For those have have a 4 post lift, where did you get it from and about what did it cost? I'm looking into them and I'm actually a little clueless as to what I should be looking for besides lifting capacity. I plan on using it for doing work on the Chevelles, and maybe using it to store a car up in the air so I can have another slot in the garage. I know lifts are one of those things that you get what you pay for, but I can't afford $5000 and up for a lift. I was looking in the $2000-$3000 range.

Tom

For as much work as you do on cars you'll regret getting a 4 post, IMO. They're really best suited for parking/storing vehicles. There's only about 18"- 24" between the ramps to work. Plus you have to buy jack attachments for a 4 post just to lift the car off the ramps to change tires, brakes, etc.

If the priority is parking/storing, get a 4 post. If it's mechanical work, go 2. Either way they are great to have around!

My .02, FWIW

Andy

I'd rather have the 2 post Andy, but the concrete floor isn't thick enough to support it. It's only 4" thick, maybe a tiny bit in some areas and I always thought the 2 post lifts needed a minimum of 6"?? I didn't think about that until after the floor was poured :clonk:

cutting and digging footings isn't that hard. You could rent a saw and do it yourself.. If that's all that's holding back for a 2 post.
My problem is height otherwise I would have one too

Tom Im not sure witch one billy just got,,,but ask him about it in the chat

I was just looking at the 2 post ones on Rotary Lifts web site. They don't list prices for them.

Tom, we bought a twin post and four post from Aresco in Pontiac Michigan. Allegedly they were all built in Texas. They have a website; http://www.aresco.org/

I would ask them if 4" is sufficiant for a twin post.

I have worked on a 2 post and 4 post lifts for the last 15 years . They both have their advantages ... Depending on what you want to do . When the time came for me to buy a lift for my house , I went with a 4 post all the way ! For what I do with it ( and there isn't anything that I won't do ) , it works out perfectly ! Especially if you plan on moutning it outside ( like I did ) ... I wouldn't want to stand under anything on a 2 post lift on a windy day ! Doing suspension work can be somewhat tricky , but again , theres nothing that I can't do on my 4 post that I have done on my 2 post .
The only really pain is that i should have gotton it a little longer because of all the crew cab , 8' bed trucks that I put on it . The wheels are right behind the 4 posts . But for the Chevelle , the 4 post is sweet ! .. What ever you decide , anything beats laying on your back ! :thumbsup: :beers:

Tom

For as much work as you do on cars you'll regret getting a 4 post, IMO. They're really best suited for parking/storing vehicles. There's only about 18"- 24" between the ramps to work. Plus you have to buy jack attachments for a 4 post just to lift the car off the ramps to change tires, brakes, etc.

If the priority is parking/storing, get a 4 post. If it's mechanical work, go 2. Either way they are great to have around!

My .02, FWIW

Andy

never seen a 4 post with only 18-24" between the ramps; mine is 3' and that's pretty much standard.

2 posts are not as stable, cars can and do move around on them; been there, done that before.

takes longer to get the car up in the air, having to set the four arms.

can't be moved outside, like to steam clean the bottom of a car.

takes a thicker than standard floor thickness

limited door opening with most models as the main supports line up with them.

I've had lowered vehicles that didn't clear some two posts (couldn't get the arms low enough)

I would never own a 2 post, and I've used several. The 4 post with the hydraulic jack tray will lift the car off the rack easily, and the entire deal is much more stable. You haven't lived until you've had a car slide on the arms of a 2 post............. :noway: I do all kinds of work with mine, and I just don't see the disadvantages you guys are speaking of.

Jody

www.asedeals.com is where I got my 2 post. Required the same floor thickness as a 4 post. I don't use mine as a storage rack and have had lowered cars (low as the law allows around here) and 3/4 ton trucks on mine with no issues. I put a suspension lift on my pickup and swapped out both axle assemblies. On a 4 post the ramps would have been in the way for 90% of the work. IMO a 4 post would be much harder to use for the stuff I do. The time you "saved" by not having set the arms on a 2 post would be wasted having to set the jack trays (another item to be in the way when working along 2 more posts ) and jacks to lift the car on the lift. Oil changes on a 4 post would also take me longer as I do tire rotation while the oil is draining. I would like a 4 post for more inside storage though :)

Tom

Keep an ear to the ground in your area. Car dealers, at least the well run ones, swap out their lifts on a schedule - whether they need it, or not. Manages their liability, I guess. Anyway. You can get a great deal on one that still has years of life left. The trick is getting to the right source to find out when a batch is coming up. They go quick.

Aound here, anyway, dealers use 2 post (which tells you something).

If you contact a local Rotary dealer, they may know of some coming up. They show up on ebay once in awhile, too.

Good luck.

Andy

http://eagleequip.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

I've been wanting one also. Just have to vault the ceiling in the garage... :D

I wish I had seen these when I was shopping; http://detroit.craigslist.org/pts/543901575.html
http://detroit.craigslist.org/pts/543529805.html

I Own A Shop And We Use Two Post Lifts All The Time And Never Had A Problem With Cars Moving Around On Them. We Have Two Challanger And One Forward. Will Be Replacing The Challangers By The End Of The Year Just To Keep Things Updated. You Can Still Stack Cars Plus It Saves On The Suspension. Only Bad Point I See Is Door Clearance.

I gotta mention this.

Coming home from work the other afternoon we got behind an older P/U and it had an OLD, in-ground dual cylinder lift in the bed! It looked like onna those "air over hydraulic" lifts..

They musta pulled it outta the ground out beside the old Skelly somewhere b/c that's what it reminded me of when I was a kid and sometimes the lift was outside!!

pdq67