Lift Types—Help Me Decide

[T_Trahan44]

So, I’ve been looking at getting a lift again. I’ve been trying to do side work to put a little extra cash in the pocket so I can save up to buy a house.


I’ve owned a two-post, worked on all types of lifts, mobile columns, two posts, four posts, quick jack style portables, scissor lifts, you get the idea.


First option is the Kwik Lift, which will be a simple ramp style that will cover my basic needs and will be pretty much bullet proof for everything I need. Only thing is using bottle jacks to lift some vehicles. Which isn’t that big a deal, I can get air over hydraulic lifts to make it painless.
https://www.kwik-lift.com/product/kwik-lift-full-package/

Second option is low-rise scissor lift from Bendpak, very similar to the quick jack, but more stationary. But will have a much higher weight rating for when I work on larger vehicles. I work on a few diesel 1-tons and the like.
https://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/low-rise-scissor-lifts/lr-10000/

And of course, the final option is the bendpak QuickJack 7000EXT. While this is a great lift, I feel it’ll be limiting when it comes to working on the bigger rigs I do work on.
https://www.bendpak.com/car-lifts/portable-car-lifts/bl-7000ext/



I’m trying to get something that won’t take up too much space in my one car garage, while still giving me something that’ll be capable of expanding back to working on the big rigs. Preferably something I can either put away on the wall(hence the quick jack) or something I can park on/over(which is why I have the KwikLift and the Scissor lift option).

I’m leaning heavily onto the scissor lift just for ease of expandability to bigger rigs again. Bear in mind I have only a one car garage at the moment to work in.

Let me know your thoughts!

 

[Stormtrooper1320]

A four post is probably the most useful. You can use it for vehicle storage if you need to.

A 2 post needs a certain thickness of concrete to mount to.

You mentioned lifting diesel pickups, and if that is going to be something you regularly do, you should do some random measurements from the bottom of the frame to the ground on these vehicles because you may find that you may not be able to lift those trucks at all or only very little since most of those trucks sit high already. The ground clearance of the frame rails will negate a large part of your lifting range from the scissor and quickjack ones. This is where the 4 post is more useful.

Good luck on your search.

 

[Jimmy N.]

Yep, a basic 4-post would be my choice, too.
Mine could even be moved around with the included wheels, if for some reason I wanted to.

 

[gotswap]

Bendpak HDS-14 lifts everything from my Honda to our Ram 3500 Dually

 

[SilverBillet]

Kind of a pain to use a 4 post to rotate tires or work on brakes...

 

[Jimmy N.]

Bendpak HDS-14 lifts everything from my Honda to our Ram 3500 Dually

And the corresponding Dannmar will do it for a bit less money. Same company.

 

[Jimmy N.]

Kind of a pain to use a 4 post to rotate tires or work on brakes...

Not really, I think. It's no worse than doing it with the vehicle on the floor...but at a more convenient height.

 

[gotswap]

Kind of a pain to use a 4 post to rotate tires or work on brakes...

2 scissor jacks solve that problem

 

[Jimmy N.]

Or two bottle jacks.

 

[gotswap]

Or two bottle jacks.

you like living life on the edge

 

[Jimmy N.]

I do. I really do.

 

[SunnyS]

There is nothing better then a two post for car repair. You can get some at a great price

 

[Jimmy N.]

There is nothing better then a two post for car repair. You can get some at a great price

Yet I use the 4-post 10 to one compared to the 2-post.
Guess I'm just backwards, as usual.

 

[SunnyS]

Yet I use the 4-post 10 to one compared to the 2-post.
Guess I'm just backwards, as usual.

As you can see my four post has the Biscayne on it so a lot more work to make use of it.

 

[T_Trahan44]

There is nothing better then a two post for car repair. You can get some at a great price

The reasons I’m not getting a two post are:
1- not tall enough ceilings, nor strong enough concrete beneath for a two post.
2- I’m in a rental house. Don’t own one yet that id like to build a full fledged shop in.
3- if I get one of these low risk options like the ones I’m looking at, I’ll be much more at ease when I have to take it apart for when I finally find my shop.

If I had the space and accommodations for a two post, I would certainly get one. Alas, I’m limited on my options. Single car garage, low ceilings, basic concrete slab.

 

[T_Trahan44]

Yet I use the 4-post 10 to one compared to the 2-post.
Guess I'm just backwards, as usual.

I much prefer 4-posts, for the stability. I’ve seen one too many two-posts teeter the vehicle. Which is why I’m looking at these platform styles.

 

[SunnyS]

I much prefer 4-posts, for the stability. I’ve seen one too many two-posts teeter the vehicle. Which is why I’m looking at these platform styles.

Having owned both style of lifts(two post,Four post) they both teeter a little most of the four posts are made to move so not bolted to the floor. I have had two two post lifts and I just cut a two foot by 8 foot section of my garage out and poured 6 inch thick slab there for the lift. The second one was a new garage so the whole floor was 6 inches thick. I used to live in Arizona and the house next door had a four post outside on his driveway.Only worked on cars at night out there. Way to hot

 

[SunnyS]

Another option is the MakJak very nice lift for a low celling garage and if you have a stable 4 inch slab it works great. I had one

 

[Jimmy N.]

As you can see my four post has the Biscayne on it so a lot more work to make use of it.

Since I don't own a Biscayne, that's not a problem for me. The 4-post is always available.

On the other hand, there's usually a Ram 3500 parked "in" the 2-post. But even if that spot was empty, it's so much quicker to drive up on the 4-post and hit the button than it is to get all four pads on the 2-post situated just right, and at the correct height.

Got the 2-post first and thought it'd be all I'd ever want/need, but as mentioned, it's the cheapy 4-post that gets used the most, by far.

 

[EricG]

Another option is the MakJak very nice lift for a low celling garage and if you have a stable 4 inch slab it works great. I had one

Dang - nice! Is that a real 427 Biscayne? '68?