Well, my dad (82) surprised me. I've done a fair bit of work on his cars over the last year of COVID and saved him a lot of money. He told me to buy a lift and charge it on his credit card that I have for working on his cars. So, I have a garage with 12'8" ceilings, sitting on 6" of 3500 PSI concreate with reinforcing wire mesh. I built it in 2007 to handle a lift but I never made up my mind which one, 2 or 4 post. So, I'm ready to pull the trigger. How sells a good one and can get it installed? My thing is I don't want to die because I didn't install it properly.
Hi, Here's another site, do your research, I have been investing myself although I am still working on getting a building done first https://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Shop/2-Post-Car-Lifts Regards, Jim
4 post lift, Backyardbuddy.com they are manufactured in Warren Ohio. and offer different options as well as lifting capacities.
I have been watching Greg Smith Equipment too with the intent to buy an overhead lift also . Plus there is a store in Newark Delaware where there is NO SALES TAX ! My building is done with 14 foot ceilings and all other provisions for a lift installed . Have my eyes on a 9,000 or 10,000 extra wide and extra tall he has . Plus he has other equipment too . Well worth the look .
I have an 10k Atlas from Greg Smith. Easy install and an awesome lift. Look forward to getting another when my new garage is built.
I think something like this is your best bet: https://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-Platinum-PVL10 I like the type without the base to trip over, however this also removes a few inches of vehicle clearance. I personally wouldn't trust the type without either a top support or bottom, but thats just me. I won't get into the 4 post vs 2 post topic as it sounds like you have made up your mind already. I am very happy with my 4 post, but of course both would be ideal! I picked this one, nice and beefy and it allows me to store vehicles for long periods of time without safety concerns. https://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-Garage-Pro-9-000 And then I am getting this setup to add versatility to my 4 post, works great for full frames vehicles. Use the scissor lifts on the lift so the suspension is fully accessible: https://www.gregsmithequipment.com/Atlas-Platinum-6PL
As a guy who used to sell lifts I can tell you it's a whore's market. I would recommend buying a name brand only- rotary, atlas, etc. Stay away from the fly by night craigslist crap. I would base your decision on a local dealer with in house install and service.. you might pay a little more but you'll make it up in the long run with readily available parts and quick service
We have one of each from Greg Smith. 4 post and a 10k 2 post. 4 post is used mostly for parking/storage. Most of the work is done on the 2 post. Pleased with both of them. Wish we had the headroom for the traditional overhead support but not the end of the world. It handles my 7200lb 2500 duramax no problem. Installation isn't a big deal. Columns are pretty heavy though.
We have a Bendpac 2 post lift (with the overhead bar) in our shop and love it. We use it all the time and works great. Personally I'd only buy a 4 post lift for storage. Keith
Just pulled the trigger on a wildfire double wide 4 post last week. I placed the order as a turn key setup, so they’re handling the delivery to the installer and setting that portion up for me. Spent forever cross shopping, but kept coming back to the WF as the dimensions fit my garage best. They sell an optional rolling bridge jack that can turn the 4 poster into a service lift. Seems like the best of both worlds.
Here's a thought.. Get and estimate for the industry standard.. Rotary 2 post Asymmetrical... installed. Then, watch your local auction houses.. around here, we have K Bid... in this economy, dealerships are closing all the time.. I bought my 7K rotary hoist from Win Stephens Buick when they shut down here early in 2003... Paid $1200 for my hoist, it was disassmbled and ready to pick up.. Thing was so new the paint was not even scratched on it. Bucy and I set it up at the old shop, no big deal at all.. place it where you want it, get the hammer drill out and drill a whole bunch of big holes and drop in the concrete anchors.. Then wire it up.. Lots of assembly guides and videos online. Now that you have spent a fraction of what just making a phone call costs, show you dad the estimate and the actual costs, and suggest a few speed parts you have had your eye on.. or whatever. Not that I don't want support the pros, but anyone who can build a car, can install and assemble a hoist.. just need a helper or two for the heavy work, electrical knowledge or a buddy for the wiring, and be a smart shopper. You might even be able to by two for the price of the estimate. JW
The 7k may have been a little lighter, but my 10k posts were almost unmanageable without two guys on each end. It took 4-5 of us to tilt the posts into place.Once they were up, one or two people could shuffle it around the floor to get it into position. It took most of the day for me and one other person to install and wire the lift. When the delivery truck dropped it at my (previous) shop, we had to have a forklift drag it backwards just to get a bite on the pallet. It weighed several thousand pounds. I was able to drop it onto a flat bed trailer with no sides (car hauler), and had to haul an additional trailer home with our bobcat on it to unload and place in the shop. If I didn't have those tools handy, I would have needed a small army to get the stuff home.
I did what Jim recommends. Found a Rotary 10k asymmetric for $1600. Brough it home on an U-Haul trailer unloaded it myself with cherry picker. Verify all the parts are there and the cables are good. Laid it out in the garage using measurements from Rotary website. Had my son help raise the post walked them into place. Hammer drill and purchased a anchor kit online. Works like like a charm full confidence in install and the duramax and suburban have been up an down many times without issue. I was even surprised to find if i lined up my 63 Riviera X frame just right the arms were long enough to lift it safely under he frame as well! Good luck with search... Gary
Ya, I believe that, a 10K lift is a LOT heavier.. The Rotary 7K posts are bottom heavy, big time.. but nothing more than 2 guys and a HD two wheeler are required to move them.. done that now a few times. My hoist is currently sitting in the house garage, un-assembled.. the only drawback of the house/shop that we moved into here in 2011, is the 10'ceiling.. Not that big a deal, I don't work on a lot of cars anymore like I used to, but still miss it.. and in the winter, the heated floor tends to induce naps when I am "working" under a car... Some year I will get caught up enough to build that 24" extension on the back of the shop, with the 14' ceiling.. JW
Question: Does anyone sell a 2-post that runs off of 110V? It seems they are all 220V. And from this thread, you can see why it has taken me 10 plus years to make a decision and pull the trigger on a lift. The options are maddening. It isn't that Dad is footing the bill for most of it but that I'm numbed by the options! My confidence to install is my issues. Unloading nearly a ton in one package is not an option for me. I have no way to transport it or unload it. I'm not against hard work but it seems like my first one should not be on-the-job training. And at 59, I don't want to ruin my back this early in retirement. After searching for over an hour for equipment auctions, there is nothing but farm equipment, fork lifts, scissor lifts and estate/real estate auctions around here. That's looking like a non-starter. Rotary has an installers locally. I'm going to give them a call. If I'm lucky, they might also do other lifts as well.
Hilti KWIK Bolt TZ Expansion Anchor - Carbon Steel - KB-TZ 3/4" x 5-1/2" - 387520 - Box of 10 - on Amazon/ebay/other. Get a box of shims too. It is easy, especially for someone like you. I bought my Rotary 2 post used and like Jim said above - just do it. Read their manuals and install guides and have at it. Look at what the car dealers/service shops use in your area. Oh, and you only drill the holes once... https://info.rotarylift.com/light-d...N3V1osb72V32GIaZI8lk5jst2Sdo0A&_hsmi=39329407
