unless you have the aux jack that slides from front to rear with 2 post you have more access to the bottom of the car we got our lifts off CL for under $ 1000.00 each used 1 was used twice because the business went under.

Wow hemi#1
You did get a good deal!
Here at Edwards AFB 3 years ago they tore down the "Old" base gas station.
My Bud stopped in and asked a couple of questions.
They told him an Auction was coming up the next Saturday.
He went and bid and won the bid for a Brand New Snap-On "two" post lift and some other thing.
He paid (Bid) $700 for the two post lift almost brand new!

Holy Cow!

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2 post. Asymmetrical.. Advantages and disadvantages to both styles. For storage (car stacking), I'd probably go with the 4 post. It feels safer. For working on the cars, I prefer the 2 post. The asymmetrical style allows me to "tuck" the lift in the corner further freeing up more open floor space.. Let us know what you decide!

http://www.dannmar.com/dannmar-products/two-post-lifts/brigadier-10ACX.asp

I think I'm depressed again!
Looking at 2059s garage!

Yikes...

 

[2059]

Miccara, There are a couple good shots of the hoist later on in that thread too. I forgot they were there...

S-B-S; I got tired just looking at that again.. forgot how much work was in that... LOL!

 

[Seventy]

Thanks, it took about a year to get it the way i wanted it... ("pay as you go plan") it is a working shop however. Plenty of scratches on the floor but i can appreciate what you're saying about the track machine. THere's a 30x60 pole bldg behind that big overhead door that isn't heated where i have the mowers, tractor, backhoe, etc...

I literally spend 90% of my free time out here. It helps to have a 30'x40' "apartment" attached. Only time I go in the main house is to sleep and when DW makes dinner.

The last thing to go in was the lift. Best addition to the shop; bar none!

Backhoes will do it too for sure, so you know what i am talking about, low ground pressure my ***, lol... I have a rubber track mini X, its like a glorified shovel, I can go through a normal back yard gate with it!! And even that machine will tear up a floor faster than you can blink... spinning 3000lbs on 8sq inches of surface takes a toll..

Seriously though, I am impressed with your garage, it looks awesome, I WISH my wife would have went for the "loft ontop of a BIG building", a friend of ours has an 1100 sq foot loft over is 4000 sq ft shop (commercial, nothing to do with cars, he does granite counter tops), and its gorgeous, BUT she would not have it, she said I can have the 4000 sq foot shop 1000 feet from the main house, lol...


Do you have some pics of the outside, I am super interested in the entire package, sorry for the hi jack..., pun intended ...

 

[ECS]

Maybe done to death on here somewhere (search didn't come up with anything). I'm struggling with the decision... I really want a 2 post lift but can't imagine letting the suspension hang when I'm storing a car, is very good for it. I just think the 4 post is going to suck when working under the car...

I'm looking at Bend Pak 2 and 4 post lifts

Both styles have their benefits. What is the overall purpose for their primary use? Are you looking to store your cars? Work on them? Will different vehicles and their overall size (and accessibility) be a factor in your choice?

 

[Darter6]

I'm with ECS, I have a 2 post asymmetrical that is great for all work,but like you I wouldn't use to store a car in the air for long periods.A four post for working is a pain and you will soon be looking for a hard hat or lots of bandages. I got the 4 post first. It wasn't long that the 4 post was only used to store cars topside and underneath. Ordered the 2 post about a month later.I do have a friend that has 3 of the 2 post lifts and he has been storing cars for weeks and months at a time for the last 8 years with out a problem.

 

[resq302]

Dave,

Please correct me if I am wrong but I believe that you have posted pictures of your cars on both types of lifts. Maybe posting those pics showing the different applications they could be utilized for?

I have a 4 post drive on lift at my Dad's house which I have used for restoring four cars now. While it is easier to do a front end using a two post lift, I have been able to do it using the four post ramp lift. The nice thing about the 4 post lift is that we double stack our cars in our garage allowing 3 cars to be in a 2 car garage.

Like Dave and others have said, you need to find the lift that best suits your needs. If you are moving cars around a lot, the 4 post might be best for you as it will save you a lot of time in setting up the arms under the car as you would need to do with a 2 post lift. The 4 post lift you simply drive up on the ramps and stop, get out, and raise the car. My personal feeling is that the 4 post lifts are sturdier than the 2 post, but again, thats just my personal feelings on it.