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2 or 4 Post lift.

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Nick W
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2 or 4 Post lift.

Post by Nick W » Thu Jan 11, 2024 8:36 pm

I've almost finished building my new garage after spending the last 22 years planning it and now can't make my mind up between a 2 or 4 post lift. I always wanted a 4 post but recently most of my mates insist a 2 post would be a better choice. I've never owned either and never paid much attention to the few that I've worked underneath, so this is where I would welcome any opinions /experiences /makes to look at or avoid etc. The concrete is minimum 6" deep C35 and it will have to support all from the Z to a 2 1/4 ton Landrover. :thumbsup:
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2 or 4 Post lift.

Post by Mr Tidy » Thu Jan 11, 2024 9:26 pm

I've never had access to either but I would have thought a 2 post lift would give much more access to the underside of the car, and make it much easier to take wheels off to sort out brakes or suspension.

AFAIK the only drawback is you need a 4 post to do laser wheel alignment as the car needs to be sitting on its wheels.

Hopefully someone who has used one or both will be able to help.
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2 or 4 Post lift.

Post by Ed Doe » Thu Jan 11, 2024 10:52 pm

I'm quite tempted by a lift giant 4poster, because they don't need to be fixed to the floor, and when they don't have anything on them you can move them about on caster wheels...

https://liftgiant.co.uk/parking-lifts/f ... king-lift/
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2 or 4 Post lift.

Post by B21 » Thu Jan 11, 2024 11:10 pm

Good news on the garage…I assume it’s of generous proportions as both the 2 and 4 post lifts take a lot of space?

How’s your head room?
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2 or 4 Post lift.

Post by Nick W » Thu Jan 11, 2024 11:43 pm

B21 wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 11:10 pm Good news on the garage…I assume it’s of generous proportions as both the 2 and 4 post lifts take a lot of space?

How’s your head room?
I'm lucky, it's 10m x 10m x 5m high, so either will fit and leave plenty of room for all of my junk. When it's all done I'll put some pics on the Man Cave thread. I might just flip a coin :?
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2 or 4 Post lift.

Post by john-e89 » Thu Jan 11, 2024 11:51 pm

Nick W wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 11:43 pm
B21 wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 11:10 pm Good news on the garage…I assume it’s of generous proportions as both the 2 and 4 post lifts take a lot of space?

How’s your head room?
I'm lucky, it's 10m x 10m x 5m high, so either will fit and leave plenty of room for all of my junk. When it's all done I'll put some pics on the Man Cave thread. I might just flip a coin :?
I have a scissor lift which is very similar to a 4 post Nick in that it carries a vehicle on its wheels or not if you have jacks, and a 2 post lift, and if I had to get rid of one of them it’d be the scissor no question. Don’t flip a coin, they’re very different beasts.
Last edited by john-e89 on Thu Jan 11, 2024 11:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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2 or 4 Post lift.

Post by john-e89 » Thu Jan 11, 2024 11:55 pm

The 2 post gives so much more room to work on a vehicle, has very few downsides, and if height isn’t an issue you can get one with the crossmember above the vehicle so there no trip hazards. As Mr Tidy quite rightly says the only reason a 4 poster is superior to a 2 post is keeping the wheels on for alignment etc.

Automotech in the midlands have a wide range of lifts, are very well made and ultra competitive on price.
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2 or 4 Post lift.

Post by Nick W » Fri Jan 12, 2024 12:02 am

Ed Doe wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 10:52 pm I'm quite tempted by a lift giant 4poster, because they don't need to be fixed to the floor, and when they don't have anything on them you can move them about on caster wheels...

https://liftgiant.co.uk/parking-lifts/f ... king-lift/
They look good and must be safe but my brain couldn't handle it not being bolted down. The main reason I'm wary about the 2 poster is I'm worried it might fall over if I really hang off a spanner. Stupid I know but hard to un-think.
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2 or 4 Post lift.

Post by john-e89 » Fri Jan 12, 2024 12:03 am

So much room to work in a car, no ramps each side to hinder movement and access.
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M roady...OEM CSL’s, strut brace, Remus back boxes, ZHP
MR2 MK 2
E89 35i project car...mapped 365bhp, M4 stoppers & wheels, KWV3’s, H&R front ARB, M3 front arms, strut brace Eisenmann cat back race exhaust, VRSF downpipes inbound
E89 35is
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2 or 4 Post lift.

Post by john-e89 » Fri Jan 12, 2024 12:08 am

Nick W wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2024 12:02 am
Ed Doe wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 10:52 pm I'm quite tempted by a lift giant 4poster, because they don't need to be fixed to the floor, and when they don't have anything on them you can move them about on caster wheels...

https://liftgiant.co.uk/parking-lifts/f ... king-lift/
They look good and must be safe but my brain couldn't handle it not being bolted down. The main reason I'm wary about the 2 poster is I'm worried it might fall over if I really hang off a spanner. Stupid I know but hard to un-think.
12 M24 through bots hold it down, and unless you’re a complete numpty positioning the car it won’t fall off the arms even if you hang off the bumpers.
M roady...OEM CSL’s, strut brace, Remus back boxes, ZHP
MR2 MK 2
E89 35i project car...mapped 365bhp, M4 stoppers & wheels, KWV3’s, H&R front ARB, M3 front arms, strut brace Eisenmann cat back race exhaust, VRSF downpipes inbound
E89 35is
G29

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2 or 4 Post lift.

Post by Nick W » Fri Jan 12, 2024 12:24 am

john-e89 wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2024 12:08 am
Nick W wrote: Fri Jan 12, 2024 12:02 am
Ed Doe wrote: Thu Jan 11, 2024 10:52 pm I'm quite tempted by a lift giant 4poster, because they don't need to be fixed to the floor, and when they don't have anything on them you can move them about on caster wheels...
https://liftgiant.co.uk/parking-lifts/f ... king-lift/
They look good and must be safe but my brain couldn't handle it not being bolted down. The main reason I'm wary about the 2 poster is I'm worried it might fall over if I really hang off a spanner. Stupid I know but hard to un-think.
12 M24 through bots hold it down, and unless you’re a complete numpty positioning the car it won’t fall off the arms even if you hang off the bumpers.
Thanks John, that's reassuring and your setup looks perfect, now I'm really buzzin.
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2 or 4 Post lift.

Post by Nick W » Tue Jan 16, 2024 2:47 pm

2 post lift will be fitted next Tuesday, 23rd. Thanks again.
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2 or 4 Post lift.

Post by pvr » Tue Jan 16, 2024 2:59 pm

Will be good to see a pic of that with a nice car on it, not some old Jap banger :poke:
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2 or 4 Post lift.

Post by john-e89 » Tue Jan 16, 2024 3:55 pm

:rofl: :rofl: Bollocks you….. :lol:
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E89 35i project car...mapped 365bhp, M4 stoppers & wheels, KWV3’s, H&R front ARB, M3 front arms, strut brace Eisenmann cat back race exhaust, VRSF downpipes inbound
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2 or 4 Post lift.

Post by enuff_zed » Tue Jan 16, 2024 4:00 pm

john-e89 wrote: Tue Jan 16, 2024 3:55 pm :rofl: :rofl: Bollocks you….. :lol:
Don't worry John. He's just jealous as if he had one he'd need a hard hat for all the rust dropping on him. :poke:
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