4 Post Lift Recommendation

[cirks]

Aviz said:

Did you work out how the limit switches attach ? . I'm sat here now scratching my head with the same two brackets in front of me

Correct or not it works perfectly. SGR's installers wouldn't fit it due to the tight head space around the car on top (as seen in piccie - there's about 3 inches at top before dropping down slightly for lift to go onto locks. So, I discussed with them but this is how I installed mine - obviously I had to drill the mounting holes. I think I looked at the brackets you have an went "hmmm" too.

[CerbWill]

Thanks both! You've bothered to do what SJR could not. If I've still got the bits (bound to be somewhere, though God knows where!) I'll have to sort them out. Presumably you drilled through the post to fit the bracket?

For anyone else, whilst nothing has gone wrong since I bought my ramp I have to say that, due to SJR's lack of giving a st both during and after my order, if I had to do it again I'd give my money to Automotech.

[phazed]

7 plus years on, not a 4 poster, a 2 poster, my Automotec lift hasn’t missed a beat. Used by me and a ton of work by my mechanic son.

A big thumbs up from me.

Alternative use

[Classic Chim]

phazed said:

7 plus years on, not a 4 poster, a 2 poster, my Automotec lift hasn’t missed a beat. Used by me and a ton of work by my mechanic son.

A big thumbs up from me.

Alternative use

I do miss your regular Tvr repair updates
Best tool you can have in many ways.
Not everyone is lucky enough to own a big swathe of Surrey to house the bleeder sadly
At my age with my back there is no way I could manage a body off alone without a 2 Poster. For me that made the project feasible.

ETA and that ramp enabled a Dif change in one working day on my TVR thanks to your experience and my time in the past rushing about in pit lanes.

Edited by Classic Chim on Thursday 23 February 10:32

[cirks]

CerbWill said:

Thanks both! You've bothered to do what SJR could not. If I've still got the bits (bound to be somewhere, though God knows where!) I'll have to sort them out. Presumably you drilled through the post to fit the bracket?
For anyone else, whilst nothing has gone wrong since I bought my ramp I have to say that, due to SJR's lack of giving a st both during and after my order, if I had to do it again I'd give my money to Automotech.

Yes, drilled holes for the brackets etc

Sorry you had issues with SJR - I didn't at all and that included getting them to come back to check tension and one of the locks a month or so after the installation.

[Aviz]

cirks said:

CerbWill said:

Thanks both! You've bothered to do what SJR could not. If I've still got the bits (bound to be somewhere, though God knows where!) I'll have to sort them out. Presumably you drilled through the post to fit the bracket?
For anyone else, whilst nothing has gone wrong since I bought my ramp I have to say that, due to SJR's lack of giving a st both during and after my order, if I had to do it again I'd give my money to Automotech.

Yes, drilled holes for the brackets etc

Sorry you had issues with SJR - I didn't at all and that included getting them to come back to check tension and one of the locks a month or so after the installation.

So apparently it's a lower limit switch, which ive worked out and mounted. The buzzer goes off just as it comes down. The holes are all there. Kinda useless, aside to warn you with a buzzer as it almost hits the floor. I too will need to fab something up to turn it into an upper limit switch.

[MikeE]

Aviz said:

cirks said:

CerbWill said:

Thanks both! You've bothered to do what SJR could not. If I've still got the bits (bound to be somewhere, though God knows where!) I'll have to sort them out. Presumably you drilled through the post to fit the bracket?
For anyone else, whilst nothing has gone wrong since I bought my ramp I have to say that, due to SJR's lack of giving a st both during and after my order, if I had to do it again I'd give my money to Automotech.

Yes, drilled holes for the brackets etc

Sorry you had issues with SJR - I didn't at all and that included getting them to come back to check tension and one of the locks a month or so after the installation.

So apparently it's a lower limit switch, which ive worked out and mounted. The buzzer goes off just as it comes down. The holes are all there. Kinda useless, aside to warn you with a buzzer as it almost hits the floor. I too will need to fab something up to turn it into an upper limit switch.

I was told the lower level warning was a mandatory requirement in a commercial garage, I took mine off obviously!

[cirks]

MikeE said:

I was told the lower level warning was a mandatory requirement in a commercial garage, I took mine off obviously!

Interesting. Mine isn't exactly quick to go down but the newest commercial ones (like recently installed at my local MOT station) make it look like lightning. The commercial ones go down very very slowly under new regs!

[BIG DUNC]

Another make to look at is Twin Busch.
I have a scissor lift and it has been great. They do two and four posters as well.

[Kerniki]

Any development on lifts?

Not sure if to go 4 post or 2, i may want to store a car underneath at some point but not sure, guessing 4 post essential if i do?

[Classic Chim]

A two post will still lock itself off at the height you wish to leave it releasing pressure off the hydraulics. If it’s a light car like a Tvr I’d say it’s no problem for a two post.
My mates two post at home has a car on it pretty much all year round one way or another.

[Kerniki]

I cant see any car i have being more than 1600kg tbh, but a tvr etc is only 1000kg or so..

I’d need piece of mind when away for months at a time sometimes, it could well be rare or not at all but if & when you do need it, it needs to be worry free..or just commit to never leaving it for long periods i guess, i have masses of room so i think its probably an unnecessary requirement that i’m best forgetting about..

[Classic Chim]

A decent professional one would be your best bet.
As long as you drop the ramp on its safety stops I’d expect to leave it for months but I’m sure it’s not ideal.

I think lifts at home are often used to store cars and my mates lift has a car on it being worked on or other cars stored on it pretty much all year round.
Similarly garages often leave cars on ramps and use them 5-6 days a week. They are pretty safe.

If you have the space then that saves having to protect what’s underneath from various possible fluid leaks.

[glow worm]

I've had a bolted down 4 post for over 10 years, and personally I wouldn't store a car on a 2 post.. just my opinion.
I also think you should consider the floor loading which I would regard as more concentrated than on the 4 point alternative.

[Kerniki]

glow worm said:

I've had a bolted down 4 post for over 10 years, and personally I wouldn't store a car on a 2 post.. just my opinion.
I also think you should consider the floor loading which I would regard as more concentrated than on the 4 point alternative.

Thanks, good point, it’s 6” resin floor on top of 6” concrete in this particular spot though, was done to take my JCB should I ever have needed to.

I think 2 post looks much neater but stability is another concern, start removing wheels etc and light on fuel bla bla, some of my cars are mid engined v12 to, do 911 owners worry in particular?

[glow worm]

Put a beam jack on a 4 post ?

[Classic Chim]

glow worm said:

I've had a bolted down 4 post for over 10 years, and personally I wouldn't store a car on a 2 post.. just my opinion.
I also think you should consider the floor loading which I would regard as more concentrated than on the 4 point alternative.

The floor loading will have to be calculated on both 2 or 4 post options as most 4 post can lift In access of 3 tonne.

I know it’s just your opinion but do you have data or a reason why you wouldn’t store a car on a 2 poster because I can’t see a rational reason why you couldn’t.
The only time I’d not use a two post is when lifting a very unbalanced car like those ones with the engine in the boot lol
I think Peter has no issues lifting his Porsche
If there is evidence 2 post lifts fail then fair enough!
Cue Videos with cars badly lifted and toppling off two post lifts
Operator error.
My point earlier on this page still stands.
2 post lifts are used in commercial garages on a daily basis and don’t start dropping.
As long as the safety stops are working and your not overloading it’s lifting capacity it’s designed to do its job just like a 4 post.
What I will say as a home mechanic is a two post allows better access to nearly all areas and makes working on suspension/ brakes etc a joy.
A 4 post is what I’d use for heavy vehicles like vans but largely unnecessary when lifting a light weight Tvr. If it’s mainly used as a storage device then a 4 post is quicker to simply drive on/off for sure.

You can work around the engine bay much more freely with your car on a 2 post. My old back doesn’t enjoy bending over so I would use the lift to raise the car a few inches just to fit injectors or whatever. Same with doing body offs or working on the four corners.. I’d set the height so I could sit on a chair… Great things

[glow worm]

I just feel more stable sitting on a 4 legged chair than a 2 legged one .
I think spreading the load over 4 contact points is better, equivalent to a car being sat on 4 tyre contact points. When I drilled the concrete in my latest garage, I hit a definite void , where I reckon over the years the infill has compacted or washed away.
There's also the benefit of being able to have drip trays/covers , to prevent the inevitable fluid drips going on the car underneath.
Also not sure if your dampers/springs would appreciate being left hanging in mid air for months on end.

Edited by glow worm on Saturday 2nd March 12:52

[Classic Chim]

glow worm said:

I just feel more stable sitting on a 4 legged chair than a 2 legged one .
I think spreading the load over 4 contact points is better, equivalent to a car being sat on 4 tyre contact points. When I drilled the concrete in my latest garage, I hit a definite void , where I reckon over the years the infill has compacted or washed away.
There's also the benefit of being able to have drip trays/covers , to prevent the inevitable fluid drips going on the car underneath.
Also not sure if your dampers/springs would appreciate being left hanging in mid air for months on end.

Edited by glow worm on Saturday 2nd March 12:52

Reasonable enough.

Tyres will last longer though

As long as you have full and free movement and the shock actually stops the wishbones extending further than it should anyway.
Splitting hairs on a rainy day here.
Clearly good garages tend to have both types now days as both are excellent tools and I wouldn’t scoff at either.

My mates Garage slab was not capable of supporting any lift and so he had a couple of pro installers come and prepare the area with his builder mate. His 2 post lift was a professional heavy and large type as used in commercial garages.
I agree they don’t look safe but in fact are… they better be, I’m always underneath the bugger.

[Kerniki]

Good rational on both sides, thanks.. I’m a belt and braces guy but open to the mathematics and physics argument as it trumps all really..

If the balance is right I don’t have an issue with strength if there’s a physical / mechanical lock out that looks over engineered..

I’d still probably put something additional in there to start with for peace of mind