Garage lift recommendations

[tlow98]

I contemplated this for a long time, eventually went with a 4-post due to ability to store the car under, and not having to worry about suspension hanging. The only thing you can't do on a 4-post is some suspension work, but with a setup like Ians' - there is no limit. I loved my Atlas HD8000 so much, I bought second one.

Nor can you do brakes or wheel bearings and it’s a pain to get at anything in the wheel wells. Or even just take the wheels off, which I seem to do a lot.

I think if you need car storage and your cars are low mileage then the the 4 post makes sense.

But if you’re doing that mechanic life it’s two post all the way. You do sacrifice setup time every time tho.

[George Hill]

Nor can you do brakes or wheel bearings and it’s a pain to get at anything in the wheel wells. Or even just take the wheels off, which I seem to do a lot.

I think if you need car storage and your cars are low mileage then the the 4 post makes sense.

But if you’re doing that mechanic life it’s two post all the way. You do sacrifice setup time every time tho.

This.

But honestly once you've racked the car once or twice the "setup time" is less than 30 seconds vs a drive on.

[TexaZ3]

Nor can you do brakes or wheel bearings and it’s a pain to get at anything in the wheel wells. Or even just take the wheels off, which I seem to do a lot.

I think if you need car storage and your cars are low mileage then the the 4 post makes sense.

But if you’re doing that mechanic life it’s two post all the way. You do sacrifice setup time every time tho.

You can do wheels, suspension, etc with jacks like Ians, no problem.

[George Hill]

You can do wheels, suspension, etc with jacks like Ians, no problem.

You can do suspension work, but its waaaaaay more difficult.

How about pulling an engine, that front cross bar is in the way of a cherry picker when going out the front or bottom.

There's a reason why 99% of all service shop lifts are 2 post.

[tlow98]

You can do wheels, suspension, etc with jacks like Ians, no problem.

yeah exactly what George Hill said. Why would I put a car on a lift only to need jackstands and all the things I was trying to avoid? And then on top of it the damn lift is in your way and fighting you all along.

im not trying to have a Jack for my quick Jack for my lift.

different strokes.

im not trying to store cars, I’m trying to work on them. So, I’ll likely never own a 4 post.

id argue that it was easier for me to remove my entire drivetrain while on Jack stands with the front end removed than it would be to the same job on a 4 post lift.

[Gt4]

yeah exactly what George Hill said. Why would I put a car on a lift only to need jackstands and all the things I was trying to avoid? And then on top of it the damn lift is in your way and fighting you all along.

im not trying to have a Jack for my quick Jack for my lift.

different strokes.

im not trying to store cars, I’m trying to work on them. So, I’ll likely never own a 4 post.

id argue that it was easier for me to remove my entire drivetrain while on Jack stands with the front end removed than it would be to the same job on a 4 post lift.

It’s also easier on jack stands vs a QuickJack setup. At least you have access both side of the car!

But if some peoples like to work with 4-posts lift and than use QuickJack after to lift the car off their lift, good for them! We all work differently I guess

[TexaZ3]

Really not trying to argue...2 post is ideal for mechanics. Most of us are not. I don't pull engines on weekends or do customer work. 4 post is great for everything I need to ever do with the car, and I do wrench a fair bit. But I also need to store cars, and 4-post does that way better than 2 post. I simply don't understand how this conversation took this turn?

[oceansize]

Really not trying to argue...2 post is ideal for mechanics. Most of us are not. I don't pull engines on weekends or do customer work. 4 post is great for everything I need to ever do with the car, and I do wrench a fair bit. But I also need to store cars, and 4-post does that way better than 2 post. I simply don't understand how this conversation took this turn?

They haven’t seen your garage pics lol. This dude got (or had) most all the cool bimmers.

[TexaZ3]

They haven’t seen your garage pics lol. This dude got (or had) most all the cool bimmers.

Lol, the pics are somewhere in this thread. I still have the cars - I seem to buy more and not sell any - kinda concerning?

[fattycharged]

Lol, the pics are somewhere in this thread. I still have the cars - I seem to buy more and not sell any - kinda concerning?

This is the way


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[TexaZ3]

This is the way


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This is the way.

[George Hill]

Really not trying to argue...2 post is ideal for mechanics. Most of us are not. I don't pull engines on weekends or do customer work. 4 post is great for everything I need to ever do with the car, and I do wrench a fair bit. But I also need to store cars, and 4-post does that way better than 2 post. I simply don't understand how this conversation took this turn?

I don't think anyone is arguing, I just think there is a misconception to DIY'ers and the like that a 2 post is "hard" to use. If you only park your E46 (whatever) on it you'll easily learn the placement of the car pretty quick and even then the car doesn't have to be 100% in the exact perfect spot. I can safely rack the same car in a window of +/- 6" side to side and +/- 12" front to back (maybe more).

I think the biggest factor for someone with a neighborhood garage is how thick the concrete is. A 4 post is going to work on pretty much anything where as a 2 post is going to need to meet some minimum specs and I'd imagine most non-custom homes are likely going to have thin garage slabs.

But with that said...

You can easily store a car on a 2 post.
You can easily work on some items on a 4 post.

If you primarily need it to wrench get a 2.
If you primarily need it to store a car and/or you switch out cars often then get a 4.

I have (2) 2 posts and am planning to buy a 3rd lift. The 3rd will be a 4 post so I can store cars AND do suspension work that needs the weight of the vehicle on it.

Different tools, different applications. Just like anything once you have "something" and you start using it you either adapt to its short comings or start over.

[tlow98]

What’s up with that s62 wagon George Hill? Hot!

George was not trying to argue. I was.

Just kidding

Happy Friday all. I like seeing how industrious some of you are with your 4 posts!

[Cronenberged]

Yea for real I would love a grey wagon.

[George Hill]

What’s up with that s62 wagon George Hill? Hot!!

Thanks, car I built for a client a couple years ago, really sweet setup.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMOJrEApsbC/?igshid=YmM0MjE2YWMzOA==

There’s also an Euro S50 swapped touring, a S54 swapped touring and an S54 swapped E36 in that pic too, lots of fun projects.