SalemZ Posted May 27, 2005 Share Posted May 27, 2005 Anyone have any information on good quality 4 post lifts? I'd like some good information from anyone that may own, know anyone that owns 4-post lifts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted May 27, 2005 Share Posted May 27, 2005 You mean a drive on lift? If so what do you want to use if for? They are not ideal for restoring a car. The lift will always be in the way and they are just POS's in my opinion(we have one at the dealership I work at for doing oil changes/quick lube lane) Thats all they are really good for in my opinion(and alignments I guess). Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threeZguy Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 I have an open center lift, which is great for doing everything. It sits about 3" off the floor when it is closed. Was nice being able to sit down while changing out the clutch and flywheel. Not sure what they go for now, paid $2000 delivered about 5 years ago. Best 2 grand I ever spent. http://www.bendpak.com/product_info.isg?products_id=764 Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 Four post lifts eat up a LOT of floor space... I personally do NOT like them. My twin post lift cost me $900 and I love it... UIsed it now for 3+years and it was the absolute best 900 I've ever spent. Make sure whatever you get is OSHA approved and contact your home owners insurance agent to get an education on the "doos and don'ts" according to your policy... I added 1Million worth of liability insurance to my policy and my policy does NOT cover any vehicles not on my insurance policy. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 I love my 2 post Rotary and wouldn't trade it for a 4 post... In my opinion a 4 post is only really needed for wheel alignments. Pretty sweet though, even with my severely lowered Z I don't need to mess around with jacks & blocks and so on to get my car on the hoist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randy 77zt Posted May 29, 2005 Share Posted May 29, 2005 get a 2 post-the 4 post lifts are only good for exhaust work & lube work.where i used to work i used a 9000lb rotary asymetric(so you can open the doors) 2 post.best lift i ever used.i just built some heavy duty jackstands but i dont have a place for a lift at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemonZ Posted May 29, 2005 Share Posted May 29, 2005 Seems like some 4 post lifts are designed for car storage also. I don't know if the 2 post are as safe for holding a car for an indefinite amount of time. I really don't know, but I would feel better being under a 4 poster in the event of an earth quake. Those 2 post Rotary's look nice though... 3k is lowest I could find...hmm.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted May 29, 2005 Share Posted May 29, 2005 Reason I specified the OSHA rating... My corvette is about 700# heavier than most of the Zs here, and it has been in the air on my lift for two solid weeks now. You can park another vehicle under the car that is on the lift with a twin post lift. Things I'd look for are ground clearance, weight rating, the size of the "Feet" of the posts that the unit will sit on, and especially OSHA safety devices. If you buy one, I recommend having it serviced by a professional. If you buy a used one, take someone with you who knows how to look at them and make sure you don't buy 1500# of headaches! If you get a deal on a unit, I recommend replacing the cables (If it is an electric/ hydraulic) and having the unit serviced by a pro. My lift is an older AMCCO lift that is 9000# rated and has held my fullsize 4X4 extended cab truck on overnight, due to the safety latches... NEVER let a vehicle rest on the hydraulics... ALWAYS lower the vehicle onto the safety stops... I always tell people to remember the Space Shuttle when screwing around with JACKs and LIFTs. If a hydraulic line or seal fails, the car will fall onto the safety device at a much faster rate, and possible SHIFT and fall OFF the lift. I'm no mechanic, but the stories told to me by the guy who serviced my lift, plus the stories I've read about cars falling off lifts always keeps me on my toes when working on cars ON my lift. When prying or muscling a part on a car on the lift, ALWAYS be aware of the lift and make sure the car is NOT moving on the lift... It sounds simple, but seeing a car that had fallen off the lift and talking to a mechanic it happened to, it is SOOOO easy to have one come off on you if you aren't paying attention. NEVER assume you'r picking a car up in what may look like a logical point... My Vette has special lift pucks for it, and you must pick the car up in the specified location or you will CRACK the balsa/ composit floor/ firewall. Other cars have similar issues, like hatch glass cracking if the car is picked up improperly. Educate yourself about the car (Look in the owners manual) before you jack it up or lift it up! All the above issues are why I got the added liability insurance for my home/ garage. Accidents happen. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted May 29, 2005 Share Posted May 29, 2005 One big issue is the thickness and strength of the concrete floor you're mounting the lift on. For a two post lift Rotary specifies at least 4.75" inches thick of 3,000 psi concrete. Here in California the state requirements are 6" thick. I'm getting a two post, 10,000lb, asymetric Rotary installed in my shop but the floor is only 3.5 to 4.5" thick. I have to cut the floor out and put pads in to install the lift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted May 30, 2005 Share Posted May 30, 2005 YUp, John! I had my slab poured to 6 inches on half the floor, using 3500psi Fibermesh. I also ran rebar in the floor and the footers... I still had the floor slope and crack over time... Oh well...My lift has been well used and has earned every moment of its stay in my shop... Best investment I've made in any tool for the shop! Mike MIke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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