Garage lift options and lift safety

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R

resto_d1

Well-Known Member
Posts
3,685
Location
Wiltshire
Hi all

I’ll be moving my business into a newly built unit in the near future.
I’m after a lift and there’s so much on the market. 2 post, 4 post, scissor etc.
I’m not overly keen on pinning into the fresh concrete floor which you’d need to do for a two post.
My main reason to want a lift is to split body from chassis on D1s. I make a point of this as I don’t think you could do that with the drive on jobbies? I.e. you don’t (from what I’ve looked at) have arms to stick behind/infront of wheels to lift the body whilst leaving wheels on floor.
Are second hand lifts a no no? I’ve also seen some with hydraulic safety valves of some sort. I’m not keen on this either and would want a mechanical lock-out.
Scissor lifts? Look a bit precarious but would tick a lot of the boxes?! Again not the cheapest though.
Any thoughts or experiences? Any of you bought lifts for your garages at home or business?

Cheers
 
Scissor lifts no good for gearbox work. It’s in the way.
2 post.. you can get it all done
4 post put the rails in & lower the ramp to balance can do wheels better
A lot safer
 
Hicap phill said:
Scissor lifts no good for gearbox work. It’s in the way.
2 post.. you can get it all done
4 post put the rails in & lower the ramp to balance can do wheels better
A lot safer
Click to expand...
So you can still have the arms on the 4 posts? 4 post is favourable - especially if I want to do anything on my pick-up as it’s a lump. 2 post scares me a little. I want safest possible
 
Anaconda said:
Can't see how you would lift a body of with a four post lift?
Click to expand...
Well I’m wondering if you can with these jacking beams you get but I don’t think you’d get enough clearance on it. The scissor lifts go under sills it seems so you could but like Phil says not ideal for access
 
The lift giant mid rise scissor actually looks excellent and doesn’t have a cross bar that gets in your way. Has a mechanical lock too. I wonder how good these things are 🤔
I know the floor is nice and flat and is brand new reinforced concrete
 
You need something like this, it's an example not a recommendation. In reality it's probably a cheap Chinese thing, like most of them at a guess.
automotechservices.co.uk

AS-6150A Twin Hydraulic Ram, 2 Post Lift - Automotech Services Limited

This lift is ideal for lifting large vans and commercial vehicles, with its huge lifting capacity of 5000Kg. The design of the arms will also allow the machine to be used on cars. Features • Lifting capacity 5T • Lift height 1900mm • Minimum height 120mm • 3 stage lifting arms • Safety locks in […]
automotechservices.co.uk automotechservices.co.uk
 
Anaconda said:
You need something like this, it's an example not a recommendation. In reality it's probably a cheap Chinese thing, like most of them at a guess.
automotechservices.co.uk

AS-6150A Twin Hydraulic Ram, 2 Post Lift - Automotech Services Limited

This lift is ideal for lifting large vans and commercial vehicles, with its huge lifting capacity of 5000Kg. The design of the arms will also allow the machine to be used on cars. Features • Lifting capacity 5T • Lift height 1900mm • Minimum height 120mm • 3 stage lifting arms • Safety locks in […]
automotechservices.co.uk automotechservices.co.uk
Click to expand...
I’ll speak to the landlord and also see what the other people have on site
 
2 post lift to get the bodies off (leaving the rest of the car on the ground) and a 4 post lift to work on the car itself.
Taking off axles/gearboxes/engines etc - 4 poster. You tend to change the wieght of the car taking heavy bits off.
Changing brakes and the fluids etc - 2 poster

So you need both.
The 4 poster first and the 2 post behind it.
You can drive under/over the 4 poster to get at the 2.

Find out who installs/supplies the ramps to garages in your area.
Often these need changing (legislation, spares availability etc) and can be had for not a lot of money.
A used ramp is perfectly fine, the seller/installer wouldn't sell you a duff one as they have a reputation to uphold.

I bought a 4 poster (fitted) for less than a grand. I use a 1 phase to 3 phase invertor to run it and it's plugged into a standard 13A socket.
I needed to buy a relay from RS Components to get the safety latches working and it's attached to a small compressor.
 
miktdish said:
2 post lift to get the bodies off (leaving the rest of the car on the ground) and a 4 post lift to work on the car itself.
Taking off axles/gearboxes/engines etc - 4 poster. You tend to change the wieght of the car taking heavy bits off.
Changing brakes and the fluids etc - 2 poster

So you need both.
The 4 poster first and the 2 post behind it.
You can drive under/over the 4 poster to get at the 2.

Find out who installs/supplies the ramps to garages in your area.
Often these need changing (legislation, spares availability etc) and can be had for not a lot of money.
A used ramp is perfectly fine, the seller/installer wouldn't sell you a duff one as they have a reputation to uphold.

I bought a 4 poster (fitted) for less than a grand. I use a 1 phase to 3 phase invertor to run it and it's plugged into a standard 13A socket.
I needed to buy a relay from RS Components to get the safety latches working and it's attached to a small compressor.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I’ll speak to the locals and find out. Pretty sure I got both 1 and 3 phase too.
 
For big 4x4s you want a 4 poster (won't be any use for lifting disco body off)
I have the use of a 2 poster and find it quite dodgy for defenders (90s especially) as you can get the legs far enough apart due to the shape of the chassis

Go into any garage that specialises on big 4x4s and you will see 4 post lifts
 
chrisstdt said:
....

Go into any garage that specialises on big 4x4s and you will see 4 post lifts
Click to expand...
Dealer & indie workshops have been using two-posters for a long time for LR's and other large 4WD's, the ones we have are rated at 3.5 - or 3.7Tonne, the LR dealer I worked at had a mix of two-posters & four-posters with beams, both were ideal for certain jobs and a pain for others
 
With some jobs on new Discos and Range Rovers being a body off job, what do LR main dealers use. I would be going in by my local one and asking them what their set up is.
 
There isn't actually any jobs that require the body to be lifted from the L319/320's, a lot of places will say they need to do it, presumably for ease of working.
 
Hey mate, moving into a new unit sounds ace! Let’s break this down nice and simple for ya:

Lift Types & Suitability

2-Post Lift - Best for body-off chassis jobs like your D1s. The arms can reach behind/in front of wheels.
Downside: needs bolting into the concrete, which you’re not keen on.

4-Post Lift (Drive-On) - Great for general work but not ideal for body-chassis splits since it lacks lifting arms.

Scissor Lift - Compact and versatile but not ideal for body-off jobs. Stability can be questionable for heavy vehicles.
Second-Hand Lifts - Not a total no-no if you inspect thoroughly (look for cracks, leaks, and worn-out locks). Just be picky!

Safety Features to Look For:

Mechanical Lock-Outs > Hydraulic-only safety systems. They’re just more reliable.
Weight Rating - Make sure it can handle your D1s comfortably.

Buying Options & Links
Here’s where you can shop around for new and second-hand lifts:

Automotech Services

Solid range of 2-post and scissor lifts. Quality UK supplier.
https://automotechservices.co.uk

GES Limited

Offers 2-post, 4-post, and scissor lifts at good prices.
https://www.ges-uk.co.uk/

Liftmaster (Machine Mart)

Budget-friendly, reliable lifts for home or business garages.
https://www.machinemart.co.uk

Sealey Tools

Known for quality lifts and other garage tools.
https://www.sealey.co.uk

eBay (Second-Hand)

Keep an eye on deals for pre-owned 2-post or scissor lifts.
https://www.ebay.co.uk

Pro Tip
If fresh concrete is an issue, check out portable 2-post lifts—less invasive but still versatile for your body-off jobs. And always inspect second-hand gear thoroughly before buying.

Good luck with the new unit, and keep those D1s in shape!
 
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