[66sprint6]

I'm designing my garage that will be built behind my house here in downtown Toronto. I have size limitations, though, due to the size of the lot and existing trees, etc. The zoning height limitation is 13', so a flat roof will give me a decent height. The footprint of the garage will be approximately 14' wide and 22' long.
So I will only have room for one lift. In this case, would a 4 post be best? Can you work on the car from below with a 4 post? I'm thinking that the storage part of the 4 post would be more beneficial than the access gained from a 2 post.
Is there any such thing as a hybrid lift that does both? I don't believe that storing the car on a 2 post is an option with the suspension hanging down and all that.

[Stuart]

You'll get opinions either way, but a lot of it comes down to personal preference. Both types have advantages and disadvantages.

You can work under a car on a four post lift, but if you're working on the wheels or suspension you'll need an accessory bridge jack. Most if not all of the four post lift manufacturers sell them as an option.

[Scarebird]

Four posts are easier to drive on and store cars.

For work a 2 post is the answer.

[Mr_GTO]

https://www.wildfirelifts.com/

Guy who runs the YT Channel Vice Grip Garage loves these lifts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muhnO2rbrt8

[Cardo]

I store a car on a 2 post and have for years.... I have even kept a car under the top car with the 2 post. Never a problem. 2 Post for sure for working on one. I have a Challenger (one of the US made ones) and we have a couple of dozen of them at work. Excellent lifts that see a lot of heavy use (24/7) at work. I know for a fact that I could never wear mine out.

[dhutton]

Two post if you plan to work on your cars. I have two post and four post lifts. The two post gets used daily while the four post are occasionally used for checking driveline angles and oil changes.

Don

[Sirrotica]

Hanging the suspension when storing a car is more beneficial than having it loaded. The springs don't loose height when not loaded. The tires don't flat spot, and are less prone to age cracking.

If you ever look at a car that is stored for long periods, the age cracks usually happen first where the tire bulges out on the bottom nearest the ground.

Having twisted wrenches for 50 years as a profession and used about every lift ever designed, the 2 post gets my nod. The drive on lifts have been around forever in service garages. If you ever paid attention though they were mostly used for routine maintenance (oil changes, and chassis lube) because all four wheels are not able to be removed unless the person has the rolling under carriage jack added on the the basic package.

I'm going to buy a lift for the house I just moved into this year, it will be 10-12,000 lbs, 2 post. my walls are 10 ft. tall. so I'll have to rebuild a couple of the trusses into a half scissor type trusses for clearance in the lift area.

I have a few trucks in my fleet I also want to be able to lift, that is the reason to want a lift in the 10-12,000 lb range.

That's my , but the advice is free........

[Mo]

Anyone have experience with the single post lifts? That’s also an option, from what I have seen advertised, and is mobile. Does not require drilling holes in floor.

https://www.garageappeal.com/ideal-m...SABEgLg__D_BwE

[1funride]

The single post just doesn't make a lot of sense to me unless doing just brakes, etc. The bottom of car access is severely restricted and seems the worst of the bunch. 2 post lift for work, 4 post lift for storage.
Single post is only rated for 6000 pounds which isn't much. A 2 post lift is rock solid for storing a car if you want, just makes sure your concrete will be thick enough. Layout the location of the lift in your shop prior to building and pouring the slab, make the area where the lift posts fall a bit thicker (less gravel in that area), mine is over kill at 12" where posts fall but I like it that way. Also a 22' building is a bit short in depth for a full size truck, considering your walls will be 6" thick your down to 21', not a lot to spare, if you can go a bit more in width you would be happier in the long haul.

[1965gp]

I have two 4 posts and was happy …. Until I got my 2 post. The access is so much better- I can install a transmission or rear end on a hydraulic table top. If you want to paint the undercarriage (and you will once it’s on the lift) the 2 post is better.

If I had room for one it would be a 2 post.

How much work do you plan on doing?

[carcrazy]

I have a 4 post but use it primarily for storage. You can work on cars with it using a bridge jack.

[1965gp]

Earlier this week I posted that I removed the old exhaust, old headers and installed new headers in well under two hours. For me that is crazy fast. It’s because it was on the 2 post.

Plenty of lighting, plenty of room to use a sawzall to cut off old exhaust, took 2 min to remove the starter and plenty of room to move the headers around at weird angles to get them in there.

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by 1965gp

Earlier this week I posted that I removed the old exhaust, old headers and installed new headers in well under two hours. For me that is crazy fast. It’s because it was on the 2 post.

Plenty of lighting, plenty of room to use a sawzall to cut off old exhaust, took 2 min to remove the starter and plenty of room to move the headers around at weird angles to get them in there.

If you ever notice in a production shop, (car dealers, exhaust shops, etc.) they use 99% of the time, 2 post lifts, there's a reason for this.

[tom s]

I have a pair of 4 posts,I have the jack that works with it.I change transmissions,3rd members fuel tanks etc.The ability to just drive on sold me on them.Have had them for 17 years now and would do it over again.FWIW.Tom

[242177P]

[Darren 639]

Don’t forget lift can be used as a support post to hold your roof load. If it is going to stay there anyway you can tie it into the structure and go with best height to fit your needs.

[Mr Anonymous]

Originally Posted by 242177P

You gotta squeeze out every last bit of oil when you change it.

[goatless]

If you're going to be doing any work on your car, go with the 2 post. Sure, you can do work on a 4 post, but those ramps are always going to be in the way. 4 post is clearly better for storage, since you can just drive on/off, but I've been storing cars on my 2 post for many years with no issues and it only takes a minute to set the arms.

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by goatless

If you're going to be doing any work on your car, go with the 2 post. Sure, you can do work on a 4 post, but those ramps are always going to be in the way. 4 post is clearly better for storage, since you can just drive on/off, but I've been storing cars on my 2 post for many years with no issues and it only takes a minute to set the arms.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This......

[66sprint6]

Interesting...