I looked and looked for an example of how to do this and couldn't find any information anywhere..... so I came up with it myself and it worked great. My 4 post lift has been one of the best additions I have made to my shop and I don't think there has been a single day I regretted choosing it over a 2 post, despite things like this being more work.
I replaced one bolt on each upright with a heavy eye hook and used heavy ratchet straps to suspend a 2x10 down each side, and clamped the 2x10 to the post to prevent it spreading at the bottom when under load. Then straps from those same eye hooks to the outer walls to prevent the posts collapsing inwards when the platform was lowered, although I doubt this was actually necessary.
Lifted the body up off the frame with bottle jacks at the front and a bridge jack at the rear, slid some 10' lumber under the body and then lowered the frame down, rolled it out side, raised the platform and rolled the frame back under, raised the platforms all the way up and supported the body on jack stands and pulled the lumber out. Worked mint!
2 minute time lapse:
I replaced one bolt on each upright with a heavy eye hook and used heavy ratchet straps to suspend a 2x10 down each side, and clamped the 2x10 to the post to prevent it spreading at the bottom when under load. Then straps from those same eye hooks to the outer walls to prevent the posts collapsing inwards when the platform was lowered, although I doubt this was actually necessary.
Lifted the body up off the frame with bottle jacks at the front and a bridge jack at the rear, slid some 10' lumber under the body and then lowered the frame down, rolled it out side, raised the platform and rolled the frame back under, raised the platforms all the way up and supported the body on jack stands and pulled the lumber out. Worked mint!
2 minute time lapse:
the lift had a car on it and under it tho. Next time i’ll look into doing it your way. Looks easier.
