2 post lift recommendations

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

We're finally getting started on our new "barn" and I'm planning to have the floor slab poured to support a 2 post lift. I don't ever expect to lift anything heavier than a Porsche. Does anyone have experience with hobbyist grade 2 post lifts? What makes or features would you recommend?

MBAtarga · 07-25-2019, 07:14 PM

Aren't you a Garage Journal forum member? There are dozens (hundreds?) of threads over there - of course not P car specific....

TravisSolomon · 07-25-2019, 10:11 PM

This is quite a great initiative.

rfuerst911sc · 07-26-2019, 02:36 AM

For my man cave I purchased a used Ammco 2 post for $1,000.00 it is a 7K capacity . It was still setup so I could see it operating before breaking it down . Ammco is just the private label seller the lift is actually made by Challenger . I helped the guy break it down , we loaded it on my car trailer ( that was fun

) and my wife and I rolled each piece off the trailer into the man cave . Had a friend of mine help me stand up the posts . When I had my floor poured I had two squares aprox. 36 x 36 poured just under 10 " thick ............ that'll hold for a while

Challenger is a well known brand so I would at least look at them . I purchased used for two reasons: One I am a CSOB

and enjoy saving money . Two and this was the real reason the older lifts ( mine was born Feb. 2001

) were made much heavier than the newer ones at least that I could tell . And the one that I purchased had within the past year had the motor/pump unit replaced . Other than cylinders and cables not much else to go wrong with them . My ceiling is just under 12 ' and I love my lift . Have fun with your search .

on2wheels52 · on2wheels52's Garage

Is this a good one?

KFC911 · 07-26-2019, 04:27 AM

Local car auction has a Carrera GT on the news....that lift is specifically designed for DIY millionaire$ who change their own earl

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

I have a 2 post Rotary. Buy a good used Rotary instead of Chineseium...

cabmandone · cabmandone's Garage

I've been looking into the same thing lately. Hard to decide on a symmetric vs asymmetric for me. Also looking for something that will lift everything from my F250 to my 911. As to brand, I figure I'll buy the one that has the best safety features for at the best possible price. It's not like the thing in my shop is going to get used daily or even monthly for that matter. My budget is 2-4K for a 10000# lift.

scotricker · 07-26-2019, 06:07 AM

I just finished installing the Dannmar M6. It's the new and improved MaxxJaxx.
It has safety latch click stops built in, at approx 3.5 inch intervals. It goes high enough as my standard garage ceiling will allow.

gordner · gordner's Garage

I bought an atlas 12K asymmetric two post for about 2100 Canadian and installed myself.

Depending on your height, you have to decide if you want bottom run cables or top, mine is bottom to allow max lift with a lower ceiling height. The asymmetric is a nice feature, allowing a bit more adjustment as to placement.

The biggest thing to have/not have, as they are all pretty much the same barring weight ratings, is the single side release. Many of the units take a guy on each arm to lower it, you want the single side lock release for sure.

cabmandone · cabmandone's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by gordner

I bought an atlas 12K asymmetric two post for about 2100 Canadian and installed myself.

Depending on your height, you have to decide if you want bottom run cables or top, mine is bottom to allow max lift with a lower ceiling height. The asymmetric is a nice feature, allowing a bit more adjustment as to placement.

The biggest thing to have/not have, as they are all pretty much the same barring weight ratings, is the single side release. Many of the units take a guy on each arm to lower it, you want the single side lock release for sure.

Is that shipped? Where did you buy it for that? That's a good price (about $1600 USD on today's exchange rate)

gordner · gordner's Garage

Shipped to the local distributor yes.

Through a guy here in Calgary, he distributes them for Gregg. Found online of course. Was a surprisingly good price yes, there install guy wanted another 750 to put it in, i picked it up on a flat deck, and using a roller engine crane managed to unload it and install it all myself in about 4 hours. Super straight forward.

I did have to wait about 4 weeks for the unit to come into Calgary. Was the weirdest little place i bought it through, you can buy two or four post lifts, single post lifts, wheel balancers, dynos, bedsheets, lotion and dishes at the time i was there lol. Basically a lot buyer who resells for those items, and who holds the distributorship for Greggs here in YYC

VincentVega · 07-26-2019, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cabmando

I've been looking into the same thing lately. Hard to decide on a symmetric vs asymmetric for me. Also looking for something that will lift everything from my F250 to my 911. As to brand, I figure I'll buy the one that has the best safety features for at the best possible price. It's not like the thing in my shop is going to get used daily or even monthly for that matter. My budget is 2-4K for a 10000# lift.

You can load a Bendpak either way. Usually assym but the arms swing forward for trucks and long, heavy stuff. I've been really happy with bendpak.

Rusty Heap · Rusty Heap's Garage

me want.

4 post, and portable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7VCCJeTSZA

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

Asymmetrical is better than symmetric if you want to open up your doors on a larger vehicle. One drawback with mine is that I have to push my Tundra between the verticals because there isn’t enough room to open the doors. Mine is symmetrical.

pmax · pmax's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by on2wheels52

Is this a good one?

or worse ...

What's wrong with a simple jack and stands ? You're not a pro.

rfuerst911sc · 07-27-2019, 04:04 AM

You don't have to be a pro to enjoy the benefits of a lift . Working upright like a human is much more comfortable than crawling around on your back .

cabmandone · cabmandone's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

You don't have to be a pro to enjoy the benefits of a lift . Working upright like a human is much more comfortable than crawling around on your back .

Not to mention it'll make the two things I do most frequently, oil change and rotate tires, that much easier. When I'll soon have 7 cars to service that's a lot of tire rotating!

rfuerst911sc · 07-27-2019, 04:51 AM

Plus when you have your car up in the air you can do a much more thorough inspection of stuff . Look over brake lines , suspension pieces , exhaust system and on and on . Almost all of us DIYers started on our backs crawling under cars with stands and a jack . Nothing wrong with that but it's also OK to move onward and upward to a scissor lift or 2 or 4 post lift . It's all about what you need or want . Biggest thing to me is be safe !

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmax

What's wrong with a simple jack and stands ? You're not a pro.

Level and height off the ground is the big issue for me. Jackstands barely provide enough height to get a VW or 356 engine out, and that is if the front wheels on the ground and the rear end angled up. Both are a lot easier if the car is sitting level. I've only taken one 911 engine out, and it would have been a lot easier if it had been level and higher. If I can get 3 feet of space under the car, and the car is level, I'm happy.