Thread: Four post auto lifts

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Well I am in the process of updating my Garage and intent to purchase a four post lift for both storage and service. There are several on the market that all claim to be the latest and greatest. Eagle, Forward, Backyard buddy, BendPak, etc. What experience do any of you have with four post lifts?

I had a four post lift for awhile, mine was a Backyard Buddy, supposed to be the Cadillac of lifts. Well I couldn't get rid of that thing fast enough. In actually use it was useless almost, I didn't buy it for the storage but to use as a lift. It was miserable to say the least to use to work on my cars.

I replaced it with a two Post lift, and have been very happy with it. It is great for working on the cars, and I have used it many times with a car on it and to park another under it. Maybe you could rethink the four post idea altogether. Your needs could certainly be different than mine but of the two I will always choose the two post, and I will never be without a lift ever again.

Roland

PS Here is a picture, not a very good one mind you but it does show the lift in use.

Well that didn't work, so here's the picture.

RS

Kind of depends on what you want the lift for... For general use, as Roland pointe out, a two post is a probably a whole lot more useful... A four post is great for exhaust work but for suspension work then you'll have to add a cross beam or two and one or two hydruaulic jacks...

Personally, for body work, suspension work, and the other kinds of stuff that I do I prefer the two cylinder mid rise lift...also a good deal for a normal sized low clearance garage....

We have a "two post" Bend Pak lift in our shop. I've used it for six years and never had any problems, it works great. It's very versatile and well built. I see no advantage to a four post lift after using this lift.

But, a former general manager had previously installed it in our shop "without a city permit" (read paid a city's fee $$). So.......when he left, he contacted the city "to volunteer" this information to the planning/zoning department as his parting shot. This is where I entered into this issue and tried to legalize the installation with the city. What I learned during this exercise was interesting. The city wanted the footing dug out, and a 3' by 3' square by 3' deep rebar re-enforced footing installed FOR EACH LEG! I contacted Bend Pak and they were "very helpful" even though they did not originally install this unit. They supplied me with engineering to the city showing no additional footing was required for their units unless it was a very large commercial unit for semi trucks, firetrucks, and buses. I even had the installation company that installed the lifts for the city come out and tell me that the city did not use extra footing in their own city garage. Their are more than fifty of these lifts "in use" (a large auto mall) within a 1/4 mile radius of our lift and none are on mounted on any "extra required footing" in these auto dealerships.

The bottom line.........The "city required us to post a sign" on the lift stating it has a 2000# maximum weight limit (even though it's a 12,000# lift). This weight limit is not a problem for us as we use it for utility vehicles (Mules), ATV's, and motorcycle repairs most of the time. Just make sure you buy it from a servicing company that will also handle the install. It's not that it's difficult to install, but IMO you need a company to stand behind you when the problems arise.

Originally Posted by John Palmer

We have a "two post" Bend Pak lift in our shop. I've used it for six years and never had any problems, it works great. It's very versatile and well built. I see no advantage to a four post lift after using this lift.

But, a former general manager had previously installed it in our shop "without a city permit" (read paid a city's fee $$). So.......when he left, he contacted the city "to volunteer" this information to the planning/zoning department as his parting shot. This is where I entered into this issue and tried to legalize the installation with the city. What I learned during this exercise was interesting. The city wanted the footing dug out, and a 3' by 3' square by 3' deep rebar re-enforced footing installed FOR EACH LEG! I contacted Bend Pak and they were "very helpful" even though they did not originally install this unit. They supplied me with engineering to the city showing no additional footing was required for their units unless it was a very large commercial unit for semi trucks, firetrucks, and buses. I even had the installation company that installed the lifts for the city come out and tell me that the city did not use extra footing in their own city garage. Their are more than fifty of these lifts "in use" (a large auto mall) within a 1/4 mile radius of our lift and none are on mounted on any "extra required footing" in these auto dealerships.

The bottom line.........The "city required us to post a sign" on the lift stating it has a 2000# maximum weight limit (even though it's a 12,000# lift). This weight limit is not a problem for us as we use it for utility vehicles (Mules), ATV's, and motorcycle repairs most of the time. Just make sure you buy it from a servicing company that will also handle the install. It's not that it's difficult to install, but IMO you need a company to stand behind you when the problems arise.

Great post.Read my mind.

Don't know why I waited so long to get it. Got tired of jacks and creepers

Roland and Dave made some good points about intended use of the lift. I’ve used both 2 and 4 post units and each is great for some things and pretty much suck at others. Oil changes, exhaust, setting pinion angle things where the suspension can or needs to be loaded work well on a 4 post. Brakes, suspension, tire changes etc work a lot better on a 2 post.

When my new shop is finally up, I actually pan on one of each. Looking over what is currently out there, the Bendpak looks like what I’ll probably go with.

All, Thanks for the input!

I went with a direct lift pro park for my place. I picked up 2 rolling jack scissor bridges with it to enable suspension work. It sure makes life easy and frees up space when the rod is stored.

Had 4 Bend Packs in my shop for 17 years.
Sold out,retired, built new shop @ home and what ya think I put in it?
Bend pack.
Nuttin better for the $$$$