Four post of two post lift?

[Aleinsteingenius]

I am setting up my new shop to build a roadster. It will be used just for building it not for daily driver car maintenance maybe if I am like a lot of you after the roadster, a coupe, a hot rod...etc. I have used two-post lifts often but never a four-post. Is the four-post lift with a rolling jack better? Being able to work on the car at a comfortable height will be nice. Because the shop will be dedicated to just building the car, it can stay on the lift as long as necessary. I would love to hear your experiences.

[Dgc333]

After building my garage I hemmed and hawed for over a year about whether to get a two post or four post lift. I was at the local world of wheels and was checking out lifts. The business owner offered me a screaming deal on the four post he had on display. I still could not make up my mind, my wife finally pulled out her credit card and bought it for me.

I have had it for over 10 years now and there has not been a single incident where I wish I had a two post lift. The only thing that would make it a little more convenient would be to have a second trolly jack so I could lift both axles off at the same time. But I use the jack tray that came with the lift when I need to do that. Here are what I see as the advantages of the four post;
1. I am getting up there in years. With the four post there is no getting down on your hands & knees to set the arms of a two post. Just drive on and do your thing.
2. No worries about having the vehicle positioned correctly for balance. I think we all have seen the You Tube videos of vehicles tipping and falling off.
3. The rails are at a perfect height to be a tray to hold your tools while working on the vehicle.
4. The four post lifts come with drip trays so there is no danger of anything falling on a vehicle you are storing below.
5. The four post pumps don't need to be bolted down and come with wheels so you can move it around if needed.

Whether you decide to go two post or four post I recommend you get one with a 220 volt pump. It will go up much faster, as convenient as having a lift waiting on the car to go up can be frustrating. If I ever need to replace the pump or get a new lift it will definitely have a 220 volt pump.

[gbranham]

I had a 4 post lift at my first house. It was great for basic car maintenance, and for double-stacking cars. It turned my 2 car garage into a 3 car garage. I had to high-lift my garage door to take full advantage of my ceiling height, but I loved having the lift. I believe a 2 post lift needs stronger concrete than what is generally poured in residential garages, so be aware of that. I had two of the rolling jacks on my 4 post lift, so I could elevate the car to remove the wheels and tires to do brake jobs, etc. I'm thinking about getting another one at my current house. Definitely easier to do oil changes, etc when you have the car several feet in the air.

Greg

[Bill Elliott]

I prefer a two post , it seems to be less in the way when working on the car . I think it a lot of extra work if you are on a 4 post and have to use a jack. I did almost all work with the lift at one heighth.

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[cdurbin328]

When I built my shop a few years back I went with a 10k pound 2 post lift. Best money I ever spent. Makes working on or building cars so much more enjoyable. I personally prefer a 2 post over a 4 post. 4 post seem to limit what you can do as well as takes up more floor space.

Here's my setup.

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[Aleinsteingenius]

Thanks for all the input. This may turn out to be as much fun as watching a debate about engine choice. I have plenty of floor space so don't need it to stack cars. I will be checking the thickness of my concrete. That may influence my decision. Dgc333 that is a good point about not having to kneel down on the floor to set the arms on a two post. I have a rebuilt ankle, two fake knees, and one fake hip (thanks football).

[RoadRacer]

Being able to move your 4 post around the shop was really useful I found. Even move it outside.

[Waterman]

I love my 2 post. With the body off you can position the legs without knees on the floor. Gives very good access to everything. And I loved have cobra at perfect height for various assembly tasks. Couple more points. When not in use I raise up fully and all you have in the shop are two small posts not a huge metal contraption. And with a little thought/makeshift adaptors you can pick up lawn mowers, tractors, engines..... Makes easy to change oil and remove mower blades. 4 post has it's pluses too so your big decision.

[Aleinsteingenius]

Good points. I have even used a 2 post lift to pick up a Harley so there is that.

[PG_Cobra]

4 post. Backyard Buddy. No regrets after 10 plus years.

[danmas]

I have had both (sorta) and I prefer four post. Much easier. I have a rolling jack on it and kind of wish I had two but if I ever need all four wheels of the ground I use my tall jack stands. Works great. Added plus is that when you go to install the engine you put the front wheels on the ground or jack stands or wheel Dollie’s and the back wheels on the lift and you can really elevate the car. Love being able to move it around. Make sure you get ramps that will handle exotic cars (smaller angles so you don’t drag. Finally I attached a winch to my four post so rolling the car on and off the lift is super easy now. It’s removable so I can put it on either the front or back and I love being able to move the entire lift around.

[Ducky2009]

I have neither, but used a friends two post. Had to drive up on 2" x 6's to get the car high enough to swing the arms under the frame. Not sure if this is typical.

Two post owners... Please chime in.

[wallace18]

I had both. 2-post is best for working on entire car, IMO. It takes some work to get every thing lined up, but worth it in access to all the car. Just my 2-cents after building 18+ of these wonderful kits.

[progmgr1]

I bought the MAX-JAX 2 post lift because my garage has a relatively low ceiling. My only regret is that I would prefer the car raised up a few more inches - I have to use the lowest roller stool I could find and always wear a bump helmet. However, these are minor inconveniences, and I second the above comment about easy access to the entire car. Also, the swing arms fit under the chassis of my '33 Hot Rod without using ramps or jacks.

Also, if you are concerned about stability, note that my '33 was about 90% assembled and up on the lift at the highest position. We recently experienced several Magnitude 4+ earthquakes, and they had no affect on the car, the lift, or the garage floor it's bolted to.

Keith HR #894

[kirby]

I have a 4 post only because I got a screaming deal on one. I do love it and if I put a rolling jack on it I would like it more. The fact that you drove on it makes a huge difference verse trying to place the arms

[Aleinsteingenius]

I love all the responses even though there doesn't seem to be a consensus. Wallace18 you built 18 FFRs? Wow, I am worried about building ONE.

[cdurbin328]

I have neither, but used a friends two post. Had to drive up on 2" x 6's to get the car high enough to swing the arms under the frame. Not sure if this is typical.

Two post owners... Please chime in.


Don't know if it's typical but I have the same kind of situation putting mine on my 2 post.

[BrewCityCobra]

I am setting up my new shop to build a roadster. It will be used just for building it not for daily driver car maintenance maybe if I am like a lot of you after the roadster, a coupe, a hot rod...etc. I have used two-post lifts often but never a four-post. Is the four-post lift with a rolling jack better? Being able to work on the car at a comfortable height will be nice. Because the shop will be dedicated to just building the car, it can stay on the lift as long as necessary. I would love to hear your experiences.

So obviously everybody's mileage will vary depending on your specific layout/use, but I personally preferred a two-post for working on the car. Two main reasons, 1) it seems like better access to the car overall (four-post guys can tell me if i'm mistaken here), and 2) it takes up a whole lot less room in the shop. The big downside is you don't have the double-stack storage option as readily available (which was never really an option/want for me given ceiling height).

I ultimately went with a MaxJack and it was exactly what the doctor ordered with my size structure. You give up some lift hight capabilities, but the system itself works like a charm and the ability to remove the uprights and/or move them around to compensate for different car sizes can be very nice for when the project is done and you want to try to fit more cars in the shop and/or work on a different sized vehicle.

A post I included in my build thread on the matter is here: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?38979-The-Brew-City-Cobra-427W-IRS-Paint-is-DONE&p=527187&viewfull=1#post527187 You'll notice I actually ended up installing three "post locations" in my floor to accommodate cars of different widths and to allow more of the garage to be used for parking as needed. Just a nice bit of flexibility provide by the Maxjack.

[Indy Shu]

Another option since you mentioned 'just for building'. I built my coupe with a mid-rise bend pak scissor lift. The only place not very accessible is the bottom of the cockpit area but great accessibility and height adjustment for all other work. I do have to use 2x's to get on it. Can raise it almost to chest level for working on wheels/brakes.

[edwardb]

Perfect... engine choice, power steering, now which lift... Questions for the ages. For me it boils down to simply 2-post is better for building and on-going maintenance, 4-post is better for storage (e.g. fitting a car underneath) and a bit easier to load. 4-post can be made to be more acceptable for building and maintenance with added accessories. But you're never going to have the underneath access provided by a 2-post. It is true these cars are low so getting the arms of a 2-post underneath is usually an added step. My experience is make sure to buy one with low-profile arms. Then a little lift with a floor jack and they go under. I can get my cars onto the 2-post in just a few minutes. No big deal.

I've had two 2-lifts. A MaxJax when I had a regular height garage. And now my full size Bendpak since we moved to a different house and a high garage ceiling. I've done work under a 4-post and prefer my 2-post. I would do the same thing again. Valid point though about checking the concrete thickness for a 2-post. I've been lucky both garages in my case were adequate.

[Papa]

For building, a two-post will likely work best for you. A four-post is easier to get a car on/off, but you need to be able to drive it on/off in the first place. I had a two-post and it was a pain to get the car lined up and I needed to raise the car to get the arms under it. I now have a four-post and it is very easy to drive the car onto the lift. For me, the four-post wins for my needs.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=211682&d=1742485038

I also considered leaving the lift portable (not anchored to the floor) but decided to bolt it down as it is a lot more stable when bolted down. It can still be moved by removing the nuts and raising it with a caster kit.

Other factors to consider:

If you do a two-post, be sure the lift can be configured to reach the lift points of the car you are working on. My two-post (same as Paul's) was installed in the "narrow" configuration to allow me to use it for my MK4. Once installed, it can't be changed to the "wide" configuration easily if you want to put a wider vehicle on it like a full-size pick-up.

The four post can be switched from "narrow" to "wide" by moving the outboard runway between the two positions, which can be done in a few minutes by removing four bolts, sliding the runway to the different position, and bolting it in place.

[Aleinsteingenius]

Thanks for all the good info everyone. At a business I own they have a two-post that I have seen lift a F350 dumptruck. I used it to lift up a Harley I was working on so that one at least was pretty adjustable in size. I have to check the brand. I have to get one that lifts high enough. I am 6'5 and don't want to wear a helmet.

[Dgc333]

I am always bumping my head into things when working in the garage, not just under the lift. Being bald I wind up with scabs on my head. My wife got me a bump cap which I wear all the time now when working in the garage. It looks like a baseball hat but is lined with a 1/4" layer of of dense foam. Works great, Everytime I bang into something with my head I say "thank you dear" to my self.

[Rebostar]

I have both a 4 post and a 2 post lift in my shop. For the build/construction the 2 post is hands down the better of the two. Now that it is complete the 4 post is handier to get it lifted for any under body work as I can just drive it on. If I had only one I would use the 2 post.

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[jrcuz]

My garage is regular height and only 11 feet wide, I would love to get a lift most probably a 4 post. I'll have to research the availability of for my "sgarage".
JR

[Aleinsteingenius]

This weekend I will drill a hole in my hangar floor to make sure it is thick enough. That concrete was poured in 1970 so should be nice and hard. If it is ok I have decided to go with a 2 post unequal low profile arm unit. The cobra can live on it all through the build. For us tall guys half hunching over gets tiresome. The new shop is 30' by 40' so I have room to put it on the floor too if I want. Ceilings are 12'6 so can lift plenty high. The body can be stored outside the shop area in the main hangar which is 60 x80. I only have one plane left in the hangar so plenty of room. Now all I have to do is finish building the new shop, install lift, get kit, get motor, build kit...piece of cake lol.

[Nickjj]

For my build process I am using a QuickJack portable hydraulic a car lift in conjunction with jack stands on occasion when you need to work around the frame rails. I will be purchasing a 4 post lift once the build is done to store my son's Mustang Bullitt in the garage as well. So much easier getting on and off the lift.

[Wizbangdoodle]

I've used both and both have pros and cons. Right now I have a 2 post lift, mostly because I got a screamin' deal on it. Couldn't pass it up. I think I'd still opt for the 2 post given the choice.

[efnfast]

I have 6 four-post lifts. All Direct Lifts. Very happy with them since they're good for working on cars and storage. Make sure you get a bridge jack - the first time i tried to cheap out with the jack tray and bottle jack and, yea, no, that sucked, lol.

The cost of them has really gone up through. My first one back in ~2006 cost $1,500 arctic pesos. My last one in ~2023 cost $7,500 arctic pesos.

I havn't run into any maintenance event that I wished I had a 2post, although I havn't dropped an engine/sub-frame on a lift so yea, for that you'd probably want 2 post.

[Dgc333]

I have 6 four-post lifts. All Direct Lifts. Very happy with them since they're good for working on cars and storage. Make sure you get a bridge jack - the first time i tried to cheap out with the jack tray and bottle jack and, yea, no, that sucked, lol.

The cost of them has really gone up through. My first one back in ~2006 cost $1,500 arctic pesos. My last one in ~2023 cost $7,500 arctic pesos.

I havn't run into any maintenance event that I wished I had a 2post, although I havn't dropped an engine/sub-frame on a lift so yea, for that you'd probably want 2 post.

I have swapped installed three engines using my four post lift including installing the engine/tranny combo into my 33 Speedstar. You just need to raise the lift enough so the feet of your engine crane will go under the lift.

[Aleinsteingenius]

And the winner is..........the four post lift! At the last minute, I changed my mind and went with a four-post lift with two lifting trays. This one lifts high enough for me to walk under without brain damage and will be easier to get the car on and off. I decided not to wait and get it before prices go up from China.

[Takis31gk]

You're going to want a 2-post lift, IMO. 4-post ramp lifts are OK, but for building and maintaining your car, the 2-post is a better choice.
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[Papa]

You're going to want a 2-post lift, IMO. 4-post ramp lifts are OK, but for building and mailtaining your car, the 2-post is a better choice.
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I agree that during the build, a two-post would be nice, but a chassis dolly that you can build does a nice job, too. Once the car is a roller, a four-post is so much easier to use in my opinion.

[Dgc333]

I built mine on a four post lift and as I mentioned previously there is nothing that I have had to do that made me wish I had a two post lift.

Here is a picture of how I started my build on a four post lift.
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[Aleinsteingenius]

One of the things that swayed me to the four-post besides the walk-under height was remembering tugging on a torque wrench while under a car.

[CraigS]

I spent 20+ yrs as a lexus tech on 2 posts. Once in a while we needed to do a minor service on the alignment rack which is essentially a 4 post. Every tech that got stuck doing that hated it, even w/ 2 roller jacks. Those ramps are constantly in between you and the car. Something slips and you slam your arm into the edge of the ramp. Pull a wheel off. On a 2 post the tire is against your chest so you get max arm strength. On a 4 post the ramp is against your chest and the tire is 6, 8, 10 inches away. If a 4 post showed up and was unloaded at my house for free, I'd sell it, buy a 2 post, and have a nice vacation on the price difference.

[Aleinsteingenius]

This could be even more fun than the engine debate! lol

[Ejzajac]

What are thoughts/opinions on a 4 post lift AND rolling Bridge Jacks or perhaps just a Sliding Jack Platform and separate bottle jacks? This could give you the flexibility and ease of a 4 post lift with low profile cars, potential stacked storage of vehicles and ability to remove wheels/brake work.

[Dgc333]

A four post lift with rolling bridge jacks is every bit as convient as a two post lift. The jack trays with bottle jacks or a floor jack is a real nuisance. Not having to get down on the floor to set arms his a HUGE convienence over a two post plus the the ramps several as perfect tool trays while working under the car. The three or four inches the ramps are wider than the car also make a perfect spot to rest tires while you position them with the studs.

Over the past 50 years I have worked under single post lifts, two post lifts and four post lifts. As I have stated several times in this thread there has never been a task that I have needed to do that made me wish for a two post or single post lift.

[VdubJoe]

I've had a 2 post for 15 years. No issues. Works fine with roadster or regular vehicles . Didn't want space considerations of 4 post. No problem placing arms. I use a mirror attached to a stick and easy peasy.

[Mick40]

I have had a 4 post for 15 years. Worked perfect throughout the build. When changing a tire I don't use the jack tray. I put jack stands under the car and lower it until the wheels come of the ramps. EASY and SAFE. The center of the car is open making it easy to work on. I needed to remove the transmission and didn't have an issue. By the way I'm 63 years old so, any lift is mandatory!