A friend just leased a warehouse, and I have visions of back pain free auto service dancing in my head. I understand there are three basic lift types--4 post (drive on, lift the car, great for storage), 2 post (drive on or pad), and scissors (pad only, bad for long term storage, but great for brake maintanence, swapping wheels, etc.). Is there any one lift that serves both purposes well--that is, one that can function as a storage lift with the car supported by the wheels, as well as function as a service lift, with the wheels hanging free? I understand that some 4 post drive on lifts allow you to jack up the car on the lift and support it via jackstands, but I am hoping to have an easier way. Thanks--Scott
If you want the top of the line the Rotary is it. Never had a problem with it and its very sturdy, not like some of the cheaper ones that you see bowing from the weight.
I have a scissor lift and am pleased. Easily raises the testarossa. Was 1300$ or so - dirt cheap. Great for oil changes/fixing leaks/ and to eventually do an engine out ... . I am completely pleased, and it takes up zero space in my cramped garage.
Scotty...... I know on some of the 4-Post, but more the mechanics version they offer a pneumatic scissor tray that slides down the middle for that work. On mine (Eagle SS7000) I have a "jacking tray" that goes between the ramps, and have two 20Ton short bottle jacks for that kinda work. And as you can see I stack my cars. Image Unavailable, Please Login
My issue is that I'm not a big fan of bottle jacks (which I think I just need to get over). I did check out Rotary--they have big attached jacks on their professional lifts--but no drip pans, so not so good for storage. The jack saddles fit lifts with drip pans, but then there is the hole bottle jack scene (which to me means this--say you are swapping all 4 tires and brake pads. You either have to jack the car up at 4 points, or at least two points--so it is either a lot of jacking, or a less stable situation.) If I'm missing something and it is really easier/safer than I think, please educate me. Thanks--SCott
You are 100% on the bottle jack use. I can either do front or back. I specifically picked the 20-Ton ones that have a sizable base and a thick ram/neck area........ those thin ones just scare me a bit much. (And when I do use them for, like you said tires, suspension, brakes, etc. I sit under the car and take each side up one pump at a time and really watch to make sure they are level...........but, when the tires are off I lower all the way so Im not even relying on any holding of the jacks and they are more now like a jack stand). No doubt that the drive on style that I have is not best suited for 4-wheel down work, the two-post units are. I do have drip trays, but in the pic I made a full-length center section that I also have a plastic cover on (paranoid yes)...... along with the drip trays.
One of the 2-post lift mfgs (Mohawk? Rotary?) has a 'drive-on' option that supports the wheels. The option is removable for wheels down service. Links were posted in one of the more recent lift threads.
The 4 post drive on lifts are good for storing 2 cars, removing wheels, some brake work, and stuff directly under the car. if you have to mess with control arms or stuff that is under the drive on part it can get tight or impossible. Driving a car with low clearance and a long over hang is tough on a drove on lift too. We have to use boards to get vipers on our drive on lifts. the drive on lift we have at work has two pneumatic jacks on sliders in the middle. I work for dodge and have lifted 2500 and 3500 trucks and vans on the jacks so a ferrari will be fine. We have a Rotary 4 post like this at work: http://www.rotarylift.com/Products/Product_Detail/Product_Detail.asp?PN=Four-Post&CAT=Professional%20Automotive%20Service A 2 post lift would be great for all around maintainance, but setting the arms would involve getting on the hands and knees and depending on the height of car, jacking it up with a floor jack to set the arms. This would not be good for storage if your car has any leak issues. As you mentioned back free service, doing all this to get the car on the rack is probably not what you want. if you dont mind getting on your hands and knees for a few minutes and handling a floor jack, i would get the two post lift. We use Rotary 2 post lifts like this: http://www.rotarylift.com/Products/Product_Detail/Product_Detail.asp?PN=Two-Post&CAT=Professional%20Automotive%20Service These Rotary lifts are the best out there. We have two regulated air lines, and 3 outlets as options on all our two post lifts. There are safety locks so you can set the car on the locks storing it and it wont be going anywhere. Either way, working on the car will be alot easier!! i cant wait until i have my own lift.......at home
