2-Post or 4-Post Lift

[gyroplane]

Which is better for building/maintaining an Ultima, a 2-Post or 4-Post lift? Any particular considerations in regards to lifting/lift points, or anything else I should consider? (I was going to go 2-post, but the Elise has to have the rear pan removed to access the lift points, which has me leaning towards the 4-post, but I am currently paralyzed with indecision, so all comments from those who have used either/both with an Ultima would help greatly in breaking my deadlock)
Thanks,
-Sky

[Steve_D]

There is very little under an Ultima that needs a lift. The floor is just a flat panel and the only bits you need to get at are available to you with the front or rear clips open.
You will also have the issue of getting the car on or over a lift as very few will be able to deal with the 110mm clearance.

You will also have to source a race style trolley jack to get under there.

Steve

[UltimaCH]

How does one change a wheel if a jack doesn't fit under the car? On-board pneumatic jacks the answer?

[GTRCLIVE]

What you need is a Flat bottomed Scissor lift. I have drawn one up but you can buy them if you don't fancy making it....

Am selling the full CAD drawings for £50, if you want to save some money....

Edited by GTRCLIVE on Monday 13th July 14:17

[GTRCLIVE]

http://www.directlift.ca/pro6mr.htm

http://www.asedeals.com/mid_rise_lift.html

http://excel-equipment.com/vehicle-lifts-equipment...

There are a few place and different types but the most of them lift at least 6000lbs.... so I can put my truck on it if I want.... but with the addition of a flat plate it makes lifting an ulitma very easy.....

[Gulf -LS2]

I will have a drawing please clive, how do you want me to pay??

Paypal??

[Adam GTR]

I'll have a set as well. If you can accept Paypal it would help with currency conversion.

Cheers

Adam

[San Diego GTR]

I've read that 2 post lifts are for short term repair work and not meant for long term storage. Thus, the other benefit to a 4 post lift is the added storage area it creates under the car.
Paul

[ROWDYRENAULT]

I have a two post lift inside my garage. I know that I am spoiled, but man is that thing neat. The only issue with my two post is that you have to raise the back of the car to get under the front of the car to clear the arms. I built my GTR on the lift and I can't tell you how much pain and bending and crawling and time that the lift saved me. Now that the car is finished I drive the car onto the lift just about every time I bring it home. I then clean the undercarriage with a rag and wd40 were appropraite and quick detailer on the rest. From flying helicopters for 40 years I will tell you the best way to pre flight anything is to clean it. I put my hands on just about every oil line and part of the suspension while I am under the car. Then I let the car down a little and clean the tires rims and the body. All of this without bending over. As far as storing another car under it, two posts have mechanical locks on them like any other lift and I store other cars under one another when I need to. The only concearn would be an earthquake and I live in Southren California so that is a concern. Long story short, if you have the room for a two post lift particularly inside don't miss the chance you will never regret it. 4 posts are neat but remember two things you can,t change a tire or work on suspension without raising that corner of the car and once the car is on the lift the ramp is between you and the car and you have to reach over it to get to anything. I believe a 4 post is beat suited for storage. Lee

[GreenV8S]

ROWDYRENAULT said:

The only issue with my two post is that you have to raise the back of the car to get under the front of the car to clear the arms.

Wish I had a lift like that, I'm jealous. Can't you get over the 'lifting the back of the car' issue by leaving a couple of planks in the right place to drive onto when you park it?

[John1949]

This is the lift I have been looking at to some time now. Only lifts to about 4 feet and do not know if you can get one in the UK. Note it is portable so you could share with a friend. About 2000 us dollars including shipping here in the states.


http://www.maxjaxusa.com/

Edited by John1949 on Tuesday 27th November 21:34

[GreenV8S]

John1949 said:

This is the lift I have been looking at to some time now. Only lifts to about 4 feet and do not know if you can get one in the UK. Note it is portable so you could share with a friend. About 2000 us dollars including shipping here in the states.


http://www.maxjaxusa.com/

I'd be very nervous about working under a vehicle supported by nothing but some anchor bolts in tension. In an ordinary domestic garage with a concrete raft floor, you'd be putting a lot of faith in the concrete being strong enough around the anchor bolts.

[gyroplane]

It's funny you mention the MaxJax, as that is exactly the 2-post that I would get if I went that direction. (I have 2 8-ft tall bays in the back, and 2 12-foot tall bays in the front, but don't want to permanently mount a post in the middle of the front bays. The MaxJax would allow me to install it in the back bays to be out of the way, but move it to the front if I had something with a taller roof, or wanted more room to work.) Downside is, it would not be an overhead lift, but I am ok with that. I was ready to sink some anchors in preparation...then realized that to get to the aft lift points on a Lotus Elise, you have to remove the rear pan. (Was planning on paying for the lift by saving $300 per Elise oil change. Removing the rear pan before you lift it seemed to counter some of the convenience of having a lift.) That got me back to thinking 4-post, but now I just don't know. Storage is a bonus for the 4-post, but not something I really need. You can get jack support bars that mount between the ramps that allow you to lift the car off its wheels while on the 4-post for wheel work. You can also do suspension work with the wheels at ride height on a 4-post that you cannot do on a 2-post. Casters make a 4-post mobile so it can be pushed to the back of my garage when not needed for overhead lifting. Just wasn't sure if there was anything about a 4-post that was particularly undesireable as it relates to an Ultima, as that is one of the next toys after the garage is done (and really, is the reason for expanding the garage in the first place).
-Sky

[GTRCLIVE]

4 post and 2 post lifts still get in the way when your not using them... I have lots of room now for either but after seeing a friends siccor Lift that when down and was recessed into the floor, you end up with nothing ever in the way....
Each to there own, but even without a recessed floor with the addition of some 2x6 wood planks you drive stiaght on and hit the button. Then if you want to get rid of it you can move it away with the help of a little cart stile handle....

[GTRCLIVE]

Here's my recessed floor, has a cover over it at present, but you get the Idea...

[ROWDYRENAULT]

Someone asked if you could drive up on lanks to lift the front end yes you could but that would entail getting out of the car to place them when you are almost at the right spot and then getting back in easier to just wheel the floor jack under the rear cross bar couple of pumps and you are there. Lee

[V8Dom]

ive been looking at these............

they are only in staffordshire and are portable

ebay

item 260435330345

less hassle than building one and ready to use..........

dom

[JoulesCanAm]

I have an 8,000lb 4-post Direct Lift and very happy with it and was even considering getting a second one so my 3 car garage can handle 5 cars.
Some of my deciding criteria were;

Total height - generally 2 post lifts require more headroom than 4 post
Anchoring - A 2 post lift requires anchoring, ensure your garage foundation is substantial enough etc. In contrast my 4-post came with a removable caster system, I can move it around my garage if I like and there is no need to anchor (in fact not recommended to anchor in a seismic zone, which I'm in)
Intended use - My lift is used for over-under car storage mostly
Versatility - I got the package that included drip trays (protecting lower car) and sliding jacks which are a must in my opinion to raise and work on wheels/suspension

Whichever lift you buy ensure it has a full ladder-lock system, most do nowadays but some of the low $$ stuff still may not.

Just an additional thing to consider, I had to raise my garage door tracks so the door opens closer to the ceiling for clearance of the upper car on the lift.

If it's an occasional use and you don't have a lot of space I think the scissor lifts can be a great compromise.

Edited by JoulesCanAm on Friday 3rd July 17:21

[eliot]

GTRCLIVE said:

4..

How stable are those things? - It looks like you could walk up to it and push the car over.
Whilst they may be fine for an Ultima, I was looking at similar things to get under normal, say for changing gearboxes (or just the oil) or working on the exhaust and realised that it blocks access to those areas.

[GreenV8S]

eliot said:

it blocks access to those areas.

I think for working under the center of the car the approach would be to drop it onto some tall axle stands. The lift would still be under you which might make it a bit awkward to move around under the car.