[Tigers] 2-post versus 4-post Lifts

Fri Jan 29 16:49:45 MST 2016

If you are going to use a 2 post you definitely want to get advice from the 
 manufacturer regarding slab thickness.  My guess is you'll be told a  
minimum of 6" reinforced concrete where the posts attach.  In my case I  asked 
around local repair shops for the name of the company that did repair work  
on their shop lifts.  One guy's name (a man in business for himself) came  up 
a few times.  I hired him and worked with him to install. Best $250 I  ever 
spent.  He said he had installed more than 100 in his career with zero  
failures so I felt pretty safe.  Mark L

In a message dated 1/29/2016 5:40:02 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
tigers at autox.team.net writes:

The point of concern for the two post lift is typically the concrete.  I 
have no concerns about my 2 post for storage. Of course I have a very  thick 
concrete pad. If I had a four inch thick pad I would be concerned. Lifts  are 
awesome to work on cars. Although while I store cars on my two post lift  
during the winter. Working underneath it gives me the heeby jeebies if I'm  
using any real torque or big tools. Working on the suspension does not scare  
me.

Funny story. Back in the 70's a friend of ours had  a two post lift he used 
in his mechanic shop. He too used a 4x4 to help hold  the lift up in an 
"emergency" in addition to the safety locks. He went to help  a customer and 
one of his techs went to lower the lift with an original 289  cobra on it. He 
slightly raised the lift to remove the safety catch, the 4x4  tipped to be 
underneath the car and when he lowered the lift the car tilted  and then slid 
off the lift landing between the posts on its side.  Ouch!!

Sent from my mobile device

On Jan 29, 2016, at 3:01 PM, Jay Laifman via Tigers 
<_tigers at autox.team.net_ (mailto:tigers at autox.team.net) >  wrote:

:-)   I have spent many an hour under cars on  jackstands.  On hindsight, 
in California, not a good idea.  I now  almost exclusively use ramps if I 
can.  If I can't, I ALWAYS have  something bigger than me under there too.  I 
have this large, long  block of wood that some contractors left once.  It's 
added  protection.  I put all wheels under too - including all the jack 
stands  and floor jacks under there.  

Funny you mention sore arms.  There are many times when I've been  under a 
car working away on my back when my arms just burn from holding them  up for 
too long.

I bought my lift solely for car storage purposes.  Being able to  work 
under cars is just an added benefit.  For me, in suburbia with a  tight HOA, I 
have my existing garage space, with no option to build out a  wider, longer 
garage.  So if I wanted more cars in the garage, they had  to go up.

On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 1:46 PM, Tom Witt via Tigers  
<_tigers at autox.team.net_ (mailto:tigers at autox.team.net) > wrote:

There would be a difference between a car falling off a lift (or the  lift 
vertically collapsing)..., and the lift falling (tilting) over with  the car 
still firmly attached.  It would seem the floor structure for  a two post 
lift needs to be seismically substantial as compared to a four  post lift.  I 
don’t think the issue is the two post lift collapsing  (vertically) as much 
as it is simply falling (tilting front-back) with the  failure at the floor 
attachment.  Tripods have at least three legs  for a reason.

As a lifetime suburbanite I struggle to comprehend the need for a  lift.  
Are there really that many places that are width/depth  challenged and yet 
have substantial height to elevate the car – especially  for stacked parking? 
If you are replacing exhaust systems, brakes,  transmissions on a daily 
basis sure they make sense. Maybe it is just my  perpetually bad back, but 
having to stand, look up and work with arms up  seems like torture compared to 
putting a car on jackstands and lying on  the floor to work. A sheet of foam 
core makes a nice, cushioning  insulator.  

From: _CoolVT--- via Tigers_ (mailto:tigers at autox.team.net)   
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2016 12:38 PM
To: _lwright at impactoffice.com_ (mailto:lwright at impactoffice.com)  ; 
_tigers at autox.team.net_ (mailto:tigers at autox.team.net)  
Subject: Re: [Tigers] 2-post versus 4-post  Lifts

Figure a Tiger at 2500 lbs. on a 9000lb rated lift.  Should be  pretty 
secure. The guy who installed mine said they are actually tested at  twice the 
rated capacity. I think as long as the Tiger isn't shaken off  the lift then 
it's a pretty good bet that the lift won't collapse. 
Mark L

In a message dated 1/29/2016 3:13:28 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
_tigers at autox.team.net_ (mailto:tigers at autox.team.net)  writes:

I'm sure all the West-coasters have been  through it all before and shrug 
it off, but I was a couple of miles from  home when I experienced our one 
significant earthquake, eh, 5 years ago  -- and the first thing I thought of 
was the Tiger sitting on the lift in  the garage. Came home, opened the door, 
all was well. 4-post lift. MAYBE  someone can convince me that a 2-post is 
as stable under such  circumstances...

Larry Wright
Seabrook,  MD
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