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Equipment & Gear => Power Equipment & RV => Topic started by: b23 on November 08, 2021, 03:48:51 PM

Title: 4 post car lift
Post by: b23 on November 08, 2021, 03:48:51 PM: I have the opportunity to purchase a barely used near new 4 post car lift but if I do I'll have to disassemble it then reassemble in my shop. It seems fairly straight forward and I wouldn't think it'd be to difficult but thought I'd ask around and see if anyone has put one of these together and if it's as straight forward as it looks or am I missing something.

A four post VS two post each have their plus and minuses and I'd prefer a two post but I can get this one at a very reasonable price which is the only reason I'm considering it.
Title: Re: 4 post car lift
Post by: follow maggie on November 08, 2021, 05:12:35 PM: When you take it apart, label everything it’s a grease pencil, or something. Label both pieces at every connection point with 1,23 A,B,C or whatever. Put the bolts, screws etc back in the hole on piece where they belong. It’ll go back together much easier.
Title: 4 post car lift
Post by: jackelope on November 08, 2021, 09:03:19 PM: What’s the floor of your shop?

4 post I assume drive on? Can you lift the car off it’s tires on the lift?
Title: Re: 4 post car lift
Post by: b23 on November 09, 2021, 01:14:43 AM: Quote from: jackelope on November 08, 2021, 09:03:19 PM
What’s the floor of your shop?

4 post I assume drive on? Can you lift the car off it’s tires on the lift?

My shop is fully finished with concrete floor.

Correct, a four post is the drive on type and it lifts the whole car. There's a few different ways you can go about lifting the car to remove the tires but this is one of the drawbacks to a 4 VS 2 post lift. For that kind of work a 2 post is definitely the better choice.
Title: Re: 4 post car lift
Post by: HntnFsh on November 09, 2021, 06:19:23 AM: Trolley jacks are a must have for 4 post lifts. But dang they aint cheap!
Title: Re: 4 post car lift
Post by: KFhunter on November 09, 2021, 06:48:55 AM: I'd want to know slab thickness and if heated
Title: Re: 4 post car lift
Post by: b23 on November 09, 2021, 07:42:26 AM: My shop is heated but it's gas forced air not floor heat. Floor thickness is less of a concern with 4 post lifts VS 2 post.
Title: Re: 4 post car lift
Post by: Skyvalhunter on November 09, 2021, 08:10:44 AM: An acquaintance of mine has a 4 post, came with trolley wheels to move it around from one bay to the next. He seems to have lots of friends now that he has it.
Title: Re: 4 post car lift
Post by: jackelope on November 09, 2021, 08:36:26 AM: Quote from: b23 on November 09, 2021, 01:14:43 AM
Quote from: jackelope on November 08, 2021, 09:03:19 PM
What’s the floor of your shop?

4 post I assume drive on? Can you lift the car off it’s tires on the lift?

My shop is fully finished with concrete floor.

Correct, a four post is the drive on type and it lifts the whole car. There's a few different ways you can go about lifting the car to remove the tires but this is one of the drawbacks to a 4 VS 2 post lift. For that kind of work a 2 post is definitely the better choice.

I have 4, 4 post lifts in my shop. All have trolley jacks. Without the means to lift the vehicle off the lift, I wouldn't bother with it.

Quote from: KFhunter on November 09, 2021, 06:48:55 AM
I'd want to know slab thickness and if heated

Quote from: b23 on November 09, 2021, 07:42:26 AM
My shop is heated but it's gas forced air not floor heat. Floor thickness is less of a concern with 4 post lifts VS 2 post.

That's what our engineers thought until our "sufficient at the time" concrete cracked around all 4 post bases. We've now got more than sufficient concrete for all of 32 of our lifts.
Title: Re: 4 post car lift
Post by: Norman89 on November 09, 2021, 08:38:40 AM: Most garage floors are standard 2 3/4- 4 inch slab most with wire mesh support. Lift requires structural floor with rebar and usually 8" slab high strength reinforced concrete. Last shop I worked in bought a new 4 post and to get the warrenty with it had to break out the old floor and repour properly. 4 post are easy tear down the fun part is getting the cables/chains back in time to hit the locks correctly and raise equally front to back side to side. I have moved and installed a few and poured pads for several others it straight forward and easy. My :twocents: if it doesn't have trolleys that come with I wouldnt even want it, largely useless for anything but maintenance work. And yes you will have friends come out of the woodwork wanting to use it all the time. Above floor 2 post is by far the most useful for a busy mechanic
Title: Re: 4 post car lift
Post by: Lumpy Taters on November 26, 2021, 10:54:33 PM: Check YouTube for an assembly video. I bet there are several out there. I prefer the 2 post myself and agree if you get a 4 post the trolley jacks are a must but can be an expensive add on.