Four post lifts

I am considering the purchase of a 4 post service/storage lift and was wondering if any members have installed a four poster in their garage. There are various contenders including those that import Chinese lifts and those that manufacture their own in the UK such as Strongman. It's a large investment and as such I am very keen to hear the views and opinions of others regarding this piece of garage equipment.
Thanks Steve

Having previously had the benefits of a mate with a professional garage and access to both his 2 post and 4 post lifts, I can whole hartedly say that the investment is worth it.

Cost is always the big issue so I recommend looking at second hand ones from the usual interweb suspects, I saw one recently on GumTree for not a lot of wedge.

I used to have 2 four posters 4 ton they were made by Bradbury expensive to buy new but
never had one bit of trouble with them in 8 years, now I have recently got a smaller unit & a
4 post lift would take up a lot of my space so im looking for a 2 post lift I was considering the
Chinese gear get one delivered for about 1200 quid

I looked at a few 2nd hand lifts but they looked quite rough & had already been dismantled
so they could not be tested & had no record of having any type of service or new bearings
cables ect I didn't wat to pay 600 to 800 quid then find out it needed 2 bearings at 100 smackers
each so at this time im still scanning the tinternet for a bargain.

kevstar said:

I used to have 2 four posters 4 ton they were made by Bradbury expensive to buy new but
never had one bit of trouble with them in 8 years, now I have recently got a smaller unit & a
4 post lift would take up a lot of my space so im looking for a 2 post lift I was considering the
Chinese gear get one delivered for about 1200 quid

I looked at a few 2nd hand lifts but they looked quite rough & had already been dismantled
so they could not be tested & had no record of having any type of service or new bearings
cables ect I didn't wat to pay 600 to 800 quid then find out it needed 2 bearings at 100 smackers
each so at this time im still scanning the tinternet for a bargain.

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I'd happily take a second hand unit for £600 and then happily invest another £600 in to it in parts for the peace of mind knowing that the Chinesium isn't going fail and drop a 2.5T Land Rover on my head

Having said that, I was looking at a mobile lift thing that would raise the vehicle up by about 18", hydraulic lift with mechanical locking mechanism, figured that I wouldn't be laid under it while it was going up or coming down so it should be fine

dieseldog69 said:

Having said that, I was looking at a mobile lift thing that would raise the vehicle up by about 18", hydraulic lift with mechanical locking mechanism, figured that I wouldn't be laid under it while it was going up or coming down so it should be fine

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Like this one.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-LIFT...=item4d7fd09ff2:g:~c0AAOSw9c1Zz5n2:rk:11:pf:0

dieseldog69 said:

Like this one.
View attachment 161925
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-LIFT...=item4d7fd09ff2:g:~c0AAOSw9c1Zz5n2:rk:11:pf:0

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I did look at that it last week it looks to be not a bad height for most jobs & it would sit in a corner when
not used I was watching this one but I was procrastinating now its gone
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vehicle-...Fi42prMgEw%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc

kevstar said:

I did look at that it last week it looks to be not a bad height for most jobs & it would sit in a corner when
not used I was watching this one but I was procrastinating now its gone
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vehicle-Scissor-Lift-Car-Lift-Mid-Rise-Scissor-Lift-3-Ton-/352482348474?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&nma=true&si=o8073gAKtYb8J3ktX%2Fi42prMgEw%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc

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Blimey, that was £2k off the list price!!!!

This is far too cheap!!!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Strongma...m=302862905598&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850

dieseldog69 said:

Blimey, that was £2k off the list price!!!!

This is far too cheap!!!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Strongman-3-5T-240v-Electro-Hydraulic-Two-Post-Vehicle-Lift-Ramp-Car-Jack/302862905598?_trkparms=aid=555018&algo=PL.SIM&ao=2&asc=20140107083358&meid=ffe32b38907f4e13b7489d48eafd29ba&pid=100011&rk=6&rkt=12&mehot=pp&sd=352482348474&itm=302862905598&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850

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If id known it was 2k off the list price id have bought it last week (feel like a tit now)
I have the strong man in my watch list already

kevstar said:

If id known it was 2k off the list price id have bought it last week (feel like a tit now)

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E-bay listing was £1350, this is a screen grab of it brand new from the sales gumph further down the page. I would say that the price is high because it has pretty good self contained hydraulics.

dieseldog69 said:

E-bay listing was £1350, this is a screen grab of it brand new from the sales gumph further down the page. I would say that the price is high because it has pretty good self contained hydraulics.
View attachment 161927

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Smashing I had it in my watch list for over a week & couldn't decide whether to buy it or get a 2 poster
There are similar ones kicking about tho

Edit...…. they strongman brand do one very like it !!

dieseldog69 said:

Like this one.

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How much access is there to the transmission and center sections of the vehicle? It looks to me as if the scissor would be in the way.

Looks like you won't be able to remove transmissions as, as you say, the cross bracing of the lift would interfere but you could certainly get access under it and do 90% of the necessary work to remove trannies easier with it up in the air.

@kevstar this scissor lift is £200 off https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-LIFT...m=322128567239&_trksid=p2056116.c100930.m5375

dieseldog69 said:

Looks like you won't be able to remove transmissions as, as you say, the cross bracing of the lift would interfere but you could certainly get access under it and do 90% of the necessary work to remove trannies easier with it up in the air.

@kevstar this scissor lift is £200 off https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CAR-LIFT-MID-RISE-SCISSOR-MOBILE-PS3600/322128567239?_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=1&asc=20180213162448&meid=8e5aa76b522e4279b3e6cc18cba3c40c&pid=100930&rk=2&rkt=8&mehot=pp&sd=332856860658&itm=322128567239&_trksid=p2056116.c100930.m5375

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Added to my watch list for the time being im off to work & its dry (for a change)

The support frames don't look very rwassuring on these scissor lifts for such a heavy vehicle but I am sure they must be safe.

Thanks guys for all the input.

Firstly the jury is still out for me regarding which sort of lift to install for my S2 Discovery and a variety of old classics. But have some findings I will share with you all:

Scissor Lift
This is a very mobile solution, the wheels hang so there is no need for other lifts such as expensive jacking beams, but only lift to 1m usually. The full height rise lift, Platinum PL. FSL.3-1 at £3950 was not the demo units that geg-garage-equipment-group were selling off, these were two Platunium MSL3 Mid rise scissor lift mobile kit
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vehicle-Scissor-Lift-Car-Lift-Mid-Rise-Scissor-Lift-3-Ton-/352482348474?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&nma=true&si=o8073gAKtYb8J3ktX%2Fi42prMgEw%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc
that retailed for £1885, a similarish price to the better designed and manufactured Strongman Clifton http://sm-t.co.uk/product/clifton-3-ton-lift/. The Strongman Clifton allows the removal on the centre bar for access on a creeper of mechanics stool, unlike others incidentally.

2 post lifts
Recognised as the best format for service mechanics and garages giving maximum lift and access to vehicle. Very cost effective as much less manufacturing is necessary. Here is the Strongman 3,5 ton:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Strongman-3-5T-240v-Electro-Hydraulic-Two-Post-Vehicle-Lift-Ramp-Car-Jack/302862905598?_trkparms=aid=555018&algo=PL.SIM&ao=2&asc=20140107083358&meid=ffe32b38907f4e13b7489d48eafd29ba&pid=100011&rk=6&rkt=12&mehot=pp&sd=352482348474&itm=302862905598&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850

Downside is that 9" of reinforced 3000 psi concrete base is needed (I only have 6") to resin bond the bolts into, it's fixed and as in the Strong man case needs 3.6m of width clearance for the system. Tends to be less popular with the home restorer/mechanic.

4 Post lift
The main advantage here is that it offers storage of another vehicle underneath when not in use, although for this you'll need to shell out on a complete drip tray assembly. They are reasonable cost effective, at £1350 for a second hand factory Bonar
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Strongma...h=item4688d49f00:g:qGcAAOSwrhBZCFXp:rk:1:pf:1

For spannering you'll need to add a jacking beam (Strongman:£650!) and overall the access isn't as good (although the centre of the car is completely accessible) as a 2 post lift.

China.
Most all of the cheaper home enthusiasts lifts are manufactured in China, it is impossible to build them in the UK at the prices us enthusiasts are willing to pay. Even the better designed Strongman range are China manufactured. The Platinium range from geg-garage-group are a complete Chines product incidentally.

So which way shall I go then?

I've got a two post lift from "the garage equipment man" is St Helens - ( he's on eblag, and also has his own website )

We've had it for 6 years, been fine, not dropped anything - only issue has been lubricating the mechanical locks - they are not particularly accessible after the ramp is installed, and the chinks must have been short of grease the day they built mine

I tend to spray some Ambersil in there most times I use it now - seems to work

Stevehh said:

I am considering the purchase of a 4 post service/storage lift and was wondering if any members have installed a four poster in their garage. There are various contenders including those that import Chinese lifts and those that manufacture their own in the UK such as Strongman. It's a large investment and as such I am very keen to hear the views and opinions of others regarding this piece of garage equipment.
Thanks Steve

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One obvious thing to consider is your garage roof height, is it high enough to allow you to have a vehicle on the lift with the lift at full height (as that could add another 5 or 6 foot above the height of the pillars)?

I wonder how many back street garages have 9" of reinforced concrete under their 2 post lifts.

Col

Get yerself some HippoRamps (TM) int stead.

Is a pit a better option? Vehicle would be more stable.

Not a big fan of pits. Partly because they can be dangerous unless they have some form of ventilation, partly because anything you drop off the car has then to be hefted out of the pit and squeezed between the floor and the car sills, partly because it is not easy to work on suspension under tension, but mainly because you don't get to vary the lift height and I'm on the short side and the small number I've used have always been slightly too deep.
2 Point Lift would be ideal. Sadly I don't have the garage space.