Auto Lift FAQ's

Should I buy a Two Post lift or a Four Post lift?

This depends on how you are using the auto lift.

If you simply want to store a vehicle in the air and possibly park another vehicle underneath, then a four post lift is the right lift for you.  The four post lift has two steel tracks running the length of the vehicle and lifts the vehicle by the wheels.  With the four post lift you can park two vehicles in one space, change oil, do some exhaust work, and with the help of your jack tray you can gain access to your tires and brakes.  You can also purchase our hydraulic jack which will lift one end of the vehicle while on the lift.  With the help of our caster kit, the four post lift is also portable, allowing you to move the lift around your garage or even outside to wash your vehicle.  When loading a four post lift you simply drive on and off the tracks instead of having to enter and exit the vehicle multiple times to ensure the correct weight distribution at the lifting points.  A four post lift ensures that you will have easy access to open and close the doors of the vehicle.

If you are planning on doing repairs, then a two post lift is the right lift for you.  The two post lift engages and lifts the vehicle at four points on the frame of the vehicle.  This gives you access to virtually any point on the underside of the vehicle including the wheels.  A two post lift is not desirable to use for storage of a vehicle for extended periods of time.  You don't have a way to protect the vehicle underneath from any fluids that may drip from the top vehicle.  On a two post lift, the vehicle is lifted by the frame.  When in the air, the tires will hang lower than normal minimizing the clearance you have underneath to park another vehicle.  A two post lift must be mounted to the floor and is not portable.

What capacity lift should I buy?

This is a simple question when using the lift for storage.  If you are using the lift for storage then you know the weight of the vehicle you ar lifting.  You can simply choose the lift that has enough capacity.  If you are using the lift in a commercial application and you intend to lift various makes and models, then the answer becomes a little more complicated.  Simply picking a capacity and assuming it will lift any vehicle that has a weight of less than the capacity is not the right way to make your choice.  You should choose a capacity that is at least 25-30% higher than the heaviest vehicle you intend to lift.  Please note that our lifts are intended for road personal transport vehicles only.  Our lifts are not designed for lifting forklifts, boom lifts, tractors, trailers, boats, RV's, or any other industrial equipment.  Do not use our lifts as human elevators.

Should I buy an overhead two post lift or a floor plate two post lift?

It is ideal to have the overhead two post lift so that you have no obstruction on the floor.  However, our shortest overhead two post lift is 12 feet tall and many people do not have a ceiling of this height.  If you do not have at least 12 feet tall ceilings then your other option is the floor plate model.  The floor plate model is only 9 feet tall and will fit under most ceilings.  It has a plate on the floor to cover the cables and hydraulic hose.

How high does my ceiling need to be?

If you are purchasing a storage lift, then you simply measure the height of the two vehicles you are parking above and below and add 6 inches extra for comfort.  If you are purchasing a two post lift then you need to measure your ceiling and make sure that the overall height of the lift is less than your celing height.  All of our lifts have the overall height listed on the product specific pages.

What electricity do I need?

Our two post lifts run on 220 volt single phase power.  Our four post storage lifts run on 110 volt single phase power.  We recommend you employ an electrician to complete the hookup of the power unit.  We are not certified electricians and we cannot walk you through the electrical hookup over the phone.  We recommend you employ the services of a certified electrician.  Please see our policies for more information.

How thick does my concrete need to be?

Most of our two post lifts and four post lifts require a minimum thickness of 4 inches at 3,000 PSI on a full slab.  When mounting your lift, make sure that your drill any holes at least 6 inches from the edge of the slab or any stress crack.

How do I unload my auto lift from the truck?

Your lift will weigh from 700 lbs - 1,866 lbs depending on which lift you purchase.  You will need a forklift, tractor, or backhoe to unload your auto lift.  You can also pick up your auto lift at the delivery terminal and haul it on your personal trailer.  The delivery driver is not required to you unload your auto lift and they do not have equipment with them to do so.  The driver's job is to drive the truck.  There are other innovative ways to take delivery of your auto lift.  Please see our shipping page to get more information.

What else do I need to buy to install my lift?

You will need to purchase at least 3 gallons of hydraulic oil.  The Power unit comes with a pigtail for the electricity.  You will need to purchase a wall plug or wire the unit directly to your power source.  If your floor is not level you will need to shim the lift so that it is level front to back and side to side.  Large washers will do just fine for shimming your lift.  If you are mounting the auto lift to the floor, then you will need a hammer drill to make holes in the concrete.  A two post lift includes floor mounting hardware, power unit, and truck adapters.  A four post lift is free standing and there is no mounting hardware included.  A four post lift includes the power unit.

Can I have the bolt pattern of the auto lift so that I can set the bolts when I pour the concrete?

There are two reasons why we do not recommend doing this.  First reason is that it is not necessary.  You will be perfectly safe drilling the holes in the concrete and mounting the auto lift after you have it completely assembled.  Second reason is that you could be off by a 1/2 inch and you will be very upset.  You will have bolts in you floor that cannot be removed and you will have to move the location of the auto lift so that you can drill new holes in the floor. 

How easy is it to install my auto lift?

The technical aspect of the installation is very simple.  The man power and time is the difficult part of the installation.  Our auto lifts require at least 2 people to install and some of our larger models require more people or even a forklift.  It should take 3-6 hours to complete installation of your auto lift not including electrical hookup.  You will need a ladder, a set of wrenches, a level, and 3 gallons of hydraulic oil to complete installation.  If you are mounting the auto lift to the floor, your will need a drill to make holes for the anchors in the concrete.  This does not include the tools needed for electrical hookup.

How much is shipping for my auto lift?

This depends on your location as well as what auto lift you will be purchasing.  We can ship to anywhere in North America and to most places around the world.  Please call us with your postal code, city, country, and what auto lift you want.

How much does it cost to have my auto lift installed?

This depends on which auto lift you are purchasing and how far from the installer you are located.  If you would like a quote for installation please call 817-234-9800.