Four post lift for home garage.

[crankedup]

We are looking at the Automech Services AS - 4T36S which seems to offer good value. Any comments / advise please on alternative.

[Skyedriver]

crankedup said:

We are looking at the Automech Services AS - 4T36S which seems to offer good value. Any comments / advise please on alternative.

Is that the short one? Yes I like that too, my problem is location where I live (NW Scotland) that I need a fork lift to get it off the truck and it needs more than one person to erect it allegedly.

I think I've researched most of the different manufacturers including one this week who gave me a link to a slightly narrower one that would suit me even better, then told me to day they'd sold their last one and were discontinuing......

[crankedup]

I understand they do a 3.6 bed and a 3.2 a bloke on ebay is selling his and last time we looked he had one of each. Trouble is we would need to go and collect, you suggest a fork lift is needed?
We though it could be loaded into a large van?

[AW10]

Depends on the size of car you want it for but I think it's quite wide? One I considered - https://www.internbv.nl/home-uk/int-208-small-uk.h...

[crankedup]

Thanks or link

[Skyedriver]

crankedup said:

I understand they do a 3.6 bed and a 3.2 a bloke on ebay is selling his and last time we looked he had one of each. Trouble is we would need to go and collect, you suggest a fork lift is needed?
We though it could be loaded into a large van?

That the ones in Bradfordford?

[crankedup]

Skyedriver said:

crankedup said:

I understand they do a 3.6 bed and a 3.2 a bloke on ebay is selling his and last time we looked he had one of each. Trouble is we would need to go and collect, you suggest a fork lift is needed?
We though it could be loaded into a large van?

That the ones in Bradfordford?

Yup, just the bigger one left now.

[wuckfitracing]

Skyedriver said:

Is that the short one? Yes I like that too, my problem is location where I live (NW Scotland) that I need a fork lift to get it off the truck and it needs more than one person to erect it allegedly.

I think I've researched most of the different manufacturers including one this week who gave me a link to a slightly narrower one that would suit me even better, then told me to day they'd sold their last one and were discontinuing......

You can get away without a fork lift. Although an engine crane with wheels is handy. I did also assemble it all on my own.

[dhutch]

Reason for the 4-post rather than a 2-post?

[Skyedriver]

dhutch said:

Reason for the 4-post rather than a 2-post?

For me, more stable, safer for parking underneath, easier to drive a car on and off.

[AW10]

And doesn't 2 post need anchoring to the floor whereas 4 post is secured simply by its own weight? Or at least only through fairly lightweight fasteners.

[wuckfitracing]

Specifications for required depth of concrete floor to fit a 2 post lift are higher than for a 4 post lift. Check the suppliers details out before committing.

[dhutch]

Skyedriver said:

For me, more stable, safer for parking underneath, easier to drive a car on and off.

Fair enough. If its more for storage than working on the car, that makes sense.

[crankedup]

Looks like a new rather than used ramp lift is on the menu. Just to much aggravation going down the used route + for the sake a of a few hundred quid or so it’s nice to have a warranty and a shiny new bit of kit.

[Lotobear]

I installed an Automech 2 post 3 years ago and it's the best thing I ever did.

Primarily for working on cars but I store one car on top and another below each winter and it's never been an issue though if storage was my primary requirement I would probably have gone 4 post.

[crankedup]

Lotobear said:

I installed an Automech 2 post 3 years ago and it's the best thing I ever did.

Primarily for working on cars but I store one car on top and another below each winter and it's never been an issue though if storage was my primary requirement I would probably have gone 4 post.

This is what we, I say we it’s my son who is buying installing in his garage, but he wants to use it for storage underneath. He is also very keen to DIY repair and service his cars, definitely the four post jobbie.

[jetbox]

I bought a 4 post a year ago and it’s great. I bought from garage equipment and so far it’s been faultless, like others I wish I had done it years ago.

I stack two cars on top of one another when not actually working on a car and it has wheels so I can move to one side and then fit 3 cars in a two car garage.

I bought the hydraulic jack beam too which works well and allows you to safely jack the car.

It’s also so easy just to drive a car on and raise it up to any easy working height to polish the sides etc

[eltax91]

Lotobear said:

I installed an Automech 2 post 3 years ago and it's the best thing I ever did.

Primarily for working on cars but I store one car on top and another below each winter and it's never been an issue though if storage was my primary requirement I would probably have gone 4 post.

For this storing on 2 posters, do you still pick up using the arms on the jacking points? I have a twinbusch 2 poster in my garage and I didn’t use it for storage this winter because I’d read about chassis flex and suspension sagging when storing long term. It’s certainly not in the design parameters!

I did see someone in the US who makes a platform to switch onto the arms that then lifts it by the wheels

Anyone know if there’s a similar option in the U.K.? Or am I worrying too much?

[E-bmw]

IMHO.

You are worrying too much.

People doing full restorations can have cars on lifts for years at a time.

Most modern cars don't actually have a chassis as such as they are of a monocoque construction with front & rear subframes.

A suspension sat on full droop shouldn't cause it an issue.

[Lotobear]

eltax91 said:

For this storing on 2 posters, do you still pick up using the arms on the jacking points? I have a twinbusch 2 poster in my garage and I didn’t use it for storage this winter because I’d read about chassis flex and suspension sagging when storing long term. It’s certainly not in the design parameters!

I did see someone in the US who makes a platform to switch onto the arms that then lifts it by the wheels

Anyone know if there’s a similar option in the U.K.? Or am I worrying too much?

You are definately worrying too much.

I stored my Elan Plus 2 on the two post for 3-4 months each winter without any issue whatsoever (with a Mini underneath).

And for those unaware the Elan needs to be supported on the fibreglass body jacking points (not the chassis as there are no pick up points). This means that the chassis, engine and running gear were all 'hanging' unsupported off the fibreglass body and yet still no issues.