What 2 post lift?

[Slow]

Looking for a minimum 3500kg 2 post lift for a garage. Needs to be single phase as in a home garage.

Am I better off with a Chinese brand new or a used branded item?

Home mechanic so not exactly constant use.

[Krikkit]

Automotech get good reviews: https://automotechservices.co.uk/two-post-vehicle-...

There's also Twin Busch https://www.twinbusch.co.uk/2-post-lifts:::2.html

[Lotobear]

Slow said:

Looking for a minimum 3500kg 2 post lift for a garage. Needs to be single phase as in a home garage.

Am I better off with a Chinese brand new or a used branded item?

Home mechanic so not exactly constant use.

I bought an Automech 2 post around 6 years ago - it's single phase (just use a 16A suply with a 'slow' breaker) and it's been faultless. Rated at 3.5 tonnes but I can't ever see me ever approaching that.

I would suggest you use chemical anchors instead of those supplied if you do go for one. No brainer I would say when compared to a used one.

[Cold]

Take your pick. Just note that a two post lift requires a concrete base of certain specifications due to the load on a relatively small contact patch.

https://automotechservices.co.uk/two-post-vehicle-...

[Slow]

It’s a new garage with a new floor so going deep and going to set the bolts in the floor as it dries rather than drilling it once done.

[Lotobear]

Slow said:

It’s a new garage with a new floor so going deep and going to set the bolts in the floor as it dries rather than drilling it once done.

Mine was too and so I laid the floor to the Automech specification as well and designing an 'open' roof so that I can 'stack' cars.

Casting your holding down bolts in is an unusual way to do it - your choice but I would say much simpler and less risky to simply set up your posts, drill and then use chemical anchors once the slab has cured.

[donkmeister]

I have to echo the above - I've cast studs into concrete before and the tolerance of hand-inserted-then-jiggled studs is not really tight enough for your purposes, plus the concrete in between the studs will not be as flat as if you had floated the whole surface and then drilled/resined once it was set.

If you really want to do it that way, it really needs to be jigged to ensure the studs are all plumb, in the right place for each leg and then both legs in the right places relative to each other.

What sort of studs do you have in mind?

[catfishdb]

I thought about casting the bolts into the fresh concrete but quickly changed my mind knowing that I would need to elevate the lift posts a few inches into the air straight up above the cast bolt ends and lower it down over them. No easy feat. The posts for a 2 poster are quite heavy indeed.

on the other hand....

Once upright you can 'walk' them into position, then drill through using the base plate as a template. Set the bolts....tada. Done.

Arthur

[Slow]

Seems just drilling holes is the way then.

Was going to make a little jig to sink the bolts in the ground welded onto a plate and then pour on top but as you say it would be hard to get the top completely flat for it to sit on.

[heebeegeetee]

Cold said:

Take your pick. Just note that a two post lift requires a concrete base of certain specifications due to the load on a relatively small contact patch.

https://automotechservices.co.uk/two-post-vehicle-...

I bought and used a couple of those in a small commercial garage, we had good service from the supplier and the products. The locks are a bit noisy when lifting, but that's all, that won't be anything to worry about in a home situation.

[Slow]

Went for the twin Busch one in the end, rated for 4.2 ton.

Garage has a way to go yet but wanted it in place before the roof goes on to try maximise every last inch of height.