Want to buy a 4 post car lift. Which to buy? who installs?

[Housekeeping]

Hi guys, I'd like to have a 4 post lift installed in my garage in SE PA. Any recommendations? I want the company or its contractor to deliver and install it. Getting tired of paying $235/month to store my E39. thanks

[fazman]

Originally Posted by Sy1616

Hi guys, I'd like to have a 4 post lift installed in my garage in SE PA. Any recommendations? I want the company or its contractor to deliver and install it. Getting tired of paying $235/month to store my E39. thanks

why not add useable value to your home? Build an out door covered area for the vehicles... ya its a bitch to wipe off the snow... but at $235/mo i would say its not that bad for being in PA. When i was in NJ i had a monthly pass at my local train station (Metropark station in edison) for about $65/mo.

[Aatish]

[David70]

I would go the other way around, finding a good manufacturer of a lift and then seeing if they have a representative in your area. Then before moving forward with it ask to talk to a couple of actual customers of theirs.

[Wolf 335]

Originally Posted by Sy1616

Hi guys, I'd like to have a 4 post lift installed in my garage in SE PA. Any recommendations? I want the company or its contractor to deliver and install it. Getting tired of paying $235/month to store my E39. thanks

I would suggest that you go by a few shops in your area and inquire who their two post lift supplier is. Contact those suppliers as they are likely carrying 4 post line too.

[Housekeeping]

Originally Posted by fazman

why not add useable value to your home? Build an out door covered area for the vehicles... ya its a bitch to wipe off the snow... but at $235/mo i would say its not that bad for being in PA. When i was in NJ i had a monthly pass at my local train station (Metropark station in edison) for about $65/mo.

Good idea but neighborhood wont allow that plus I'd like my Ms inside. Thanks nonetheless

[Housekeeping]

Originally Posted by Aatish

thanks, you post on Jalopnik intrigued me. Who installed it, I'm not too far from you? Thanks

[Aatish]

Originally Posted by Sy1616

thanks, you post on Jalopnik intrigued me. Who installed it, I'm not too far from you? Thanks

I'm not the guy in the video. Just a guy sharing it.

[Ryan13]

Bendpak makes 2 post and 4 post lifts in a variety of heights, lengths, and weight capacities. I've had a Park King and Bendpak. They are relatively easy to install, but you need 3-4 people who know what they are doing. I have only used 4 post...no need to drill into concrete.

If you have a standard garage door, You'll need to have it garage door motor and tracks modified. I installed a wall mount garage door opener (Liftmaster 8500) and then re-routed my tracks so the doors so they go up to the ceiling. had this done for $1k per door.

Lift's are about $3k, install another $1k. If you've not put one in before, and no friends with experience, pay the install. They come on a freight truck, so you'll also need a forklift to get it unloaded. Easier to just have the installer take delivery and bring it to you.

Just call Bendpak. They will give you the plans, get you to a dealer, and an installer.

[Ryan13]

Bendpak makes 2 post and 4 post lifts in a variety of heights, lengths, and weight capacities. I've had a Park King and Bendpak. They are relatively easy to install, but you need 3-4 people who know what they are doing. I have only used 4 post...no need to drill into concrete.

If you have a standard garage door, You'll need to have it garage door motor and tracks modified. I installed a wall mount, jack shaft, garage door opener (Liftmaster 8500) and then re-routed my tracks so the doors so they go up to the ceiling. had this done for $1k per door.

Lift's are about $3k, install another $1k. If you've not put one in before, and no friends with experience, pay the install. They come on a freight truck, so you'll also need a forklift to get it unloaded. Easier to just have the installer take delivery and bring it to you.

Just call Bendpak. They will give you the plans, get you to a dealer, and an installer.

[Wolf 335]

Just a FYI

A buddy of mine has a 4 post lift that is used for storage. He has a 6 car garage so he's got lots of clearance on the sides and over head. When the lift is at its highest, for me it's still hard to do work under the car (I'm 6'2").

If you are planning to use it for storage that's a perfectly good option, however if you are planning on doing work to your cars I would strongly suggest you get a two post lift.

4 post simply doesn't get high enough, the ramps are CONSTANTLY in the way. The lifts that slide under the axels are so not ergonomic or easy to maneuver. Yes it's doable but why go through the hassle.

Anyways just wanted to give you a heads up. Otherwise 4 post lifts are a great storage option.

[Ryan13]

I won't disagree with you about working on the car vs storage. I have a jack tray that mounts in a channel molded into the tracks...and bottle jacks. But there are times when I wish I had a two post for sure. But the install is way more complex.

I also added the casters, so I can actually move the lift any time I want, as long as it is not out of the garage.

As far as height, not with you on that one. I have 84 inches of clearance under mine, but there are 15 or so increments between 12 inches and 84.

Again, just call Benpak. They have every model you could imagine, 2 and 4 post. Danmar is the other major one, but it is actually a family member of the benpak clan. I have no affiliation, just did way too much homework for 2 years. The Park King I had didn't have enough clearance for...my wife. I put it together, she pulled in about 5 minutes later, hit her head walking around. Used it for about 6 months, but I hit my head as well a few times.

Get the plans, measure about 200 times before you order...it's not like you can put it out on the curb if it doesn't work out, and there are no field upgrades you can perform to change any dimensions.

[Maestro]

I agree with Ryan, I did lots of research on these lifts and I plan to put one in my new house. Will not work in my current garage, celling too low.

Benpak appears to be the best out there for the money. There are number of companies who make these, I see them at car shows all the time. What I found out you need to look closely at post construction and the interlock method they use. 90% of the time these are not an issue since most cars do not come close to the max weight, but people have reported the posts bending/twisting because they cheaped out on the steel o the cut the post in a way which reduces the strength or the interlock getting jammed.

Also the benpak has add on feature like jacking systems to allow you to change your tires and such.

Also to use a 2 post system requires special concrete in your garage. Most home do not even have concrete which is thick enough to mount a two post system. You need at least 6" of high compression concrete otherwise you risk the bolts pulling out of the floor. The garage floor is where most contractors cheap out on and they put in the lowest grade concrete and make it only a few inches thick.

[///F80M3]

Originally Posted by Maestro

I agree with Ryan, I did lots of research on these lifts and I plan to put one in my new house. Will not work in my current garage, celling too low.

Benpak appears to be the best out there for the money. There are number of companies who make these, I see them at car shows all the time. What I found out you need to look closely at post construction and the interlock method they use. 90% of the time these are not an issue since most cars do not come close to the max weight, but people have reported the posts bending/twisting because they cheaped out on the steel o the cut the post in a way which reduces the strength or the interlock getting jammed.

Also the benpak has add on feature like jacking systems to allow you to change your tires and such.

Also to use a 2 post system requires special concrete in your garage. Most home do not even have concrete which is thick enough to mount a two post system. You need at least 6" of high compression concrete otherwise you risk the bolts pulling out of the floor. The garage floor is where most contractors cheap out on and they put in the lowest grade concrete and make it only a few inches thick.

I wouldn't worry about benpak quality since I've seen a lot of shops using them.

[GuidoK]

Originally Posted by Maestro

You need at least 6" of high compression concrete otherwise you risk the bolts pulling out of the floor.

There are models that only require 4" concrete. But it should be in the specs/placing manual of a car lift.

For working on your car a 2 post is definately the best way to go (pillars are less in the way, an exhaust is easier to drop, more space around the suspension etc etc), but if storage or simple inspections (MOT type inspections) are the main focus, the 4 post is the way to go.
The lift in that youtube video seems like it would fit that guys useage, but do get the lift jack (preferably 2 jacks but they are probably expensive) otherwise its pretty useless if you want to do anything besides storage.

Make sure your lift is wide enough to park whatever you want under it.

[porshah]

For storage and minor DIY stuff 4 post lift is a great option. Especially if you have the ceiling height in your garage. BendPak makes great lifts.