Which Lift Should I Buy: 2-Post or 4-Post?
Tom Jackson Equipment Sales Manager hears this questions rafts of multiplication each week. There is no set up answer to this question! However by looking at the advantages and disadvantages of both styles of lifts we can help offer up selective information to help you make the decision.
Most professional shops know what type of lift will work best for their stage business. Most professional shops have both two post and four post above ground lifts in their adjunct bays. Unlike these commercial shops many of our customers will only buy one lift for their home service department. Tom Jackson garage Equipment wants you to make the best buying decision based upon your needs.
WHY ARE YOU BUYING A LIFT?
“I just want to store my car and do a little cleaning and polishing once in a while. I am not a “big car guy”, and really only want a lift to store a car that I will not be impulsive much.”
If this sounds like you, and if “storing a car” is the primary reason for owning a lift, we would recommend a four post lift. The four post lift supports entire car “wheels” much crack than a two post lift. Imagine yourself suspended six feet in the air. Would you rather have your entire body supported (as if lying in a bed) or would you rather have just your organic structure supported (lying in a drawing string hammock) with your arms and legs dangling?
A four post lift acts much like the bed, supporting the entire fomite. The two post lift acts like the hammock, supporting only the torso, and allowing the four wheel assemblies to “dgratuity”.
“I want to do all types of repairs on my vehicles, and I am on a particular(a) budget.”
Then you want a two post lift for sure! The two post lift is the most inexpensive way to heighten the most amount of weight down. The two post lift allows the operator to easily memory access all parts of the vehicle, including the wheel assemblies, whereas the four post lift lacks an auxiliary lift (at an particular cost) that will raise the car off the runways (to allow wheel service).
OTHER FACTORS
A four post lift can be portable (most come with a free caster kit). The four post lift may also be for good anchored. A two post lift MUST be anchored to the ground.
A four post lift generally features a 110 volt crusade which does not require special wiring to put in. A two post lift will come with a 220 volt single microscope stage motor.
A four post lift takes up much more room than a two post lift.
A two post lift will raise a car “higher” in a low ceiling garage. This is because the four wheel assemblies hang below the four lifting arms (the vehicle is lifted by the frame). For instance, a vehicle that is 72 inches tall (from the hindquarters of the tires to the luggage rack) will remain 72 inches tall when lifted on a four post lift. However, this same vehicle may only be 55 inches tall when lifted on a two post lift, because 17 inches may be “hanging” below the arms. If you have a 10 foot ceiling, the two post lift will raise most vehicles to close to 6 feet off the ground.
A four post lift makes it much easier to load and position the vehicle. The runways of the four post lift make it easy for the operator to just drive onto the lift. There is no need (as on a two post lift) to get out of the car, kneel down, and correctly position the arms to see also that the vehicle will be lifted evenly.
exceedingly low ground clearance vehicles are much easier to load on a four post lift.
So which lift is right for you? Only you can make that decision. We just hope that your new lift will be one of the many lifts that are stocked at any of our Greg Smith Equipment Sales localization.
