Garage Hoist

[PalAl]

How many of you have the luxury of a hoist to lift your car for easy bottom end work? If you have one what type and brand did you choose, 4-post drive on, 2 post swing arm, weight limit and how tall is your garage ceiling? Every time I'm laying on my back I start dreaming about a lift. Trying to get off my back and standing again is even a better reason for one...LOL
Need-a-lift-Al

[Blue-Truck-Nut]

2 post swing arm made by Texas Lift Company. Bought it from a garage that was going out of business. It was reasonable and it works. ( Had it 20 years or so.) It's probably 12' tall overall, building is 16' at the walls.

Look around you might find a similar deal in our current economic condition.

Sent from my E6810 using Tapatalk

[old31]

I have a 2 post atlas. The older I get, the more I appreciate it.

https://www.gregsmithequipment.com/A...SABEgK-uPD_BwE

[Wick]

Backyard buddy 4 post. 7000 lb. It's a older model. 13 foot ceiling. I use it to store a vehicle on top sometimes. Nothing like working on brakes at eye level. Grease jobs,oil changes,exhaust work.
I put the tractor, riding mower,trailers on it. If I want to take the cap off my truck,I back up to the lift,raise it up then slide the cap on to it. I can back a car trailer up to it and roll a dead car on to it.
Great for dropping a engine out of a VW.
If the lift is all the way down and you drop something onto the floor. ...it's going under the lift every time.
Oh its great for hanging freshly painted parts off of also.
Wick

[monto]

Mohawk 10K lb. 2 post. Hydraulic chain lift.
Optional wheel adaptors which attach to swing arms provide for unobstructed under vehicle access.

[Mike Peters]

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Al: 2 post or 4 post, that is the question. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. I bought a 4 post 8,000 capacity used from Craigslist 10 years ago for $1400. I love it. It's too small for a 4 door pickup truck , but works for anything smaller. Great for model A's. The above comments are all excellent. Keep your eyes peeled for a good deal on a used one. Patience is key. An advantage of a 4 post is that you do't need to bolt it down to the floor, and they have wheels to move them around.

[motordr]

Originally Posted by monto

Mohawk 10K lb. 2 post. Hydraulic chain lift.
Optional wheel adaptors which attach to swing arms provide for unobstructed under vehicle access.

Monto, I have the same hoist and been thinking about those wheel adapters. How do you like them?

[Ray64]

Im with WICK on this one

[marko39]

I have a single post in ground lift from the 50s made by the Globe Hoist co. It is 5 ton and been working fine for the 25 years I have had it. Used the same kind working in service station when I was young. Hard part was digging a hole 8 feet deep for the piston. I was lucky, only hit 3 feet of solid rock! A days rental of a jackhammer and I was good to go. What you can do when you were younger. Garage has 16' walls.

[monto]

Motordr:-
I use them specific for lifting the Model A. Not only do they accommodate 'under-access', but also eliminate crawling around repeatedly positioning at narrow pick points on the car's frame.
They are a little awkward and heavy. Notwithstanding, I consider them a luxurious alternative to the swing arms. I move them around on a pallet with casters.
Very pleased with them.

[eagle]

I saw someone who had fabricated some 3 or 4 foot tall ramps, once the car was up on them the ramp itself was taken off and the car was up on the platforms. With a roll-around stool to sit on, it was pretty nice working. Cheap, easy, and customizable to your ceiling height. I've been thinking about building some myself.

[katy]

I have a "Lift King" 4 post, 7000 lb, hoist, bought used. I don't use it a lot as the (aprox) 18" wide side rails makes it awkward working on anything that's near the outside of the vehicle. Good for oil changes though. Shop ceiling is 13'.

[dansluck]

PalAl, i have a 2 post , 9000 lbs and 14 ft ceilings. Works good on Model A and GMC Sierra but i won't use it on my F350 they are too front end heavy. Good Luck

BTW: Bought mine for my 70th birthday, should have bought it 40 years ago!!!Dan

[PalAl]

Thanks to everyone for your replies, had a couple of deals but had to back out because of Kids needs and Family health reasons. Now I am looking again...wahoo

[old31]

Originally Posted by monto

Mohawk 10K lb. 2 post. Hydraulic chain lift.
Optional wheel adaptors which attach to swing arms provide for unobstructed under vehicle access.

Do you have any photos the Optional wheel adaptors?

[Wick]

When moving my lift I lock it in the first position off the floor. Lift the cross beam with a floor jack and place a car wheel dolly under each post.push it where I want it. I have taken down and installed 4 Lifts already. I did replace the cables when I bought mine used.
I want one for outdoors now (Power washing underside)
Wick

[monto]

Originally Posted by old31

Do you have any photos the Optional wheel adaptors?

If you go to their website MOHAWKLIFTS.COM you'll find everything.

Photos, specifications, prices, etc. They are adaptable to full size vehicles.

[Doug 845]

I have a 4 post Bend Pak 7,000lb lift and my brother has a 2 post Bend Pak 7,000lb lift. Every time he comes over to my house he says that he wished he got the 4 post lift. He had to buy extra supports to stabilize the front and rear when up in the air just to feel safe when working on the car. Just google for videos of cars falling off two post lifts. The only negative thing I have encountered is when I rotate tires - that is the only advantage of a 2 post lift. A 4 post lift will also allow you to store cars above each other if you have a tall enough ceiling. I have a 12' ceiling which allows me to store a Z28 Camaro and a '33 Ford.

[Chris in WNC]

Wick has the best and in my opinion only answer here.
I had a Backyard Buddy for several years and loved it.
hands down the safest lift available.

[denis4x4]

Another vote for the Backyard Buddy. The clevis on the cross bar is used for a turning block so I can raise the lift to the same height as the trailer and put dead cars on the lift using the trailer winch.

[Licensed to kill]

I have an asymmetrical 2 post bend pak (10,000 lb). Like was mentioned, 2 and 4 post each have their pros and cons. My brother has 2-4 post bend paks. The advantage of the 2 post is that you don't need extra jacks to do wheel/tire/brake work and you can use it to lift off car bodies (no so much with model A's though). The disadvantage is that it can be a tight fit getting in and out of the car as the post is often pretty close to the door. 2 post takes less room also. A 4 post is easier to just drive onto, like was mentioned you can roll it around (out of the way when not in use) and is great for working/wiring under the dash. Just lift to a comfortable height reach up under the dash. You don't need to be a contortionist. Ideally, I would like to have one of each. One disadvantage of my 2 post for model A's is that I installed it in the wide configuration to give me more room to open doors and such and being asymmetrical, the from arms are pretty short and with the narrow frames of the model A I have to be EXACTLY entered for the two front arms to reach the frame rails. That can be a PITA. It's also a pain that I have to set the arms as opposed to just driving on. However, for me, I would still take the 2 post over the 4 post but I sure would like one of each. BTW, I also use mine for lifting my SXS, my snowmobile, and I use it to do tires and wiring on trailers. Just back the trailer up, life the back with the rear two arms and leave the trailer hooked to the tow vehicle. I also hang parts on it for painting and my brother has hung deer and such from his.

[Corley]

No question, the best tool in the shop. Mine is a 4 post, bought about 30 years ago when they first became popular, and used about twice a week ever since. While both 2 and 4 post both have their place, I vote for the 4 post as most convenient, overall. 2 posts only real advantage is for wheel / brake work, but positioning the arms and lift extensions for a model A is a pain.

For wheel / brake work using a 4 post, drive on, lift the car, slip jack stands under the axles, lower the lift until the wheels are hanging and go to it. Probably easier than positioning the 2 post arms under the model a frame. (Of course newer vehicles with lower frames don't have that issue.)

Just my opinion..

[katy]

Originally Posted by Licensed to kill

I have an asymmetrical 2 post bend pak (10,000 lb). Like was mentioned, 2 and 4 post each have their pros and cons. My brother has 2-4 post bend paks. The advantage of the 2 post is that you don't need extra jacks to do wheel/tire/brake work and you can use it to lift off car bodies (no so much with model A's though). The disadvantage is that it can be a tight fit getting in and out of the car as the post is often pretty close to the door. 2 post takes less room also. A 4 post is easier to just drive onto, like was mentioned you can roll it around (out of the way when not in use) and is great for working/wiring under the dash. Just lift to a comfortable height reach up under the dash. You don't need to be a contortionist. Ideally, I would like to have one of each. One disadvantage of my 2 post for model A's is that I installed it in the wide configuration to give me more room to open doors and such and being asymmetrical, the from arms are pretty short and with the narrow frames of the model A I have to be EXACTLY entered for the two front arms to reach the frame rails. That can be a PITA. It's also a pain that I have to set the arms as opposed to just driving on. However, for me, I would still take the 2 post over the 4 post but I sure would like one of each. BTW, I also use mine for lifting my SXS, my snowmobile, and I use it to do tires and wiring on trailers. Just back the trailer up, life the back with the rear two arms and leave the trailer hooked to the tow vehicle. I also hang parts on it for painting and my brother has hung deer and such from his.

You may need these:

[Licensed to kill]

Originally Posted by katy

You may need these:

Ah, to lift from the tires. Cool. Thanks for that.

[Dave in MN]

Two post symetrical 9000lb BendPack. I have a vaulted ceiling in my shop at about 13 ft to the peak. The lift is centered under the peak as well as an 8" steel beam with a rolling trolley for a 3000# chain hoist. Both work well in my shop.

[holdover]

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I have two Bend-pac 4 post lifts, one a 9K the other a 14K extra wide and extra long, which is bolted down, the 9K can be moved on dollies from Bend-pac but I keep it in one place, it does not require being bolted down as both platforms are bolted to the cross pieces. I considered getting a two post but felt the 4 posts would serve me better and after 12 years no regrets. They sell a trolley jack that you can use to jack up wheels, but the 14K has one fixed platform and one adjustable one so I can adjust the width to use a floor jack and jack stands to get the wheels off the platform. I have a 40 X 60 garage with scissor trusses, 5/12 pitch outside -3/12 inside. Center clearance is a bit over 15 feet garage walls are 10' 6". I have one lift in the center of the garage in the back section (the 14K lift) and one on the right side. There is enough room to stack a Mustang on the side lift with my Miata below. I purchased the 14K to accommodate crew cab pickups and my LWB AA. Tonight there are 8 cars in the garage without any double stacking, plus my 4 wheeler and a bunch stuff. Good luck, you will wonder how you lived without it after you buy one, and at 74 I couldn't do what I do without one.

[klawockvet]

I picked up a 12000 Aamco, made in Canada, a few years ago. Its a 4 post and I love it. My son in law hates it and thinks a two post is better. He doesnt understand the pain of getting under a car to position the arms on a two post. I love being able to drive a car or truck onto the lift and not having to worry about position. There are options to allow the wheels to be removed and I have done that many times. I have the place with the 4 post up for sale and I am removing the lift to take it to my new house. At my age I dont think I can get by with anything but a top of the line 4 post.

[Licensed to kill]

A lot of great posts (no pun intended) and many that point out the pros and cons of 2 post vs 4 post. I have a 2 post and, for me and my purposes, a 2 post is preferable to a 4 post. However, if I was only maintaining vehicles and doing the normal repairs and, especially if my first focus was model A's, I would have a 4 post instead. before I bought my 2 post, I went on a hotrod forum that I follow and asked for advice, much the same as the OP here. The OVERWHELMING response was "get a 2 post" followed by the reasons why. One of the main reason i bought what i did was room. A 4 post would simply take up too much room in my little 40X60 shop so really wasn't an option for me. There was also one other BIG advantage for me to a 2 post and that was to lift the body off cars/trucks.Without the room restriction and without the desire to lift off bodies, I would have gone with a 4 post. I suspect that most people that haunt a forum like this one would find a 4 post much more practical.

[Pat/Ohio]

I have the Backyard Buddy 4-post lift in my garage. Have had it over 15 years with no problems. Great for oil changes, brake work, exhaust work, I even used it while replacing the rearend in my '40 Conv.

When I built my garage, I built it with the lift in mind. I have no ceiling over the lift and have 12'x12' pitch roof. And keep in mind, the Backyard Buddy is built in America (Warren, OH) and they use only U.S. or Canadian steel. I won't compare it with the 2-post lift as I have never had one.

Stay Safe,
Pat

[katy]

Home made style:

[Dodge]

I have a Mohawk 2 post its the best lift I've ever used. I have had it for about 25 yrs.
It's never had a problem.
In my air plane hanger I have a single post lift with a leg on one side. I couldn't use a
2 post lift there because of the width. It works great for working on a car or storing one
above the airplane wing. The disadvantage is it has the 4 arms on a platform in the middle
so pulling a trans out of a modern car is out of the question.

[Jim/GA]

Why not both?

[Davew]

I was looking at the garage journal page and read about single post lifts. Anyone use these?
https://www.redmount.ie/single-post-vehicle-lift#

[old31]

Originally Posted by katy

Home made style:

Katy, why the plywood, what is that providing?

[Pat/Ohio]

I understand that The Backyard Buddy Company has been sold. The new owner is Steel Valley Lifts. https://steelvalleylifts.com/

Here is another website that explains the sale:
https://businessjournaldaily.com/lan...ackyard-buddy/

They are still located in Warren, OH.

Stay safe!
Pat

[katy]

Katy, why the plywood, what is that providing?

Dunn, they're not mine, just something I copied/saved from the interweb.

[katy]

Originally Posted by Davew

I was looking at the garage journal page and read about single post lifts. Anyone use these?
https://www.redmount.ie/single-post-vehicle-lift#

A saw a similar one a few years ago that went up at about a 45° angle.

[denis4x4]

When I bought my BYB, it was less than $2,000 at a Goodguy’s show in Scottsdale 20 years ago. There’s no comparison with the off shore brands, some of them are real crap and I wouldn’t walk under them for any amount of money

[Roxo]

I'm thinking real hard on buying a four post lift. My top choice was a lift from Advantage lifts. I like some of there upgrades over other lifts.
I went to their website and they have a live chat that pops up. So I asked where are they Manufactured? Comes back "CHINA"
Are any made in the USA anymore?

[denis4x4]

Originally Posted by Roxo

I'm thinking real hard on buying a four post lift. My top choice was a lift from Advantage lifts. I like some of there upgrades over other lifts.
I went to their website and they have a live chat that pops up. So I asked where are they Manufactured? Comes back "CHINA"
Are any made in the USA anymore?

The Backyard Buddy

[Pat/Ohio]

Originally Posted by Roxo

I'm thinking real hard on buying a four post lift. My top choice was a lift from Advantage lifts. I like some of there upgrades over other lifts.
I went to their website and they have a live chat that pops up. So I asked where are they Manufactured? Comes back "CHINA"
Are any made in the USA anymore?

Roxo....Read posts #29 & #35.

Stay Safe!
Pat

[Roxo]

Steel valley Lifts are made in Ohio. They have one model of the backyard buddy but it don't go high enough for me by one inch.

"Every major steel component of our lifts are built in-house in Warren, Ohio. Nothing is bought, built, or outsourced outside of North America. That’s quality you can trust."
https://steelvalleylifts.com/about/

[Roxo]

Originally Posted by Pat/Ohio

Roxo....Read posts #29 & #35.

Stay Safe!
Pat

Thanks Pat
I should not post until the coffee kicks in.

[HS]

Howdy, AL Several years ago I purchased a 4 poster 9000lb at a very reasonable price from USA lift Sales from Hanover PA, Give Stacey MACK call him at
717-432-5672 here is their web site www. USALIFTSales.com a Great 4 poster lift at a great price.

Hugh

[Roxo]

Originally Posted by HS

Howdy, AL Several years ago I purchased a 4 poster 9000lb at a very reasonable price from USA lift Sales from Hanover PA, Give Stacey MACK call him at
717-432-5672 here is their web site www. USALIFTSales.com a Great 4 poster lift at a great price.

Hugh

I tried them. That's advantage lifts and they say there lifts are made in China. I was going to purchased one until they said "China"

[katy]

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They have one model of the backyard buddy but it don't go high enough for me by one inch.

You could always shim underneath the corner posts to raise it up.

[Afordman31]

This is mine, 9ft3in ceiling height. Four foot lifting height!

[katy]

How does one work under that? It must be a challenge.

[Afordman31]

Set on a roll around.

[Pat/Ohio]

Originally Posted by Roxo

Thanks Pat
I should not post until the coffee kicks in.

Roxo..That's funny right there!

My Backyard Buddy came in two heights...I chose the taller one. Plenty of room for me. I'm right at 6' tall.

I really enjoy waxing/polishing my vehicles without bending over! "Wax on..Wax off!"

Pat

[TerryO]

I dislike products made in China as much as anyone but when I was looking to buy a 4 post lift I compared several lifts and I bought a 9000 XLT lift from Advantage. The main reason is the size (6'11" under the deck on lock plus my son's F350 crewcab long wb truck fits). I questions where it is built and was assured it was "overbuilt" due to being built in China. I had looked at one at Hershey AACA meet and liked what I saw. If I had a money tree (mine died) in the yard I might have bought another brand if I liked what I saw but I am well pleased with the one I have. Also out truckd (F250 and F350) weigh 7500 lbs so there is a 1500 lb cushion on weight. I have had mine 3 yrs and no issues.
Just my humble opinion, other may (will) differ.

TOB

[DENY 411]

I got a two post Atlas, works great on my Camaro. Can't use it on my MB.Have to be careful on my 28 Ford with original brake rods.So I ended up with a rig like KATY shows,
which is heavy, still is better than spending a half day trying to miss all those brake rods.

[Ted Duke]

I have an Atlas 4 post. Wish I had bought it sooner. Works with my 1970 VW Karmann Ghia, 1965 Mustang (wife's), 1961 CORVAIR, 2001 Dodge Dakota, 2011 T&C and will work with the Model A when it arrives from the bodyman (son Andrew).

Best thing I ever bought. Works great, easy to move by myself (30 x 40 shop not quite bug enough, should have built a 60 x 80 LOL)

Pick it up and NO FREIGHT. I think the price picked up was $2295. Don't have the paperwork handy.

ATLAS Garage PRO 8000 https://www.gregsmithequipment.com/4-Post-Lift/Hobbyist

[old31]

This is all you really need! OUCH!

[Licensed to kill]

Originally Posted by TerryO

I dislike products made in China as much as anyone but when I was looking to buy a 4 post lift I compared several lifts and I bought a 9000 XLT lift from Advantage. The main reason is the size (6'11" under the deck on lock plus my son's F350 crewcab long wb truck fits). I questions where it is built and was assured it was "overbuilt" due to being built in China. I had looked at one at Hershey AACA meet and liked what I saw. If I had a money tree (mine died) in the yard I might have bought another brand if I liked what I saw but I am well pleased with the one I have. Also out truckd (F250 and F350) weigh 7500 lbs so there is a 1500 lb cushion on weight. I have had mine 3 yrs and no issues.
Just my humble opinion, other may (will) differ.

TOB

Most of these things come as a package and have to assembled to some degree so you can just say that it's built in ________ (insert your state). I see it all the time when guys have a car that they assembled ( and perhaps modified in the case of hotrods) and they say that THEY built it.

[katy]

I worked part time in a muffler shop in the late 1950's. They had 4 or 5 of what they called bay lifts. Air operated, positioned under the rear axle and raised about 4 foot. Never tried it under a front axle though.
Similar to the picture.