Researching to buy a Two Post Lift for my shop. I've had one before and miss not having one. At this point in life, I'd much rather walk under a vehicle I'm working on versus being down on the floor trying to do the same task. Curious about what lifts (those that have them) use, brands and capability of weight able to lift. Have been looking around at different brands and currently Halo is leading the pack. My previous lift was a Bend Pak but, Bend Pak is no longer produced in the US and I'd like to buy an American product.
The Halo Lift I'm seriously considering is US made, 12K lift. The posts are a few inches wider allowing entry and exit from the vehicle to be somewhat easier and Halo is offering free (they say) shipping. I did install my previous lift with very little difficulty although I did have an electrician hard wire it to my shop. The manufacturer requires the concrete to be 4 inches thick and 3K PSI concrete mix. When I poured my floor, that portion of my floor is 6 inches thick and 4K PSI with both rebar and wire mesh. So, I should be good on floor support.
I am interested to know what others have done and how their lifts have stood up over time.
------------------ Rams Learning most of life's lessons the hard way. . You are only young once but, you can be immature indefinitely.
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 05-26-2025).]
I uses a 'vintage' two-post electromechanical auto lift
Portability or Permanent?
Electric Mechanical or Hydraulic?
{Electric} Mechanical Lifts: Lower maintenance requirements, simplicity of their design leads to increased safety. One notable limitation is the somewhat 'jerky' operation for a precise height....
{Electric} Hydraulic Lifts: Remarkably smooth and significant advantage when precision is required, however they're slower... Limitations - more complex, which can lead to more potential points of failure and fluid leaks, thus a higher likelihood of maintenance/repairs.
⚠ CAUTION: As a safety rule, never trust a hydraulic jack/lift to 'hold' the load - ALWAYS put solid supports or 'locking positions'.
I uses a 'vintage' two-post electromechanical auto lift
Portability or Permanent?
Electric or Hydraulic?
Electric Lifts: Lower maintenance requirements, simplicity of their design leads to increased safety. One notable limitation is the somewhat 'jerky' operation for a precise height....
Hydraulic Lifts: Remarkably smooth and significant advantage when precision is required, however they're slower... Limitations - more complex, which can lead to more potential points of failure and fluid leaks, thus a higher likelihood of maintenance/repairs.
⚠ CAUTION: As a safety rule, never trust a hydraulic jack/lift to 'hold' the load - ALWAYS put solid supports or 'locking positions'.
The lift I buy/install will be hydraulic. Obviously, the hydraulic cylinders will be pressurized by pump driven by an electric motor. IMHO, simple to use and maintain, will have single point release safety locks (a pretty standard option on all the lifts I've researched. Slower? Yeah but not a significant difference. It's not how fast that it raises a vehicle that matters much, but how fast it comes down is very important.
Rams
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 05-26-2025).]
It's not how fast that it raises a vehicle that matters much, but how fast it comes down is very important.
I have both systems and as an auto lift, personally like mechanical over hydraulic.
My Electric Mechanical lift raises and lowers at any position and locks; however, it has one speed {up and down speed are the same}
My Electric Hydraulic lift raises the load; lowering is by releasing the pressure; my can control the lowering speed from very slow to 'full' {which I can adjust the full speed by a valve}
We have a 10 ton hydraulic Rotary Lift in the garage. That brand is 100% USA made, high quality, made of heavy steel and built to last. This is the brand that the pro's use. Expensive but when its locks and you work under it, you feel very safe. Its mounted on a 6" reinforced concrete floor and we added outrigg stabilizers. Here the car sits low for changing the tires but we can rise the lift to get space 7' or 8' under if needed.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
[This message has been edited by Dennis LaGrua (edited 05-26-2025).]
We have a 10 ton hydraulic Rotary Lift in the garage. That brand is 100% USA made, high quality, made of heavy steel and built to last. This is the brand that the pro's use. Expensive but when its locks and you work under it, you feel very safe. Its mounted on a 6" reinforced concrete floor and we added outrigg stabilizers. Here the car sits low for changing the tires but we can rise the lift to get space 7' or 8' under if needed.
10 Ton? Wow! I've been looking at 10K versions but will probably end up with a 12K version.
10 Ton? Wow! I've been looking at 10K versions but will probably end up with a 12K version.
Rams
Purchased off a guy who worked on trucks. He closed the business after two years and sold me the lift. The steel used in the posts must be 5/8" thick. It was so heavy that it proved a real challenge installing it. It's overkill for a Fiero but I can also work on my wife's Jeep Gladiator with it.
Some electric/lead screw hoists are no longer legal for new sales in the USA. We have one that one of the leadscrews wore out and it was expensive to repair, as well as being a real PITA to find replacement parts.
I would say that when choosing a lift, realize that you will work under it and your life depends on reliability. IMO, hydraulic is the way to go. If you buy a used hydraulic lift the first thing that to do is replace all of the hoses. Having no experience with electromechanical lifts I can't comment on them but using a proven design seems good to me. One day, a while back, when my wife saw me working under the lift, the following week two tall heavy duty Jack stands were delivered by UPS as a gift from my wife. . While the lift locks in place and doubt if Jack stands are needed, it calms my wife down so they do serve a purpose.
------------------ " THE BLACK PARALYZER" -87GT 3800SC Series III engine, custom ZZP /Frozen Boost Intercooler setup, 3.4" Pulley, Northstar TB, LS1 MAF, 3" Spintech/Hedman Exhaust, P-log Manifold, Autolite 104's, MSD wires, Custom CAI, 4T65eHD w. custom axles, Champion Radiator, S10 Brake Booster, HP Tuners VCM Suite. "THE COLUSSUS" 87GT - ALL OUT 3.4L Turbocharged engine, Garrett Hybrid Turbo, MSD ign., modified TH125H " ON THE LOOSE WITHOUT THE JUICE "
While the lift locks in place and doubt if Jack stands are needed, it calms my wife down so they do serve a purpose.
That there's funny, don't care who U R............ BTW, ordered a 10K Halo Lift today, seriously considered a 12K but, the extra width it provides was a problem for the other two bays so, I compromised. The extra 14 inches of width on the 12K makes it easier to exit and enter the vehicle but, it took too much space from the other two sides.
Rams
[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 05-28-2025).]
My Dad, 88 years old, has had many lifts. He favored four posters, drive on. Jack plates are available which fit in the center from which you can jack it up, on the lift, where unloaded wheel repairs or suspension repairs can be done.
He used hydraulic but would always put a four by four post under each corner post so it could not fall.
My Dad, 88 years old, has had many lifts. He favored four posters, drive on. Jack plates are available which fit in the center from which you can jack it up, on the lift, where unloaded wheel repairs or suspension repairs can be done.
He used hydraulic but would always put a four by four post under each corner post so it could not fall.
Have used a four-post a few times in the past, I found them limiting the access I had to the vehicle but, that's just an opinion. But, a four-post would have pushed my budget, I'm not related to any Texans. Both two and four-posts lifts have their strong and weak points. I simply prefer a two-post, hydraulic, of course.
One day, a while back, when my wife saw me working under the lift, the following week two tall heavy duty Jack stands were delivered by UPS as a gift from my wife. . While the lift locks in place and doubt if Jack stands are needed, it calms my wife down so they do serve a purpose.
I'm late to the party, as usual. I have a 10K Atlas two-post lift. Lifts my Ram 1500 Crew Cab with zero drama. It cost too much money, but it is what I settled for, since everything "seemed to be" in short supply during Covid. I didn't mention it before now - or suggest it - as I think it may have been China-sourced, and you didn't want that.
But yeah... before that, I had an A-frame built. I call it "the swingset from hell". I use a Harbor Freight chain hoist, suspended from the crossbeam. It will lift the entire azz end of a Fiero, with the engine/cradle still bolted in. Cost me several hundred dollars, but I was doing a bunch of Fiero engine/transaxle stuff at the time, and I reasoned (SWMBO agreed) that the price was less than even the co-pay for a trip to the ER. And this was before the events that took place in the previously mentioned thread.
I'm late to the party, as usual. I have a 10K Atlas two-post lift. Lifts my Ram 1500 Crew Cab with zero drama. It cost too much money, but it is what I settled for, since everything "seemed to be" in short supply during Covid. I didn't mention it before now - or suggest it - as I think it may have been China-sourced, and you didn't want that.
But yeah... before that, I had an A-frame built. I call it "the swingset from hell". I use a Harbor Freight chain hoist, suspended from the crossbeam. It will lift the entire azz end of a Fiero, with the engine/cradle still bolted in. Cost me several hundred dollars, but I was doing a bunch of Fiero engine/transaxle stuff at the time, and I reasoned (SWMBO agreed) that the price was less than even the co-pay for a trip to the ER. And this was before the events that took place in the previously mentioned thread.
Steve,
I looked at a bunch of different Two-Post lifts. To be honest, there wasn't much difference in the construction of quality from what I could see. The more expensive lifts were all American built but, they don't say where the steel is produced so, who really knows. So, supposedly the lift I purchased was built in the US but, it's still questionable in my mind. Doesn't matter now, they won't ship until they have our money in their bank. My 10k lift is scheduled for delivery 9 June. Hopefully I'll have that Epoxy Floor Coating done and cured prior to that but as always, I have other irons in the fire. Thanks for the response.
Originally posted by blackrams: My 10k lift is scheduled for delivery 9 June. Hopefully I'll have that Epoxy Floor Coating done and cured prior to that but as always, I have other irons in the fire. Thanks for the response. Rams
I've been looking at 10K versions but will probably end up with a 12K version.
