Car Lift Advice

[tailwind22]

Looking to add a car lift to my home shop. 2 principle uses:
1) Repair and maintenance of my 3 911s
2) Vehicle storage during the winter months

I prefer a 2 post due to the ease of performing a wider array of repairs but the 4 post is definitely an easier storage unit. Ceiling height is not a concern. Looking for member's experience in using 2 and 4 post units, both good and bad. Thanks in advance.

[callard]

I've got a two post asymetrical Rotary lift that I love. I put 911s on backwards to pull the engines but front end in for normal maintenance. Paint your floor with a two part alkyd epoxy and your shop will remain clean and dust free.
BOL

[tailwind22]

I hear good things about the Rotary brand. Trying to decide whether the cheaper imported units are worth looking at.

[gtc]

If you go 2-post, look for one with arms that have three sections. They collapse further than the two section arms, which helps when you're lifting short wheelbase, wide track cars.
Just my experience when using another Pelican's lift.

[Benny771]

Looked at a Rotary , a new one and it is advertised as no china parts.If you go look at one it has parts labeled CHINA..... Try to find a total USA made one.... if there is such a thing anymore.

[Canuck_Targa]

I just installed a 4 post a couple months ago, LOVE IT!! turned my 2 car garage into a 3 car in a weekend. It is primarily for winter storage, but it is awesome for working on the vehicle. You can use the jacking tray to lift the wheels for wheel/suspension work, put it up on jack stands the same as working on the ground. It works really well for what I need it for.

One thing to consider when looking at a 2 post is the foundation you need, personally I wouldn't feel comfortable putting a 2 post on a 4" concrete slab. There would need to be some work done for the mounting foundation.

I will post some pictures tonight when I get a chance.

[911_Dude]

Im looking for a lift as well. Bend Pak is another good name. Im probably going to go with a two post. I can store my old 911 in it without any bushing issues on the suspension, and get more work done with the two post.

[David in VA]

I bought one of the cheaper imported units when we built our garage. So far I really like it and have used it quite a bit. The only issue I've run into is that since all our cars are lowered I need to drive them up on boards to get the lift arms under them. I suspect this would be the case with just about any lift except those made specifically for sports cars. I can also see where shorter arms would be nice for vehicles with shorter wheelbases.

Once you get one you'll wonder how you ever lived without it, it's great. Here's a picture just after we finished the garage.

David

[billybek]

Originally Posted by Benny771

Looked at a Rotary , a new one and it is advertised as no china parts.If you go look at one it has parts labeled CHINA..... Try to find a total USA made one.... if there is such a thing anymore.

Try Mohawk Lifts.
Very very nice and made in the USA.
Pretty pricey though but that should be expected for a lift of this quality. System 1 lifts will do up to 10,000 lbs and their asymmetrical lift 7000.
They do pop up on Craigslist every once and so often.

One of the cool things available for a two post is wheel engaging adapters. You could store long term without having suspension droop issues.

Good luck in your search.

[drl911]

Originally Posted by callard

i've got a two post asymetrical rotary lift that i love. I put 911s on backwards to pull the engines but front end in for normal maintenance.

+1

[pgeorgeson]

I bought a 2 post lift a year ago. I have a good friend who has a 4 post, so I have done work on a variety of cars on both. My experience is that the 4 post is much better for parking/storing cars, but I like my 2-post better for working on them.

The advantages to the 2-post (for my usage) is that there more room underneath because you only have the arms instead of the ramps. It was great for an engine drop, because I didn't have to worry about fitting the engine between the ramps when I dropped it. It is also nice for bleeding brakes, etc. because you just raise it and then can take all four wheels off right away. With the 4-post, once it is in the air, then you still have to jack up the car to get it off the tires.

In addition, my purchase was budget conscious. I bought this one:

UnitedProducts TP09A Two-Post Lift

for around $1600 delivered using the "special pricing button." I have been using it for a year now and I it seems well built and I am completely satisfied. I am sure others (Bendpak) are probably better built, but for my purposes and my ocassional usage, I didn't want to pay that much.

Finally, with a 4-post, keep in mind that in addition to the price of the lift, you may want to get an addional jacking unit to jack up the car on the list, which also adds to the total price.

[blucille]

I have one of each....my 2 post lift I bought years ago, as I was moving into this house, but I wouldn't store a car on it. I was lucky, found a car dealer going out of business, and bought one of their older, commercial grade lifts, that was always well maintained. More recently, I found, after storing a buddy's SWB 911, it would be nice to be able to store the car in the air....I found a very slightly used, directlift, 9000lb 4 post lift, the thing is much heavier and better built than friends' 4 post 7000 lb lifts, it fits like a glove.....

so, buy a storage lift for storage and a service lift for service.

[SpeedracerIndy]

I'm currently looking for a lift for my garage as well, so interested in the comments you receive.

I am not comfortable anchoring a 2 post in my floor due to the unknown thickness of my garage floor. So I'm leaning toward a 4 post. My one concern, and the only reason I haven't pulled the trigger yet is if I will be able to walk around the lift in my garage. I know it will fit, and I know I have the ceiling clearance, but I'm just not sure how much room there will be around the posts once it's in.

I'd be interested in seeing pictures of a 4 post lift in a smaller 2 car garage.

[tailwind22]

This is great input and much appreciated. You are right, need one of each, but that is not going to happen. Is suspension droop an issue if you stored a 911 on a 2 post lift for 4 or 5 months? Love the picture of the David in VA's garage set up.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by Benny771

Looked at a Rotary , a new one and it is advertised as no china parts.If you go look at one it has parts labeled CHINA..... Try to find a total USA made one.... if there is such a thing anymore.

How about one made in Canada with components from US/Canada (except for the steel), in stock and delivered in less than a week depending where you live!!!

BTY, In Canada, it is cheaper than the China made Benpack with twice the warranty... Was not a tough decision

Mid Rise Special - $1795.00

[kodioneill]

Mohawk 7000.00
bendpak 2400.00

[Jeff Alton]

Bendpak....

I have one and am about to buy 4 more......

[Bassalt997tt]

How tall does the ceiling need to be for one of these? Mine is only 9'..

Originally Posted by pgeorgeson

I bought a 2 post lift a year ago. I have a good friend who has a 4 post, so I have done work on a variety of cars on both. My experience is that the 4 post is much better for parking/storing cars, but I like my 2-post better for working on them.

The advantages to the 2-post (for my usage) is that there more room underneath because you only have the arms instead of the ramps. It was great for an engine drop, because I didn't have to worry about fitting the engine between the ramps when I dropped it. It is also nice for bleeding brakes, etc. because you just raise it and then can take all four wheels off right away. With the 4-post, once it is in the air, then you still have to jack up the car to get it off the tires.

In addition, my purchase was budget conscious. I bought this one:

UnitedProducts TP09A Two-Post Lift

for around $1600 delivered using the "special pricing button." I have been using it for a year now and I it seems well built and I am completely satisfied. I am sure others (Bendpak) are probably better built, but for my purposes and my ocassional usage, I didn't want to pay that much.

Finally, with a 4-post, keep in mind that in addition to the price of the lift, you may want to get an addional jacking unit to jack up the car on the list, which also adds to the total price.

[Canuck_Targa]

Here is a few pictures of my 4 post, it is a 7000 lb and came with jacking platform, drip trays (3) optional casters. I got the wide model which has 100" of clearance between the posts and 6'-4" height clearance when it is all the way up. I wanted as much width as possible because my garage is two cars deep not two wide, and my Touareg is a pretty wide vehicle. Quality is very good and knowing I don't have to crawl around on my back to do work under the car put a huge smile on my face.
It was bought mostly for storage, up here it is stored for 6 months of the year, and gaining a spot back of heated parking for the winter is great.

[JFairman]

Originally Posted by tailwind22

This is great input and much appreciated. You are right, need one of each, but that is not going to happen. Is suspension droop an issue if you stored a 911 on a 2 post lift for 4 or 5 months? Love the picture of the David in VA's garage set up.

Could be, the bonded in stock rubber bushings in the front control arms and spring plates are twisted when the wheels are up off the ground. Doing that long term is bad for them. The rubber in the stock trailing arm bushings is not bonded and is pressed in.

If you have elephant racing polybronze bushings in the control arms and spring plates or rebel racing stuff, and monoballs in the trailing arms thats a great upgrade. The upgraded bushings pivot easily with no stiction so there's no issue leaving the suspension drooped for months or whatever.