2 post car lift

[smiffy555]

After thinking about buying one for many years I’ve finally made up my mind that I’ve had enough rolling around on my back under cars.

I know nothing about what is a good make and what is rubbish.

I know I want to lift cars and pick ups.

Can anyone offer any advice and thoughts on what I should be looking at and also recommend a good quality and safe make..... I do not what to cut corners as I do not what to get squashed under one.

Thank you.

[Krikkit]

No personal experience but I know a couple of PHers have used Automotech and been happy enough

https://www.automotechservices.co.uk/product-categ...

Question is, do you have a concrete base thick enough in your garage?

[Darranu]

I've had one of these for a few years now, money well spent.

https://www.automotechservices.co.uk/products/235s...

[smiffy555]

Brilliant, thank you both for your replies......I shall get in touch with them and see when they can deliver one.

[eltax91]

Hi

I looked at both automotech and twin Busch. Visited both to look. In the end I did a better deal with twin Busch in Northampton. German made, very substantial and it’s been faultless for the 18 months ‘hobby mechanic’ use I’ve given it.

Delivery was an issue for me as I have a gravel drive and they had a LWB van option where a fella lifted it into the garage, automotech said it would be hi-ab onto my drive and I’d have to deal with it.

If you’re anywhere near Leicester you can come have a poke about.

[smiffy555]

Excellent, thank you. Thanks for the offer to view your lift but I’m in North Wales.

[davejones]

I have some Automech kit including a tyre changer/balancer combo machine and four post lift - I also have a Hofmann two post lift. The Hofmann is three phase, much better quality but cost a lot more - the Automech equipment works well, was good value and delivery was fine, when I called with installation questions I received good customer service. My four post lift is a little slow but I’ve never had and safety concerns.

[chippy348]

I have brought from both TwinBush and Automech, both products are OK for DIY use.

What i would advise is a clear floor lift, most have a base or a sleeping policeman type ramp / hump on the floor ( its where the cables and hoses run) with it being on the floor it is a pain to push a car over it and more of a issue if you want to remove a gearbox from a RWD / 4WD car as you cannot slide the transmission jack over said hump.

Also the type of release of the safety locks, my 1st lift from Automech had manual ones which meant you had to release each arm separately via a piece of cable wire on each arm, a pain. My new Twinbush one has electric release which is much better.

[hidetheelephants]

eltax91 said:

Hi

I looked at both automotech and twin Busch. Visited both to look. In the end I did a better deal with twin Busch in Northampton. German made, very substantial and it’s been faultless for the 18 months ‘hobby mechanic’ use I’ve given it.

Delivery was an issue for me as I have a gravel drive and they had a LWB van option where a fella lifted it into the garage, automotech said it would be hi-ab onto my drive and I’d have to deal with it.

If you’re anywhere near Leicester you can come have a poke about.

They look like fine lifts at a keen price and when I get my garage built they'll be on the short list to equip it with, but if you believe they're made in Germany I've got a bridge you might be interested in.

[eltax91]

chippy348 said:

I have brought from both TwinBush and Automech, both products are OK for DIY use.

What i would advise is a clear floor lift, most have a base or a sleeping policeman type ramp / hump on the floor ( its where the cables and hoses run) with it being on the floor it is a pain to push a car over it and more of a issue if you want to remove a gearbox from a RWD / 4WD car as you cannot slide the transmission jack over said hump.

Also the type of release of the safety locks, my 1st lift from Automech had manual ones which meant you had to release each arm separately via a piece of cable wire on each arm, a pain. My new Twinbush one has electric release which is much better.

My twin Busch has manual releases and I didn’t realise what a pain it would be. Do you know how hard it is to upgrade? Echo your point about the clear floor, one problem there is when passing the lines etc overhead, height can become an issue. Might not have enough roof height to fit the frame in, but with the floor ones you can still lift a car up to 3/4 height etc

I’ve got the sleeping policeman. Not (yet) been a major issue. Managed to push my 996 over it when I had a flat battery with a little help from the lightweight wife.

[smiffy555]

chippy348 said:

I have brought from both TwinBush and Automech, both products are OK for DIY use.

What i would advise is a clear floor lift, most have a base or a sleeping policeman type ramp / hump on the floor ( its where the cables and hoses run) with it being on the floor it is a pain to push a car over it and more of a issue if you want to remove a gearbox from a RWD / 4WD car as you cannot slide the transmission jack over said hump.

Also the type of release of the safety locks, my 1st lift from Automech had manual ones which meant you had to release each arm separately via a piece of cable wire on each arm, a pain. My new Twinbush one has electric release which is much better.

Thank you for your advice, re’ sleeping policeman and electric release.
Is it possible to cut a channel in the floor to run the cables across?

[eltax91]

smiffy555 said:

chippy348 said:

I have brought from both TwinBush and Automech, both products are OK for DIY use.

What i would advise is a clear floor lift, most have a base or a sleeping policeman type ramp / hump on the floor ( its where the cables and hoses run) with it being on the floor it is a pain to push a car over it and more of a issue if you want to remove a gearbox from a RWD / 4WD car as you cannot slide the transmission jack over said hump.

Also the type of release of the safety locks, my 1st lift from Automech had manual ones which meant you had to release each arm separately via a piece of cable wire on each arm, a pain. My new Twinbush one has electric release which is much better.

Thank you for your advice, re’ sleeping policeman and electric release.
Is it possible to cut a channel in the floor to run the cables across?

The way my twin busch is constructed, you could do that, but you would have to ensure there is adequate room for the cable to move/ not snag. the sleeping policeman has partitions inside it to run the cables separate from the hydraulic line for example. you might be better cutting the channel and the footprint of the posts out and dropping the while thing down and modifying the sleeping policeman to make things flat. You will need to retain access for any future maintenance.

Be careful though, you need 200mm floor depth for the anchor bolts. I self-built my house in 2018, the garage floor pour was one of the few days i wasn't able to be onsite. Despite specifying 200mm floor, i got about 170mm in the middle and at the edge closer to 120mm. The builders also saw fit to run the main electrical tail from the meter to the consumer unit in some conduit under the floor, which we promptly hit when drilling, nicking the sheathing off the neutral cable.

I'm "lucky" in that i am fitting the lift up to a wall one side and close to an rsj on the other. So i had some chunky plates made up, which bolted through the shipping holes on the top of the posts and secured to the wall one side and RSJ the other

[Lotobear]

I bought an Automech 2 post over 3 years ago now and it's been faultless and the best thing I've ever bought for the workshop - it's now a pleasure working on cars.

Son and I fitted it but be warned the posts weigh around 750Kg each and are a 4 man lift - fortunately we had a local builder nearby when it arrived and so he offloaded them with a telehandler and put them close to the garage for £20!

Yes, the individual safety releases are a minor pain but compared with rolling about under a car on ramps you soon forgive them.

It's a bit dusty at the moment!

[Rich_AR]

smiffy555 said:

After thinking about buying one for many years I’ve finally made up my mind that I’ve had enough rolling around on my back under cars.

I was in the same scenario, I spent too many hours straining, getting neck ache, scratching around etc. I installed a 2-post lift last year and use it quite a bit as well, even for detailing the cars. Few things to note, (and as already mentioned) ensure the garage floor/concrete is good enough for the lift weight and bolting it down to spec and the posts are bloody heavy, 2 man job at a minimum.

Edited by Rich_AR on Tuesday 2nd February 18:13

[alabbasi]

I have a rotary lift that was made in 1982 at my shop. I bought it used from a friend of mine who used to be a Mercedes Benz mechanic so it's had a lot of action with a lot of heavy cars. I re sealed the cylinders and replaced the power source when I bought it about 10 years ago and it's functioned flawlessly since , lift cars and trucks that are up to 8000lbs.

If you buy a known brand such as rotary, challenger, bendback, you can't go wrong and they will last years without service in a non commercial enviroment. Where you install it is more critical a the concrete needs to be thick enough and reinforced to where the lift can be safely anchored. Always buy more than what you think you will need.

[smiffy555]

Rich_AR said:

I was in the same scenario, I spent too many hours straining, getting neck ache, scratching around etc. I installed a 2-post lift last year and use it quite a bit as well, even for detailing the cars. Few things to note, (and as already mentioned) ensure the garage floor/concrete is good enough for the lift weight and bolting it down to spec and the posts are bloody heavy, 2 man job at a minimum.

Yes, we’ve recently moved house and my work situation has changed to where I’m doing up an old farm house and I’ve got back into car maintenance and other car projects. Over the last year I’ve found my self scratching about on my back, with neck cramps, rust and mud in my eyes, not being able to see due to middle aged eye sight etc.

So, I’ve had a look at my bank balance, done a few man maths calculations and have decided it is a “good idea”.

As you say, it won’t just be used for fixing things, it’ll also be used for cleaning things as well. Spraying the underside of my truck and squirting in corrosion inhibitors etc. So it’ll get a fair bit of use, plus I’ll be able to park one car on the lift and then park another under it.

It just makes sense.

I appreciate everyone’s advice and I’ll get and check the concrete depth before I take it any further.

Edited by Rich_AR on Tuesday 2nd February 18:13

[Robmainstgarage]

Automotech lift are great value, quality is ok, customer service is exelent. At work I've got one of there 3 tone full height scissor lifts and it's been in 18 months and works hard every day, never any problem.
Depending on your space in your garage and the quality of the concrete id strongly recommend a scissor over a 2 post, also cars can fall off 2 posters if not used properly but never seen one come off a scissor! Oh and the posts don't get in the way of the doors

[chippy348]

eltax91 said:

My twin Busch has manual releases and I didn’t realise what a pain it would be. Do you know how hard it is to upgrade? Echo your point about the clear floor, one problem there is when passing the lines etc overhead, height can become an issue. Might not have enough roof height to fit the frame in, but with the floor ones you can still lift a car up to 3/4 height etc

I’ve got the sleeping policeman. Not (yet) been a major issue. Managed to push my 996 over it when I had a flat battery with a little help from the lightweight wife.

Not sure on retro fitting the electric release as i think they work in different ways well my Automech one does to the Twin B one.

The sleeping policeman is a issue if you say want to get a gearbox out of a MK2 escort, it is bang in the way of trying to wheel the transmission jack.

[chippy348]

smiffy555 said:

Thank you for your advice, re’ sleeping policeman and electric release.
Is it possible to cut a channel in the floor to run the cables across?

As others have said no, its not advisable to modify it

[smiffy555]

chippy348 said:

As others have said no, its not advisable to modify it

I agree. After doing a bit of video watching on how they actually work, I can see cables and pulleys are under the cover.