I am going to get a lift for my shop but I dont know wich one I want. Both have there good and Bad things. I like the 2 post because it does not take up much room and you can lift a body off a car with it. The Four post is nice because you want drop a car and also I can roll it outside to do clean up work under a car. What do yall think, which one would You get, or if you have one let me know the pros and cons. thanks

I have a Back yard buddy 4 post and I like it ,I think it is one of the better made 4 post lifts I looked at and it is free standing. Most of the 4 post lifts couldn't be wheeled around they had to be bolted down before you could put a car on them. I guess the main reason I got it was I didn't want to mess around installing a 2 post lift and Back yard buddy is made only 15 miles from my house. Either one you buy life will be a lot easier with a lift.

Mark

I have a 4 post in my shop. There has been nothing i have not been able to do yet. I to rolled mine out front to pressure wash and chem strip the under side of our project. I vote 4 post

My vote is for one of each!

When Evil told me that I could get a lift, I consulted with our youngest son, JD, who (at the time) was a fill time automotive mechanic.

Here was his opinion: Dad, we WORK on cars so get a two post lift. They are your best choice because when you put the car up on a two post lift, EVERYTHING is open so the vehicle is easy to work on. AND you can store a vehicle up on it if you want to. A four post lift is a PITA to work on vehicles with. You have to jack the wheels up to work on the suspension. The cross pieces between the ramps are ALWAYS in the way of the exhaust, transmission, rear end, motor, etc.

So I bought a 10K# two post lift from these people: http://www.completehydraulic.com/lifts-2-post-sl10000oh.html

I honestly don't know how we survived all these years without it! I store the 87 S10 Dragon Truck on it. When we need to have the lift to work on a vehicle, I fire up the Dragon Truck, drive it outside, and pull the vehicle to be worked on it.

I even use it to work on my Cub 1050 lawn tractor!

We've pulled the cab off of S10 pickups and Blazers to work on the engine or frame. I'm telling you, it was THEE best investment we EVER made. AND when I hit the lottery, I'm going to raise the roof 4' higher and put the lift at it's full installed height of 12'5" (I have it at the 11'6" right now because the walls are only 10' high).

I suppose that if all you were going to do is store a vehicle on a lift a four post would be OK, but IMHO, I have to agree with JD, the two post lift makes it SO much easier to work on a vehicle.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/Two%20Post%20Lift/Tahoe.jpg


http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/Two%20Post%20Lift/DSPostinsideout.jpg


http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n260/Cardinal_03/Two%20Post%20Lift/PSPostinsideout.jpg

When Evil told me that I could get a lift, I consulted with our youngest son, JD, who (at the time) was a fill time automotive mechanic.

Here was his opinion: Dad, we WORK on cars so get a two post lift. They are your best choice because when you put the car up on a two post lift, EVERYTHING is open so the vehicle is easy to work on. AND you can store a vehicle up on it if you want to. A four post lift is a PITA to work on vehicles with. You have to jack the wheels up to work on the suspension. The cross pieces between the ramps are ALWAYS in the way of the exhaust, transmission, rear end, motor, etc.

So I bought a 10K# two post lift from these people: http://www.completehydraulic.com/lifts-2-post-sl10000oh.html

I honestly don't know how we survived all these years without it! I store the 87 S10 Dragon Truck on it. When we need to have the lift to work on a vehicle, I fire up the Dragon Truck, drive it outside, and pull the vehicle to be worked on it.

I even use it to work on my Cub 1050 lawn tractor!

We've pulled the cab off of S10 pickups and Blazers to work on the engine or frame. I'm telling you, it was THEE best investment we EVER made. AND when I hit the lottery, I'm going to raise the roof 4' higher and put the lift at it's full installed height of 12'5" (I have it at the 11'6" right now because the walls are only 10' high).

I suppose that if all you were going to do is store a vehicle on a lift a four post would be OK, but IMHO, I have to agree with JD, the two post lift makes it SO much easier to work on a vehicle.


i have to agree, we got the same lift as you, but we paid 500 bucks for it, its used, but what a nice thing to have around, not in the way to work on anything either, i didnt like that idea of a four post. i vote for two post

I was a mechanic in mmy previous life and had a 2 post lift and the 4 post alignment rack to work on the cars with. we did a lot of work on the rack, brakes shocks front end work etc.not just alignments.

The 2 post was the best hands down.

the 4 post definetly was better then working on the floor!!:)

If you are only going to do light maintenance, oil changes the 4 pst might be acceptable.But front end, brakes, tranny or axle R&R you want a 2 post.

Either way you go will be better than the floor.

i agree with yall about either way is better than laying on your back on the floor. Thanks for the feed back, very helpfull. I will show yall the picture of which on i picked when it is up.

im a mechanic my self, we have a 2 post and a 4 post, my personal prefference is the 4 post. everything is just so much more stable on itdosent rock back and fourth like the 2 post dose. i have done everything on the 4 post, from changing engines to brake jobs. so my vote is for the 4 post

Steve: why are your vehicles unstable on a two post lift? Ours is rock solid. We ALWAYS test the vehicle (when it's off the floor a couple of inches) before taking it to the top just to make sure that it is secure.

I used the 2 post lift today to work on our Cub Cadet 1050 lawn tractor. It's SO much easier to change the blades on the lift rather than having to pull the deck!

I have been an auto tech for 15 years now and the two post wins hands down. I'm not trying to say anything bad but if you hoist the car correctly on a two post it will never fall off. Also note that you can hoist almost anything on the two post (Cardinal) (exhibit A). Let me see you put something like a corvette on a four post hoist (exhibit B) ask me how I know. Another thing is someone has to guide you onto a four post so you don't drive off one side. Ask anyone of the ten guys that I work in the shop with all day and they will tell you TWO POST LIFT.

Oh and by the way Cardinal I love the lift you have. I have a lift like this. http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=ATTD-6MR
What was said above anything is better than laying on the floor. If I had room there would be a two post in my garage.

currently 4 post, for same reasons above have said,
mainly I didn't want to bolt it down, I can roll my 4 post to the neighbors if I chose to, I've done exhaust work on 4 post , and 2 post, all have draw backs, and plus's, either way you'll love it,
go down to some shops ask them their preferance.
I've lifted the cab of a 56 ferd PU with mine (beam thru the windows,placed on the racks)
good luck

I have to agree that IF you want a lift that you can move around, then it limits you to a four post lift. We wanted a lift that would primarily would be used to work on vehicles hence we got the two post lift.

Bottom line: ANY lift is better than none!

I have been an auto tech for 15 years now and the two post wins hands down. I'm not trying to say anything bad but if you hoist the car correctly on a two post it will never fall off. Also note that you can hoist almost anything on the two post (Cardinal) (exhibit A). Let me see you put something like a corvette on a four post hoist (exhibit B) ask me how I know. Another thing is someone has to guide you onto a four post so you don't drive off one side. Ask anyone of the ten guys that I work in the shop with all day and they will tell you TWO POST LIFT.

OK.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f382/78LT383/Corvette/Rear%20Suspension/th_IMG_1610.jpg (http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f382/78LT383/Corvette/Rear%20Suspension/?action=view&current=IMG_1610.jpg)

Gotto79 - I had the same questions and issues, researched a lot and talked to a lot of people, professional and professional....and I chose a 4-post which works best for my own needs, which includes general maintenance on the familiy DDs and work on my Camaro as well as storage for my 2nd Camaro...once I start on it later this year. I also purchased the sliding jack for the 4-post...adds cost but certainly makes suspension work much easier. Now I wish I had gotten two sliding jacks...one for each end of the car.

I wanted the portability and, at least in my own mind, the stability of being able to store a vehicle resting on all four tires...

A friend of mine, (25+ years prof mechanic), for his home garage and chose a 4-post based on the same issues...personal use criteria.

If you go with a 2-post, the asymmetrical type is the preferred. Again, there's pros and cons to both....all depends on what your personal use...but either beats crawling around on your back on the floor by a LONG way.

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm62/l16pilot/1970RS-Z28/lift.jpg

Two post.

Well it is here and put together. I finally ended up with a 4 post lift. I think it will best fit what i need it for. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I will get pictures up later with the camaro on it.