The 3 Main Types Of Automotive Lifts

Having the right tools comes a long way in getting the job done. When it comes to your home or garage, one such piece of equipment is the auto lift. Whether you’re a mechanic or a car enthusiast at home, you’re probably aware of the massive benefits of a vehicle lift to your efficiency.

Ever since we saw the old air-driven lift, there have been different car lifts available, from modern styles to safety ones. Basically, these inventions helped mechanics with the back-breaking task of climbing underneath cars during fixes. Car lifts conserve the space used in garages and give a clear space for higher turnarounds without compromising quality.

Most parts of this article will discuss in depth the various types of auto lifts, pros/cons, and why you should consider adding a piece to your garage or workshop. So, let’s dive in!

Understanding The Basic Styles of Car Lifts

Vehicle hoists are made in various styles, but a majority of them fall into two main categories depending on how they engage with the car: by the frame or by the wheels. Within this category, the most popular frame-engaging car lifts are two post hoists, and the wheel-engaging types are the four post hoists. Also, it is best to gauge auto lifts based on the lift height, load capacity, and lift speed. Also consider your garage height.

•Lift speed is the time taken for a complete lift up or down. Slower lift times are acceptable in homes as there aren’t many cars to work on. But at workshops, you’ll need a faster lift speed due to the high volume of vehicles needing repairs.

•Load capacity is the maximum weight a lift can carry. It depends on the strength of the auto lift and the number of columns it supports.

•Lift height is the maximum height a lift can hold a vehicle. It is essentially an essential consideration if you intend to work on the car’s underbody. For instance, a hoist with a maximum height of four feet is ideal for working on the wheels and not the underbody.

There are other auto lift styles, such as portable car lift and scissor lifts which we will look at later.

But before diving deep into these car lift types, we have a few tips and advice to help you find the best car lifts for your garage or workshop.

First, consider these questions before looking at the car hoist market:

•What kind of vehicles do I have? Will I work on SUVs, light trucks, passenger vehicles, or motorbikes?

•What is the tonnage of my car?

•How big is my site/garage? What are the exact dimensions of my workshop?

•How stable is the concrete slab where I’ll be placing the hoist?

•What kinds of repairs will I be doing in the vehicle? Do I need access to the hood?

•Do I need to clean the floor underneath?

Consider the Life Span

A vehicle lift operates in an environment that does more work (i.e., dealerships, workshops) and wears and tears faster than those at your backyard garage. So, if you’re planning to purchase a hoist for mechanical purposes, be sure to have a replacement plan in place. Basically, you might have to do this every decade or so to keep up with modern versions. We have found that many hoists that go past the decade cap have higher maintenance costs and newer versions are the best.

Having the latest vehicle lift model ensures that there are low running costs and higher productivity. Also, if you’re planning to use the lift in a home environment, a second-hand model would be a great addition. That’s because there is less work on the vehicle, and the parts are easily maintained.

Quality Over Price

While this has been a heated debate ever since the introduction of mass production, the quality of a product still matters, no matter the price. A vehicle lift is no cheap purchase, and you need to take time to understand the differences between the automotive lifts and go for quality models. It might seem costly in some instances, but you’ll never have back and forth trips to repair or replace parts.

Furthermore, a high-quality car lift is a lot safer than cheap knock-offs without the proper guarantee and industry standards. So let your purchase decision be guided by quality and safety rather than the most affordable option in the store.

Check each brand and consider your budget. Brands that we recommend include MaxJax lifts, Dannmar lifts, and Bendpak vehicle lifts.

Check Your Lift’s Specs

Remember the questions we asked ourselves before looking into the market? Now is a perfect time to use the answers to your advantage. Not all lifts are the same, and not all will lift your car, so it is best to check the types of vehicles it holds plus their maximum weight capacity. The load capacity should be easily seen on the nameplate attached to the car lift.

Also, check the dimensions and ensure enough headroom for your vehicle when lifted. There should be enough wiggle space to move around and work on your car when suspended off the ground. Every vehicle has a lifting point as described by the OEM. These are appropriate places to make contact when lifting the vehicles.

Don’t Forget The Accessories

You can add extra accessories such as attachments and adapters to your new car lift for better efficiency. But you need to ensure that all items are ALI Certified and passed AUS certification standards. The accessory you choose must be manufactured for the specific model of the lift you intend to upgrade.

Why is the certification so important?

Apart from ensuring high standards, certification of lift accessories is essential to the warranty of your auto lift. If you use non-certified accessories, your warranty becomes void as long as the original configuration changes. So, be sure to order certified accessories for your preferred lift.

The Main Types Of Lifts

Finding the best car lift for your garage or workshop can be a hassle. But with the above considerations, you’re one step away from getting what you want, now onto the types of car lifts. There are several types of lifts depending on which country you’re from, but we’ll look at the common types used by almost every car enthusiast or garage guy.

Two-post Car Lift

The two-post car lift is the most popular type and can be used in garages and car maintenance shops. It consists of two solid posts, four adjustable arms, an electric/hydraulic power unit, hydraulic cylinders, and cables. Two-post car lifts are an excellent choice if you’re on a budget and don’t want to take much of your garage space. The lift comes in several types, including:

•Symmetrical lift: Symmetrical lifts hold the vehicle mid-way with an equal front and back section latched on top. It is a great lift but has one drawback. When lifted, the space between the car and the two posts is so narrow that it becomes impossible to open the doors.

•Asymmetrical lift: Asymmetrical lifts were designed to address the driver’s door problem in symmetrical alternatives. You can rotate the lift up to 30 degrees to allow access to the inside of the car.

ADVANTAGES OF USING A 2-POST LIFT

•An advanced 2-post lift can hoist just about any vehicle and give excellent access to the underbody. They are ideal for all modern vehicles and can also be used for older cars.

•If you purchase a commercial grade two-post lift and use it at home, be sure the machine will last a lifetime. Even for commercial settings, the lift is durable.

•Folks love two-post lifts because of the price. They are affordable and can cost anywhere from $2000 to $2500.

DISADVANTAGES OF USING TWO POST LIFTS

It is crucial to note that commercial users rarely face problems using the two-post lift. However, most cons of this machine are geared towards home users. See here for our article on the best two post lifts in the USA.

•A two-post lift cannot be practical to fit in a typical garage. It generally needs a ceiling height and a space of about 12 feet. Although they’ll still be a little over 10 feet wide, there are smaller car hoists that are still too wide for a home garage.

•A commercial 2 post lift needs to be bolted on the ground and to a concrete slab of about 4-6 inches and 3,000Psi load capacity. It is not a common slab size for your typical garage, and you might need a new slab.

•While it is not a big deal for commercial spaces, 2-post lifts need to be regularly inspected. Every couple of years, you’ll need to get the rollers and wire ropes replaced.

•If you have an asymmetrical two-post car lift, there are safety hazards as the car is not well-balanced. So, operating it needs extra safety precautions.

Four-Post Car Lifts

Four-post car lifts were designed to handle heavier loads due to their sturdy design. It is mainly used to lift trucks and expensive vehicles to give access to auto repairs from exhaust work, transmission, and engine. The lift can get to heights as tall as 14 feet to work on the vehicle.

The 4-post lift is ideal for both home and commercial use as it does not require anchoring to work. Plus, it takes limited space to set up, so it would fit in your garage. The lift can also store more cars with one mounted right on top of the other. Them doubling up as storage is an excellent perk of four-post lifts.

ADVANTAGES OF FOUR-POST LIFTS

•Four post lifts are excellent storage sources in a home garage, as you can lift a vehicle and place another at the bottom.

•This type of post works well for commercial work as you can access all parts of the vehicle, including the underside.

•A four-post lift is the best bet if you have low ground clearance.

•Lifting the vehicle by its tires is one of the safest ways to get it up as it supports the weight by all four corners. There is also no risk of the car toppling over as the case in asymmetrical two-post lifts.

•Due to its design, a four-post lift can hold more weight than most types of vehicle hoists. The four posts are stable and robust enough to hold even heavy vehicles.

DISADVANTAGES OF FOUR-POST LIFTS

•Four post lifts are generally tall and difficult to install in a typical home garage. It needs about 12’ height clearance or higher.

•Even though these posts are not as wide as two-post lifts, they are still significantly broad and can stretch up to 10 feet wide.

•4 post lifts tend to be more expensive than 2 post lifts.

•While you can access the car’s underside, working on the tires with 4 post auto lifts isn’t easy.

Scissor Lifts

Not all the time, the garage has enough space to fit an auto lift such as the 4-post lift. That said, scissors come as the best alternative if you don’t have enough space as it is a portable car lift. It consists of retractable levers sandwiched between two platforms extending in a zigzag motion. The zigzag action and look make this lift get its name as a scissor lift.

The scissor lift comes in different types, with some being bolted to your garage base. These types are stronger and can support a heavier vehicle mass. In addition, it has a hydraulic car lift mechanism, and most models are electrically run.

There are also portable versions of the scissor lifts with wheels for movement. The hydraulic system is located at the base of the lift. It has a low weight capacity and is used chiefly for smaller vehicles. The top accommodation part can be as narrow or wide as the make. Some features accommodate the whole car, including all four wheels.